Robinson Enjoying PBHS

BOBBY ARDOIN

St. Landry Now.com Editor

It’s been two months since he was hired as the Port Barre High head football coach and Mike Robinson is apparently still enjoying the moment.

Robinson introduced himself to the St. Landry Parish athletic community at the Opelousas Civic Center on Tuesday night with an enthusiastic message for the Port Barre program during the annual public school jamboree at Donald Gardner Stadium.

The jamboree this year is scheduled Aug. 28.

Robinson, officially hired at the school June 9, admits that he “inherited a mess” at the school which in May experienced an administrative and football coaching turnover in just 24 hours.

Since then Port Barre hired Teresa Lavergne as principal and Robinson replaced Vinnie Bullara, who took control of the football program in January and then left abruptly for the head coaching job at Kaplan,

The departure of Bullara occurred less than 48 hours after Port Barre completed a spring scrimmage at Eunice High.

Robinson, who has been a head high school wrestling coach and speed and strength coach at McNeese State, is encouraged by the welcome that he has received from his players.

“Since Day One I’ve been impressed by (the players) enthusiasm and excitement. They’ve done everything that we have asked of them. We are getting good results in our weightroom and we have had good practices,” Robinson says.

Robinson told the other coaches on Tuesday night that he and his staff have been introducing their ideology in gradual installments.

“We’ve been taking it day by day, brick by brick,” Robinson adds.

Robinson, who was once the McNeese strength coach for current Port Barre athletic director Chance Mistric and Beau Chene head coach Buck Harris, said the PBHS coaches are not ignoring other aspects of guiding a high school program.

“We are also paying attention to the game of life and we are trying to take care of a group of young men and prepare them,” said Robinson.