Football: Desormeaux displays his warrior spirit

Bob Heist • bheist@theadvertiser.com • December 4, 2008

The brace and tape on his left knee are reminders of what Michael Desormeaux could be.

And that’s OK. Every Superman has his kryptonite.

But following Wednesday night’s 42-28 win over Middle Tennessee at Cajun Field, we were reminded of what the kid from New Iberia is:

A winner.

A warrior.

"Awesome. He’s just awesome," UL linebacker Daylon McCoy said following the remarkable performance by the country’s most dangerous one-legged quarterback. "I’m proud to be a teammate of that guy. Tonight you saw what he’s all about."

As UL’s season was being swallowed up by injuries, none was more painful to watch than Desormeaux trying to operate what at midseason was a record-setting Cajuns offense with a torn meniscus.

He limped. He shuffled. A player whose game starts with his feet was grounded and so were the Cajuns.

Sure the Cajuns defense wasn’t helping much during the three-game losing streak entering the showdown with MTSU, but neither was Desormeaux. He was trying, but the struggles were obvious.

During wins over UL Monroe and North Texas that started a four-game winning streak at midseason, Desormeaux accounted for 661 rushing and passing yards and six touchdowns. In the five games after suffering the injury at UNT, the totals were 842 yards and three scores.

"I’ve never had to do anything like this, play hurt for an extended period of time," Desormeaux said. "But my teammates lifted me up and they made my job easier. I was so happy I could finish out the season. I was blessed to be able to finish these last few games with these guys. There was a question about that, but this game tonight – it’s a dream come true to finish like this."

And that’s the story of Wednesday night’s win.

Operating on a knee that most likely is waiting for a surgeon’s knife in the offseason, Desormeaux dissected the Blue Raiders by completing 18 of 25 passes for 243 yards and four touchdowns. The yards were the second-most of his career, the touchdowns the most.

Desormeaux was also the third-leading rusher in the game with 42 yards on 11 carries.

"As much as anything, we opened the playbook and took pressure off him," UL coach Rickey Bustle said. "When we’re involving other people in the offense like we did tonight, that makes us operate.

"But I hope this wasn’t his last game. He has the heart of a lion, of a champion."

Tied at 21 early in the second half as MTSU was chewing up yards at will against the Cajuns’ defense, Desormeaux willed his team to victory.

With 5:23 to play in the third quarter, he found Ladarius Green on a 5-yard pass for a 28-21 lead. On a reverse pass at the 11:06 mark of the fourth quarter, he hit Jason Chery for an 18-yard score to push UL ahead 35-28. At the 6:43 mark, Louis Lee was the recipient of the clincher from 37 yards.

And after the final gun sounded and the team did its prayer at midfield, Desormeaux – like 12 other UL seniors – made the trip around Cajun Field to shake hands with fans.

It was a night Desormeaux said he’ll never forget. Doubtful any of the 15,321 in attendance will either.

This was Rocky without a ring. And Desormeaux didn’t need Apollo Creed. The knee was more than an accomplished adversary.

"Of course we want to play another game," Desormeaux said of a possible bowl berth being granted to the Cajuns this weekend, "but we did what we had to do to win this game and, you know what, I can live with whatever happens. This was a special night in a lot of ways.

"But unless you’re an athlete and you’ve competed and you’ve gone through something like this, it’s hard to explain. But looking back, (UL) put me in there and gave me a scholarship and that’s a big investment in a person. I’m just happy I helped win a few games, I just wish it could have been a few more. But this one’s special."

Just like the kid that delivered it.

One leg and all.

Bob Heist is sports editor at The Daily Advertiser. Reach him at (337) 289-6402 or bheist@theadvertiser.com.