University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Looking Past The Record - Inside The Bird Cage
3/11/2026 3:42:00 PM | Athletics, Men's Basketball
Well, it's been a while since I've written.
I hesitated to write this because a lot of it is about me, and I really don't want it to be about me, especially when it's personal.
But I realized I couldn't make it about them without making it about me. I'll keep the part that's about me as brief as I can.
On Thursday, February 5th, the UL Basketball team and I were flying back home after a great win over James Madison. The flight would take us from Reagan in D.C. to New Orleans on Southwest Airlines.
About midway through the 2 ½ hour flight, my Apple Watch buzzed. I was in Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib). Basically, it's a very irregular heartbeat. My watch said my heart rate was 149. That's not good. To my knowledge, that had never happened before.
But, at least I now have something in common with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Two nurses who were enroute to NO for Mardi Gras sat with me. Not much they could do besides ask some questions and keep me occupied. Which was a good thing, because having this happen at 33,000 feet didn't really appeal to me.Â
There had been an announcement about a medical issue. Coach Quannas White walked to the back of the plane from his seat and saw it was me. I waved to him and he saw nothing was critical. But, by the time we landed in NO, those connected with the team all knew about it.
I was the first one off the plane and first responders met me with a wheelchair. After taking some vitals and asking some questions, they wheeled me out to an ambulance to take me to Oschner in Kenner, just a few minutes from the airport.
But Coach Q said, "I'm staying with you."Â I said "you will do no such thing."Â He said he wouldn't leave until he knew I was okay.
I'll condense the next part. I was told in ER I would be admitted. Meds to stabilize the heart rate…blood work. I was told I was anemic. Coach Q rented a car and drove back to Lafayette after I informed my boss, Brian Bille and Dr. Maggard that I was ok.
Friday morning they did an ultrasound of my heart (echocardiogram). It showed nothing major. Friday afternoon they did an endoscopy (tube down my throat with a camera. I was knocked out for that.) It was discovered I had four ulcers….which caused the anemia…which they believed caused the A-Fib. Next day I got a unit of blood and was discharged.
But I told you that story to tell you this one.
Friday my phone started buzzing. Assistant coaches…support staff…and the players all texting me to let me know they were thinking about me and praying on my behalf. Now…I know Coach didn't tell them they HAD to do that, because not everyone sent a text. But most did and I answered every one of them, expressing my gratitude. Then I listened to the game vs. Central Michigan on the way home from the hospital. And, sent a few texts out afterward, congratulating them.
The following Thursday, the Cajuns played Coastal Carolina. When I got to the arena and set up for the broadcast, everyone that saw me came to me smiling and greeted me. But I about lost it when Dariyus Woodson hugged me and said, "Mr. Jay, I've been praying for you, man." Very little in my life has touched me the way that did. Lump…meet Throat.  Since then they've asked regularly about my health. I did not go to  Pensacola with them, as I had cardio follow-ups Monday and Tuesday. But I addressed the team after the final regular-season game against Arkansas State and thanked them again and told them I loved them.
In 1989-1990, Kentucky was reeling after a scandal. They hired Rick Pitino. (That Cajuns' team beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena that year.) The Wildcats went 15-15. But they chose to retire the jerseys of their starting five. They were deemed "The Unforgettables.
We tend to judge coaches and players according to wins and losses. And, I certainly get that. The 2025-26 Cajuns won eleven games.Â
Eleven.
Better days are ahead.
Evans. Jones, Jr. Finister. Woodson. Lewis. Lavergne. Collins. Bilal. Olvera. Mouton. Landry. Myers, Keller. Ratliff. Mejia. Elkinton. Olajuwon. Quannas White. His assistant coaches and support staff.
They are MY unforgettables.
Â
I hesitated to write this because a lot of it is about me, and I really don't want it to be about me, especially when it's personal.
But I realized I couldn't make it about them without making it about me. I'll keep the part that's about me as brief as I can.
On Thursday, February 5th, the UL Basketball team and I were flying back home after a great win over James Madison. The flight would take us from Reagan in D.C. to New Orleans on Southwest Airlines.
About midway through the 2 ½ hour flight, my Apple Watch buzzed. I was in Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib). Basically, it's a very irregular heartbeat. My watch said my heart rate was 149. That's not good. To my knowledge, that had never happened before.
But, at least I now have something in common with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Two nurses who were enroute to NO for Mardi Gras sat with me. Not much they could do besides ask some questions and keep me occupied. Which was a good thing, because having this happen at 33,000 feet didn't really appeal to me.Â
There had been an announcement about a medical issue. Coach Quannas White walked to the back of the plane from his seat and saw it was me. I waved to him and he saw nothing was critical. But, by the time we landed in NO, those connected with the team all knew about it.
I was the first one off the plane and first responders met me with a wheelchair. After taking some vitals and asking some questions, they wheeled me out to an ambulance to take me to Oschner in Kenner, just a few minutes from the airport.
But Coach Q said, "I'm staying with you."Â I said "you will do no such thing."Â He said he wouldn't leave until he knew I was okay.
I'll condense the next part. I was told in ER I would be admitted. Meds to stabilize the heart rate…blood work. I was told I was anemic. Coach Q rented a car and drove back to Lafayette after I informed my boss, Brian Bille and Dr. Maggard that I was ok.
Friday morning they did an ultrasound of my heart (echocardiogram). It showed nothing major. Friday afternoon they did an endoscopy (tube down my throat with a camera. I was knocked out for that.) It was discovered I had four ulcers….which caused the anemia…which they believed caused the A-Fib. Next day I got a unit of blood and was discharged.
But I told you that story to tell you this one.
Friday my phone started buzzing. Assistant coaches…support staff…and the players all texting me to let me know they were thinking about me and praying on my behalf. Now…I know Coach didn't tell them they HAD to do that, because not everyone sent a text. But most did and I answered every one of them, expressing my gratitude. Then I listened to the game vs. Central Michigan on the way home from the hospital. And, sent a few texts out afterward, congratulating them.
The following Thursday, the Cajuns played Coastal Carolina. When I got to the arena and set up for the broadcast, everyone that saw me came to me smiling and greeted me. But I about lost it when Dariyus Woodson hugged me and said, "Mr. Jay, I've been praying for you, man." Very little in my life has touched me the way that did. Lump…meet Throat.  Since then they've asked regularly about my health. I did not go to  Pensacola with them, as I had cardio follow-ups Monday and Tuesday. But I addressed the team after the final regular-season game against Arkansas State and thanked them again and told them I loved them.
In 1989-1990, Kentucky was reeling after a scandal. They hired Rick Pitino. (That Cajuns' team beat Kentucky at Rupp Arena that year.) The Wildcats went 15-15. But they chose to retire the jerseys of their starting five. They were deemed "The Unforgettables.
We tend to judge coaches and players according to wins and losses. And, I certainly get that. The 2025-26 Cajuns won eleven games.Â
Eleven.
Better days are ahead.
Evans. Jones, Jr. Finister. Woodson. Lewis. Lavergne. Collins. Bilal. Olvera. Mouton. Landry. Myers, Keller. Ratliff. Mejia. Elkinton. Olajuwon. Quannas White. His assistant coaches and support staff.
They are MY unforgettables.
Â
Players Mentioned
F
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