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The 2023 Cloutierville Mardi Gras parade rolled through the south Natchitoches parish town Saturday, Feb 11. Over 100 units participated in the popular event, bringing everything from monster trucks, floats, and horses to dance teams. The members of Fire District One, 2023 Parade Grand Marshals, led the parade in their firetrucks.

The parade route was jam packed with thousands of eager parade goers who lined the main drive through Cloutierville and called out for beads and trinkets to the passing units. They were not disappointed! Beads, cups, candy, toys and small stuffed animals were just a few examples of the huge number of items thrown by the members of the parade units. It was a rare child indeed that did not go home with a neck full of beads and a sack of candy and toys. The air along the parade route was filled with savory aromas from numerous food trucks and families cooking for parties and reunions.

The Cloutierville Mardi Gras parade is a fun family friendly event and a superb example of the unique culture that makes Louisiana such a wonderful place to live. The Natchitoches Parish Journal is looking forward to next year’s parade!

The Interpretive Rangers at Natchitoches’ Fort St. Jean Baptiste treated visitors to some illuminative and delicious history lessons Saturday, February 11. The fort hosted “Candies and Candles”, at which the staff demonstrated candle making and confectionary arts using authentic colonial era methods and recipes adopted to modern times (for example, making candy using modern kitchen equipment while staying faithful to the 18th century recipe.) Visitors were able to sample colonial era treats such as chocolate and lemon drops. They were also able to learn about candle making-an essential skill in the centuries before electric lighting.
Fort St Jean Baptiste, located at 155 Jefferson St. in Natchitoches, is a superb resource for family fun and learning. From flintlocks and cannons to cooking and everyday life, the fort’s staff is a font of knowledge. The staff is also enthusiastic about sharing their love of history. Fort St Jean Baptiste is a wonderful place to take your family on a trip through time!

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Desi and Maddie Robinson have been pivotal figures in the recent success of the Natchitoches Central High School softball team, which has emerged as one of the best in the state’s Class 5A ranks in the past three seasons and expects to fit that profile again this spring.

So as they contemplated their college choices, one thing made a lot of sense.

Continuing to team up.

Sunday afternoon in a ceremony well attended by family, friends, NCHS teammates and coaches at one of the pavilions in Parc Natchitoches, the cousins made it official: they will graduate this spring, then head to Baton Rouge Community College for their studies and the next two seasons of softball.

“It’s really exciting knowing I get to stay with her at the next level,” said Maddie Robinson.

They’re not twin sisters, but both will have the same major, kinesiology, with a plan to go into physical therapy as a career. And there’s a reasonable possibility they will make a very convenient move from the BRCC campus to adjacent Southern University for their last two years of college softball and to continue their academic pursuits. But first things first.

Sunday was about celebrating the opportunities they’ve earned, emphasized NCHS coach Ronnie Abels.

“It’s not about us, it’s not about Natchitoches Central softball. It’s a great day for NCHS softball but it’s an even more special day for these two right here. We couldn’t have had the success we’ve had without these two,” said Abels, who has had five Lady Chiefs sign college scholarships. “What is happening today is a testament to them.”

Both have abundant honors and statistics that any prep softball player would be happy to have on her resume.

Maddie has been the District 1-5A MVP the last two years as a dominating pitcher. Desi stands behind her, in centerfield, providing tremendous range on defense and a big bat at the plate, hammering home runs and extra base hits while collecting her own all-district accolades.

Each began playing softball at age 4. They first teamed up 3-4 years later in All-Stars competition, then travel ball, and for the past three years, with the Lady Chiefs. Each shares the same focus: academics and softball.

What drove their decision? Desi said visiting BRCC was the key.

“We found a love for the school, the coaches, the softball program,” she said.

Both soft-spoken girls shared the same grateful sentiments in brief remarks before they signed their scholarship papers.

“We’re really excited and thankful for everyone who came out to support, and everybody who helped us get to where we are today: our coaches, teammates, parents and family, and the community,” said Maddie.

The Lady Chiefs’ accomplishments in their careers, and their own credentials, helped make them the center of attention for BRCC and other two- and four-year college softball programs.

Last spring while earning first team Class 5A All-State honors, Maddie Robinson batted .447 with a .557 on-base percentage and a stout .894 slugging percentage. She was second among the Lady Chiefs in hits (46), doubles (12), triples (3) and home runs (8). She collected 35 RBI while drawing 23 walks. She fielded .929.

In the pitching circle, Robinson was overwhelming. She finished 16-6 and notched a save, holding opposing hitters to a .188 batting average while posting a 2.12 ERA. She averaged 9.6 strikeouts per game, sitting down 216 batters of the 680 she faced in 158 innings.

Desi Robinson, who has also played first base, last season was honorable mention All-State and a repeat All-District selection. She owned a .428 batting average, got on base 52 percent of the time, and slugged .880. She topped NCHS in triples (7) and home runs (11), along with runs scored (51), and was second in hits (48), RBI (41) and walks drawn (14). With the glove, she fielded .992.

The NPJ reached out to Natchitoches Parish School Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi for a statement regarding a recent Facebook post that was brought to the Journal’s attention. The post discussed the creation of an Instagram account titled “lhs.rumors.la,” which made salacious posts regarding students at Lakeview High School.

The Natchitoches Parish School Board does not tolerate bullying in any form or fashion. When bullying is brought to staff’s attention by a student, parent, or staff a state bullying investigation must be conducted, the results of which are then shared with parents. Once a student is found to have participated in bullying a myriad of disciplinary actions can then be utilized.

Bullying in 2023 takes on many forms but one of the most common forms today is cyber bullying. Often times this type of bullying takes place off school grounds during non school hours but schools may act if the incident causes a substantial disruption to the school day.

“If your child experiences bullying please start by reaching out to your school, the district is also available at any time to help parents and students should the need arise,” said Eloi, who added that it can be very difficult and take a long time to track down who is the author of the account as social media companies can be slow to cooperate.

Photo Credit: StopBullying.gov

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

January 25, 1981 turned out to be the biggest day in Petey Perot’s football career, but when the Natchitoches native, Northwestern State great and longtime Louisiana Tech offensive line coach looks back, it’s not details of Super Bowl XV he remembers most.

Instead, it’s his Philadelphia Eagles teammates and coaches, and the fanatical Philly fans. And it’s memories of the team’s run to the NFC Championship, capped by a bone-chilling homefield win over the Dallas Cowboys.

They are bittersweet memories, a blend of the bond shared by members of a title-winning team; the frustration of losing, not winning, on the sport’s biggest stage; the pride in having reached that point; and now, the hurt of having mourned guys who he used to line up alongside.

“I more remember some of the guys that were there with us, and some aren’t here any more. Guy Morris was our center, we were really good friends, and we lost him last year.  Max Runager, he was our punter, and he came in with me. He passed away. Woody Peoples, he’s gone. Special people on our team and in my life,” said Perot, sitting in his Ruston home, where he will enjoy watching the Eagles play in the franchise’s fourth Super Bowl Sunday night.

He does remember the first one — played in his home state — and how Philadelphia got there.

“Having an opportunity to play in the biggest game, especially for me at that time playing in my home state, was special. The thing you hate is after you win enough, you get through the playoffs, and you get there and don’t win, it’s a downer.

“Never did get back there. We weren’t bad, but never got back to the Super Bowl.”

Perot was a second-round NFL Draft pick after starting for four years at Northwestern and having a dominant career at St. Mary’s High School in his hometown. He played mostly at tackle as a Demon, tutored by future Louisiana Tech head coach Joe Raymond Peace, and made the switch to guard in the NFL. He was a starter right away.

That put him into two annual battles for NFC East superiority between the Eagles and the Cowboys. Perot lined up against future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy “The Manster” White, and more than held his own in their matchups through his five seasons in Philadelphia.

“I don’t know if anybody ever handled Randy. He was an All-Pro every year, really a fine competitor,” said Perot, who played six NFL seasons, the last with the New Orleans Saints.

The 1981 NFC Championship Game was one of his finest outings, as the Eagles took charge quickly and put away Dallas to punch their ticket to Super Bowl XV.

“I just got enough done that we were able to score some points early, and ended up winning that championship game in Philadelphia, 20-7. It was kinda cool, like minus 17 degrees. We weren’t wearing a lot. I don’t remember wearing long sleeves under my jersey or anything like that,” he said.

He does proudly recall Wilbert Montgomery’s 96-yard TD run on the opening series, although he modestly neglects to mention that he threw a block on White that helped launch the pivotal play.

Two weeks later in the Superdome, with his Louisiana family and friends and former college teammates attending, the Oakland Raiders posted a methodical 27-10 victory to end Perot’s second pro season. At the time, it stung. It still does.

“I was too young, thinking I’d play that game forever, we’d go back to the Super Bowl the next year. I didn’t realize the things I know now. But those were good years,” said Perot.

Some of the fun was playing in one of America’s greatest sports cities, with fans whose passion sometimes knows no bounds.

“The Eagles fan base, we always felt like they were great. They loved all their teams in Philadelphia, and still do,” he said. “Now they could get mad at you and boo you, too. Overall, they really cared. They threw snowballs at Santa Claus one year.”

Those Philly fanatics were despised by visiting teams, especially as dynamic Dick Vermeil rekindled championship football for a once-proud franchise.

“I still stay in touch with Dick. We were all proud when he got in the Hall of Fame a couple years ago, and we talk on the phone at times,” said Perot.

There’s a handful of Eagles from those days who maintain their relationships. Among his teammates were future Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Harold Carmichael and future NFL head coach Herm Edwards. The quarterback was Ron Jaworski, a solid pro who later became a popular and respected ESPN football analyst.

Perot’s last NFL season was highlighted when Sports Illustrated’s legendary writer Paul Zimmerman named him the league’s Offensive Player of the Week after his blocking keyed a New Orleans win at San Francisco in 1985.

After hanging up his helmet, there wasn’t an instant shift to coaching for him. But when Peace succeeded Perot’s Demon head coach, A.L. Williams, as the Bulldogs’ head man in 1987, after Perot had been a volunteer assistant in the 1986 season, he got an offer he couldn’t refuse.

“I was very grateful to have that opportunity Joe Raymond gave me,” he said. So were Tech linemen whom he tutored from 1986-96, and then again from 2000-12, 23 years in all, bracketed by two stints at Southern Mississippi. Most notably, Perot was vital in developing future Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Roaf, who was a diamond in the rough when he arrived from Pine Bluff, Ark., but departed Ruston as the Saints’ first-round draft pick, eighth overall in 1993.

Now the 65-year-old’s days are centered around his wife, Kate, their sons, Joey and Josh, and their families, including some precious grandchildren.

“We’re both doing good. Our days are mostly picking up grandkids from school and helping out when we can. It’s a good life.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

Look around Natchitoches, new business everywhere. Real Estate is also getting a new look. I have been a successful realtor for 16 years. I have learned the ins and outs of the business thoroughly during this time. We have opened a new office and we’re bringing what I believe to be a much-needed change that will assist those thinking about buying or selling a home. My grandson Colby Session is working with me as a licensed LA. Realtor. Together our mission is to make the process of buying or selling more affordable. We will accomplish this by listing and selling your house for as low as 2.5%. Both Colby and I are lifelong residents of Natchitoches. Our future is here and we believe in Natchitoches. We hope to be an asset to everyone we come in contact with. Our thoughts will always center around “whatever it takes”. Call John at 318-332-9850, Colby at 318-652-4878, or come see us at the corner of Highway 1 South and Lateral Lane. We can help you save money.

“The reservist is twice the citizen.” – Winston Churchill

The large field between Turpin Stadium and University Columns Apartments was transformed into a battlefield Thursday, February 9 as NSU’s Army ROTC units conducted a Platoon Attack Lab. Senior cadets conducted and evaluated the exercise as younger cadets formed squads and a command element in order to drive the enemy away from and seize an objective. Drills like these form the basic skills that the cadets will build upon as they progress through the ROTC program and into the Army as young officers.

NSU’s Army ROTC program currently has 28 cadets, ranging from incoming freshmen to graduate students. The program has been at NSU for over 70 years and commissions five to ten officers each year. The cadets will go on to serve as officers in the active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve when they graduate.
The cadets carry a full load of college courses in addition to their ROTC classes. Students in any of the university’s majors are welcome. The summers may find them jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, rappelling out of helicopters, or honing and testing their leadership abilities at Advanced Camp. Several other cadets recently served summer internships with Army units in Hawaii and Kentucky.

Army ROTC is more than a scholarship program; it is a chance to learn that you are capable of much more than you realized. If you would like to get more out of your college experience, contact NSU Army ROTC at 318-357-5176 or stop by the James Noe Armory on campus.

Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey announces that the Clerk of Court’s office will be holding a School of Instruction for new election commissioners. It will be held at the main courtroom of the Natchitoches Parish Courthouse, 200 Second Street, on Tuesday February 28, 2023 at 5:30 pm.

The school is for new persons wanting to be certified as Election Commissioners. If you are already an Election Commissioner, you do not have to attend. Stamey stated that Natchitoches Parish is lucky to have great commissioners but he does have turnover and he is always looking for new commissioners throughout the Parish. The Clerk’s office operates 50 precincts at 42 different polling places for parish wide elections.

The qualifications to serve include: You must be a qualified voter who does not require assistance in voting. You cannot be a candidate in the election or have an immediate family member who is a candidate at the precinct in which you serve. To become an Election Commissioner you cannot have been convicted of an election offense. You must attend the course of instruction for new election commissioners.

By attending this school, you would be eligible to be selected to work at one of the election polling places on Election Day. Pay is $200.00 per election.

There are four election dates scheduled for this year in Natchitoches Parish. The March 25 election is for a Fire District tax in just six polling places. The April 29 election will include parish wide propositions. The Gubernatorial Election is October 14. It includes Statewide and Parish wide elections. The runoffs for that election will be held November 18.
If you have any questions, please call the Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court’s office at 318 352-8152.

Pictured at the Clerk’s office are, left to right, Parish Election Specialist Fay Megason, Clerk of Court David Stamey and Chief Deputy Casey Harris.

Once the nose and throat were swabbed there was nothing I could do but wait on the results. Wait and hope. Wait because I had to, hope because if anything came back positive there was a to-do list three miles long that would not get tended to.

My throat felt as though I had swallowed glass and chased it with a shot of sandpaper. I had a sinus headache the size of Texas, and my eye was even hurting.

While my body was feeling all sorts of pain in all different areas, I was more concerned about the volleyball tournament that my daughter would potentially miss if I tested positive for COVID. I eagerly began to text parents who I knew had children on the team….but decided to wait until I knew what illness had befallen upon me.

When the nurse casually walked back into my room, I could see the look of empathy on her face. She confirmed that I had COVID, strep throat and pink eye. She began explaining what type of medicine she was going to give me along with all of the instructions. I am not sure that I really listened to her, she sounded like Charlie Brown’s teacher. All I could think was….”how was my daughter going to make it to her volleyball tournament in Longview”.

Once I left the clinic, I began to text parents. As soon as I pressed send on the first text asking an innocent parent to haul my COVID exposed, STREP exposed and PINK EYE exposed child across state lines, I thought….what kind of monster am I? Of course, the sweet parent politely declined and I would have done the same. Still determined to get my daughter to her weekend destination, I told my daughter that I would drive her there myself and sleep in the car while she played, stay the night in the hotel and do the same on the next day. I felt so desperate.

Single mom guilt for being ill had overtaken my soul. I was feeling so bad for my daughter. While I was explaining my plan to her, she gently grabbed me by my shoulders and said, “Dude, you are not doing that. I will stay here and take care of you.” She stayed for a while but soon decided to save herself and move in with her dad for a few days to avoid potential illness and quarantine.

As desperate and hopeless as I felt for disappointing my daughter, I knew I would cross the ocean in a dinghy just to make sure she was taken care of. I would lay my COVID body in a Buick for hours on end while she played volleyball, or sat on the bench. Moms will truly do whatever it takes to make sure their children are provided for. Even at their own detriment.

All of this love that moms have for their children does not even compare to the love that our father has for us. His love for his children was magnified on a cross. He would leave ninety-nine sheep to come find the one who went astray. When he created the world he had us in mind. One cannot even fathom the depths of his love.

He hears us when we call on him. He gives us wisdom and helps us keep a straight path. He never leaves our side. He strengthens us and forgives. He longs to be near us.

The motherly love is merely drops in the bucket compared to our father’s love.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:6-17

COMMERCE, Texas – DeMarcus Sharp has three Southland Conference Player of the Week awards already this season.

He may have topped those lofty standards Thursday night.

Sharp, Northwestern State’s 6-foot-3 senior point guard, again filled the stat sheet and played a critical role in extending the Demons’ win streak to seven with an 88-82 Southland Conference victory at Texas A&M-Commerce in The Field House.

“I feel like, from here on out, every night is going to be one of those nights because everybody’s viewing us as that team, and we have to come out with a different kind of energy,” said Sharp, who finished with a career-high 35 points, seven rebounds and six assists. “We have to let people know we’re not messing around, and we’re going to continue to be aggressive.”

Sharp was equal parts aggressive and efficient as the Demons (17-8, 9-3) weathered a back-and-forth second half to clinch a winning Southland Conference road record with their fifth conference win away from Prather Coliseum.

After NSU carried a one-point lead into halftime, Sharp truly went to work, scoring the Demons’ first 12 points of the half and then assisted on the next two points, a Jalen Hampton layup.

Northwestern State needed each one of Sharp’s 23 second-half points as the homestanding Lions (11-14, 7-4) shot 54.8 percent from the field in the second half. Neither team built more than a three-point lead for the first 11:47 of the second half until Ja’Monta Black’s first 3-pointer of the game at the 8:13 mark doubled NSU’s lead to six.

Less than two minutes later, Sharp sparked a seemingly decisive 10-0 spurt that included key 3s from Black and Isaac Haney, who hit all four of their combined 3-pointers in the second half.

“That’s a great team we just played against,” said Black, who finished with 17 points while playing all 40 minutes. “They were in contention for first place too. (Sharp) offensively put the team on his back tonight. There’s going to be nights like that because he’s definitely capable of doing that.”

Sharp was an efficient 15-for-22 from the field, hitting his lone 3-point try, sparking the Demons’ second-best shooting game of the season (56.9 percent). With his ability to slip into the paint or find cutters for easy baskets, Sharp helped the Demons outscore the taller Lions 46-38 in the paint.

While the Demons built the game’s first double-figure lead late in the second half, the Lions were undaunted, fittingly for a game that featured 23 lead changes – 16 in the second half.

Texas A&M-Commerce already had four wins in which it had trailed by double figures, and the Lions made a push to add to that total Thursday night, ripping off an 8-0 surge in 1:36 following Black’s run-capping 3-pointer at the 3:58 mark.

Ultimately, Sharp the playmaker helped snap the Lions’ run, feeding freshman Jalen Hampton for a layup to re-establish a nine-point Demon advantage.

Commerce continued to push, getting as close as four points twice in the final 12.7 seconds before Black hit four straight free throws in the final 10 seconds to close out the Demons’ 3-0 road trip.

“This was a tough one,” first-year head coach Corey Gipson said. “Our guys were resilient in their effort. Those guys were resilient, too. There was another game we played this year, I think it was at Southeastern, and I said in the interview, ‘I don’t know who deserved it.’ Both teams played extremely hard. Both teams were fundamentally sound. It went our way. I want to pay homage to them, but I’m very proud of our guys for the effort they put out.”

Sharp’s 35 points led the Demons, who got 17 from Black and 12 from Hampton to offset a career-high 25 points from Commerce’s JJ Romer Rosario. Demarcus Demonia added 19 for the Lions while Kalen Williams scored all 11 of his points in the second half.

The Demons return home Saturday for the rematch with Texas A&M-Commerce. Tipoff is set for 3:30 p.m. inside Prather Coliseum.

Over the course of an angler’s career, there are times situations can turn deadly really quick. How you react when you’re in one of these unexpected disasters can be the difference between living or dying. 

Your ability to remain calm is very important in maintaining a clear head and thinking things through. Today, we’ll go over one of these life-or-death events that this angler encountered.  

During the course of a bass tournament, things can go wrong. You hit a stump and destroy your lower unit on your big motor. You run into a log with your trolling motor and break the shaft. You blow a fuse, and all your electronics stop working. You lose your aerator system with your live wells and all your fish die. 

But there’s also the possibility that your batteries go dead, leaving you without the ability to use the trolling motor. This is what happened to me during a promotional tournament sponsored by the Horseshoe Casino.  

For three or four years, the Horseshoe Casino sponsored an event in which they brought in many of their “high rollers” and hired 20 to 25 of the best anglers in the area to guide these guys while they fished for a $10,000 purse, a “winner take all tournament.” It was truly a fun event with some great guys who were just looking to go fishing and have a good time. 

Make no mistake, each wanted to win, and they would sell their mother down the river in order to get the win. Horseshoe paid us (guides) well to take these guys out for a two-day tournament. We fished from daylight until about 1 p.m. each day and had to be at the Horseshoe for the weigh-in by 2.  

One of these events was on Red River and this is where one of my worst nightmares unfolded. My partner and I were fishing and doing pretty good, when around 10 that morning my trolling motor batteries went dead. At the time, we had about 14 pounds of fish in the live well with three hours of fishing left. 

Well, let’s just say the wind was not our friend, blowing about 15-20 mph out of the south, so not having a trolling motor was going to make fishing very difficult. I decided to go back close to the boat ramp we launched from and let the wind push us down a stretch of bank where I had caught good fish before. We made one pass down this 150-yard stretch and culled two good keepers that gave us about 16 pounds by 11 a.m. with two hours left.  

After we made that first pass, we ended up by a boat dock where people had a couple of houseboats tied up. Again, the wind was really blowing hard and as we drifted, we got hung up on the boat dock and I had to try and push us off. There was one piling that was in my way and as I was trying to push the boat away from this piling, my hand slipped off, and into the water I went! 

One thing I discovered when I hit the water was not just how cold the water was, but that the pullover jacket I had on, which was made of Burma fleece, was equivalent to a huge sponge. Understand this: you cannot imagine how absorbent Burma fleece really is. The minute I hit the water, I gained 25 pounds of extra weight on top of my 230-pound frame. I went straight to the bottom and landed like an anchor being dropped from the Titanic.  

The first thing that went through my mind was, “This is not good,” as I opened my eyes and realized I was in a bad situation in 15 feet of water. I tried to remove my pullover, but it was as if I had been shrink-wrapped with this Burma fleece jacket. There was no getting it off, so I was just trying to figure out how to get back to the surface. 

The piling my hand had slipped off of was about four feet away from me, so I started walking on the bottom of the riverbed and wrapped my legs around the piling and started trying to shimmy my way up. Problem was, the piling was covered in algae, and it was like a monkey trying to climb a greased pole. Finally, I was able to get enough grip with my shoes, that it allowed me to get my head above water. I’m not sure how long I was under the water, but according to my 75-year-old partner, it was at least two minutes. He thought I had drowned and was in total panic mode. 

After surfacing I asked him to throw my life jacket to me. Even though it was laying in the driver’s seat in plain sight, he could not see it. At this point there was no choice — it was either swim to the bank or try to get back to the boat. Getting to the boat, in my mind, was a priority as my partner was on the verge of a heart attack! 

At this point I pushed off the piling and swam towards the boat and lifted myself back into the boat with the help of the trim switch on the motor. Totally exhausted, I laid on the back deck of the boat for about 15 minutes trying to gain my energy back.  

Once fully recovered, it was time to get off these wet clothes. This is why you should keep a complete change of clothes in your boat at all times. Once changed out, we went back to fishing — against my partners wishes. But as far as I was concerned, we were in it to win it and we needed to get to 18 pounds to have a shot. Well, we ended up in third place with a little over 16 pounds, but to say it was an adventure is an understatement.  

After it was all said and done, I realized on my drive back home that day just how quickly things can take a turn for the worst. Looking back, the thing that stood out from this experience was that I never panicked. For some reason, I was able to maintain my composure, think clearly and slowly process my situation, and find my way back to the surface. 

Talking to a game warden one day about my experience, he told me that most drownings take place in water four feet or less, all because people panic and lose their thought process — when all they really had to do was stand up. 

Until next time, good luck, good fishing and don’t forget your sunscreen. 

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Barry Rubin’s been there before. He’s never going to be there again. So the former Northwestern State fullback and tight end is soaking in every moment of Super Bowl LVII, as the retiring strength and conditioning coach for the Kansas City Chiefs.

After 26 seasons in the NFL, and 15 before that coaching at NSU, LSU and ULM, the 65-year-old and his wife Nicole will head south for good, to settle into what has been a vacation home in Vero Beach, Fla., and start a less consuming lifestyle.

A career that has earned him enshrinement in the USA Strength and Conditioning Coaches Hall of Fame, along with NSU’s N-Club Hall of Fame, officially ends Sunday night. There’s been success at every stop, particularly since he reached the NFL as the Green Bay Packers’ first assistant strength coach in 1995.

“This is it, so it’s great to go out on this stage. I hope we can win it, but it does feel great to be here,” said the Monroe native, a Neville High product who is coaching in his third Super Bowl.

“It is really hard to get here. My first year in Green Bay, we went to the NFC Championship and got beat. The next year, we won. Then we went again, and lost,” he said. “It took me over 20 years to get back. It doesn’t happen regularly.”

But it is the second Super Bowl in three years for the Chiefs, led by veteran coach Andy Reid, who met Rubin as an assistant in Green Bay, and as a head coach, brought him to Philadelphia and then along for the last 10 years in Kansas City.

Rubin has found himself in football paradise.

“Coach Reid is top-notch,” he said. “We have great coaches, a phenomenal quarterback, and real good, hard-nosed people who want to win and work hard.”

Then there’s the fabled Chiefs’ Kingdom – a fan base in middle America that is as passionate as it gets.

“You feel like you’re at a college game. And it’s the loudest stadium in the world. The fans love the Chiefs,” said Rubin.  “This franchise is so deeply ingrained in NFL history with the Hunt family, all the Hall of Fame players, all the success. It’s so exciting playing in Arrowhead Stadium. I will miss that. At least the last game I coached in there, we won. It’s been a blessing to be here.”

Rubin has crossed paths with many greats of the game, from the Hunt family to coaches and Pro Football Hall of Fame players. Along the way, he’s also gotten to know one of country music’s most avid fans, superstar singer Kenny Chesney. A conversation between the pals from a few years ago pops up occasionally on Chesney’s No Shoes Radio on SiriusXM channel 57.

“I’ve become good friends with him,” said Rubin. “When I was with the Eagles, he was doing a concert and they called to ask if he could come over and work out.

“He came in, and it was just he and I. We hit it off. We’re both from the South. He loves working out. That is a tough little dude. He gets after it. He eats perfect. He does it right,” Rubin said. “We’ve stayed in touch, and he’s been to Arrowhead several times. He’s so awesome, a lot of fun, and I think the world of him.”

Rubin’s career path unfolded at NSU. Son of a Monroe jeweler, he encountered two of A.L. Williams’ assistants with the Demons, Al Miller and Kent Johnston, who both preceded Rubin into the NFL strength and conditioning ranks, and are also in the profession’s hall of fame along with their protégé.

Johnston was the strength coach in Green Bay when he got the green light to hire an assistant. He called Rubin. Their paths had crossed again in the SEC, when Rubin was running things at LSU and Johnston was at Alabama.

“We worked together in Green Bay for four years, and those were some of the most fun years I’ve ever had. What a learning experience with him,” said Rubin. “Coach Miller taught me so much. I learned so much and still do. We talk every other week, probably.”

His Demon days are treasured, not only for the memories, but for deep relationships with Williams, then-assistant Joe Raymond Peace, and his teammates.

“I loved it at Northwestern. Especially my senior year, we had such a good football team. Bobby Hebert, Joe Delaney, Mark Duper, Gary Reasons, Warren Griffith, our center, a ton of top-notch players. I loved Coach Williams, and Joe Peace, my coach, what a great coach who had a big influence on my life,” he said.

It was beyond comprehension that Rubin would join two of his colleagues on NSU’s offensive front, Petey Perot and Bill Johnson, by achieving long careers in the NFL – Perot for seven years as a standout guard, then a lengthy college coaching career, nearly all of it at Louisiana Tech, where he developed Willie Roaf into an eventual Pro Football Hall of Famer, and Johnson for nearly 20 years as a highly-respected defensive line coach.

“I got to play with Petey, one of my best friends, and with Bill, another of my very best friends,” he said. “And guys like Butch Ballard, J.P. Dunbar, Gary Morgan … lots of great people. Now I’m going to come back to Northwestern every season, to see them and watch the Demons play. I’m proud to have come from Northwestern, that’s for sure.”

Rubin is among 12 NSU alums who have taken part in at least one Super Bowl. The first, fullback Sidney Thornton and Hall of Fame tight end Jackie Smith, collided in Super Bowl XIII (Steelers 35, Cowboys 31).

When he walks off the field Sunday night, Rubin doesn’t know what’s next, except it won’t be anything as intense as what he’s done since he put up his own shoulder pads and looped a whistle around his neck.

“I don’t want to retire from life. I want to do a little something. I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By Joshua Webb

If we begin to see our lives as some form of art, perhaps it can change our perspective. True art is in many ways open to interpretation. A skilled artist creates and is intimately in control of what comes next. Not every stroke of the brush will be perfect. Therefore, if we view our lives as art, we become not only an artist, but we are in charge of our own destiny. When we don’t give up, we change our imperfections into something beautiful.

All destinations were first a journey. A trek that begins with one simple decision; the choice to put one foot in front of the other, just as a painter chooses to pick up their brush before a masterpiece can be created.

I believe every artist, no matter the form of art, needs a muse. They need someone or something in their life that motivates them so they’re inspired enough to bring their talents to fruition. Sometimes the artist needs help along the way to find their muse. To discover for the first time what or who inspires them. To realize they are not alone, just as you are not alone.

My hope, my desire in life is to show those who believe that no one wants to hear their story, that someone does. That we are all broken in some way. We all have more in common than we want to admit, if we get down to our infinite common need of love. May I be the first to say I am among those who are shattered. That I too need love and hope to put myself back together. That’s the root of my story. What’s yours? Tell your story and you may be surprised who needs to hear it.

Joshua, a native of east Texas and a frequent visitor to Natchitoches, is himself a chronic illness thriver. He’s been living with multiple sclerosis and epilepsy for over 15 years. He works as a motivational speaker and advocate for others living with all forms of chronic illnesses. He is the founder and chairman of a nonprofit: The You Matter Project, LLC. To share your story, or to inquire regarding speaking to any size group, he may be reached via email at you.matter.ms@gmail.com.

You may also find him @you_matter_ms on Instagram. The website for his nonprofit is linked in his bio.

I suppose it’s normal, when you get older, to revisit more frequently those special times and events that define who you are. One such activity that put an indelible mark on my life will seem insignificant to some who never experienced it, nor would they care to. I’ll explain.

When I was growing up on the rural route near Goldonna in Natchitoches Parish, hunting in fall and winter was as natural then as driving through the Burger Doodle for a burger and fries is today. There were neither deer nor turkeys to hunt in the woods where I grew up but beeches and oaks growing along the creek banks harbored plenty of squirrels. For real excitement, I knew I could head down to the slough and more than likely, I’d be able to get a shot at a few wood ducks.

I’m not sure if in the 1950s, I knew the proper name of wood ducks, the colorful little ducks that made their living in the sloughs and back waters down in Saline swamp. They were simply “squealers,” deriving their name, I assume, from the high-pitched call they made as they careened through the timber on their way to shallow areas in the swamp to feed.

From the time I was old enough to tag along with my dad, we hunted squealers practically every morning before school. In no way did our early morning squealer hunts resemble duck hunting today. There were no blinds; no decoys; no dogs; no calls. We gathered at dawn with other fathers and sons to pass-shoot squealers at the Sand Flats, a narrow spit of sand dotted with blackjack oaks that lay on the east side of Saline Bayou.

For as long as I can remember, wood ducks flew across the Sand Flats after leaving their roost on their way to a feeding area. I’d like to think that they still fly the same route today. I’m sure they flew across other areas along Saline, but since blackjack oaks don’t grow tall, the ducks generally flew lower over the Sand Flats.

I don’t recall killing very many squealers on these early morning forays, but the anticipation that I might was temptation enough to prod a teenager from a warm bed, morning after morning, for less than half an hour of wing-shooting action.

As I grew older, we took squealer hunting to another level. Instead of shooting for half an hour at the Sand Flats, we pulled on hip boots and drove as far as the old truck would take us down into the swamp, down to where Fordoche Creek spilled out of its banks across the lowlands under the hardwoods to create a shallow green-tree reservoir.

Just about every morning during Christmas vacation from college, I’d join my brother, my dad, and two cousins to wade out into an old brake where squealers came to feed. On rare occasions, a mallard or two would drop in but for the most part, wood ducks were all we saw.

A couple of years ago, I was privileged to relive this experience once again when I joined three other members of our hunting club before daylight for a squealer hunt. One member had seen ducks pouring into a particular portion of our flooded woods several days in a row while he sat on his deer stand.

On this particular morning, we gave the deer a rest, pulled on waders, laid aside deer rifles and picked up shotguns. We splashed our way to the flooded woods, spread out 75 yards or so apart and were waiting when the first “whee-o-wee” echoed through the flooded oaks.

The shooting was fast and furious and within 45 minutes, it was over. We collected seven squealers, one short of a two-bird-per-hunter limit and were back at camp by the time the sun broke over the horizon.

For a few fun-filled exciting minutes, I was down on the old brake with my brother and cousins, waiting in flooded timber at daybreak, listening for the first squealer to announce its arrival. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a hunting experience more. On second thought, maybe I do. Perhaps it was the last time I shot squealers down on the old brake back home. 

Contact Glynn at GlynnHarris37@gmail.com

CASA of NELA would like to honor Debra Minton for the dedication she has shown our program for the past 2.5 years. During this time, Debra has worked on 2 different cases, serving a total of 4 children. Debra was committed to consistency and detailed advocacy. Debra made it a point to attend all monthly meetings with her CASA children, attend all hearings, and supplied the court with superb court reports detailing concerns and needs of the children. Debra was able to build strong relationships with collaterals and communicated with them regularly to get updates.

CASA staff who have had the pleasure of supervising Debra describe her as “a joy to work with”. They state that she “is truly a wonderful advocate for all the children she has served”. In her time as a CASA volunteer, we know Debra has done life-changing work. We are grateful for her time and commitment over the past years and know the children who have had her as their advocate are all the better for it.

Thanks, Debra, for all you have given to our program and the children you have served. We appreciate you!

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

To celebrate a landmark occasion, it’s best to be surrounded by family and friends.

Adam Parker and Logan Watson certainly were Wednesday morning as the graduating St. Mary’s football standouts were the guests of honor at a signing ceremony in the SMHS gym. Fellow students and teammates were joined by school officials, school supporters and the families of the two Tigers.

Parker, the quarterback for St. Mary’s state quarterfinalist team last fall, will play at NCAA Division II Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, just across the state line from Springhill.

Watson, a linebacker for a rugged Tiger defense, is headed to the DFW Metroplex, enrolling this fall at Texas Wesleyan in Fort Worth.

They helped St. Mary’s to an undefeated district championship season and its best playoff push since 2016. Parker was the District 1-3A Offensive MVP and Watson was a first-team all-district linebacker.

Parker is a starter on the Tigers’ powerful basketball team that plays a huge district game tonight at Northwood-Lena, with a chance to salt away the district crown if it can sweep the season series.

Watson took up wrestling three months ago and has already earned a spot on the Texas Wesleyan wrestling team for next winter.

It wasn’t predestined for Parker to choose SAU, but the stars were lining up for months, or even longer, since the Muleriders hired former Northwestern State offensive coordinator Brad Smiley as head coach last winter. Smiley’s son Ben was a teammate and pal of Parker and Watson. Smiley’s offense was a perfect fit for the SMHS QB.

“I’ve visited there five times now, and each time it feels more and more like home,” said Parker. “I have friends up there. Coach Smiley is a friend of our family, a great guy and an even better coach.  It felt like the only logical choice I could make.

“I fit in really good. They run a spread offense like we do, a lot of no huddle, and that’s how I like to play, fast-paced.”

The occasion Wednesday morning, a week after both Tigers’ college decisions were announced, couldn’t have been better for them.

“It’s a dream come true, a goal I’ve worked toward almost my entire life. To do it in front of everyone at my school and in my family, it felt amazing,” said Parker, a 4.0 student planning to major in chemical engineering.

Watson’s college choice developed in the second half of St. Mary’s season.

“I did not know about Texas Wesleyan until about halfway through the season, when they started recruiting me. The more I looked at them, I just fell in love with it,” he said.

On his official visit, with his parents, TWU made a great impression both with its football program and academic culture.

“We got to talk to some of the players, and they weren’t trying to do a sales job. It sounded like a home you wanted to be welcomed into,” said Watson. “I talked to some of the teachers and professors, and they seemed really great and it seemed like a good place to go.”

He’s going to major in exercise science with intention to become a physical therapist. He is embarking on a plan to “get bigger and stronger” because he knows that’s necessary to succeed at the NAIA football program and even on the Rams’ wrestling team.

With more talented Tigers coming back for the 2023 season, it’s very likely St. Mary’s head coach Aaron York will be staging another signing ceremony at this time next year. Wednesday’s version is one the Parker and Watson families will savor forever.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com