Last year’s 2011 football season brought with it a time of great excitement, pride, and anticipation. These emotions found expression and a voice not just with that special group who played under new head coach Mark Hudspeth–but with ex-gridiron vets going back several eras and decades.  A major dry spell of some forty years since the Cajuns played in a bowl game was ended, replaced with a frenzy and fervor for Lafayette area fans and the university faithful alike that was palpable.

As we ramped up and prepared for the big game (a "home field" match up, you could say, in Louisiana’s own New Orleans Superdome), pre-Christmas goodwill was at an all-time high.  Red-and-white clad Cajuns everywhere were calling on Providence (even on "Blackjack"–clearly many steps down from Providence, but don’t argue that fact with Gridiron Alumni)–"Bring us the bowl-game victory we have sought and waited on for so very long".

Then late Monday night, Dec. 5th (just two weeks from the bowl), an email heard around and through Lafayette and Acadiana went out which immediately reduced bowl game mania to the most trivial of nonsense:

     "David Autin has apparently died. More details as they become available".

Was today April 1st? Surely this was just some poorly conceived and orchestrated April Fool’s joke. Unfortunately no–it was true. Particulars surrounding David’s death materialized rather quickly. He was working out at Red’s and went down suddenly.  He was gone instantly–couldn’t be revived.  Because it was late in the evening, there were some staff and patrons who did not realize who had met his end so tragically.  But word travels fast–and soon it was confirmed that a loved and respected family man, physician, son, friend and teammate–in fact a vital part of that last Cajun bowl team from 1970–had been taken from us.

As you could predict, what you might know about David depended on how and when you came to meet him–where those crossroads in your relationship came to meet.  For some outside of his immediate or nuclear family (like David’s very close friend and fellow E.D. White High School Cardinal, Nate Thornton), the friendship and shared experiences go back to the early-mid 1960s.  The same can be said for Randy Raymond, also a contemporary of David’s and of mine as well.

We all lived in the same subdivision, you see.  Ward: Russ Faulkinberry; Precinct: Bob Banna; Neighborhood: Offense.  Like any good family, we sometimes had our trials and occasional conflict but overall you could definitely say: "We were tight".  The Autin/Raymond/Blair Club was even closer in one respect–we were all implementers of Vince Lombardi’s "Green Bay Sweep".  That’s way beyond the scope of this article–just suffice it to say, like it or not, we were in the best shape and physical condition of our lives.

While I in no way was as close to David as other family, patients, friends, and teammates I did have one vantage point that others did not.  I hung around for over thirty years as a Lafayette Area High School football official.  I remember several years where I was assigned to St. Thomas More’s varsity games.  I was glad and excited to work those games because I knew David and Joanie’s twin sons played for STM.  I called several STM games of sons Eraste and Robert.

The one that stands out vividly in my mind was the first game played at STM’s new stadium.  While I don’t recall the opponent or the outcome of the game, I do recall the fine play and effort of those two boys. And I won’t forget the pride on David’s face that night–he was literally beaming in witness to and support of his two favorite guys.

Recently, E.D. White High School in Thibodaux, La. posthumously declared David to be a "Cardinal Great".  It is hard to improve upon what the program from that night’s ceremony had posted in it: 

 In his memory, E.D. White has dedicated the remodeled football locker room in his name, "David L. Autin."

Nate Thornton, USL Football 1970-1974, sent these reflections about David:

But it’s possible to look beyond the niceties and euphemisms displayed at an average funeral.  I did that at David’s service.  I looked at the body language, grief-affected faces of not just immediate family where you might readily expect to see it or find it.  I thought "this guy was undoubtedly the real deal. Not only loved by countless folks, but obviously both high impact and compassionate during the course of his own life."

Now, David was pumped about going but did not get to attend and celebrate the New Orleans Bowl victory last year.  For many of us who did attend and were ecstatic over the outcome, it was still bittersweet. But I’m certain over twelve months, David has become acclimated to his new surroundings and thought of a perfect way to upstage last year’s victory–namely to go bowling in two consecutive years!!  Not only do I think he had a major part in these developments, I’m thinking it’s