NHS 1989 Homecoming: We're Rolling

September 30, 2007

With this year's NHS Homecoming football game scheduled on Thursday, October 4th against Northshore's I-12 rival Hammond, I thought now would be a good time to take a look back at our final Homecoming as Seniors in 1989.

Homecoming is more than just a football game. Rather the entire week is full of activities such as the Homecoming Parade, the Homecoming Dance & after-party, the Homecoming Queen, and who could forget the tradition of "rolling" houses.

Traditionally the cheerleaders would roll the houses of the football players. But it seemed to me during our Senior year that no one's house was off limits as students opted to even roll teachers homes. I remember hearing that a group of students got caught rolling Ms. Schmidt's home. Some made a quick escape but some others were unlucky and actually had to clean it up. One thing is for sure toilet paper flew off of super market shelves during Homecoming week and some subdivisions and homes looked as if a White Christmas had hit.

Here's a picture of my yard.


Now take a look at my actual reaction as I discovered someone had rolled my house. The vandals even left some clues as to their identity, but I never did figure them out. Maybe you can solve the mystery.



And there are more Homecoming activities still to come...
We'll meet the nominees for Homecoming Queen, pick up my date to the Homecoming Dance, Meet the Homecoming Court, and Hang-Out at the After-Party!

If anyone has any pictures of the homecoming parade and or floats, please send them in so we can post on the blog.

Two-A-Days - NHS Freshmen Football

September 15, 2007

May 1986:
I still recall sitting on the bleachers at the Boyet gym listening to our guest speakers, Coach Haaga and Coach Stockstill, talk about the opportunity to try out for the Northshore High Freshmen Football team. Since I had never really played any organized football prior, I was a little reluctant to sign up for the try-outs. In the end with encouragement from #30 Scot Kjellin and # 11 Chad Daley, I went out for the team.

Summer 1986:
Only a few weeks into my Summer vacation I got a phone call from Coach Haaga. The weight room had opened for summer workouts. So Steve, my older brother who was on the varsity team, and I would get up each morning and hit the weight room. Just released Van Halen's 5150 album was blaring from the stereo in the weight room.

Formal football practice would begin about a month before school started. The first two weeks of practice are known as Two-A-Days. We would literally have two mandatory practices every day. One in the mornings and one in the later afternoon.

My first impression was what have I got myself into. Two-A-Days were no joke. During the morning workouts both the varsity and freshmen teams would do drills together. The varsity guys just seemed crazy to me. Always playing pranks and the entire varsity team with the exception of a handful of players had Mohawk haircuts. Coach Lambert the varsity coach led many of the drills and was always yelling about something. In the afternoon session, the Freshmen team would typically break away and practice on our own.

Missing a practice was not an option. But on one particular night after practice both my brother and I had become physically ill with flu like symptoms. We both knew we would be in for it from our coaches if we missed practice the next morning but there was no way we could practice in that condition. At first we thought we ate something at dinner that did us in, but as it turns out literally over half the team called in sick that next morning. The culprit turned out to be the community water bottles we were all using.


Fall 1986:
School finally started and the Freshmen football team began its season. Besides one scrimmage against Destrehan that ended in a tie all of our games were played on the road and were losses. Mid-way through our season, #31 Heath Bourgeois finally scored our first touchdown.

Throughout the season a few of the Freshmen were called-up to play on the JV team during their games. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to kick-off a few of their games and play alongside my older brother and his friends.

Win or lose, in the end I was glad I went out for the freshmen team.

Left to right.
Front Row: Chad Daley, Steve Rorex, David Hillard, Forrest Griffin, Stoney Weaver, Eric Flodin
Second Row: Shannon Holland, Thad Merz, Pete Diaz, Scott Hall, Matt Benham, Robert Porter, Todd Weaver
Third Row: Coach Haaga, Heath Bourgeios, Brent Holston, Scot Kjellin, Sidney Pichon, Allen Lee, Coach Stockstill
Fourth Row: Coach Core, Ryan Hebert, Kip Morris, Brett Farmer, Kevin Rainey, David Duesler, Steve Steckler

Project Reconnect: Gaining Momentum

September 9, 2007

My fellow classmates:

This past week our class blog reached a bit of a milestone. In just over three months we've had over 1000 visits to the class blog.

Since the blog began in late June, we've caught up with four classmates 2 of whom are living in the Pacific NW. I've also received numerous emails from other classmates, who have each found the blog and have promised to send in an update. (Don't think I forgot! You know who you are. Start Writing!)

Seriously, I want to extend my thanks to those of you who have already sent in a classmate update, posted a comment, sent in pictures or even referred a classmate to the blog. I appreciate all your support and the positive feedback you all have given.

Like many of you, I'm looking forward to receiving more classmate updates as word about the class blog continues to spread. And if you're reading this and have not yet sent in an update, let me encourage you to do so. Just send an email to bgf52@excite.com and I will post it to the blog.

-Brett

Attention: Friends and Siblings of 1988 Graduates
If you are a friend or sibling of a 1988 NHS graduate, please be sure to refer them to the Class of 1988 blog. The Class of 1988 has recently begun to plan their 20th reunion and are trying to get in contact with their fellow classmates.

Who's Who

September 3, 2007

"Enchanted Island" was the theme for the 1990 Who's Who Dance where both the class favorites and Mr./Miss Northshore High were announced.

Class favorites were nominated and then voted on by their senior class peers. Six students (3 boys, 3 girls) would be chosen to represent their respective class.

The 1990 Senior class favorite nominees:

Girls:
Corrine Blakeman, Ingrid Brookter, Gabrielle Davis, Shelley Flanagan, Natalie Guidry, Mary Evelyn McWhorter, Missy Moffet, Deborah Richard, Vernell Robertson, Meredith Timberlake, Jodi Welch

Boys:
Jason Autry, Heath Bourgeois, Pete Diaz, Brett Farmer, Matt Graham, Anthony Lawson, Jonathan Morel, Thilo Ott, Jimmy Reid, Steve Rorex, Ken Soons

In comparison, Mr. & Miss Northshore were nominated then voted on by the entire student body.

The nominees for Miss Northshore 1990:
Kristi Austin, Shelly Battle, Corrine Blakeman, Ingrid Brookter, Cathy Calandro, Cheri Callahan, Gabrielle Davis, Kristina Ernst, Shelley Flanagan, Michelle Fogg, Gretchen Guidry, Natalie Guidry, Ninette Hanna, Michelle Hedden, Leslie Huber, Allison Kastner, Eva Levendosky, Staci Lormand, Beth Lumetta, Alyssa Maurice, Missy Moffet, Lori Piercey, Tiffani Quirk, Laurie Ramke, Shannon, Ravain, Shannon Reis, Deborah Richard, Vernell Robertson, Ligette Rogers, Michele Soho, Kathy Spence, Stephanie Stucky, Ralona Suchomelly, Jodi Welch, Alyssa Wilhelm, Missy Williams

The nominees for Mr. Northshore 1990:
Derek Atlow, Jason Autry, Kevin Beals, Craig Blalock, Heath Bourgois, Bryant Brookter, Brad Cadiere, Frankie Chappel, John Elicker, Brett Farmer, Matt Graham, David Hillard, Bill Kinzeler, Chris LaFargue, Zach Laughrey, Anthony Lawson, Jeremy Litton, Jonathan Morel, Steve Rorex, Gary Rowley, Tellas Sauceda, Scott Schreiffer, Scott Seale, Ken Soons, Justin Surratt, Mike Tate, Robby Thomasson, Jock Trippe, Todd Weaver

In keeping with the theme, Hawaiian Leis were presented to the class favorites and each Court member by America's Favorite Principal, William "Billy the Kid" Percy.

And the Lei goes to: