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UL — Chris Fisher still finds it hard to believe that the dream he’s living is actually a reality. Three years ago, there wasn’t a single school in the nation offering Fisher a football scholarship.
Not only did Fisher have to walk on to play for the University of Louisiana, but he had to learn an unfamiliar position before he could challenge for playing time.
Earlier this year, Fisher received perhaps the ultimate compliment for working from obscurity to All-Sun Belt Conference performer.
Fisher is currently one of 42 players on the prestigious watch list for the annual Rimington Award, presented at the end of the season to college football’s best center.
<center><p><a href="http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/26827414.html?showAll=y&c=y" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
By BOB ARDOIN
Special to The Advocate
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When Fisher reflects upon how he started his ULL career, he said the scenario seems a bit surreal.
“I can’t really believe this is happening sometimes,”
Fisher said Sunday during the team’s annual Media Day. “You never think I would have been in the place I’m at right now, especially from where I started the week before my first (ULL) camp.”
In 2005, Fisher was an overlooked freshman tackle from St. Thomas More, who planned to attend ULL as part of the general student population.
Then he got a telephone call that changed his career.
“The coaches called and told me they were inviting me to walk on. That was three days before (ULL) started camp,” said the 250-pound junior.
Just more than a year later, Fisher got his first college start at Texas A&M’s Kyle Field, a game the Cajuns lost 51-7.
Since then, Fisher, who started as an offensive guard, has never relinquished the starting position. When Fisher looks back on how far he’s progressed, he’s not bitter.
“Actually I feel blessed,” Fisher said. “I was given the opportunity to get on the team. I appreciate the coaches not looking at me as a walk-on. Instead, they considered me as a player and that faith in me has allowed what has happened to me in my career.”
Fisher is an acknowledged leader of an offensive line that returns intact after blocking for two 1,000-yard rushers last year — quarterback Michael Desormeaux and running back Tyrell Fenroy.
Fenroy has a chance to become ULL’s all-time leading rusher this season, while Desormeaux plays the game with an offensive lineman’s mentality, according to Fisher.
“(The offensive line) plays the game with a mentality, nasty and physical,” Fisher said. “The linemen here are almost like a brotherhood; we workout at the same time and do a lot of things together.”
Fisher said that philosophy developed last year, when offensive line injuries forced the Cajuns to move blockers around the whole season.
“It helped bring us closer together,” Fisher said. “People almost every week were having to step up and move around according to the situation. It was pretty much adapt and overcome.”
Desormeaux said he has a particular admiration for Fisher and those who start in his situation.
“What’s he’s done here makes me have so much respect for him,” Desormeaux said. “College football is like a full-time job, and guys like (Fisher) start off as walk-ons just because they love it. I know he’s been an inspiration for me.”
Fisher, Desormeaux said, is the heart of the offensive line.
“He sets the tempo there,” Desormeaux said. “Fish is really the guy pushing us and getting the other guys to play physical.
“In the scrimmage, (on Saturday) the defensive line got into a shoving match with some of the guys up front and then Fisher jumps in, pushing people and shouting. It’s like that during the game; he is the one who gets loud and gets the linemen geeked up.”
For Fisher, it’s never been any different since he began playing football.
“I’ve always been a lineman,” Fishers aid. “Now it looks like center, where I get to call the protection on every play, is where I really fit in.”
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