Friday Night Lights in Acadiana
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CULTURE leS perSonneS intense, into the moment. I jog, and when I jog I say my prayers just in friday night lights in acadiana case I go down, at least I’ll have a shot of getting into purgatory.” Until then, he’s content patrolling The prep football odyssey of Hahnville High School football coach Nick Saltaformaggio was this 100-yard slice of heaven every Friday night. full of unexpected detours. But ultimately he arrived at his ideal Acadiana destination. High school football is important no matter where you go in Acadiana. by will kalec | photo by romero & romero In some places, it’s a civic tradition. In others, it’s a community reunion. Travel a little further, and it borders on promiSe, you’ll hear purveyor of this prep of a brand as it is a season on pause for which turns out was obsession. And then, there’s Hahnville. Nick Saltaformaggio football palace wears program in local prep just a moment. He right down the road. Nestled on the eastern border of before you see him. a cap, not a crown; circles, the lifelong speaks of the past “I’m a little calmer Cajun country, Hahnville’s expansive Blessed (or burdened, holds a stopwatch, not coach puts the infant before the present, of than I used to be,” school grounds resemble a sprawl- depending on if your a scepter; and rules the journey that took says Saltaformaggio, ing college campus. Its athletic glass is half-full or half- between a couple of him to this current in his second season facilities – including a sparkling new empty) with a hardened, bleachers, not over destination, of how he coaching the Hahnville 3,500-square-foot weight-training jagged voice best suited an entire kingdom. traveled hundreds of Tigers. “But I’m still center – draw envy from college for managing a noisy Always busy running miles to the place he the same guy I always football coaches who stop by to construction site, the a team that is as much always wanted to be, was – passionate, recruit Saltaformaggio’s players. And Friday nights – game nights – are part festival, part football. hahnville high School’s No other high school in Louisiana football games draw has more players currently in the crowds of up to 10,000. NFL than Hahnville. Its six state championships (the last coming in 2003) are tied for the most won by any high school within the unofficial territory of Acadiana. “I’ve had the opportunity in the past to come in here and coach teams against Hahnville,” Saltaformaggio says. “Come to think about it, I don’t know if ‘opportunity’ is the right word, because it’s not the easiest place to play. But you look around, and you just think, ‘Wow, look at this environment. Look at this atmosphere.’ It’s like you’re lucky and unlucky at the same time – lucky to soak up the moment and unlucky to be on the visitors’ sideline. “Every Friday night, it’s 8,000; 9,000; 10,000 people in the stands,” he continues. “Everything you want is right here. You can’t find that anywhere else. So for a kid who loves football, it’s an offer you can’t refuse. It’s an unmatched scenario.” The circumstances that brought Saltaformaggio to Hahnville were just as unique. A defensive coordinator for years at Chalmette in St. Bernard Parish, Saltaformaggio took over for departed Owls head coach Eric Collins in 2004. It was his first head coaching position, one he intended to stay at for a very long time. 74 | acadiana profile october/november 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 75 CULTURE DELES LA pE CUISINErSonnes a common link “NO!” he yells emphati- sweet Mardi Gras staple cally through a laugh, thus far exceeded the supply disturbing the Sunday Carriker could pump out Though a native of Washington State, Dr. Bob Carriker of UL’s History Dept. morning tranquility. “No, on his own, so he teamed has lent his culinary two cents and left a tasty mark on his adopted home. not even close! I swear, with Twins Burgers and they’re all different – the Sweets of Lafayette to way they cook the rice, increase production. by will kalec | photo by romEro & romEro whether they use long-grain Asked if any of his boudin or medium-grain, whether mash-ups bombed or tasted they grind the pork up terrible, Carriker pauses for or leave it in chunks, the a second before replying, amount of fat, whether “No, not really” – a confident it’s dry, wet, spicy, mild. retort from someone whose It defies logic that there left an authentic fingerprint could be this much variance on this eclectic region So comE on, bob when the core ingredients despite migrating from Carriker – critic of are simple, but that’s the Pacific Northwest. meat-stuffed casings, what makes it unique.” “I much prefer to be a creator of our latest Point taken. part of what’s going as guilty pleasure, and For more than a delicious opposed to an observer of curator of UL’s History decade, Carriker has what’s going on,” Carriker Department – admit showcased that pork- says. “That’s just always it: all these links infused passion to print been a part of who I am. are pretty much the (well, digital print, techni- Moving here, I didn’t same. If you’ve had cally) as the webmaster of want to be on the outside one you’ve had them boudinlink.com, a living, looking in. I wanted to be all. Pork. Rice. Some always-expanding bible a part of it – embrace the spices. Cook it up. of boudin. Brandishing community completely, Boudin is an extensive library of which was easy because boudin, right? reviews, Carriker’s quest the community was so for the perfect “snap” has open and accepting of us.” taken him from Carencro to The genesis of Bob’s California, from super-ritzy metamorphosis into “Dr. supermarkets to one-pump Boudin,” happened shortly gas stations on rural routes after accepting a faculty GPS struggles to find. position at UL in 1997. A bit of a spatula-wield- Accustomed to co-workers ing mad scientist, Carriker bringing doughnuts, bagels also isn’t shy to chip-in his or cupcakes into the office own contributions to the on special occasions, Cajun culinary scene. The Carriker marveled when 9-to-5 history professor a peer plopped down a created the Johnson’s steaming tray of boudin Boucaniere Parrain Special, instead. As he embraced a brown-bagger’s dream the Cajun custom with a sandwich consisting on full mouth, he kept his ears smashed boudin balls, open (while chewing) to melted cheese and barbecue those around him. Local sauce. Then, this past loyalty dominated the Carnival season, Carriker conversation. The woman unleashed his greatest from New Iberia bragged on delectable hybrid – the the boudin from the shop boudin king cake. Demand down the street while the for the boudin-infused guy from Cecilia dismissed 70 | acadiana profiLE april/may 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 71 by will kalec and claire salinas photos by romero & romero 48 | acadiana profile june/july 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 49 Jane doe place 123 there names will be somewhere Melodiebut not sure until i get all the McMathpieces to form the whole emerGe JuiCery evolvelafayette.com Ross Fontenot not quite sure yet how i want to open the Genterie feature... maybe similar to the Supply Co. area of text... see genterie.com comment o'er yonder tastemaker ross sports a life after denim shirt, brixton fedora hat, Forage bowtie and a daniel wellington watch. he uses a safety razor made by baxter. at the end of all of the portraits will be all of the text. i want to have some of their goods individually shot on white so that melodie's life i can photoshop changed for the them together better when based on amount she started to of text drink organic juice. here, she hams it up with a matcha green smoothie (with extra chlorophyl) and a raw chocolate chip cookie. 50 | acadiana profile june/july 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 51 business partners and good friends robbie and nick created their dream business of making desserts Robbie that incorporate puns and music. Austin popS and roCketS popsandrockets.com Nick Villaume popS and roCketS popsandrockets.com 52 | acadiana profile june/july 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 53 Jeanne Lousao Feed n Seed Derek Curry feednseedlafayette.com Sneaker politics sneakerpolitics.com a self-described sneaker nerd, derek's business thrives due to his knowledge about shoes coupled with boundless enthusiasm. Jeanne lousao is the director of events and operations at a repurposed warehouse that showcases a range of interesting, artistic performances. 54 | acadiana profile june/july 2015 acadianaprofile.com | 55 "pulling peanuts (From a shell)" naMe cHanGe, JUice SaMe (thai peanut) owner Melodie McMath rebrands her business from evolve to emerge Juicery, but sticks to the healthy principles that changed her life. "Just can't "racer" shave mint enough" cream, "whiskey" (cantaloupe and Give Lafayette’s Melodie McMath a few minutes and she’ll aftershave, "Victory" mint) thoroughly explain all the ways juicing can improve the way you moisturizer, and look, feel, think and see the world. "wood" hand cream “This has been like, a 10-year evolutionary process,” McMath from portland says. “And the first transformation happened within myself.” General store in a A loyal juice disciple after she witnessing firsthand the ways in dopp kit from izola which a cleanse healed some ailments and improved her overall health, McMath has served as an enthusiastic shepherd for the juice lifestyle, easing it into a market known for its rich, flavorful and chicory and ivory fattening cuisine.