August 6, 2021
DENHAM SPRINGS ATHLETIC ROYALTY
The Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame will induct 2 classes—2020 and 2021-- September 9 at Forrest Grove Plantation in Denham Springs. Tickets for the popular banquet will be on sale to the public at the school office starting August 12.
Three All State athletes representing a variety of sports and one state championship coach will be inducted from the Class of 2021. Headlining the class is inventive coach Sid Garrison who founded the highly regarded DSHS tennis program and served as its first coach for 12 seasons of remarkable success. Joining Garrison are three elite athletes who were each chosen to participate in the prestigious LHSAA All Star Game in their respective sports. Two-time All State softball great, Jennie Reeves, went on to become a star catcher and four-year starter for the LSU Lady Tigers. Blaine Posey, himself a two-time All State baseball star, was also a twice-honored All Parish pick, earning MVP laurels as a senior. A rugged competitor and dominating offensive lineman for the Yellow Jacket football team, Robert Roux was selected All State and also honored by his teammates as Team Captain and by his coaches as recipient of the coveted Coaches Award… Please scroll down below near the bottom for entire press release.
JACKETS BROADCASTS
Catch all Denham Springs HS Football games on the radio and internet in 2021! The first broadcast will be on Friday, August 27, when the Jackets host Walker in the Denham Springs Jamboree. Air-time, to be determined for the Jamboree, will start with Sport N Center Jackets Warmup
Games can be heard on Family Radio, 91.9 FM, Baton Rouge and on the net at JonFineProductions.com
More info to come in ensuing newsletters… GO JACKETS!!!!!!!!
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TODAY’S COLUMNS:
Scott discusses lsu Football and the Saints
Dennis questions Nick Saban’s salary
Please scroll down below.
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THE WIZARDRY OF OS
I really feel bad for Myles Brennan. Here is a guy that has never been in trouble, graduated, did not transfer, made the sacrifices to add weight to his frame, and improved every game when he had the opportunity to start. He had an injury that was almost unprecedented last year, and now is out with another severe injury.
Once again, as fans and media spent months talking about the depth LSU had established at quarterback, one injury and suddenly LSU is one play from being in the same boat as last year. Finley transferred, Brennan got hurt, and now Johnson must stay healthy or LSU will have to turn to a true freshman.
Garrett Nussmeier is very talented, but he is a true freshman quarterback, and we have seen what happens when LSU has to start a true freshman at quarterback. As a young quarterback, Johnson has been quick to leave the pocket and try to make plays with his feet. Often he puts himself in harm's way. Hopefully, Coach Peetz and Max can find ways to use his running ability but keep him healthy. Considering the situation, let's hope for a quick recovery for Myles´ sake and LSU football.
Speaking of quick recovery, I am going to need one each Monday after Saints games the way things are going. I feel like I have flashed back to 2014 when the culture of the Saints locker room was lost.
Lattimore, Thomas, Onyemota, and now Deonte Harris will likely miss time because of poor decisions. This is the NFL where injuries are going to happen. So losing players for poor decisions off the field is like starting the season 0-2 before playing a game.
Because the Saints were unable to address the wide receiver position in free agency or the draft, it is clear they have chosen a plan B. You are going to see the Saints use Kamara as a receiver as much as possible this year. The giveaway was when the Saints signed Devonta Freeman at running back. Sean Payton does not use three running backs. He had Trent Montgomery all last year and only played him when Kamara was hurt. Without seeing a down of football, I fully expect to see Payton use Freeman and Murray at running back so Kamara can be split out wide.
I think Taysom Hill has the advantage at quarterback considering the lack of confidence in the wide receiver position. It is going to be difficult for the Saints to simply drop back and use timing patterns to move the ball downfield with Winston at quarterback throwing to a bunch of undrafted free agents.
The best model for offensive success would be how Kyle Shanahan has run his offense in San Francisco (before the whole team got hurt last year). The best players for the Niners are on the offensive line, running back, and tight end. The Saints do not have Kittle at tight end, but they have Kamara. Like the Niners, the Saints have an excellent offensive line. Hill or Winston have a better chance for success if the defense has to defend the width of the field and the run first.
I expect (and hope) to see a number of changes in the Saints offense this year. Obviously, with Drew, the Saints would use formations to help Drew read the field and get the ball out quickly. This year, the Saints need to use every skill position in the run game. As much as possible, play action needs to be used with motion to prevent the defense from playing fast and to get Kamara matched on different players.
In the past, defenses have been able to treat Kamara like a receiver and put a strong cover player or double team him based on where he lines up. Starting him in different places, putting him in motion, and using run fakes make it harder for defenses to just key on Kamara.
None of this will matter though, if the players are not able to live up to the reputation we hear every time the Saints sign a player. That is to say that they are smart players who make good decisions. On the field, and off the field.
Hey Ref
By Dennis Dearie
Please someone explain to me just where will Alabama (any school for that matter) come up with all the extra millions of dollars the University is on the hook for to pay “Little Nicky”? As many of my loyal readers are well aware of I believe that colleges should be in the business of educating the future so called leaders of our country and not to shuck out these astronomical salaries to coaches.
Am I the only one wanting answers as to not just “where” but also “how” is a PUBLIC university going to increase its “outgoing funds” by millions of dollars without a LOAN coming from the TAXPAYERS? I’m confused as to the situation that continues to haunt just about every state’s legislature in finding ways to keep the state they dwell in solvent.
Because of COVID, 2020 has left a lot of states with very limited resources (tax dollars) in which to operate. But even the basic and most needed items usually in a state’s budget aren’t being adequately funded. I’m talking about useless things such as medical care for seniors, meals for the poor, shelter for those that have been foreclosed on, parents that can’t afford tuition now much less an increase that’s surely to follow, etc. You know things that don’t matter unless you happen to be without a job, healthcare, groceries or money to be able to pay for water and electricity.
But what really happens when these already overpaid individuals get even more over paid? Simple; someone has to go without. Usually that means professors won’t be getting a well needed raise, the walls in classrooms don’t get a fresh coat of paint, roofs continue to leak and fall down, many university roads won’t have pot-holes repaired, security can’t hire more officers to keep campuses safe and the list goes on and on.
But in the end Saban’s hefty new contract will cost everyone even those like me that can’t afford to have a seat inside the stadium on game day. In fact it’s now to the point where “free” TV will not be broadcasting many of those intense SEC rivalries because conferences need the money so the solution is what? That’s an easy question to answer because they are going to “Pay Per View” or package deals you can purchase.
Nick’s new contract will pay him $8.425 MILLION yearly in base pay. That’s a hefty raise as his last contract paid him just 6.5 MILLION a year in base salary. And of course there are many incentives that can and will raise his yearly take to almost $10 million per season for doing a GOOD JOB! Are you kidding me, a bonus if he does a good job? Shouldn’t there be a flip side to this coin? I favor something along the lines of taking away raises and bonuses for doing a lousy job. When all is said and done his new package is a seven figure raise from the eight year one he signed in 2012. Not long ago he signed on the dotted line and still had six years to go on his 2012 contract but it wasn’t enough so everything was thrown out so Alabama could load even more dollars to his already insane contract. That was all done because the Alumni felt Saban could jump ship and head out west where UCLA could use his talents and contend for the National Title.
My train of thought is why don’t we replace our Legislatures with coaches and hope they can turn around the country instead of something more important like a football program. At the crux of all this madness fans WILL pay more for parking, meals, drinks, souvenirs and of course tickets. Many schools like LSU extort season ticket holders a fee of a few hundred dollars to of all things have the glory of being on a preferred list of applicants to view sporting contests in the friendly confines of Tiger Stadium.
No doubt Alabama is doing the same and will be pumping up prices to keep their priorities where they need to be; on a select few employees while abandoning the majority. Saban’s entire staff is also being “rewarded” by raises of a few thousand to many thousands that also have to be funded by higher prices for fans and taxpayers alike. No, this isn’t something unique in Alabama but a sad national trend and one that will not be affected by my complaints but at least I’m on record saying that those funds should be spent in other more demanding areas that benefit the overall university.
And this little scam where players will finally be given a check for their talents is even more obscene. What people don’t understand is that only a certain few athletes will be getting a check and that’ll be distributed by the makers of video games and other such sources. Again, I say to everyone that believes in doing the right thing PAY ALL PLAYERS A SALARY! It’s going to be very difficult for schools to pay anything because coaches and their staffs are taking almost every penny from the budgets. It’s sad when those that make everything possible don’t get enough to pay rent for just one month or even enough to cover groceries.
At least I can sleep at night not having to wonder how I’ll pay these obscene salaries. The saddest thing though is Nicky and more like him will take as much as possible and not miss a single minute of sleep…
Till next week…
Press Release
by
Jim Spring
School officials and title sponsor Hood Dental Care are pleased to announce the Denham Springs High School Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2021. This year’s class, along with the Class of 2020, will be enshrined jointly on September 9 at Forrest Grove Plantation in Denham Springs. Induction of the Class of 2020 was postponed last year due to the pandemic. Tickets for the popular banquet will be on sale to the public at the school office starting August 12.
Three All State athletes representing a variety of sports and one state championship coach will be inducted from the Class of 2021. Headlining the class is inventive coach Sid Garrison who founded the highly regarded DSHS tennis program and served as its first coach for 12 seasons of remarkable success.
Joining Garrison are three elite athletes who were each chosen to participate in the prestigious LHSAA All Star Game in their respective sports. Two-time All State softball great, Jennie Reeves, went on to become a star catcher and four-year starter for the LSU Lady Tigers. Blaine Posey, himself a two-time All State baseball star, was also a twice-honored All Parish pick, earning MVP laurels as a senior. A rugged competitor and dominating offensive lineman for the Yellow Jacket football team, Robert Roux was selected All State and also honored by his teammates as Team Captain and by his coaches as recipient of the coveted Coaches Award.
Below are highlights of the athletic, scholastic, and civic achievements of these celebrated sports figures.
Sid Garrison (Coach)
Sid Garrison was a man of great vision and humility, never seeking the spotlight, but always pursuing community excellence. In 1983 he proposed that DSHS form a tennis program so local Junior Tennis players could have the honor of representing their school. He coached the boys’ and girls’ teams for a dozen years with only one losing season, boasting five singles State Champions, seven district titles, and a two-time National High School All-America superstar. That superstar was his daughter, fellow Hall of Famer Jana Garrison Orillion. He also coached his son, Chad Garrison, who attained considerable notoriety in Louisiana prep tennis circles as well.
Garrison worked full time as an Engineering Specialist for the Louisiana Department of Public Works and was not an official employee of DSHS. Then-principal Louis Carlisle and athletic director Butch Wax determined that a faculty member would be assigned to provide administrative interface between the school and its non-faculty coach. It was a perfect marriage, leaving Garrison to focus exclusively on coaching. Through the years he greatly enjoyed those relationships with faculty sponsors Becky Potter and Lloyd deGeneres. He exposed hundreds of kids to a great lifetime sport, several of whom earned tennis scholarships to play collegiately.
Garrison also oversaw the PARDS softball and baseball programs for four years, playing a key role in the city’s hosting of state and national Babe Ruth baseball tournaments. He was a Board member for Recreation District 3 as well, vigorously promoting that six tennis courts be included in the then-new North Park sports complex for school and community use. In each of these civic endeavors he pursued his duties with a passion, such as the time he flew to Boston with an engineer to evaluate a track surface that was under consideration for the North Park facility. He was a true servant of his community.
Though he was a 1952 graduate of Live Oak High School, Garrison became an avid supporter of DSHS sports and an enthusiastic member of the Jacket Backers for many years. On occasion, at Yellow Jacket banquets and sporting venues, he was the “go to” substitute for any Master of Ceremony engagements at which the venerable J. W. “Pee Wee” Day was unable to appear.
He was married to the late Dorothy Cain Garrison for 59 years with whom he had three children. His family knew well that Sid Garrison’s singular role in founding and growing the sport of tennis at DSHS was the most satisfying and fun-filled experience of his life. He died in 2020. He is survived by the same DSHS tennis program that has flourished for 38 years to date, fulfilling the vision of its architect.
Blaine Posey (Athlete)
A superb athlete in baseball and football, Blaine Posey was heralded as a two-time All District and two-time All Parish (MVP once) baseball star while earning Class 5A All State honors as an outfielder in 2008 and 2009. A four-year letterman, his combined batting average as a junior and senior was a blistering.412, with a DSHS career record of 98 stolen bases, securing his selection to the celebrated LHSAA All Star Baseball Doubleheader. In football, his game-winning touchdown interception versus Catholic High was legendary, ending a 30-year drought against the Golden Bears. Posey played baseball at Alabama Southern and Baton Rouge Community Colleges before earning a scholarship to Mississippi College. At BRCC he was named to the Region 23 All Conference Team and was one of only nine players nationwide in Division I Junior College to be honored as a Rawlings Golden Glove recipient.
Receiving awards and making all star teams are pretty special for an athlete, but when your high school coach, Mark Carroll, says this about you, it can’t get any better than that: “Such a competitor. He comes every day to play full-tilt, wide-open, hard-as-you-can. He personifies what we try to get them to do, playing every pitch, every game, full-tilt. If he was 6-foot-2, you wouldn’t be able to get into our park because of all the scouts that would be there to see him.” Blaine Posey’s temperment sounded a bit like the great Russ Johnson of his baseball generation.
He hit the ground running at the next level, earning a scholarship to Alabama Southern Community College, where the freshman bolted to prominence with a.378 batting average, 26 stolen bases, and a.976 field percentage for the Eagles. As a sophomore he transferred to Baton Rouge Community College, earning All Conference honors with a.333 batting average, 28 stolen bases in 29 attempts, 42 runs scored, and a flawless 1.000 fielding percentage with zero errors in 92 putouts on the season. During the conference tournament, Posey rose to the challenge by elevating his batting average nearly 80 points on the big stage.
Recruited by LSU, Auburn, Tennessee and several smaller colleges, he elected to complete his collegiate career at Mississippi College where he continued to display the same standard of excellence until his career was cut short by injury.
While the spotlight of his high school athletic achievements shone brightest on the baseball, Posey was an outstanding Yellow Jacket football player as well. Though only 5’8” tall, he was a fierce tackler and ball hawk from his defensive secondary position, especially during his senior season on an October night when the Jackets played a rival whom they had not beaten in the past 14 attempts. Not only did DSHS defeat Catholic High for the first time in years, delivering the Bears’ first district loss in 35 games, it did so on the back of Blaine Posey’s stunning 34-yard pick-six interception that gave the Jackets a narrow, spectacular 7-6 victory. DSHS went on to enjoy an 8-3 record in 2008, but the play of the season was that legendary interception.
Posey is the proud father of a young son and, in addition to his employment with Ripzz Baseball, he is a volunteer assistant coach with the DSHS freshman baseball and football teams.
Jennie Reeves (Athlete)
In 1998 Jennie Reeves helped lead the Lady Jackets to the school’s first Class 5A state softball title. In 1998 and 1999 she was named Class 5A All State—the state’s best catcher in its highest classification. Perhaps as impressive, she was a superb five-sport athlete, a four-year letterman in basketball and softball. Yet, her most distinguished sports achievement may have been her selection to All District teams in three different sports—basketball and volleyball (once) and softball (three times).
A well-rounded campus leader, Reeves was honored as an elite Regents Scholar, a distinction wherein high school students voluntarily take the most demanding courses to prepare for college. She was a class officer multiple times and a member of Jackets Against Drunk Driving and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Yet, her passion was always softball since she began playing catcher at age eight, as noted by her Lady Jacket coach, Robbie Spangler: “She has such a great work ethic. She’s willing to do whatever it takes and never questions it. She eats, sleeps, and dreams softball. She just has such a love for the game.”
Invited to play in the prestigious LHSAA All Star Softball Game, she was forced to decline due to a scheduling conflict. Reeves went on to become a four-year starter and star catcher at LSU. As a freshman, she broke into the starting lineup, starting 17 games and playing in a total of 35. Her fielding percentage was.974 with only three errors on the season. As a sophomore, she earned a remarkable 1.000 fielding percentage with zero errors in 34 games. The Lady Tigers won a ticket to the women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City that year, finishing third with games against such elite programs as Iowa, Stanford, Oklahoma, and UCLA.
Her junior campaign was highlighted by starting 50 of 60 games while leading the SEC in overall chances and putouts and setting a school record in those categories for a single season. She set an SEC single-game high of 18 putouts against Florida and also Northwestern State. During her final season, Reeves led the SEC in fielding percentage by a catcher and recorded the fifth-highest single-season fielding percentage in LSU history.
Jennie Reeves’ high school and collegiate sports careers were so celebrated that anything thereafter might seem a little anticlimactic to some. Yet, she has found her participation in the Big Buddy program to be immensely rewarding, tapping into a passion for children who live in difficult circumstances. Her experience as a former college athlete provides a platform to connect with young girls and serve as a mentor. Her current “buddy” is a high school girl who plays basketball which happens to be Reeves’ second favorite sport. Her ultimate goal is to become a foster parent, however, her current job situation is not compatible with such a commitment.
Joining a long line of Hall of Fame members who are relatives, she and LSU All-American baseball great Russ Johnson are cousins. Reeves is a 2004 graduate of LSU.
Robert Roux (Athlete)
Robert Roux was a dominating offensive lineman who opened slashing holes for running back Kelvin Robinson, the school’s only prep All-American football great. Meanwhile, Roux quietly earned All District laurels twice, unanimously as a senior, and capped a sterling Yellow Jacket career as a Class 3A All State selectee in 1978.
A three-year starter, during his final season he was repeatedly chosen Offensive Lineman of the Week (six times). He earned one of those honors in the game that mattered most—against archrival Central when the two Top 10 teams battled in what many fans call “the greatest high school football game ever seen.” The #9 Jackets upset the #3 Wildcats 3-0 on a 22-yard field goal with nine seconds left. Roux played a pivotal role in that game and as a key member of the first DSHS football team to celebrate an undefeated 10-0 regular season. As the playoffs began in 1978, the Yellow Jackets were the #1 ranked Triple A team in the state.
Recognized as a rugged competitor, he commanded the respect of his teammates when honored as Team Captain and his coaches as recipient of the coveted Coaches Award. Not surprisingly, he was also named Best Offensive Lineman as a senior, referred to by coach Butch Wax at the time as “probably the best blocker ever at DSHS.” Wax went on to say, “You could count on him every play. He just did a super job. Robert never missed a practice and was a leader by actions more than words. When he talked, everybody listened.”
He was further distinguished by his selection to play in the venerable LHSAA All Star Football Game and by signing an athletic scholarship to play football at the collegiate level. Following a recruiting battle among McNeese State, Northeast State (now ULM), USL (now ULL), and SLU, he ultimately chose the Southeastern Lions. All the recognition and accolades Robert Roux earned were bittersweet since his father, J. D. Roux, was not able to see him play. He had passed away the previous year, thus inspiring his son to dedicate every game to him as a senior.
Roux is personally connected to two members of the Class of 2020. He is the father of fellow Hall of Famer Katie Roux Prescott who was a DSHS All State athlete and the four-year starting shortstop for the McNeese State Cowgirls softball team. She now coaches softball at Live Oak High School. He also shares some significant history with Hall of Famer Bob Ingalls who was the football Team Chaplain during Roux’s tenure as a Yellow Jacket athlete. Ingalls was instrumental in his decision to become a Christian and was honored to officiate his baptism.
The ex-Jacket gridiron star, Robert Roux, is married to the former Helen Ball, the ex-Jacket cheerleader, and they are parents of five Jacket children. All five are graduates of DSHS and participated in either sports or the marching band.
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DENHAM SPRINGS HS FOOTBALL RADIO BROADCASTS ARE A JON FINE PRODUCTION ON FAMILY RADIO, 91.9 FM, BATON ROUGE and JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS THE OWNER OF AN EBAY STORE. ArrestedDevelopmentMediaGuides, SELLS SPORTS PUBLICATIONS. YOU CAN LINK TO IT BY VISITING JonFineProductions.com.
JON IS PROUD TO WORK AS A MARKETING REPRESENTATIVE FOR SPORTSRADIO-1310-KEZM-SULPHUR/LAKE CHARLES.