College football

La. Tech consumed by storm

Football was afterthought for the Gators next foe as players dealt with death and helping survivors.

By ANTONYA ENGLISH
Published September 7, 2005

GAINESVILLE - Louisiana Tech coach Jack Bicknell asked anyone personally affected by Hurricane Katrina to stay after a team meeting last week to speak with a counselor.

Sixteen players didn't get out of their seats.

"I didn't realize so many of our guys still hadn't gotten in touch with their family members," Bicknell said.

Although Ruston, La., was out of the direct path of the storm, many Louisiana Tech players from Mississippi and Louisiana spent most of last week desperately trying to find information about missing loved ones.

Backup defensive lineman Oren Lewis spent several days searching for his relatives before learning the grim news that his sister-in-law, uncle and godchild all died in the storm. It wasn't until Saturday afternoon that he was allowed to return to Mississippi, where he discovered his mother had survived.

Quarterback Donald Allen also waited for days before news came Sunday that his father and grandfather were alive.

With an open week before the Bulldogs' scheduled game Saturday at Florida, Bicknell canceled practice two days last week and the players spent the weekend helping relatives move into a local dorm that is a temporary shelter on the Louisiana Tech campus. Among the evacuees were 60 members of starting linebacker Byron Santiago's family.

"A lot of our players have lost everything," Bicknell said. "A lot of their families are up here. It really hits home; it's so much different hearing about it, but when you actually are spending your day trying to get them organized. They basically had the clothes on their back and that was it. It's been a real tough week, no question."

If the game against Florida had been scheduled for last weekend, Bicknell said there's no way the team would have been able to play.

"There are more important things in life than football," senior defensive end Wendell Crowe told evacuees as he helped at a local shelter last week.

But this week, amid the death, destruction and overwhelming stress, playing the Gators Saturday night at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium will be a welcome change.

"They're very excited to play," Bicknell said. "I think it's kind of a step-by-step thing. I think each day gets better. Just the mere fact that everybody knows about everybody now is a huge thing and a big relief. I was talking to Donald Allen about his dad and his grandfather and he said, "Coach, the weight of the world I feel like has been lifted off my shoulder.' I think that's the way the team is looking at it now. Now it's time to get on to Florida, and we're excited about playing that game. I think it will be a nice diversion."

The Bulldogs will try to resume normal practices this week, but life around Ruston remains chaotic. About 1,500 people have fled to the small town. More arrive daily.

At the players' request, the Louisiana Tech Alumni Association has arranged for fans and players' families to watch the game in the school's athletic center, which Bicknell hopes also will be a diversion for the displaced family members.

Its season-opener aside, Bicknell said the players and coaches realize nothing will ever be "normal" this season.

"Our players, a lot of them don't have homes any more, so there's a lot of stress that goes along with it," Bicknell said. "It's not like it just goes away, it's not like it's over. It's not over at all. It continues to go on. The people are still here; they still need to be taken care of. There are just so many ramifications to it. It's just overwhelming unless you take it step by step, day by day. And that's what we're doing."

[Last modified September 7, 2005, 01:02:19]