Jaheim Walters’ high school football career did not overlap with Chris Waddell’s, nor did Walters’ time at Northwestern State.
On the 20th anniversary of Waddell’s death on the Turpin Stadium field, however, Walters was among those carrying on Waddell’s twin legacies across the city of Natchitoches on March 1.
“I’ve been here for a few years now, and I try to get out to all the schools on Chris Waddell Day,” Walters said. “Not only is a New Orleans native, but he’s a Catholic League alum like I am. He went to Holy Cross, and I attended St. Augustine High School. I kind of knew who Chris Waddell was before I came up here. I had a few good friends who went to Holy Cross who knew about him and told me about him before I came up here.
“I just want to build on his legacy. I want to finish what he started.”
As one of the veterans on the Northwestern State roster, Walters has been through several Chris Waddell Days, which was established as a day of service to honor Waddell, a redshirt freshman who died because of the effects of Kawasaki Syndrome – a condition that can lead to accelerated aging of the heart.
Since his death, every March 1 – or a date close to it depending on when it falls on the calendar – Northwestern State football players fan out across the city of Natchitoches, visiting elementary schools to share Waddell’s story with young children and spend time playing games with the students.
The benefits are reaped by both sides.
“It’s always a great experience when we get a chance to be with the kids and give back to the community from Northwestern State Athletics,” quarterback Chance Newman said. “I’m so thankful for every opportunity we get to step out and show our faces and give back to the things we’re given. A lot of times we can take these things for granted, but we are blessed to be in this position.”
That position carried Northwestern State players to the NSU Elementary Lab School, St. Mary’s School, L.P. Vaughn Elementary School and to M.R. Weaver Elementary School on Friday morning to spread the message Waddell left in his brief time within the NSU program.
Waddell was an invited walk-on who redshirted in his only fall semester at Northwestern State. His death came one day before the Demons began spring practice in 2004.
Waddell was known as an unselfish, hard-working teammates and a serious student – all qualities the Demons’ representatives shared with the children they interacted with Friday.
“The servanthood, getting out and serving others, is something we don’t get to do a lot,” offensive lineman Stevie Ballard said. “This is a time we get to serve, and hopefully the kids carry Chris’ message and go help somebody older than them or younger than them. Just get out and help others.”
Waddell’s legacy extended to being a bridge between athletics and the rest of campus as part of his academic achievement.
Similarly, his legacy day allows the Demons to branch out and bridge the gap within the community.
“(First-year head football) Coach (Blane) McCorkle has been adamant about how important it is for us to give back,” kicker Brett Money said. “This is Natchitoches’ team, so we’re trying to incorporate the town with our team.”
With a new head coach and a roster that has seen a good bit of turnover since this past year’s Chris Waddell Day, Friday gave them a chance to deepen their bonds as a team as well.
Whether it was playing “Sharks and Minnows” at St. Mary’s or leading a conga line of dancing fifth graders around the E-Lab gymnasium, there was plenty of team building for the oldest children at each stop – another fitting tribute to Waddell on a special anniversary.
“I’m about to turn 22 this month, so it puts it in perspective that it’s been a long time,” cornerback Anthony Richard Jr. said. “I’m glad we get to go out and do things like this to honor him. It’s good to get out here with the guys and interact with the kids. At the end, we get to go against each other and compete, have fun and laugh. It’s a good time.”
