Anita Gautreaux
August 24, 2018
Homework Buddies WANTED!
August 24, 2018
By the time you get this newspaper, we will be a day or two away from high school football jamborees.
In other words, let ‘a play some football!
Coaches around the Houma-Thibodaux area Bay that their teams are ready for competition after long diligent offseasons on the gridiron.
Several aha red their stories this past week at TGMC’B Tri-Pariah Media Day —an event which allows media to interact with the head football and volleyball coaches in the area.
Each coach had their OWN unique list of goals for the year, hut the common thane among all is excitement to get back out an the field in live competition.
“1 think our guys are getting antsy and are ready to hit a some-one in a different colored jarsey,” H.L Bourgeois coach Ryan Fournier said. “The excitement is there. The kids have put in a tot of work and now. we’re all just in that phase where we’re just anxious to get started.”
Fournier is in a club of his own for the 2018 season. Ife ‘a the only rookie head coach in the area after 10 of the other 11 guy a were retained far another season.
Fournier, a longtime assistant coach replaced Carey carrey. who resigned this past offseason At Media Day, he said he believes he a ready for this opportunity, but quickly added that there are a lot of “opening-day” nerves and jitters present as WELL
The Braves struggled last year, but are trying to re-gun the playoff form they enjoyed a couple seasons ago.
‘Tm terrified ” terifled said with a laugh when asked if he was nervous about fix:- first game “I .sit and I go through all of these crazy scenarios in my head about what it will be like or what I will do if certain things happen. I know that once that day comas, it will all fell into place, but there is definitely A lot of nervous energy there — that’s putting it mildly.”
But white Foamier sweats out the final days before his debut, veteran coaches have a similar message—they’re often anxious in the days leading up ta the season too.
Central Lafourche coach Keith Menard said he likes Ms team, but knows that they’re up against a gauntlet by being in District 7-5A —a league which consists of Hahnville, Destrehan. East St. John. Terrebonne. “Thibodux and others.
The Trojans won three game last year, but missed the playoffs
Thibodaur coach Chris Dugas shared similar sentiments. calling the league the SEC West
“”We open up with tough non-district game to start the YEARS then WE open up play in the SEC west” dugas with said with a laugh. ‘Every week is just a battle. And on our bye week, we decide. ok let’s call up those Purple Knights over at St. Aug So our schedule is brutal You look at me now and the hair is salt and pepper. By the and of the season the pepper may be empty and it just may be salt on my head, if you know what I’m saying.”
Away from the Class SA district local coaches in Class 4A said they think the league is wide open.
El fender coach David MComick said the focus of his offiseson has been on conditioning and working to ensure that his team finishes strong lets in pa Tries. The Patriots faded in the fourth quarter of several games, costing than a short at a winning season
Far others in the league, tie theme is the same: it’s impossible to predict who is going to be first or last in the league.
I think there is a lot of competition,”‘ ED. White coach Chris Bargeron said. “Every week, you’re facing talented athletes and opponents who are well coached. It’s always a fan league to play through.”
And for others, the focus is on maintaining health.
In class 1A both Covenant Christian Academy and Hon ma Christian believe that they can have successes, but both know that the margin for error is slim
CCA coach Randy Boquet said teamwork and ma in taming health are the two biggest goals that the Lions have to conquer to be successful in 2018.
Houma Christian coach Chuck Battaglia went a step farther and illustrated exactly how difficult it is to coach a team with a smaller roster
“If someone gets hurt we’re losing two starters most of the time—one on offense and one on defense’ Battaglia said. “And I think what people font realise is that it limits the coaching that we can do. It’s harder to make adjustments because we just don’t have the time with the kids on the sidelines that other teams have. Ws have to do things a little bit differently during the week to prepare far that”
VOLLEYBALL ALSO GETS MEDIA DAY LOVE
Football gets a lot of the press, but local volleyball is sizzling
hot too.
Several local teams made the Pontchartrain Center last year and many more are expected to have a chance this year, as well.
H.L. Bourgeois coach Peter Verret said the growth of the sport locally is amazing and is a huge source of pride for him as he approaches his final few seasons as a coach.
“It’s just tremendous.” Verret said. “It makes me proud. The old coaches like myself Coach Fussell and Coach Fussell and some of the others, we may go away, but the success of the teams is here and isn’t changing.”
The Lady Braves are one of the area’s top teams annually; though Verret said this year’s H.L. Bourgeois team will be young.
Youth will also be the tale for Terrebonne, which has a huge pool of Sophomores and juniors in their program.
Also erpected to heavily contend are South Lafourche. South Terrebonne, E.D. White and Vandebilt, which won the State Championship last season.
After a long offseason, the prep football is finally here with jamborees ser for this coming meekend
Several local prep volleyball teams are ranked among the top teams in Louisiana and caches say a big reason for that is because players play year-round now.
