By Taylor Williams
February 12, 2010 - With the coming of both college football national signing day and the Saints’ first trip to the Super Bowl, the Cajun gridiron landscape looks to be on the verge of a new phase. And as the multitude of talented seniors in Louisiana prepare for the next step, they begin to experience major changes as students, athletes, and young men. For these guys, change represents new opportunities to perform on bigger stages, but for their coaches, it presents the daunting task of filling their shoes to sustain their programs. No coach understands the necessity of this better than Tony Hull, head coach of the Warren Easton Fighting Eagles.
‘Easton’, as its more commonly referred to, is a 4A charter school smack in the middle of the historic Mid-City neighborhood of New Orleans, and is quickly developing a football program that befits its prime location. In Coach Hull’s second year, he took the Eagles from a one-win season into the contentious 4A playoffs before losing to Lusher in the first round. While this was a frustrating end to a pivotal season, it signified a tremendous turnaround for Easton’s program. The revamping of Easton football was spearheaded by a strong class of senior leaders, many of whom will be making the biggest decisions of their lives this week. This season not only allowed these guys to boost their own personal standings with the college scouts, it helped bring some respect and recognition to a program that desperately needed it. Coach Hull and his assistants credit the play and leadership of many of these seniors, including quarterback Maurice Rothschild, and wide receivers Joe Daughtry and Jaron Miller, as instrumental to Easton’s turnaround year. Looking ahead, the coaching staff faces the challenge of replacing these players, as well as nineteen other graduating seniors. While this might seem like a decimating problem for a program on the cusp of success, Coach Hull and his staff are well equipped to handle it. Retaining the majority of their offensive and defensive lines, as well as the deadly running back duo of Kernell Stewart and Pat Hill (who combined for over 1600 rushing yards this season), the Eagles can’t wait to resume clawing at the competition. Easton also introduces a faster, more agile set of linebackers and defensive backs next year to give the defense a little extra fire. Coach Hull and his staff believe strongly in training the junior varsity players for the big show as early as possible, the idea being that by the time they are seniors they can essentially coach themselves. It’s a philosophy that is paying major dividends now as the program moves to establish itself within the ranks of New Orleans high school football elites. Easton has already laid the foundation for achieving this, and in doing so has built a program characterized by athleticism and academic success. Consequently, Coach Hull’s squad is already garnering better player turnouts and more ardent support from the fans and the school. So for the many Easton alums throughout New Orleans who have waited for their alma mater to make its resurgence, your prayers have been answered. It’s time to make way for the New Warren Easton.
