Hatcher remains a 'Giant' presence in Jena
By Raymond A. Partsch III
Louisiana Gannett News
JENA -- Jason Hatcher never imagined that this day, this moment, would ever take place.
Not now, not six years ago when he last wore the faded uniform he now holds in his hands.
The gentle giant at the podium pauses for a moment to reflect on his remarkable journey from small-town boy to successful professional. He thinks of the hardships of his youth and the perseverance he needed to overcome them.
Taking a moment to look over at his wife and son, he smiles. Then the soft-spoken hometown hero, standing before hundreds of residents, utters the following words: "I want all of you to know that this is a very special day for me, and I want to thank you. And I want each and every one of you to make it in this life. The sky's the limit."
Hatcher, the former Jena High and Grambling State standout, returned this week to a hero's welcome.
Monday was declared Jason Hatcher Day in Jena by Mayor Murphy McMillin and the Jena Town Council. Everyone from former coaches to community leaders to current Jena High School students came out to celebrate Hatcher's ascension from high school star athlete to Grambling standout to a promising member of the Dallas Cowboys.
The celebration began at the high school gymnasium. Hundreds of students filled the bleachers to observe football coach Mack Fowler and Principal Glenn Joiner honor Hatcher with old stories of when he strolled the halls of Jena High. They also gave him a plaque that read "Once a Jena Giant, Always a Jena Giant."
Shortly thereafter, Fowler and Joiner presented Hatcher with his old jersey and told the school's all-time leader in single-season receiving yards and receptions that the number 21 would never again be worn by the home team in Guy Campbell Stadium. It was being retired.
It is an honor bestowed on only one other player, when the school retired number 54 in honor of the late Ray McKinney.
Fowler and Joiner couldn't help but to express how proud they were of their former player and student.
"He's one of the classiest persons you will ever meet," Fowler said of his former star receiver-turned NFL defensive end. "He's never lost focus of what's important no matter what obstacles were in the way."
Added Joiner, "He's just a really good kid. He had to overcome adversity, but he never wavered. He's just not a role model for Jena but a role model for all kids."
After the jersey-retiring ceremony, Hatcher -- with his wife, Natasha, and 7-year-old son Carlos at his side -- fielded questions from the students. They ranged from the simple "How much can you bench?" to the amusing "What's T.O. like?" Hatcher answered them all and afterwards sang the fight song with the students and band members.
Not surprisingly, the 6-foot-6, 297-pound native was swarmed by students and members of the community for autographs and pictures, which he happily provided for about an hour.
One of the students there to meet Hatcher was current Giant football player Justin Bradford. The sophomore, who had his jersey signed by Hatcher, believed that Hatcher's success story was an important one for everyone in Jena.
"It gives all of us here hope that we too will be able to go to a good college and play in the NFL," Bradford said. "We can do all that if we work hard enough."
The celebration continued at Town Hall, where McMillin was there waiting with a key to the city -- a rare honor for Jena and the first presented by McMillin. The crowd's response to Hatcher was enthusiastic.
"When I go out there on Sundays," Hatcher said in response, "I'm not only playing for me and my family, I'm playing for everyone in this town."
The emotion Hatcher's words elicited from the crowd was second only to the moment when his grandmother, Mary Hatcher, wrapped her arms around him in Town Hall and proclaimed with a smile, "This is my grandson."
Another round of autographs and photo ops soon followed, and Hatcher finally sat down to eat some cake and drink some punch. During this short breather, he talked about his excitement at the arrival of new Dallas coach Wade Phillips and the preparations he's undertaking this offseason to make himself a better player.
But ever the small-town boy at heart, the conversation soon returned to his hometown, where Hatcher is planning to host a football camp in June. That camp would be another positive event for a town that has had little to celebrate the past few months.
In late November, the high school was heavily damaged by a fire that local and state investigators have classified as arson. Then there was the arrest of six students -- and expulsion of five -- in connection with a fight in December.
Hatcher commented on the events with one simple message.
"I'm no preacher, but I just believe that we need to pull together as a whole town and community," he said, adding, "We just need to love each other."
Louisiana Gannett News
JENA -- Jason Hatcher never imagined that this day, this moment, would ever take place.
Not now, not six years ago when he last wore the faded uniform he now holds in his hands.
The gentle giant at the podium pauses for a moment to reflect on his remarkable journey from small-town boy to successful professional. He thinks of the hardships of his youth and the perseverance he needed to overcome them.
Taking a moment to look over at his wife and son, he smiles. Then the soft-spoken hometown hero, standing before hundreds of residents, utters the following words: "I want all of you to know that this is a very special day for me, and I want to thank you. And I want each and every one of you to make it in this life. The sky's the limit."
Hatcher, the former Jena High and Grambling State standout, returned this week to a hero's welcome.
Monday was declared Jason Hatcher Day in Jena by Mayor Murphy McMillin and the Jena Town Council. Everyone from former coaches to community leaders to current Jena High School students came out to celebrate Hatcher's ascension from high school star athlete to Grambling standout to a promising member of the Dallas Cowboys.
The celebration began at the high school gymnasium. Hundreds of students filled the bleachers to observe football coach Mack Fowler and Principal Glenn Joiner honor Hatcher with old stories of when he strolled the halls of Jena High. They also gave him a plaque that read "Once a Jena Giant, Always a Jena Giant."
Shortly thereafter, Fowler and Joiner presented Hatcher with his old jersey and told the school's all-time leader in single-season receiving yards and receptions that the number 21 would never again be worn by the home team in Guy Campbell Stadium. It was being retired.
It is an honor bestowed on only one other player, when the school retired number 54 in honor of the late Ray McKinney.
Fowler and Joiner couldn't help but to express how proud they were of their former player and student.
"He's one of the classiest persons you will ever meet," Fowler said of his former star receiver-turned NFL defensive end. "He's never lost focus of what's important no matter what obstacles were in the way."
Added Joiner, "He's just a really good kid. He had to overcome adversity, but he never wavered. He's just not a role model for Jena but a role model for all kids."
After the jersey-retiring ceremony, Hatcher -- with his wife, Natasha, and 7-year-old son Carlos at his side -- fielded questions from the students. They ranged from the simple "How much can you bench?" to the amusing "What's T.O. like?" Hatcher answered them all and afterwards sang the fight song with the students and band members.
Not surprisingly, the 6-foot-6, 297-pound native was swarmed by students and members of the community for autographs and pictures, which he happily provided for about an hour.
One of the students there to meet Hatcher was current Giant football player Justin Bradford. The sophomore, who had his jersey signed by Hatcher, believed that Hatcher's success story was an important one for everyone in Jena.
"It gives all of us here hope that we too will be able to go to a good college and play in the NFL," Bradford said. "We can do all that if we work hard enough."
The celebration continued at Town Hall, where McMillin was there waiting with a key to the city -- a rare honor for Jena and the first presented by McMillin. The crowd's response to Hatcher was enthusiastic.
"When I go out there on Sundays," Hatcher said in response, "I'm not only playing for me and my family, I'm playing for everyone in this town."
The emotion Hatcher's words elicited from the crowd was second only to the moment when his grandmother, Mary Hatcher, wrapped her arms around him in Town Hall and proclaimed with a smile, "This is my grandson."
Another round of autographs and photo ops soon followed, and Hatcher finally sat down to eat some cake and drink some punch. During this short breather, he talked about his excitement at the arrival of new Dallas coach Wade Phillips and the preparations he's undertaking this offseason to make himself a better player.
But ever the small-town boy at heart, the conversation soon returned to his hometown, where Hatcher is planning to host a football camp in June. That camp would be another positive event for a town that has had little to celebrate the past few months.
In late November, the high school was heavily damaged by a fire that local and state investigators have classified as arson. Then there was the arrest of six students -- and expulsion of five -- in connection with a fight in December.
Hatcher commented on the events with one simple message.
"I'm no preacher, but I just believe that we need to pull together as a whole town and community," he said, adding, "We just need to love each other."
posted by The Gryphon at 7:10 PM
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