For years, I’ve wondered how college athletes managed to take care of their studies while involved in vigorous sports activities which require strenuous energy and time-consuming programs – like practices, home games, road games, playoffs, sessions, tournaments, bowl games. It appears to me, the ballplayers, especially those involved in football and basketball, become weary and find it difficult to study. And so, I contacted my good friend and former New Iberian Steve Shea, who has retired near St. Martinville, to give me his thoughts on the subject. His excellent answer is as follows:

“Obtaining a high-quality education and being involved in collegiate sports are not mutually exclusive. From 1969 to 1971, I lettered in football at USL (now ULL) playing defensive and linebacker my first year, and wide receiver my last two years. Upon arrival, I quickly learned the USL coaches were strict disciplinarians, not only on the football field, but also in the educational arena. One criticism I might offer is that in those days, one of the assistant coaches acted as the academic advisor concerning your major and classes to be taken. It probably would have been better to have the professional college advisors doing the job.

“Curfews were stringent for the team, and every weekday night you had to be in your room, at your desk, for 2-3 hours for study hall. One of the managers always made the rounds and made sure the players were engaged in study. Following the study time period, we might have an hour or so to get a snack, but then it was lights out, and again one of the managers checked each room individually. Anyone missing study hall or late for curfew found himself running the bleachers at old McNaspy stadium – not a pleasant task.

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“I do not think that engaging in sports automatically denies one a quality education. Of course, much depends on the character of the coaching staff. But usually, if a player is having problems in the classroom, it is because he or she has problems outside the sports’ arena. In that case, I believe it is necessary for the student to reassess his or her priorities and do whatever it takes to obtain a quality education. Following college, I was accepted into LSU Law School and graduated in 1976. I have practiced law for the past thirty-two years, including one six year stint as a Circuit Judge in Florida. I do think that engaging in sports helped create a toughness which assisted me in facing life’s situations, including currently facing stage IV kidney cancer. I am indebted to many of the coaches that were part of my early life.”

I get the sinking feeling that two of our precious New Iberia landmarks may be on the way out. (I hope it doesn’t happen.) The precious Gebert Oak, which graces an historic home site on Main St. shows signs of deterioration. Many of its limbs are brown with age and are flaking away. This live oak was eight years old when it was planted over a child’s grave in 1831. That brings the age of the tree to 185.

The other historic landmark is the seven foot ancient statue of Roman Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrian sculptured in Rome in about 130 A.D., brought to England in 1820, and eventually sold to Iberia Savings and Loan where it was placed in 1961. According to recent local news, this famous ancient statue may be on the auction block.

Over the years, jockeys from across Acadiana have become some of the world’s greatest. Kent Desormeaux of Maurice came close to winning the triple-crown twice, Calvin Borel of Catahoula won the Kentucky Derby in 2007, Rocky Albarado of Lafayette was last year’s Preakness winner, and our own Eddie Delahoussaye won back-to-back Kentucky Derbies a while back.

Perhaps the success of these noted horsemen may be attributed to their digesting Acadiana’s magic “triple-crown” ingredients – boudin, hog’s head cheese, and file gumbo.

Friends and fans of Professor/Author David Edmonds will be happy to learn he is livelier than ever, happily married, retired, and is presently writing a novel based on his experiences in Nicaragua. After retiring from ULL, he left for Florida where his educational career really skyrocketed. He worked for several Alabama and Florida universities serving at times as Professor of International Business, Business Dean, MBA Director, and Academic Dean.

During his three year project in Nicaragua he met his lovely wife Maria. She was Associate Provost at St. Petersburg College, where she administered a program funded by Georgetown for Nicaraguan students. He stated, “We built our dream home on the Anclote River in lovely Tarpon Springs, just across the bay from Tampa.”

Dave and I have often reminisced about the fun times we shared  in Lafayette when we were budding authors and eagerly researching our books dealing with the Civil War in Acadiana. We met in the early 1970’s, and although we were both involved in writing about the war in Teche Country, we compromised. We agreed I’d write the Spring Campaign 1863, while he’d cover the Fall. His “Yankee Autumn in Acadiana,” and my “Battle In the Bayou Country,” became winners. Dave became the author of several more historical books and has contributed much to Louisiana history. We wish him the best.

How ‘bout dem LSU Tigers. Even though they lost out in Omaha, they had a fantastic record breaking season. New Iberian Jared Mitchell’s amazing catch in the Irvine game was almost miraculous. Most LSU sports enjoyed a wonderful season. I wear my LSU cap with pride.

Please join me in wishing Leon Minvielle a Happy Birthday. He was born on the Fourth of July and is one of the most patriotic and nicest men I know.

MORRIS RAPHAEL is a local author and a retired engineer.