MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / August 24, 1999

ST. ROSE – Are you ready for some football?Two hundred and fifty-eight days after West St. John defeated Riversidefor the Class 2A title, the Roussel’s Goodyear River Parishes Jamboree kicks off the 1999 prep season tomorrow night at Destrehan.

St. James and Riverside kick off the festivities at 6:30 p.m. West St. Johnand Destrehan follow at approximately 8 p.m. The following evening atHahnville, St. Charles Catholic and East St. John kickoff at 6:30 p.m. withLutcher and Hahnville following at approximately 8 p.m.The games will consist of two 15-minute halves. Unlike in thescrimmages, all kicking will be live and the coaches will be on their own on the field.

Each of the area’s coaching staffs talked about the jamboree at the annual River Parishes Jamboree dinner Monday night held at American Legion Post 366 in St. Rose. The coaches gave an update of their teams while praisingthe jamboree as one of the best in the area.

“The two nights of football are going to be really fun,” Destrehan coach Scott Martin, who said the pressure the West St. John defense provideswill be a good test for his offense, said. “It’s going to be an interestingevening. We’re looking forward to it.”West St. John assistant coach Elmo Boudreaux, filling in for head coachLaury Dupont, said the jamboree was a great idea.

“I hope we continue it,” Boudreaux said. “I hope everybody comes out andsupports all the teams.”Riverside coach Mickey Roussel echoed Boudreaux’s words.

“It’s great to be here,” Roussel said. “It’s great to be part of RiverParishes football. This jamboree is second to none.”St. James coach Rick Gaille discussed the controversy going on at theschool but said his team is ready to go. The 30 players that dressed forthe Rummel scrimmage had a great showing against the Raiders, one of the favorites in the Catholic League.

“We’re going to play with the players we have and coach them to within an inch of their lives,” Gaille said. “We are happy with the growth of thejamboree through the years and for the River Parishes to get together for this kind of competition.”First year St. Charles Catholic coach Frank Monica has watched thejamboree through the years as a spectator and said he is glad to be a part of it.

“I think its tremendous,” Monica said. “It’s a great vehicle to promote theRiver Parishes. I think it needs to continue.”Monica said he will use the jamboree to solidify some positions on the team.

“We’re going to use it as a dress rehearsal to see if we are going to be ready for the season,” Monica said.

Monica’s counterpart in the game, East St. John coach Ronnie Stephens,said the game will be good for conditioning and getting a look at his kicking game.

“We will get a good look at the kicking under live situations,” Stephens said. “It’s the first time we are seeing kicking live against somebody else.It’s the last tuneup before we open up next week so it’s important.”Both Lutcher coach Tim Detillier and Hahnville coach Lou Valdin looked at their matchup as a good one and a good test for their teams.

The 1999 prep regular season opens a day early this season with Lutcher traveling to East St. John Thursday night.

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