James Joseph Whitney Sr.
September 15, 2009
Genevieve D. Carlos
September 17, 2009
Tommy Boudreaux is a big believer in positive thinking.
It is an attitude the Montegut native developed during his four years as an LSU Tiger defensive back from 1979 to 1982.
The former South Terrebonne Gator football and track star has spent most of his post college football career imparting his message to students, particularly athletes.
“I’ve bounced around in employment because I love speaking to people,” Boudreaux said. “I spent 10 of the last 20 years in school systems teaching and coaching. I love inspiring people. I share, especially with young athletes, what hard work can do for you.”
Boudreaux, 48, a former H.L. Bourgeois teacher and coach from 1994-96, returned to Terrebonne Parish about a year ago after spending the previous 10 in Phoenix.
His former wife wanted to move closer to her family to raise their youngest son, Richard, 17, who is deaf and going blind.
Although the Scurlock Electric receiving department manager has been low profile since returning, he wants to get heavily involved in mentoring and community activities again.
That includes revitalizing the Houma-Terrebonne Quarterback Club, a nonprofit organization that promoted high school football in the area. Boudreaux was the club president before leaving for Phoenix.
“I wanted to bring excitement back to high school football, he said. “Every Monday night at Dave’s Kajun Kitchen the high school football coaches would give their take on the previous and upcoming games. The press would be there. We would have prominent guest speakers like (legendary New Orleans sportscaster) Buddy Dilberto, and former Saints players like Hokie Gajan.”
Boudreaux brought excitement as a running back and defensive back on the football field and the hurdles on the track for the South Terrebonne Gators in the last 1970s.
At 6’1″, 195 pounds and able to run 40 yards in 4.5 seconds, he was nicknamed “The White Shadow.”
While Boudreaux placed third at the state meet in the 110-meter hurdles and with the 400-meter relay team, it was his play on the gridiron that drew the attention of then LSU head coach Charlie McClendon.
Playing for the Bayou Bengals was a lifelong dream instilled into Boudreaux by his father, Richard, himself a star football player at Terrebonne High.
“When he was born, his daddy brought an LSU football to the hospital and said, ‘My son is going to play football at LSU,'” recalled Deanie Boudreaux, Tommy’s mother.
“My room was wallpapered with LSU. I had purple and gold carpet,” Tommy Boudreaux remembered.
So sure his son would be a great football player, Richard named his son after former teammate Tommy Thompson, who got a football scholarship to the University of Notre Dame.
But self-doubt almost ended Boudreaux’s LSU dream before it ever got started.
Graduating from South Terrebonne with numerous academic and athletic honors and a full football scholarship in hand, he left for Tigers’ camp.
By the second day of two-a-day practices, he contemplated quitting the team.
“I grew up on a ranch raising chickens, cows and horses. I graduated high school as the man,” Boudreaux recalled. “When I got to LSU, it was an overwhelming feeling. I was like, ‘Holy crap!’ The campus was bigger than Montegut. The team is full of All-Americans from around the country and I realized I’m not the man anymore.”
Boudreaux called his father and told him about the doubts in his head. However, the elder Boudreaux insisted he continue.
“He said, ‘Son, get back out there and if you think this isn’t for you, I’ll understand,” Boudreaux recalled. “‘But this is something you wanted your whole life. How could you just give up that easy. You’ve never given up or quit anything.'”
According to Boudreaux, the following practice became a life changing experience where he discovered the power of positive thinking.
During a defensive backs drill with All-American strong safety Marcus Quinn, Boudreaux dropped him with a forearm shot that caught him underneath the shoulder pad and lifted him off the ground.
“He got up. At first he looked like he wanted to attack me, but he ran up and pulled me to the side,” Boudreaux recalled. “He said, ‘You are one crazy white boy. You keep that intensity and you’re going to make it big here.’ That particular day changed my whole demeanor.”
Boudreaux would be a three-year letterman and two-year starter for the Tigers. He played in two bowl games: the1979 Tangerine Bowl victory versus Wake Forest and the 1983 Orange Bowl loss to the Nebraska Cornhuskers in his final game.
However the highlight of his career was an interception his sophomore year versus Florida in Gainesville. The pass was intended for former Cincinnati Bengal standout wide receiver Chris Collinsworth.
Boudreaux would get his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Nicholls and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Phoenix.
But it is being a mentor to the youth that has given him his greatest joy. Whether it was being Bourgeois’ assistant football and head girls track or starting an 8-man football team from scratch at Veritas Preparatory Academy in Phoenix.
“The first year we went 0-10,” Boudreaux remembered. “The next year we were 5-5. By the third year, we were state champions.”
It’s that kind passion and positive attitude that Boudreaux wants to deliver to the children of Terrebonne Parish. He wants to ignite the spark that allows them to pursue their life ambitions.
“I’ve had a lot people in my life who have inspired me: Buddy Marcello, my high school coach; Isaac Picou, my track coach at Oaklawn (Junior High); Mike Adams at South Terrebonne,” Boudreaux said.
“Even at age 48, I still believe in the dream,” he added. “Don’t ever give up on your dreams.”
A lifelong dream and a tribute to his dad, Tommy Boudreaux converted his father’s old room into an LSU sanctuary with mementos from his years playing for the Tigers. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF
