Football champs

Kerry Joseph always dreamed of winning a championship while growing up playing football in New Iberia.

His dream came true last November when the former New Iberia Senior High and McNeese State University quarterback led the Saskatchewan Roughriders to the Canadian Football League’s Grey Cup championship, and now he’s enjoying some unanticipated benefits from that success.

“It was a great joy to know that your hometown was going to do something like that,” said Joseph, who was honored Saturday with a parade through New Iberia before being presented the key to the city. “I feel like I’m representing my hometown every time I step out there (on the football field). A lot of people in my hometown helped in my upbringing.”

While he never expected to be honored with a parade, he does remember wanting to experience the feelings that winning a championship brings, and just wanting to have the opportunity to do so.

NISH reached the second round of the high school playoffs in Joseph’s junior season at the school, and he helped McNeese reach the Division I-AA semifinals as a senior, but did not win any state or national titles at either school. He continues to hold many of the quarterbacking records at McNeese.

The decision to honor Joseph in his hometown was spearheaded by the Sugarland Optimist Club, with Cassandra Raymond chairing the event.

“On the Sunday night of the game, when I found out they had won the Grey Cup, I was excited,” said Raymond, a first cousin of Joseph’s father. “I was out of town, and when I came back to town, I thought someone should do something (to honor the local champion).”

So she set to work setting up Kerry Joseph Day, coordinating with the City of New Iberia and the Sugarland Optimist Club, which is a major sponsor of the NFL Camp sponsored each year by Joseph and several other former area football players including Johnny Hector and Corey Raymond, each of whom played in the NFL. Joseph also spent a couple of years in the NFL as a defensive back before going to the CFL to play his preferred position.

The camp is Sugarland Optimist’s main summer project, with youngsters from the area allowed to participate free in a camp conducted by current and former college and professional football players. Sugarland Optimist Club’s main winter project is Toys for Tots, in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps.

“I’m tired, but I loved it,” said Cassandra Raymond. “I can’t wait to see Kerry’s expression.”

Joseph, as those who know him would expect, remains humble despite his success.

“That just added to it,” he said of the parade and day in his honor. “I am grateful to Cassandra Raymond, along with the Sugarland Optimist Club, for coming up with the idea.”

Joseph said the time immediately following the Grey Cup was a whirlwind of activity, but he took some time off after that.

“But I got off the couch,” said Joseph. “I have the desire to do it again. I started working out again at a light pace.”

He’s also been surprised by the good feelings expressed by local residents.

“A lot of people I don’t even know say congratulations to me when I’m walking around New Iberia,” Joseph said.

And now the city itself has expressed its congratulations for a local football champion.