Hebert preaches pride in UL athletics
Abbeville High and University of Louisiana alum Gerald Hebert spoke at Wednesday's Rotary Club meeting at the Abbeville Country Club.
Hebert works for the University as its Coordinator of Athletic Development. Basically, he is the man in charge of raising funds for Cajun athletics. Hebert has been successful in his previous endeavors, which include bringing the Top 28 high school basketball tournament to Lafayette.
Hebert was a quarterback for Abbeville High in the early 60's, and he went on to play baseball for the Cajuns and also spent time with the NewYork Mets.
He has been inducted into the Abbeville High Athletic Hall of Fame.
Hebert is excited about the positive changes that are taking place within the university's athletic department.
"The future is looking brighter for all of our athletic programs," said Herbert. "Basketball, baseball, and softball all in great shape. And with Rickey Bustle, the university has found the right man to lead the football program to success."
Hebert has over 40 projects in the works to improve the facilities at UL.
Cajun Field is getting its scoreboard upgraded, it will now have a ticker that shows the scores in all of the football games being played around the country.
Murals depicting players and moments from Cajun football in the past are being painted inside the stadium.
A park is being built along the first base side of the baseball stadium.
Also in the works are TV monitors in the football stadium, a new track and soccer complex, and an indoor practice facility for the football team.
"Last season the hurricane hit the week of the LSU game," said Hebert. "Our team was unable to practice most of the week before the biggest game of the season because we did not have an indoor facility."
All of these improvements are aimed at reaching tow goals, according to Hebert.
"These improvements to our facilities are geared towards instilling pride in the university's athletics," he said. "And with that pride comes recruiting, which is the most important aspect of a successful program."
Hebert is getting a lot done with little means.
The Cajun athletic budget is a mere seven million, compared with LSU's 42 million dollar athletic budget.
The university allocated an extra $40,000 to this year's recruiting budget, and Coach Bustle went out and signed the number 56 rated recruiting class in the nation.
"Prior to this season, UL has never had a recruiting class rated higher than 100," said Hebert. "Coach Bustle signed a class this year rated higher than Clemson, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt."
Improving Cajun Athletics is not just about winning games.
"When the football team and the other teams are successful it has a positive impact on the local economy." said Hebert.
"We may have been underachieving in the past, specifically in football, but that is in the process of changing."
Hebert also spoke a little about the upcoming football season.
He admitted that the schedule is incredibly tough, South Carolina, Minnesota, Oklahoma State, and Southern Miss. The Cajuns will also be starting a red-shirt freshman at quarterback in Jerry Babb.
"We're still a year away I think," said Hebert. "But this will be an exciting team."
By SETH JOHNSON
Sports Writer
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