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Uyen Vo
Issue date: 12/14/06 Section: Sports
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Fluence said: "It's a lot different here culturally. People nothing like I've ever seen. The cooking, the partying… everything ends here at 2 a.m.! In New Orleans, it doesn't stop."
Almost all of the players aspire to get drafted by a Division-I university and get an associate's degree. "In Louisiana, there are junior colleges but they're mainly for school and basketball, not for football," said Fluence. "The closest schools (for football) are in Mississippi, Kansas, or California" he said. If professional sports don't work out, some of them are prepared. "I hope to get drafted by a college," Duplessis said, "if not I'll just keep going to school and stop playing and pursue athletics and coaching."
For Fluence, he said "I want to get an AA in computer science and a real estate license. Sports… I'd love to take it to the next level but if it doesn't happen,It would be ok." Fluence has a very positive outlook on his future being here. "It gives me the edge vs. being in Louisiana," he said, "I become more versatile." He appreciates the progression of this region as there are "more opportunities here for different cultures to really thrive.
In Louisiana, you don't see very many African-Americans that are wealthy." Adjusting to the community hasn't always been easy but they have found their niche with the help and support of each other and adults in their lives.
"The other Louisiana players are like home for me," Fluence said. "We don't have many J.C.'s in Louisiana so for us to make the move to California that means we got passion, we got love and I love them fellas."
Regarding the coaches, Joseph said, "(they) look after us a lot…if we need anything, they help us. (Coach) Cal is real supportive of us." Whether they receive special treatment, Jones said, "We're treated the same though by everyone else."
What has made them stand out are their accents and mannerisms. "The slang is different here, like 'hella'," said Fluence. "How much is 'hella'?" He goes on however to appreciate the differences. "I like it though. It's amazing how people can live in different places in the world yet can be so alike and similar."
Almost all of the players aspire to get drafted by a Division-I university and get an associate's degree. "In Louisiana, there are junior colleges but they're mainly for school and basketball, not for football," said Fluence. "The closest schools (for football) are in Mississippi, Kansas, or California" he said. If professional sports don't work out, some of them are prepared. "I hope to get drafted by a college," Duplessis said, "if not I'll just keep going to school and stop playing and pursue athletics and coaching."
For Fluence, he said "I want to get an AA in computer science and a real estate license. Sports… I'd love to take it to the next level but if it doesn't happen,It would be ok." Fluence has a very positive outlook on his future being here. "It gives me the edge vs. being in Louisiana," he said, "I become more versatile." He appreciates the progression of this region as there are "more opportunities here for different cultures to really thrive.
In Louisiana, you don't see very many African-Americans that are wealthy." Adjusting to the community hasn't always been easy but they have found their niche with the help and support of each other and adults in their lives.
"The other Louisiana players are like home for me," Fluence said. "We don't have many J.C.'s in Louisiana so for us to make the move to California that means we got passion, we got love and I love them fellas."
Regarding the coaches, Joseph said, "(they) look after us a lot…if we need anything, they help us. (Coach) Cal is real supportive of us." Whether they receive special treatment, Jones said, "We're treated the same though by everyone else."
What has made them stand out are their accents and mannerisms. "The slang is different here, like 'hella'," said Fluence. "How much is 'hella'?" He goes on however to appreciate the differences. "I like it though. It's amazing how people can live in different places in the world yet can be so alike and similar."
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