by Lee Brecheen
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| Iowa players reading Louisiana Football Magazine |
March 23, 2010 - I was able to go to Iowa high school right outside Lake Charles, and meet new Head Football coach Sean Richard, who really is trying to help his kids and promote. He’s a really nice guy. His QB Gene Pete is a really quiet and nice kid who stands 6-2 and trust me all of 6-2. Some kids are listed 6-2 and they’re 6-0. Pete weighs 210 lean pounds. He had close to 2,000 yards combined passing and running as a QB. I think his future is either at LB or FS for college. He’s a diamond in the rough. There are other good players at the school, which I will get into with my preview magazine in July. The numbers at the school are up for spring Football and the yellow jackets should be primed for a good season with coach Richard at the helm this year. I really enjoyed talking to over a dozen of the starters.
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| Lee with McNeese State Head Coach Matt Viator |
I did not realize, when I went to see Head Football coach Matt Viator of McNeese State that they would be in temp buildings as a staff, because of expansion to their facilities. It was really good to see and hear what McNeese State is doing to attract players, and help the current players on the team. I went on a tour with QB’s coach Tim Leger, who was a star QB back in the day at Acadiana high school, and played QB for McNeese State in Lake Charles. Tim showed me how the weight room was going to look, and the square foot of the weight will be the same as LSU, when finished. The coach’s office if you have ever been to McNeese State will now be in its own building separate from the other staff with football. The size and square footage of that building will be double the size of the current one. It will be one of the largest IAA football facilities in the state when done, on par with Southeastern in Hammond with a bigger coaches office. I meet with coach Viator, and was very impressed at how organized he is, during the move and how focused a man he is. You can see why he’s won several Championships in a short time at McNeese State, since coming over from Sulphur HS, where he was the Head Football coach. It was good talking football with coach Viator and Tim Leger, and how important Louisiana is to the school in terms of recruiting. I would also like to thank Sports Information director, Louis Bonnette, who has the longest tenure as a SID in the state of Louisiana for a college for helping me with what I needed while I was there. Louis does a great job and has for many years helping me since I started the magazine 14 years ago.
Barbe high school has a current coach by the name of Jimmy Shaver who has over 230 wins as a high school coach which is high up there in Louisiana for current head football coaches, and is old school as they come. I like that; my dad was old school when he coached youth league football for many years. Never brags, never says too much, but what a joy to talk football, and talk about coaches who have been to the school over the years like Nick Saban, and many others. We talked about current players, the stadium that was built 5 years ago which is really nice if you don’t live close to Lake Charles. The team will dress over 140 players for 2010, and like coach says not many super stars, but a lot of good football players in the bunch. 30 seniors will suit up for long time coach Jimmy Shaver who’s been the head coach at Barbe for over 33 years. I told coach, that’s something you don’t see a lot of in any level of coaching. I would like to thank coach Shaver for helping me get 12 players to take pictures, and talk to them about the up coming year. The kids at Barbe are really good group of kids. I enjoyed my visit with coach and the players.
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| Lee with Washington Marion Head Coach Freddie Harrison |
I was able to go to Washington Marion HS, with the help of current assistant coach Ronnie Harvey, who at one time was on the cover of our Magazine years ago. Ronnie also played college ball at ULL Ragin Cajuns. Ronnie helped me prior to my visit to Marion, days before, because they did not have a current Head Football coach to talk to. Marion has great history for putting players in the NFL, like WR Vincent Brisby, OT Brandon Winey, WR Eddie Kinnison, and Current friend and OG Big Nate Livins with the Cincinnati Bengals. That will come back soon, because Freddie Harrison was named Head Coach 3 days prior to my arrival to the school from Ferriday HS. Freddie with only his second day on the job I was able to talk to and see him going over the roster, and writing on a chalk board his goals for spring, and for the team. This guy is focused about building a champion. This Coach I remember played QB for Westlake HS, and helped bring Ferriday back in just a short time. Freddie not only got Ferriday back on track with wins, but he marketed the kids, and promoted them for colleges. I’m very impressed by this young coach, and I think he’s going to bring this school back to where they where a few years ago. The talent is there at Washington Marion, speed and size.
Tomorrow I will talk about my visit to Westlake HS and Jennings, and Wednesday I will talk about part 2 of Baton Rouge Schools.
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