Though the official kick off to the 2008 season is still three months away, both Destrehan and Hahnville will get to strap on the pads one final time before summer starts when they travel for their annual spring games.
Destrehan will head to Houma to take on H.L. Bourgeois at 6 p.m. on May 17 at Terrebonne High School, while Hahnville will take on Rummel at 3 p.m. on May 22.
Though the spring game is the highlight of the period to the players, both coaches know the importance of spring practice, especially when you have to replace those departing seniors. That’s going to be a huge problem for Hahnville head man Lou Valdin, because his squad only returns one starter on offense and three on defense.
“The first reason why spring training is important is that you have to replace your graduating seniors,” Valdin said. “The second thing is that it’s an evaluation process. We have to make sure we get our young guys involved. Right now, they are trying to earn a job.”
Because he will have to field so many new starters next year, Valdin says that the spring has been a rough one for his squad.
“We have had a very physical spring because we had to replace so many starters,” Valdin said. “The younger guys are doing good and we are going to have a bunch of sophomores starting for us.”
During spring practice, Valdin says that his team mostly concentrated on fundamentals. The Tigers have stayed very basic on defense during that period, while trying to teach the plays to the younger guys who will be called upon to start next year on offense. So far, the running backs and members of the secondary have caught Valdin’s eye.
“The running backs have looked really good and our secondary has looked good,” he said. “The secondary is probably the most experienced bunch we have.”
Destrehan opened up the spring with the goal of defending their 2008 state title, but they will also lose a lot next year after the graduation of several of their star playmakers. That’s why spring practice has been so important to head coach Stephen Robicheaux.
“It’s a chance to come out and see the team perform for 15 days in pads,” he said. “It gives us a good idea of what next year’s football team will look like.”
It also gives Robicheaux and his staff the ability to judge how their younger players will react next year.
“They are learning the ropes of varsity football,” Robicheaux said. “It’s an eye opening experience for them because the speed of the game is different from what they’re used to.”
Several of those younger players may even be called upon to contribute next year and fill the offensive roles that led Destrehan to the title. However, Robicheaux says his team will switch up the offense a bit to make it more accommodating to his new starters.
The team should have a smooth transition to that different offensive approach because of an experienced offensive line. The defensive line hasn’t looked too shabby either.
“I would have to say that our offensive and defensive lines have really looked good so far,” Robicheaux said.
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