August 22, 2013
2 WEEKS AWAY: Denham Springs HS Football radio broadcasts
Plaquemine HS Football radio broadcasts
St. John HS Football radio broadcasts
--Our broadcasting crews have been set. They are motley, to say the least. On our Denham Springs broadcasts, it’s Mr. Motley, Jon Fine, on play-by-play, with Brian Abels on color commentary. Chris Ledoux will be the sideline reporter/statistician. The St. John/Plaquemine broadcasts will feature J. R. Barker barking pbp, with Brian “Baco” Romero on color.
--A reminder that contrary to initial plans, we will not be carrying the Denham Springs HS Jamboree game. Both the Denham Springs and St. John/Plaquemine broadcasts will commence with week #1 of the regular season on Friday, September 6.
--Both broadcasts will start each week at 6pm, with Sport N Center Jackets Warmup (Denham Springs broadcasts on Comedy-1210-Baton Rouge and JonFineProducttions.com) and Barker Pharmacy Pre-Game show (St. John/Plaquemine broadcasts on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and JonFineProductions.com)
--Next week, we will have our combined schedule for you. For those in the Greater Lake Charles area, we’ll also have the Sulphur slate (carried on SportsRadio-1310-KEZM-Lake Charles and on line at KEZMOnLine.com
Bruce Merchant (pbp) and Clopha Boudreaux (color))
PRESS RELEASE
THE DRU NETTLES SHOW
Denham Springs HS 3-sport star Ben McDonald headlines the guests appearing on this Thursday night’s The Dru Nettles Show (Thursday, August 22, 6pm—7pm, Cox 4 Television, Baton Rouge, with replays on Friday, 10:30am and Saturday, 12:30pm.)
McDonald’s one-time freshmen battery-mate, Dru Nettles, will not make the program.
Nettles. The DSHS Athletic Director/Head Football coach, who co-hosts The Dru Nettles Show with Jon Fine, will be coaching the Jackets in a football scrimmage against St. Michaels HS. Filling in for Coach Nettles will be one-time DSHS Football player and present restaurateur, “The Big Sexy”—Big Mike O’Neal Jr.
McDonald excelled at Baseball, Basketball and Football at DSHS. As a senior, he led the Jackets to the 1986 Class 4A Baseball state championship. All other starters on this team were seniors, with the exception of freshmen catcher Nettles. A Basketball recruit at LSU, McDonald ended up winning The Golden Spikes Award, given to the best college baseball player in the country, in 1989. Shortly thereafter, the Baltimore Orioles made him the number 1 pick in the Major League Draft. McDonald enjoyed a solid 9 year professional career with the Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers. He presently is a youth softball coach, where he has excelled.
A member of the inaugural Denham Springs HS Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2011, McDonald was the first ever inductee into The Dru Nettles Show Hall of Fame in 2012.
Although he has never stated, implied or inferred such, the membership in The Dru Nettles Show Hall of Fame might be McDonald’s greatest athletic achievement. DSHS Basketball great Tasmin Mitchell became the second inductee into the show’s Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Fellow DSHS Hall of Famer Roger West, another class of 2011 inductee, will also be a guest on the show. West was a standout at Basketball, Football and Track at DSHS. Nicknamed “Hot Shot”, West shared the same backfield with another Jackets legend and fellow Hall of Famer, Randy Rushing.
Denham Springs HS Basketball coach Wynn Wingate will be interviewed on the program. Entering his 9th year coaching the Jackets, Wingate has led the Jackets to numerous playoff appearances. He will talk about the Jackets’ summer league performance and upcoming season.
Other guests on the show include Albany HS Head Football Coach Blane Westmoreland, Livingston Parish Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Eric Edwards, with Big Mike O’Neal of Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill, serving as not only as fill-in co-host and provider of the pre-show meal, but as Sponsor of The Week. At press time, there was no information available about any of Big Mike’s illustrious athletic career at Denham Springs HS. Local authorities have been contacted to give us a better idea of the headlines Big Mike was making back in the day. We will report this, or make something up, along these lines, on the program.
For more information on The Dru Nettles Show, please visit The Dru Nettles Show page on JonFineProductions.com. Also, Jackets fans may Like TheDruNettlesShow on Facebook.
THE CENTRAL STORY
This week’s The Central Sports & Business Report will feature co-host Scott Osborne (see Wizardry of Os below) filling in for Steve Johnson. Although Matt Price continues to make strides, health reasons preclude him from co-hosting the show. Scott will be joined by CHS Swimmers: Emerald Roney, Daniel Parker and Destiny Bankston and Silks Claire Conaway and Morgan Davis. (Jamaal Wilkes will not be on the show… player from NBA… good, but not great… back in the day… nicknamed “Silk”… never mind)
Monday night on The Central Story, it’s Destined to Win, with Rocky Bezet, Pastor, The Rock Church.
The Central Story airs Monday and Thursday nights, 5:30pm—6:30pm, on WPFC, 1550AM, Baton Rouge and on the Net at JonFineProductions.com.
FIRST CLASS EVENT
Congratulations to Butch Wax, Dru Nettles, Jim Spring, David Bourque, Forrest Grove Plantation and a cast of thousands for putting on a terrific 2013 Denham Springs HS Athletic Hall of Fame gala, last Friday night. Impressive, to say the least. For being a high school event, ASTOUNDINGLY IMPRESSING.
DS FOOTBALL WEBSITE
From a Press Release furnished by Kirk Smart
Denham Springs High School is seeking to establish a complete history of
the Yellow Jacket football program, focusing especially upon the early
years from 1930 until 1975. While the modern era from 1975 forward is well
documented, this “foundation era” lacks consistent year-by-year
documentation even though many important gridiron milestones took place
before 1975.
DSHS Athletic Director Dru Nettles recently tasked official statistician
and local supporter, Kirk Smart, with designing a new website dedicated
solely to Yellow Jacket football. Although the website
(www.denhamspringsfootball.com) will provide current and breaking news, it
will also build on the rich tradition of DSHS football by preserving the
history of the program from its inception through today.
Since official statistics and formal records in those days were not
collected in the same manner as now, much of the needed documentation likely
resides inside vintage scrapbooks and yearbooks of former students and
athletes who may not realize how valuable their personal archives are to the
success of this project.
The public is asked to contact Smart at
kirksmart@denhamspringsfootball.com with any documentation, newspaper
articles, old photographs, etc. that may be helpful in capturing the local
gridiron history of this era.
School officials are seeking information such as, but not limited to,
team rosters; team and individual photos; season records and scores; rushing,
passing, receiving, and kicking statistics; old football programs; players
who received post season honors like All District, All State, football
scholarships, etc. Copies of such memorabilia can be made so that the
originals may be retained by the owner.
Former DSHS student-athlete-coach-principal, Butch Wax, who is assisting
with this project, encourages the public to pause for a few minutes to find
these keepsakes, “The time is running out to fill in the gaps from these
early years of Yellow Jacket football. If the history of our school isn’t
recorded soon, it will be lost forever.”
GREAT CAUSE
Jon Fine is proud to be a new member of Livingston Parish Rotary. That makes 4 clubs (Livingston Parish Chamber, Iberville Chamber, Central Chamber) that Jon can potentially be thrown out of
Livingston Parish Rotary meets Fridays, Noon—1pm at Big Mike’s Sports Bar & Grill in Denham Springs. Please contact me if you might be interested in joining this very special organization.
CAJUN JOKE OF THE WEEK AS HEARD ON THE 8/15 THE CENTRAL STORY
Complements of Larry Boudreaux’s website, CousinBoudreaux.com:
Boudreaux and Marie decided to travel from South Louisiana to Nova Scotia by car and see where de Cajuns originally settled in de new world.
After travelin’ almost twenty-four hours dey were too tired to continue and decided to stop in Boston for a rest.
They stopped at a nice hotel, but dey only planned to sleep for four hours and den get back on de road.
When dey checked out four hours later, de desk Clerk; handed dem a bill for $350.00.
Boudreaux exploded and demanded to know why de bill waz so high.
Boudreaux tole de clerk dat de hotel waz real nice but dat de room certainly wazn’t worth $350.00 for only four hours.
De clerk informed heem dat $350.00 waz de standard rate.
Boudreaux axed to talk to de manager.
The Manager appears, listens to Boudreaux, and den explains dat de hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center dat were available Boudreaux and Boudreaux to use.
Boudreaux replied, "But we didn't use dem."
“Well, dey are here, and you could have," explained de Manager.
De manager went on to explain, “You could have taken in one of de shows for which de hotel is famous. De best entertainers from New York, Hollywood, and Las Vegas perform here."
Boudreaux complained again, "But we didn't go to any of those shows."
"Well, we have dem, and you could have," de Manager replied.
No matter what amenity de Manager mentions, Boudreaux replied, "But we didn't use it!"
De Manager waz unmoved, and eventually Boudreaux gave up and agreed to pay. He writes a check and gave eet to de Manager.
The Manager looks at de check and says, "But sir, dis check is only made out for $50.00."
Boudreaux said, “Dat's right, I charged you $300.00 for usin’ my car."
"But I didn't!" exclaims de Manager.
"Well, too bad," Boudreaux replies. "eet waz here and you could have."
BROADCASTING SCHEDULE:
Thursday, August 22: 5:30pm—6:30pm: The Central Sports & Business Report (on The Central Story)… with Scott Osborne… broadcasting live from Me’Pa’s Diner—Sullivan Road, Next to Chase Bank, in Central
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
Thursday, August 22: 6:00pm—7:00pm: The Dru Nettles Show… with Big Mike O’Neal Jr. & Jon Fine
Cox 4 Television, Baton Rouge (replays on Friday, August 16, 10:30am—11:30am and Saturday, August 17, 12:30pm—1:30pm)
Monday, August 25: 5:30pm—6:30pm: Destined To Win (on The Central Story)
Pastor Rocky Bezet, Pastor, The Rock Church
WPFC, 1550AM, BR
Internet: JonFineProductions.com
SportsRadio—1310-KEZM-Lake Charles Programming of Interest (also heard on KEZMOnLine.com)
Monday, August 25: 3PM—5PM: Bayou Blitz with Alex Hickey and Miguel Gauthreaux
WE THANK YOU FOR DOING YOUR UTMOST TO PATRONIZE SPONSORS OF OUR PROGRAMMING. THIS HELPS US TREMENDOUSLY IN SUSTAINING OUR WEEKLY LINE-UP AND WILL ASSIST US IN ADDING MORE PROGRAMS IN THE FUTURE. KINDLY MAKE AN EFFORT TO LET SPONSORS KNOW YOU HEARD THEIR BUSINESS MENTIONED ON OUR BROADCAST(S).
THE WIZARDRY OF OS
Assistant Basketball Coach/Head Swimming Coach at Central High School
If I could be any fictional (non super hero) character I would want to be Sherlock Holmes or a nicer Gregory House. We are just over a week from LSU taking on TCU, and I enjoy trying to channel my inner super detective. I enjoy trying to piece together the tiny bits of news that can be gathered from LSU fall practice to predict what kind of season the Tigers will have.
At quarterback, I am anticipating a season that would be a cross between Josh Booty or Jamie Howard as a senior for Mettenberger. For those that don't remember, that would be very solid but not quite Davey, Flynn, or Russell. It would be the best we have seen since Flynn, though. As for Anthony Jennings and the prospect of him providing the role Perilloux played, I don't expect to see it against TCU. Though I think the Tigers will experiment with him in that role at some point during the season.
With Jeremy Hill back in the fold, even if he is suspended for some games, the running back position is a strength of the team. Magee will bring a nice change of pace that will give the offense an added wrinkle it has not had in years. Injuries or further discipline to Jeremy Hill will be the only thing to keep this position from being one of the elite running back groups in the country.
The receivers and tight ends are also as good of an overall group as LSU has had the last few years. This group is not as good as when LSU had Clayton, Henderson, and Green or Bowe, Davis, and Doucet. Nevertheless, I think they have all the components to be very effective. Landry and Beckham are very effective underneath, while Dural should bring a substantial deep threat. Boone and Wright provide experienced depth to a deep group. Meanwhile the tight ends have great run blocking ability from Gordon and Stokes, and better pass receivers than in recent years from Dickson and Smith.
The only position on the offensive line where there could be cause for concern is at center. Yet, I look at offensive line at LSU the way I look at receivers for the Saints. If there is one position LSU will be solid while Miles is at LSU, it is on the offensive line and at center. This group is very talented and their job will be made easier by a more diverse offense that prevents defenses from loading up against the run.
Most people stick their special teams thoughts at the end of their articles, but I am placing it in the middle. With the depth LSU has at linebacker and speed in the secondary, I think the coverage and return teams will be great. Early in the year, I expect the coaches to be aggressive on fourth downs and in the red zone until they gain confidence in the new field goal kicker.
Defensive tackle is the number one position of concern. Johnson and Ferguson will be great, but depth is necessary to survive a 12 game SEC schedule. Many experts have expressed concern over the number of freshman that LSU will play this year. That fact does not concern me except tackle. The reason is it is the only position where freshman will be the primary backups that could be thrust into starting roles if injuries occur (other than center which I explained why I am not as concerned earlier). Staying healthy is a must at this spot.
While LSU is known as DBU, it might as well be DEU as well. It is a position where talent and athleticism will not be an issue for a while. Again, experts are concerned about this position because LSU lost their top 3 players at DE last year. I won't be concerned, though, unless injuries force a freshman to start.
Losing Kevin Minter is tough, but LSU will be better overall at linebacker. The coaches did a great job last year getting their talented freshman experience. The depth is incredible. It was a great decision to move Melvin Jones to linebacker so he can follow is JC Copeland's shoes next year.
The question in the secondary is whether the Tigers can find a new playmaker. They are talented and capable. It looks like a true freshman will play the nickel spot. While that is concerning to some, recent years have shown that LSU is able to plug in young players to that position easily. The key is that player is tough, athletic, and a ball hawk. Hopefully, White or Jefferson has those qualities.
If Alabama and LSU swapped schedules, I would predict LSU with a better final record. Alas, the schedules are how they are. LSU plays two top ten conference teams at their stadiums. That alone makes it hard to predict anything other than 10-2, which is my prediction. Yet, let this be my asterisk. The Tigers will have a chance to win every game at the end, which means I can see 11-1 with good health, the right chemistry, and a little luck.
HEY REF
Veteran Louisiana High School Official
Warning, Warning!! No, I haven’t been to a “Twilight Zone” convention nor have I sat in front of my TV for the last 48 hours watching “The Outer Limits”. What I have been doing is hitting the books pretty hard because the start of the 2013 High School Football Season starts tonight with scrimmages. I spent this past weekend attending a referee camp in Monroe where we were shown play after play of high school games from around the country showing kids lowering their heads to inflict a hard shot to a runner or an opposing player. Some of these kids no longer have the use of their legs, arms or both.
If you’ve ever read any of my columns you’re very much aware of how I put player safety at the forefront of everything. Our main objective as officials is to get the players home with nothing more than bumps and bruises. For years the high school rulebook has forbidden the use of the either the top (crown) of the helmet and\or the facemask to be used in tackling or blocking.
I admit there are times when we have to (for the sake of the game) ignore minor fouls but it’s gotten to the point where tonight, starting with the first kickoffs and until this game is never played that the officials will be coming down hard on any of the slightest infractions of the misuse of helmets.
Coaches, players, principals, parents and fans cut this article out and read it before each and every game so that when we hit your favorite team with a 15 yarder you won’t have the excuse of “I didn’t know you couldn’t do that, when did they start calling that”? In the Advocate yesterday was an article where the NCAA is cracking down on these same types of hits. I can tell you that the LHSAA will be doing the same if not more to insure our kids enjoy the games, play hard and are able to walk at the end of the year to get their diplomas.
We saw plays where the runners would lower their heads trying for extra yardage. Word to the wise (and unwise, for that matter) DON’T DO IT! Those will also be called because it’s not always defenders being carted off the playing field. I can only hope the coaches are not teaching this technique. If you are; you must stop it! If you’re being taught this; don’t use it. If your coach benches you for refusing to lower your head all I can say to you is this; it’s better to be sitting on the bench than in a wheelchair.
During this clinic one coach at the “round-table” discussion let it be known his disgust for the holding calls the officials seem to enjoy calling on his team. He stated that holding can be called on every play and I can’t agree with him more. We try to call holding ONLY when it affects the outcome of the play and only around the place of attack.
But what came out of his mouth next just stunned us, “I know it happens on every play because I TEACH MY KIDS TO HOLD”! Let me get this right, you’re mad because it seems more holding calls are called on your team yet you admit to teaching your team to hold. So, let me try to figure this one out; I teach my kids not to follow the rules and I’m upset because my team is penalized for violating the rules?
Certainly not all coaches do that or admit to it but we as officials are aware of our primary directive “insure both teams play according to the established rules and that neither team uses them to gain an unfair advantage”. Simply put that’s why we’re there. We know nobody pays to see us officiating nor do we want to step into the spotlight.
So, as I close for this week, please remember to keep your heads high when blocking, tackling and running the ball. I hope we don’t have a huge spike in these fouls as I know the coaches will be teaching their kids to lead with a shoulder and when we do call his team for “spearing” he’ll understand that the safety of his players are our number one concern.
I wish all teams the very best of luck, follow your coaches advice, play hard but play fair. This year more than any other the focus is on player safety and it’ll happen if all of us work just a little harder to keep our kids safe. I know the guys in stripes are going that extra mile to insure it. I can only ask and hope that all the coaches and players will understand it’s not only for the safety of the opposition; it’s also for your benefit.
Till next week…
A VIEW FROM THE SIDELINES
HS Sportscaster, WWL Radio, New Orleans
Let’s Get Ready for Some High School Football!!
It is one of my favorite times in the sports year, high school football and Major league playoff races. With scrimmages this week and Jamborees next week, we finally get a preview of what our favorite teams will do on the field. Everyone is excited and optimistic. Each football season is unique in its own way. Of course this year will be overshadowed by the events of the last eight months.
The LHSAA passed what I believe is the most divisive measure ever proposed by the organization. In an effort to address the so called “recruiting” by private schools, it has thrown out the baby with the bathwater. Let’s examine the recruiting being addressed. The schools most often used as the “poster boys” for recruiting are John Curtis and Evangel, although others are often mentioned. I am going to focus on John Curtis, as I am familiar with the school and its coaches.
John Curtis did not win a game in its initial year of competition, but they quickly overcame their losing ways. If you listen to the rhetoric you would think J. T. Curtis flies around the country looking for exceptional athletes and convincing them to move to the New Orleans area and attend his school. In reality, the athletes that are attending John Curtis come from the local area. There is a depth of talent in the Kenner, Metairie, and Jefferson area. This is obvious when John Curtis and Archbishop Rummel win the State Championship in the same year drawing students from the same area! And when you add in Edna Karr in New Orleans and the competitiveness of Holy Cross, Brother Martin, St. Augustine, O. P. Walker, just to name a few, you realize there is a tremendous amount of athletes in the New Orleans area. The reason why students attend these schools is for the education AND the athletics. It is not hard to convince a good athlete during a school’s Open House that the education is better than the public schools. That is the recruiting advantage, the education.
John Curtis does not do anything different than any other private school. Certainly their success, and the impact J. T. Curtis has had on the student-athletes that have attended his school, draws a higher degree interest. But it is not because of any incentives given by the school, nor is it pressure recruiting by any of their staff. It is because it is a great school to attend that has excellent, disciplined athletic programs.
Recruiting is getting your name out there and building on your success. For full disclosure, I went to Archbishop Rummel. The influence on the athletes comes from the coaching they receive from fathers in the playground systems. The fathers convey their experiences to the kids they coach. Those same kids go to the Open Houses and validate the schools educational offerings and the athletic programs and pick the school of their choice. That is the recruiting process. What the LHSAA has done will not curtail that process.
The bottom line is if the public school system offered the same level of education, discipline, and athletic environments, they would put most of the private schools out of business. Look at areas that have excellent public school systems and you find outstanding competitive programs. For example Lutcher, Zachary, East and West Feliciana, West Monroe, Destrehan, East St. John just to name a few. There have been a few State Championships at those schools!! The bottom line is if you’re competitive academically you can compete athletically. It is a market base decision to spend extra money on private school tuition!
The LHSAA has to reconsider this decision. The cost of having a three day State Championship on an ongoing basis will be too prohibitive. It is going to hurt playoff revenue and will detract interest will all the byes and teams having to “play up” in classification because there are not enough schools in their class to have their own playoffs. Take a school like Vanderbilt Catholic, who could have be a strong contender in their classification, could now have an opening round game with St. Aug!! That is not fair to those kids.
These actions by the LHSAA will not make this season less exciting, there will still be most of the same rivalries, and of course, I am excited the Catholic League is back together. The kids will still play hard to win every game and the parents will get to see their children compete and mature. It is just too bad that at the end of the year, you still won’t know who the best team in each division is!!!
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-LAKE CHARLES, IN ESTABLSHING THE “DOLLAR A HOLLER” MARKETING PROGRAM AND HELPING SELL SULPHUR HS FOOTBALL BROADCASTS AND BARBE HS BASEBALL PLAYOFF BROADCASTS.