A Christmas Trip to Remember

Coach Simoneaux’s Christmas Trip to Georgia Was About More than Football by Woody Jenkins, editor, Central City News

Central High head football coach and AD David Simoneaux is just back from a visit to the Athletic Department at the University of Georgia, but it wasn’t really about football.

Coach Simoneaux went to visit one of his former players — Devon Gales — who was graduating from UGA. It is 10 years after a tragic injury in a game between Southern University and Georgia left the former Central High star paralyzed and bound to a wheelchair.

Graduating from college was a huge accomplishment for the young man some said would not live, much less prove to be an inspirational leader of men.

Simoneaux’s trip with his two sons, age 6 and 8, was a living example that being a high school coach is a lifelong commitment.  It’s really not about football, but about the young men you are privileged to coach, mentor, and sometimes be a father figure for.

The coach said it was an emotional experience, especially when Devon’s step-mom spoke to the 100 people who gathered to honor Devon on his graduation.

Simoneaux said, “We had come from several states but mostly Louisiana and Georgia.  His step-mom talked about every group represented there and what they had meant to Devon. Very different people, yet we had a common bond in our love for Devon. She was so grateful. There was joy in the midst of tragedy.”

Nothing has been easy for Devon, the coach said. But he was fired up because he was about to give an inspirational speech to the Georgia football team.

Coach Simoneaux took his boys Beau, 8, and Gabe, 6, on the trip. They went to Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, Rock City, and Athens.

He said they found Devon full of life and optimistic. Although confined to a wheelchair, he has a good outlook, Coach Simoneaux said.

Central coaches have had a break after playoffs ended. It was another successful year for David, who finished the regular season at 8-2 and the entire season 10-3. Central won the State Regional Championship.

Next year Central will have 8 of 11 starters back on offense and 8 of 11 back on defense.

District 4-5A has been reconfigured, and Central is working on scheduling for next season. Few teams are eager to schedule Central because it is a perpetual powerhouse, and Coach Simoneaux has won State Championships at Catholic High and Central.

The coach hopes to retain his current staff, which works well together.

“We’ll be back at work in January and continue upward,” he said.

 — Woody Jenkins, editor