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People SearchFind an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
Mr. John Roy
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Home Phone: 337-332-0836 Look back at Teurlings’ perfect season Kevin Foote With apologies to McDonald’s Restaurants, if the three coaches of the 1982 Teurlings Catholic Rebels never eat another McRib sandwich, it would be fine with them. The McRib was introduced that summer and head coach Bobby Green and assistants Tommy Badon and Steve Huter decided to try it prior to the Rebels’ jamboree game against Northside. Teurlings won the game 19-6, and the secret success meal had been discovered. The Rebels wouldn’t allow another point until John Curtis scored in the Class 2A state quarterfinals 12 weeks later. “By the end of that season, I hated the McRib,” said Tommy Badon, who is now Westminster Christian’s head coach. “I also went to Dairy Queen and got an extra thick vanilla shake every Friday.” “I got awfully tired of eating the McRib, but I didn’t want to be the one responsible for messing up the streak,” said Huter, who is now at Breaux Bridge. “We did all kinds of things. They shaved all of our heads at one pep rally. That was a big ordeal for me. It was very traumatic for me, but I had no choice.” Indeed, the streak had developed a life of its own by midseason 25 years ago. Before it ended in the 26-8 quarterfinal loss to powerhouse John Curtis, many things had happened: The Rebels had broken the 50-year-old state record of 10 consecutive shutouts by Mooringsport that still stands; The team was featured on ESPN’s National Scholastic Sports America program; Gov. Dave Treen declared Nov. 19, 1982 as Teurlings Catholic High School Day because of the record streak; TCHS had five players honored as first team All-State performers; Coaches and players got very familiar with the same socks and same pair of underwear for the entire season. More than superstitions The 1982 season, though, was about much more than behind-the-scenes superstitions. It was about a close team that set a record that’s not likely to be broken with 11 consecutive shutouts. “At the time, we didn’t really know how big of a deal it was,” said John Roy, a senior running back/defensive back on the team. “The streak was incredible, but to me, it was the whole experience. I look at the whole season and all the teamwork and look at the man it made me.” Few of the players or coaches, if any, remember that the Rebels outscored the opposition 412-26 during that 1982 season. What they all remember is the togetherness and team unity that produced the magical season worth recollecting 25 years later. “I never had another team that was as dedicated as that one,” Green said. Like any good team, the 1982 Rebels had their share of standout performers. The five All-Staters were twins Jed and Jay Hebert, guard/nose guard Kevin Boudreaux, quarterback Clint Campbell and defensive end Mark Zimmerman. Jed Hebert said he was honored six years ago on the all-time 50-year Lafayette Kiwanis Club Jamboree team and felt uncomfortable about it, because he wanted the whole team recognized. “It was always, ‘We’ and never ‘I’ with this team,” Jed Hebert said. “Looking back on it, there’s certainly a lot of pride. I don’t think anybody will ever do that again. But it wasn’t something any of us did by ourselves. We did it as a team.” The relationship with the coaches also contributed to the team’s greatness. “The coaches were great to play for,” Campbell said. “We always left everything on the field. We wanted to do that for them.” Streak grows legs As four shutouts turned into five, talk began to swirl around the area, the state and even nationally. “When it got to about week six or seven, we really tried to keep up the record,” senior strong safety Chad Peltier said. “I was just so happy to be a part of that whole experience. I hadn’t played football since my eighth grade year and then to go 10-0 and not give up any points my senior year was incredible. “I remember my parents telling me it was the most exciting season they ever had. I think it was pretty much that way for everybody. The fan support was great.” The team had its share of close calls, though. Many recall a slightly deflected pass in the end zone during a 55-0 win over Erath. Even more memorable were two missed field goals from close range in a 25-0 win over St. Thomas More – one missed and one blocked by Gary Gerami. “It wasn’t always the first-team guys in there,” Green said. “A lot of times it was the second-team guys who stopped them.” Unlike any other team that regularly blew out its opponents, the 1982 Rebels on occasion did return the first-team defense to the field. Some say the coaches instructed them to return. The coaches say the players begged to return at times. The truth is that history demanded it. “The players usually were begging to go back in,” Green said. “When they got into the red zone, (linebacker) Joe Ashy was going back in there,” Huter said. “After about week seven, when teams got close, Jed wanted to go back in,” Badon said. “And when Jed talked, people listened.” “We did everything possible to keep the streak alive,” Boudreaux admitted. There was also the night in Crowley when the Rebels overcame seven turnovers to win 7-0. Ironically, the quarterback may have been responsible for averting the biggest scoring threat. Seemingly trapped in the end zone for a safety in week three, Campbell not only avoided a tackler, but escaped enough to throw a 95-yard TD pass. Amazingly, there wasn’t even a field goal or a touchdown called back by penalty. “A ball never crossed the goal line or went through the uprights until the Curtis game,” Boudreaux said. Perfect into playoffs After receiving a bye in the first round of the playoffs, the second round offered little resistance with a 35-0 shutout of Brusly. Then came the titanic struggle between No. 1-ranked and defending 2A champion John Curtis and No. 2-ranked Teurlings Catholic at Pan American Stadium in New Orleans. The Patriots scored first and maintained that 8-0 lead until the fourth period when they simply wore down the Rebels. “It was deflating when they scored, but we knew we were still in it,” Badon said. “The most deflating thing is that we were playing with about 16 players and they were sending in a whole different 11 on punt teams and kickoff teams. They played about 50 guys and just wore us down.” There were other factors to that game that still agitate quarterback Campbell to this day. “They hauled in sand to the field and wet the grounds with a fire truck,” Campbell said. “I fell down three times just taking the snap. There was so much sand and mud caught in my shoes. We were quite a bit faster than they were and it really slowed us down.” Campbell and the Hebert brothers signed with UL. Green stayed around for two more years with a modest 13-9 record before leaving to go to Lafayette High. Teurlings would only enjoy two winning seasons over the following eight. That one glittering campaign in 1982, though, won’t ever be forgotten. “It was a great experience to know that you accomplished some great things,” Jay Hebert said, “but the best thing about it is the lifelong relationships that were built.” “I haven’t seen that kind of teamwork again,” Roy said. “We were so close. We’d kill for each other … and still would.” Click on the link below for the 1982 Teurlings Catholic Football photo gallery http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=DG&Dato=20070830&Kategori=PREPSGALLERIES&Lopenr=708290804&Ref=PH&Profile=1006 August 31, 2007
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