LITTLE ROCK — As Hurricane Katrina was ravaging the southern parts of Louisiana, Rose Bud senior Matt Merritt was adjusting to life in his new home.
Matt's family felt it was best for him to get away from the potential problems in his hometown in southern Louisiana and try to start anew in another area. So, shortly before the hurricane hit the Gulf Coast in late August 2005, Matt packed his things and came to Arkansas.
He had played some football in a recreational league in Louisiana but had never played on a varsity team until he arrived in Rose Bud. It just so happened that the year Matt arrived at the school, Rose Bud was starting its first varsity football team.
"It was a good deal," Matt said. "It gave me the opportunity to play."
While his team has struggled with the growing pains that come with a first-time team, Matt has shined on the field. At 5-9, 160-pounds with a 4.5-second time in the 40-yard-dash, Matt has rushed for nearly 800 yards this season with his goal set at 1,000 yards.
But like all team players, Matt tries to share any credit he may receive with the rest of his team.
"This is a good environment, and we've got heart," Matt said. "We want to play football, but we had to start from scratch."
Matt attributes some of the mistakes the Ramblers have made on the field this season to a lack of experience - little things that come with knowing every nuance of the game by playing for several years.
With Rose Bud, many of the players do not have that luxury. But for Matt, it is not about the winning and losing, it is about getting out on the field and being able to participate.
"We do play to win," Matt said. "But I'm happy as long as we get 100 percent from the people on the team."
While Matt does not like to be singled out - his play on the field has done that for him - and head coach John Flaherty has been helping Matt look for a college to continue playing football after graduation.
"If they [colleges] want to give me a shot, I'll take it," Matt said.
Matt would like to get into the auto industry with a college degree, and he is looking at a few schools like Arkansas Tech University in Russellville and Arkansas Baptist College in LittleRock.
During his two years with the Ramblers, Matt has seen himself develop into a leader of sorts for his club. But you will rarely hear Matt speak of himself before his team; he always says "we" and"us" instead of "I" and "me."
And he is ready to give out advice to anyone looking to get into football for the first time.
"You just need to play as much as you can," Matt said. "Have a ball in your hands asmuch as you can."
The adrenaline rush he receives on the football field has been hard for him to match in any of his other endeavors. He will try his skills on the basketball team after the football season comes to a close.
"I'm a sports fanatic," Matt said. "I give it all I have and I've tried to put Rose Bud on the map. I love it here."
While this year may not be the year for the Ramblers, Matt has helped lay the foundation for the future of a program. But he will never take credit for it himself.
"The coaches are doing a great job," Matt said. "Our team practices good together, and we're like a family out there."
Matt has spread his intensity and "want to" to the rest of his team, and although the team has not won a lot of games this year, they have been a score or two away from winning in almost every game.
"If we play like winners and act like winners, then we will be treated like winners," Matt said.
Three Rivers, Pages 132 on 10/28/2007