The Cajun Patriots Dynasty

by Taylor Williams

 

December 18, 2009 - The term “dynasty” is used very infrequently in the context of sports, and consequently conveys a major sense of awe and reverence for the team in question.

Coach Curtis

Generally speaking, the defining mark of any sports dynasty is championships, whether it’s the New York Yankees and their 27 World Series titles, the Boston Celtics and their 9 NBA titles, or the modern day New England Patriots, winners of three Super Bowls in this decade. The Patriots have certainly been a hot topic of discussion lately in the world of football, primarily as a result of Coach Bill Belichick’s questionable decisions both on and off the field. His decision to gamble on a 4th and 2 conversion against undefeated Indianapolis caused quite a stir within his defense, establishing dissenting feelings that were accentuated by unusual disciplinary measures off the field. Recent events aside however, his regime is often described as “a machine” for its rigorous discipline and consistent style of physical play, which have been instrumental to their success and to their classification as a dynasty. Meanwhile however, down in River Ridge, Louisiana, the lesser-known Patriots of John Curtis Christian School, led by 39-year coach J.T Curtis, have been building a dynasty of their own through similar, disciplined approaches. The Patriots have racked up 23 state titles during Coach Curtis’ tenure, including a streak of five straight championships that was recently snapped by division rivals Evangel in the state title game on December 11. However, Coach Curtis is adamantly opposed to the notion of viewing his program as a dynasty, even though they fit the profile to a T. Coach Curtis’ experience as the second most winning coach in high school football history has taught him that “championships are to be earned, and are not a rite of passage.” In bringing this objective to fruition, Curtis concentrates on finding ways to improve the daily performance of his players, his assistants, and himself, with little or no concern for past successes. In this regard, his program is somewhat ironic: by fervently steering clear of any kind of dynastic thought or approach, the JC Patriots have become exactly that. But the focus continues to lie on “accentuating the strengths of his players, to develop both as athletes and as Christian men.” Integrity, character, and dignity are the ideals most heavily emphasized to the Cajun Patriot men, and gridiron success is secondary to that. But despite the moral overtones that resonate deeply in the program as the top priorities, the on-the field success is too impressive to ignore. As the Patriots added another chapter to their saga this year, the hallmarks of a championship team were evident, despite the loss of the majority of the teams’ offensive starters and kicking specialists. The result was a much more conservative offensive attack that relied on good field position supplied by the defense. Coach Curtis’ trust and confidence went with the defense, something the New England Patriots under Belichick are currently missing and from which they are consequently struggling. So in a strange way, it seems that the Cajun Patriots down here in River Ridge have some wisdom to impart to their New England counterparts-defense wins championships, and unity builds confidence. Just a little friendly advice from one Patriot dynasty to another.