Boquet optimistic about future with Gators

Randy Boquet didn’t just win football games as head coach at H.L. Bourgeois.

He also won the hearts of his players and fans.

That’s why the community was particularly saddened upon learning about his resignation two weeks ago as a result of philosophical differences between Boquet and the administration.

Nonetheless, the erstwhile gridiron boss is doing just fine in his new role as head boys’ and girls’ soccer coach at South Terrebonne – a place he remembers pretty well.

Boquet was the defensive coordinator of the Gators and the boys’ head soccer coach for 10 years before taking over the reins of the Braves football program in 2001.

The Sports Net caught up with Boquet to discuss the past, present and future.

Sports Net: Enjoy your Thanksgiving?

Randy Boquet: My holiday was very busy. I ended up going to two soccer tournaments with my girls’ and boys’ teams.

SN: Did you at least get a chance to gorge yourself at the table?

RB: Oh yeah. I still had time for that. My wife cooked up a fantastic meal and I was able to woof it all down.

SN: How have you been enjoying your new digs with the Gators?

RB: I got to tell you – that Friday morning when I walked on campus (to coach my first game) was really surreal. It was weird…kind of like an episode of “The Twilight Zone.” I had been away for six years, but there I was, right there again.

The year I left (South Terrebonne), the boys’ soccer team won a state title and our football team tied a school record for least points given up in a year.

SN: See a lot of familiar faces?

RB: A lot of faculty members that were there when I left were still there. It was a warm welcome and everyone was really nice.

SN: Was it a pretty sharp transition going from football back to soccer?

RB: The two sports are really different in terms of the way the game is played. I guess my biggest gripe is I can’t call a timeout in soccer, and I want to call one so bad. The pace is so much faster in soccer. There are no timeouts or breaks. It’s up to the players to execute on field. So it’s a little switch that I’ve had to get used to again.

Both assistant coaches have been a great help. They’ve helped me get acclimated to the whole situation. I forgot how much fun it is to coach soccer until I walked into a game that Friday. It’s fun to watch them (players) work together. It’s a complete team sport.

SN: How have your new players embraced you?

RB: They’ve been impressive. The girls are used to the way assistant coach Ron Pitre did things (he was the former head coach). I sat down with the girls and talked to them. One of the ladies had a hard time adjusting to the differences in our coaching styles. But both teams seem like they know me already and have given me a tremendous amount of respect from the first minute I started talking to them. I just jumped right in – that’s the only way I know how to coach. The feeling I got after the boys’ game was one of acceptance and respect.

SN: You’ve been pretty emotional in the past about your bond with the players on the 2007 H.L. Bourgeois football team. How tough was your decision to leave?

RB: By far and away, the most difficult decision I have ever had to make. I formed a bond with those young men that I’ll treasure and keep for rest of my life. We went though a difficult situation early in the season, and I’ll always remember the way those young men came together and trusted our coaching staff. It was an amazing experience. We didn’t just win a district championship. A lot of the things we always preached all of those years were crystallized through this experience. We also tried to teach lessons about life in addition to football, and the kids got to see and apply these lessons throughout the season.

SN: What made the 2007 Braves so talented?

RB: Our offensive backfield. When we were all healthy, which was rare, those three running backs were some of the best I had been around in all of my years of coaching. The offensive line was the best I’d been around in all of my years of coaching. I was always impressed with the way those young men came to play every Friday.

They weren’t always the most talented team every Friday, but up or down, win or lose, they had tremendous leadership. Eight times we found a way to win this season – a couple times against Central Lafourche and Assumption, when the game was in the balance and the kids had to find a way to win. Those are ones you remember most – the close games.

We had outstanding kids who were very talented. But more than anything, they cared about each other and the goals we set. These kids became everything a coach hopes for.

SN: Will you ever return to football in a coaching capacity?

RB: Absolutely. I love soccer, but I’m a football coach. That’s what I am and what I was meant to be.

SN: At H.L. Bourgeois?

RB: That’s a good question.

SN: And an uncomfortable one.

RB: But I’m glad you asked it. A long time ago, I learned to never say “never.” Weeks ago, I would have said no, I would never come back. Months ago, I would have told you I will retire at HLB. So who knows? Maybe a situation would open up one day where I could come back. We’ll see.

SN: Back to the topic of your current teams on the soccer field. Any idea about how far these squads could go?

RB: The girls are a great deal more inexperienced than the guys. The majority of the girls have only played one or two years, but they work exceptionally hard for us. I expect them to battle in district. How far they go depends on them. They haven’t won yet, but they have a chance to have solid year.

The boys are a different story. They impressed me my first night of coaching against Hahnville. They have some talent and a legitimate chance to compete for a district championship this year. Depending on how far they can come as a team, they might also make some noise in the playoffs. All credit goes to my assistant coaches. They’ve done a lot of work with them (players).

SN: You’ve married a passion for teaching with sports. Is there anything else you’re passionate about?

RB: Movies. I’m a big movie buff. I just enjoy good movies and going to the theater and renting movies. I like the idea of getting away, escaping, getting engrossed in a good story.

SN: Any favorites?

RB: There are just so many. I guess I really like “300” and “Gladiator.” I just watched “Beowulf.” I guess you can kind of pick up on the whole warrior mentality. But I’ll watch just about anything, like horror or comedy, action or adventure. I guess anything but the proverbial ‘chick flick.’

SN: Football coaches aren’t supposed to be fans of ‘chick flicks.’

RB: Of course not. Not really my cup of tea.

SN: Before coming to South Terrebonne, you said good-bye to members of the H.L. Bourgeois football team. Are there any final sentiments you’d like to express to your former players?

RB: I’d like to reiterate something I said to the players, especially to those seniors on the team. You guys are our legacy. You’ve already learned some important lessons through football. Now let’s see you take all of the lessons you learned and continue to win. Let’s see you win in the most important game of all – life. Let’s see you get married, get those good jobs, become good parents and be a success in life. That would be my last challenge to those players, and especially to the seniors.

(Photo by CHRIS SCARNATI

• Tri-Parish Times) Randy Boquet led H. L. Bourgeois to district championships in two of the past three seasons. This winter, he’ll try to collect district titles with the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs at South Terrebonne.