The Iron Men

By: TRACEY JAGNEAUX
Sports Editor

Jim Thorpe.
Chuck Bednarik.
Charles Woodson.
The mention of these names reckons one back to football immortality.
Like old black and white 16mm film running off a spool, nostalgia fills the senses and harkens one back to a time when players were men; grinding out the game of football on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. To play the game as “iron men.”
Today’s football is played in an all too different way, in an all too different time.
Today’s football, for the most part, has become a specialized game, where players are relegated to one side of the ball; where players have no way of affecting the game if their unit is not out on the field.
With that said, there are still a few pockets of high school programs that must employ players for every aspect of the game; especially if that high school program is limited to the number of players on the squad.
For the high school football teams in Evangeline Parish, this is often the case. These local teams all have a least one player that must not only play offensively, but most also play defensively and at times must take part in special teams.
These squads must have ironmen; players molded from the past that are too valuable to sit because of the talent, leadership and emotion they bring to the playing field.
Caleb Soileau is that player for Sacred Heart. Soileau, the senior Trojan defensive back/running back, also contributes on special teams. For Soileau, playing two ways is all about affecting the game.
“I like the fact that the coaches trust me to play on both sides of the ball,” said Soileau. “It lets me have a chance to impact the game in more than one way. You get to lead the entire team, not just the offense or defense.”
For Mamou High junior Joab Perron, playing linebacker and running back gives him the opportunity to make an effect on the game he loves to play.
“When you play two-ways, it gives you a chance to make plays on offense and defense,” stated Perron. “I can be a leader on both sides of the ball. I love to be on the field and help my team make plays.”
According to Panther senior quarterback and defensive back Dylan Doucet, going both ways is a sacrifice he is willing to make for the team.
“It’s hard to have to play on both offense and defense,” commented Doucet. “But, I have to do what the coaches need to help my team. I’m there to make the team better in any way possible.”
Is there a magic formula for a young man to have the ability to play both ways? What exactly does one possess inside to be able to stay on the field for what may be an entire game?
Ask Vondarius Freeman, the senior offensive/defensive lineman for Ville Platte High Bulldogs and he will be sure to tell you the answer with a confidence reserved for a man with the
“You have to be physically and mentally strong to play both ways,” said Freeman. “You have to have the strength to not let your mind believe you are tired. The energy level tank has to be full at all times.”
Senior Ville Platte High quarterback and defensive back, Terez Alfred, agrees with Freeman.
“You definitely have to stay a strong minded person,” commented Alfred. “You can’t play dead on your feet. Staying focused is a huge key to being able to play both ways.”
Ty Walker, Basile High’s senior tight end and defensive end, knows that taking a break during a game cannot be tolerated.
“You have to give 100 percent every play,” stated Walker. “Sometimes you feel like taking a play off, but you know if you do, it may cost the team the game. There is no room for a wasted play.”
Even if a player has the mental focus of Bruce Lee, there are still times when taking a break is a must in order to recharge the batteries. However, these ironmen of Evangeline Parish do not take coming out of the game too well.
“Most of the time the coaches know when it is time for me to take a break,” said Perron. “They know I will never ask to come out.”
“The coaches can tell by your body language if it is time to come out for a quick break,” stated Soileau. “I don’t like to ask to come out, because I feel I am letting my teammates down.”
Still, for players like Doucet who not only play offense and defense, but also are on special teams, there comes a time when you have to force yourself to take a breather on the sideline.
“Your body will tell you when it is time to sit for a few plays,” said Doucet. “Sometimes you can wind up hurting the team by playing when you are not at the top of your game.”
Getting ready for the grind of a season takes a lot of conditioning and mental preparedness.
Getting ready for the grind of a season, as a two-way player, takes the term commitment to a whole different level.
For these warriors of the gridiron, there are ways of achieving that level throughout the course of the pre-season and during the season itself.
“Before we started fall camp, I was running a mile everyday along with stadiums to get myself ready for the season,” commented Alfred. “I wanted to make sure that I was going to be able to give my all this year.”
“You just have to be able to make yourself go hard every play at practice,” said Perron. “As a two-way player, you have to put 10 times more effort into a practice than the next guy. By doing that, you will get yourself into game shape.”
Walker uses an unconventional method to prepare for the pace that all purpose players must perform at.
“Not only do I run in the offseason, but I also rodeo,” stated Walker. “Being able to rodeo allows you to gain strength and stamina for the times needed during practices and games.”
When asked if they were to ever be asked to play on only one side of the ball and not given the opportunity to be a two-way soldier, which side would they choose, each of these young combatants decisively chose defense.
“I would definitely want to play defense,” said Soileau. “I love the contact and I think you can make bigger plays on the defensive side of the ball.”
Perron agrees.
“I like to hit,” said Perron. “Playing defense gives you the opportunity to be more aggressive and to deliver bigger blows.”
“Defense allows you to play freer, especially when you pass rush” stated Freeman. “There is no better feeling than hitting a quarterback.”
These guys are not the only players in the parish that are asked to play multiple roles for their respective squads, but they are a true representative of the specialness it takes to be a multi-dimensional talent.
Right now Thorpe and Bednarik are smiling down from the big gridiron in the sky.