Morgan Gates
Published: September 28, 2005
Since Hurricane Katrina, PJC’s athletic department has accepted a new athlete into the basketball program. Sophomore Ron Fontenot, a 6-foot 8-inch forward, has transferred to PJC from Delgado Community College in New Orleans, La.
“Delgado Community College is now under water,” said PJC men’s head basketball coach, Paul Swanson.
Fontenot says his house is also under water.
”I was with my mom, my grandma, and my brother. We piled up in a van and
drove to Alexandria in northern Louisiana and stayed at my uncle’s house through the storm. When we came back, our house was flooded,” Fontenot said.
Fontenot said he hasn’t heard from his dad since the storm but he’s sure he’s somewhere out there.
The men’s head basketball coach at Delgado dismissed the team, telling the players to find new schools to play for because there wasn’t going to be a season explained Fontenot. According to Swanson the school is not to reopen.
”I called PJC and they had an opening for me,” Fontenot said.
”Luckily for Fontenot, a player left because he was home sick; otherwise there wouldn’t have been an extra scholarship available,” Swanson said. ”Fontenot is working very hard to make adjustments to the basketball program here.”
Fontenot says he misses his former daily routine.
”I miss my family, my friends, and the people I use to see every day,” he said. “Waking up in a different bed and being in a different program is a big change from what I was used to at Delgado.”
“The team has accepted him well,” Swanson said.
Ron Houston a 6′ 5” guard and fellow teammate of Fontenot said, ”I have taken Ron under my wing.”
The National Junior College Athletics Association has extended the cut-off date for players in hurricane damaged areas to find new teams to play for,
Swanson said.
Fontenot said he came to play for PJC because it’s in the Panhandle where the competition is good, and it provides great opportunities for his future.
No hurricane is going to hold this player back from playing the game.