By Malcolm Butler
Shortly after Sonny Cumbie arrived in Ruston, he received a phone call from Patti Thurmon, the Director of Bayou Jamb.
And according to Cumbie, Thurmon wanted to gauge his stance on Louisiana Tech and his new home at Joe Aillet Stadium serving as the host for the 2022 Bayou Jamb as it relocated to Ruston.
“Really, when you first take any job you are really swimming,” said Cumbie during Monday’s Bayou Jamb press conference. “There is a lot going on. It’s like drinking water from a fire hydrant. I think Patti could have asked me for just about anything, and I would have agreed to it.”
Despite being overwhelmed with all of the responsibilities of taking his first Division I coaching job, Cumbie didn’t have to think too hard about the answer.
“The first thing I thought about was why the Bayou Jamb and Louisiana Tech,” said Cumbie. “It was a no brainer. We have 14 schools that are represented in the Bayou Jamb. From those 14 schools we have 12 players on our roster that are representatives of those schools.
“We want (our players) to go back to their high schools and speak highly about how they are coached. Speak highly about how Louisiana Tech has treated them. How their coaches have developed them and grown them.
“It won’t always be easy. But we want their experience in our facility to be a great experience. We want those young men to go back to their (high schools) and speak highly about what is going on at Louisiana Tech Football and what is going on in Ruston and what is going on at Louisiana Tech University.”
Joe Aillet Stadium will host Bayou Jamb 2022 Friday and Saturday with seven games slated over two days, including match-ups involving all three of the Lincoln Parish Schools. Hundreds of high school players and thousands of parents, families and friends will venture to Ruston and see what the community and Louisiana Tech have to offer.
“We are looking forward to having this event,” said Tech VP and Director of Athletics Eric Wood. “Enrollment around the country is a primary strategic goal for everyone. So for the opportunity outside of athletics for us to have student-athletes and their families on our campus. That’s first and foremost before the athletics portion of this. We are excited to have all of our student-athletes, their coaches and all their families (come to Tech).”
Thurmon said during Monday’s press conference that more than 10,000 tickets have already been sold for the two days of games. And with four more days remaining leading up to the contest, that number will only grow.
“Our leadership team approached this year’s event with a different outlook, mindset and vision,” said Thurmon. “The student athletes’ well being and experience at Bayou Jamb was our … We made every decision with those two things at the forefront of our minds.
“We were certain that if we could provide an event experience like no other that drives economic growth and enhances the student athlete experience in team sports while teaching student athletes a strong sense of community, it would be a great outcome.”
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For more information about Bayou Jamb 2022, visit bayoujamb.com, like us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Tik Tok and download the Bayou Jamb app at Apple Store or Google Play.
Friday Games
5:30 pm St. Frederick vs. Mangham
7 pm Ouachita vs Oak Grove
Saturday Games
11 am Red River vs Lincoln Prep
1 pm Jonesboro Hodge vs. Franklin Parish
3 pm OCS vs Jena
5 pm Evangel vs. Cedar Creek
7 pm West Monroe vs. Ruston
