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Spotlight on Former Athlete: Brian MitchellBrian Mitchell – Spotlight on Former Athlete Brian Mitchell’s profile is so extensive, a table of contents had to be designed to assist viewers. Brian came to UL by way of Plaquemine High School and became a prolific offensive player for the Ragin’ Cajuns during the 1986-89 seasons. Most noteworthy in all of his statictical information is the fact that he was the NCAA’s first player to pass for 5,000 yards and rush for 3,000 yards. Click here for Brian’s profile http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site.php?pageID=55&profID=4225 1989 Senior Class Row 1-Keith Annulis, Brian Mitchell. Row 2-Felton Parquet, Anthony Gilmore, Patrick Collins. Row 3-Dexter Gatewood, Keith Zimmerman. In Dan McDonald’s article of June 17, 2007 the controversy of where to play Brian at UL was reported. "Several times in the years between 1986 and 1989, arguments would flare up when USL football coaches held their meetings. "I always told them you’ve got to be crazy," said Nelson Stokley, head coach of the Cajuns at the time. "Who were we going to put at quarterback if he got hurt?" Stokley made the right call, since Mitchell became one of the greatest two-way threat quarterbacks in NCAA history. Click here for the caption of the 1988 Football Team – with #1 front and center http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site548.php Records and accolades continued to come Mitchell’s way as he left UL and distinguished himself in the NFL. The complete stories are found in his profile, but here are just a few eye-openers: Mitchell is second behind only Jerry Rice in combined yardage with 22,330. Rice has 23,546 yards. Mitchell holds 13 NFL records, including kickoff returns (607) and yards (14,014) and punt returns (463) and yards (4,999). He and Jim Brown are the only players who have led the NFL in combined yards four times. "This is one of the toughest guys I’ve been around," Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said. "He played tough, he was extremely emotional and he meant a lot to our team." It was only fitting that Brian Mitchell was inducted into the Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club Hall of Fame in October, 2007. Click here to view the Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club’s 2007 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies and the on-the-field recognition at half time http://www.athleticnetwork.net/site1062.php Currently, Brian and his wife Monica reside in Virginia. The Mitchells have four children: Willie (19), Bria (14), Maia (9), and Alia (6). He does a daily radio and a T.V. show three evening per week, plus during the season he hosts the Washington Redskins Post Game Show. Active in community organizations and charity work, Brian has helped the American Heart Association, the Lymphoma Society, and other in Virginia and he and Donnie Wallace host a celebrity golf tournament in Lafayette with proceeds going to UL land some local charities. The Athletic Network is honored to place the Spotlight on Former Athlete on Brian Mitchell. Note: The Photo Gallery (left side of home page) at http://www.athleticnetwork.net contains over 8,000 pictures of former and current athletes and support groups. Just point and click to view teams by years. One click on the thumbnail picture and it is enlarged; a click on the enlarged photo and it reverts back to the thumbnail.
The AN seeks to add pictures of each team for each year they represented the university.
The stories of the 2007 honorees in the Athletic Network "Spotlight on Former Athlete" have been placed in the Lagniappe link of the "History of UL Athletics" and also added to their profiles.
The 2008 honorees in the Athletic Network "Spotlight on Former Athlete" include:
January – Alvin Dark Football, ’43; Basketball, Baseball, Golf, Track, ’44; Coaches, 1947. February – Alyson Habetz Women’s Basketball 1991-95 and Softball, 1991-94. March – Ron Guidry Baseball 1968-70.
April – Edgar "Glynn" Abel Baseball 1939, Track & Field 1937-39, Football 1937-39. May -Christian Keener "Red" Cagle Baseball 1925-26, Basketball (M) 1922-26, Football 1922-25.
June – Paul "Buddy" Short Golf 1962-65. July – Louis "Louie" Campbell Boxing and Footbal 1940-41.
August – Dudley Wilkins Track & Field 1933-35.
September – Brad Hamilton Football 1963-66. October – Brian Mitchell Football 1986-89.
Ed Dugas, Coordinator
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