VC players leave for New Orleans

The moment may not match the electricity that will be in the Superdome Saturday when the top-seeded Vermilion Catholic Eagles kickoff the Division IV championship game, but Thursday’s send-off for the players offered plenty of excitement...and emotion.
Students and parents from Vermilion Catholic and Mt. Carmel gathered just before noon on Thursday to watch the VC players load on the bus to head to New Orleans, where the Eagles (14-0) will face St. Frederick’s Saturday at noon for the state title. Many of the parents, some of whom shed a few joyful tears, had video cameras to capture the moment live.
Vermilion Catholic Principal Mike Guilbeaux said Thursday’s send-off is just part of the entire experience.
“The excitement of going to the game,” Guilbeaux said, “that means a lot. You take it all in.
“We did the same thing when our girls (basketball team) played for the state title earlier this year.”
Vermilion Catholic fans are hoping for similar results as the Lady Eagles brought home the Class 1A State Title in February.
The buzz for football has been there, well, for most of the season, but hit a fever pitch well before Thursday. The Eagles earned their trip last Friday with a 33-8 home win over Cedar Creek.
“Since I walked into the school Monday it has been non stop,” Guilbeaux said. “We are getting so many calls of support. People are just saying, ‘Mr. Guilbeaux, whatever you need, we are there.’ It’s just an overwhelming feeling of positiveness.”
“It’s all good things.”
That includes the younger kids from Mt. Carmel being a part of Thursday’s event. The youngsters lined the halls and offered the players the “rockstar” treatment, cheering and clapping loudly.
“They look up to these players,” Guilbeaux said. “They see the possibility that one day they could be doing this.
“It’s great for both schools.”
And the community.
“It’s amazing all the support we have gotten form the community,” Guilbeaux said. “All the communities around Vermilion Parish have shown support.
“Its’ a great feeling.”
A Vermilion Catholic student will be celebrating her 16th birthday in the Dome on Saturday. Caroline Landry was in the stands 10 years ago when VC won its first state title. Now, she will be dancing in the Dome.
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to be one of the older girls in uniform. For me, cheering on the football team and dancing on the field at every game is the most awarding experience during football season,” Caroline Landry

Players Schedule

The players and coaches made a stop in Baton Rouge at 1:30 on Thursday and practiced at the LSU indoor facility.
They went to the Superdome to watch the U-High, John Curtis game.
On Friday, the Eagles will practice in the Dome from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m.
The players will have a mass on Friday at the Notre Dame Seminary.
They will practice again in the Dome at 1 p.m. and at 3:30 pm. go watch a movie in New Orleans.
On Saturday, they will depart for the game at 9:40 a.m. and arrive at the Dome at 10:10 a.m. They will be begin practicing in the Dome at 11 a.m. The game starts at noon.