Former Football & Tennis: Best of area football honored at All-Acadiana Football Banquet – video inc

Eric Narcisse, Daily Advertiser, Jan. 10, 2014

Jake Delhomme and Curtis Hollinger address the attendees.

The Daily Advertiser honored more than 35 high school football players — seven played for the area’s two state championship teams, Acadiana High and Vermilion Catholic — on Thursday at its annual All-Acadiana Football banquet in the showroom at Service Chevrolet.

More than 125 people attended the event that highlighted some of the area’s best high school players and coaches, and included motivational speeches from former UL Ragin’ Cajun stars Jake Delhomme and Curtis Hollinger.

Delhomme, a former NFL quarterback, discussed the importance of hard work, leadership and a winning culture, while Hollinger’s message stressed the need for athletes to avoid the label “academically eligible” and instead seek academic excellence by training their minds as well as they train their bodies.

“It was great,” Acadiana High head football coach Ted Davidson said. “Both speakers were spot on saying messages that were good. It is a great deal to honor these kids and they are well deserving.”

Davidson, along with players Gabe Fuselier of New Iberia’s Catholic High, North Vermilion’s Trey Broussard and Acadiana High’s Ronald Broussard, brought home the area’s top honors.

Davidson, who has led the Rams to the state finals five of the past nine years, was named the Coach of the Year after winning his third Class 5A state championship this past season.

“It’s a great honor,” Davidson said about receiving the coach of the year honor. “There’s a lot of great coaches in the Acadiana area and I feel honored and blessed that I was chosen.”

Fuselier, a UL commitment, was named the All-Acadiana Offensive Most Valuable Player, Trey Broussard was named the Special Teams Most Valuable Player and Ronald Broussard was voted the All-Acadiana Defensive Player of the Year.

“It’s a real honor with all of the athletes they have around here,” Fuselier said. “So, I’m really honored. I think I put in a lot of hard work during the offseason and the year before to earn this. I’m really truly blessed by God and the sportswriters to earn the MVP.”

“It just feels amazing,” Ronald Broussard said. “All of my hard work paid off. I just want to thank God, family, all of my coaches and The Daily Advertiser for electing me as the MVP.”