La. Sports Hall of Fame: Inductees stay grounded – Delhomme, Faulk, Girouard named

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, Dec. 3, 2014

Click here for photo gallery by Paul Kieu, The Advertiser

There are places where superstar athletes and coaches the likes of Jake Delhomme, Kevin Faulk and Yvette Girouard would stand out in a crowd.

And then places, like back home in Acadiana, where they fit in as smoothly as any of their family and friends.

The trio were together at Lafayette’s City Hall during Tuesday’s regular city-parish council meeting to be honored as part of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction process.

The local trio highlights the eight-member 2015 induction class that was announced in October and the induction ceremony will be June 25-27, 2015 in Natchitoches.

La. Sports Hall of Fame President Lisa Babin said Tuesday that this is the first year of such local ceremonies to honor the recipient in the regions they most affected during their careers in an attempt to spread the word and give more recognition to the honorees.

When Delhomme recently returned to Charlotte to attend a Carolina Panthers game, he humbly admitted to still getting the red-carpet treatment.

Faulk, meanwhile, remains one of the most-respected members of the New England Patriots’ three Super Bowl-winning dynasty.

Girouard remains a national softball icon.

Indeed, when they’re back home in Acadiana, it still fits like a glove.

"It’s totally different when you’re back home, though," Faulk said. "Home is home. You might see somebody on the street and they might say, ‘Great career, man,’ and that’s it."

That said, Faulk said his natural instinct is to avoid the spotlight, despite being an all-time great SEC running back and on the Patriots’ 50th Anniversary team.

"I still run (from attention)," Faulk said. "I just don’t feel like it’s me. I just know that without an offensive line, none of this would have ever happened."

Faulk said that during his playing days in New England, he had no problem letting the Tom Bradys of the world soak up the spotlight while he tried to sneak out the back door.

Delhomme said his family’s experience in Charlotte was always positive.

"We never had one negative experience with fans there," Delhomme said.

Now that he’s back home for good, the former UL, Saints and Panthers quarterback just fits right now.

Delhomme said when he is recognized publicly as anything other than a father, little league coach or horse racing trainer: "I embrace it; I appreciate it."

Delhomme recalled an old story again Tuesday that as a child he ran into former Saints Morten Andersen and Brian Hansen at the Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival and they treated him well.

"That always stuck with me," he said.

All the recognition certainly has never gotten old for his mother, Marcia Delhomme.

"I think it’s wonderful," she said during Tuesday’s activities. "I know how hard he has worked. I think he deserves the recognition.

"I remember seeing his disappointment when he wasn’t drafted. I remember seeing his disappointment when he was released by the Saints. He went to Europe twice to play. That wasn’t him, but that’s how badly he wanted it."

Girouard’s story is a little different. Although she’s done her fair share of lying low while doing a lot of fishing, Girouard is currently Softball Ambassador for Marucci softball equipment company.

And frankly, the two-time National Coach of the Year would enjoy another role.

"My favorite sport is college football," Girouard said. "I’m jealous of Condoleezza Rice. I would love to be on that (college football playoff) committee."

Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas.

Please click here for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame website.

Doug Ireland may be contacted at ireland@nsula.edu