Grady Hunt provided that boost.

Hunt, who was then known as Grady Labbe, finished up a sparkling career at Teurlings Catholic as a three-time state champion in the 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 110-meter hurdles. His 13.87 mark in the hurdles remains the Class 2A state record more than 20 years later. And, for good measure, he anchored TCHS to a runner-up spot in the 4×100 relay.

So, when it was announced that he was going to be a Ragin’ Cajun, UL had a name that merited attention – especially since there were offers from numerous larger programs out of state.

"I had always been a local guy," Hunt said. "I was confident, not that I was going to go out and be the greatest in the world, but I was going to do my best. I wanted to make my abilities here, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world."

Ironically, Cajun coach Randy Stephens had not recruited him.
"I walked into their office and said, ‘Why haven’t I heard from you guys?’ " he said. "They said they figured they couldn’t get me, but if I was interested, they’d give me a full ride."

Soon, local coaching legend Charles Lancon took over the program and brought Tommy Badon in as assistant. They were eager to use Hunt as a building block.

"Once I got there, I’d known coach Lancon from Lafayette High and knew he knew his business," Hunt said. "He had been around. And Tommy had been the football coach at Teurlings, so there was a connection. He knew technique and was great to learn from."Things do work out."

Soon the Cajuns were a juggernaut, with Windell Dobson, Winston Sinclair, Ruel Paul, Larry Moore, Henry Brooks and Darryl Granger among the talent-rich sprint/hurdle corps that propelled numerous conference titles.

"Our confidence came from our coaches," Hunt said. "We trained so well. Nobody came because we ran well. It was because they could see how well we trained. It had a snowball effect. Anybody can get beat, but as a team, we were a freight train.

"Some years, there was no weak link. Points were flying everywhere."

The Lancon era gained national recognition in 1991 when the Cajuns swept the 4×100, 4×200 and 4×400 relays at the prestigious Drake Relays.

"Ruel Paul absolutely flew on the anchor leg of the 4×100," Hunt recalled. "In the 4×400, we knew we were running well, and had come close to Baylor in a previous meet. Then Henry Brooks ran the guy down from Baylor.

"It was the first time our name got out there. The Drake Relays is like the Super Bowl of track in Iowa. The energy of the track meet is fantastic."

That provided a springboard that made the Cajuns feared every time they ran.

While capable in distances from the 55-meter hurdles indoors to the 400 meters, Hunt developed an attachment to the 200. He still holds the school record of 20.46, set during NCAA regional competition at LSU in 1994.

"I didn’t have the burst for the 100," he said. "I kept trying to catch Larry Moore in the hurdles, and never could. I had good ability to run the curve and finish strong in the 200. I transitioned into it, and liked the 200 a lot more."

In 1993, Lancon asked Hunt to give up redshirt status to help UL win the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Meet, and the Teurlings product complied.

"Did we win because of me? No. Did I help out? Of course," Hunt said. "It was nice to be told, ‘We need you.’ "

A member of the Sun Belt Conference 30 Year Team, Hunt is also a member of the UL Athletic Hall of Fame for his sterling career.

"That was the most outstanding feeling I’d had in a long, long time," he said. "You don’t ever feel you deserve anything like that, but it sure was nice to receive recognition for helping to build a team. I was flattered that I got nominated, and very appreciative of the honor."

Hunt has been a field safety representative with Dupre Transport in Lafayette for 6 years, with responsibilities from Lafayette to Gulfport, Miss. He took some of the same qualities as an athlete into the business world.

"I have that drive, that determination to be better and to build myself," he said. "And, I’m  a team player."

Just as Hunt finished on a high note in high school, he went out in a blaze of glory in the 1994 Sun Belt Conference meet at UL’s Cajun Track. Echoing that prep finish, he won the 100, 200, 110 hurdles and was on a winning 4×100 relay.

"I can recall each race well," Hunt said of the high school finale. "It was my last time, and I had worked hard all four years for coach Doug Stewart. It was the culmination of everything I had put together.

"The Sun Belt meet was like when high school came to an end. I knew my abilities. I was pretty good in all my events. I wanted to go out on top. I wasn’t going to have any what-ifs. It felt good to wrap up that way."

Our rich athletic traditions were entrusted to the vision, hope, loyalty, and dedication of those former athletes and we will forever owe them a debt of sincere gratitude. May God bless each of them and their families.