MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / January 27, 1999

METAIRIE – Chad Jasmin, Greg Gathers and Mickey Roussel took home awards from the Louisiana Football Magazine awards banquet held Monday night at the Hooters in Metairie.

Jasmin was named the co-offensive MVP along with Newman quarterback Eli Manning. The senior running back from St. James rushed for over 2,000yards and 32 touchdowns in 1998.

Gathers was selected as the co-defensive MVP with Kent-wood linebacker Eugene Thompson. The senior defensive lineman led the state this pastseason with 17 sacks.

Roussel was named the coach of the year after leading Riverside to the Class 2A state championship game this season.

The awards were chosen by a poll of the magazine’s readers. Other awardswent to Archbishop Hannan running back Jeff Sanchez for athlete of the year and Kevin Genusa for the heart of champions award.

Jasmin recently committed to Clemson, following coach Tommy Bowden who had recruited him when he was at Tulane. Jasmin said the recruitingprocess was wild and that he is still getting phone calls. Jasmin said onereason for going to Clemson was the opportunity to see playing time right away.

“I am either going to be starting or getting a lot of playing time,” Jasmin said.

Gathers’ choices are down to Georgia Tech, Florida and SMU and said he should know what his decision will be on Sunday. He noted SMU is a risingteam and liked the academic program there. Florida is big time football hesaid and would allow him to play under one of the hottest coaches in the country. And former East St. John teammate Kerry Watkins plays forGeorgia Tech and Gathers also liked the engineering program there. Allthree schools have told him he would have an early opportunity to play.

Gathers also said the recruiting process has been hectic and that he is also still getting phone calls.

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