MHSAA rules that Louisiana students will gain immediate clearance to play

Ryan Walker and his family fled the Ninth Ward of New Orleans on Sunday as Hurricane Katrina barreled toward the city.

Thirty-six hours later, his home flooded after a levee break.

Walker, his brother and cousin are all staying at an uncle’s house in Vicksburg.

“We left Sunday, before the storm. Our house is covered in water, up to the roof,” Walker said Tuesday, as he began adjusting to his new academic and athletic life at Vicksburg High School.

Walker was one of nearly 250 displaced students from the New Orleans and Mississippi Gulf Coast areas hardest hit by Katrina. More than 150 have already enrolled at schools here, while nearly 100 more are expected.

Walker, a football player, was one of seven displaced football players who met with Vicksburg High coach Alonzo Stevens on Tuesday. Warren Central coach Curtis Brewer said he did not meet with any displaced players on Tuesday, even though about 20 students did enroll at WC.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association ruled on Tuesday that any player from Louisiana displaced by the hurricane would become immediately eligible. Players from the Gulf Coast of Mississippi will have to wait a week before becoming eligible.

One of those, Jimmy Rouster of Gautier, met with Stevens on Tuesday.

St. Aloysius coach Jim Taylor said three players had joined the Flashes football team.

One of those was the son of Rusty Buckman of Kenner, La.

“My son was pretty down in the dumps following the storm. This was his senior year at Brother Martin in New Orleans,” Buckman said. “I had some friends here, so I had brought him up, and he in turn wanted two of his buddies to come with him. They’re like the three musketeers. All three of them are senior football players at Brother Martin.”

On Tuesday afternoon, John Buckman, Noah Slater and Chris Baer were suited up and practicing with the St. Al football team.

“When they were told this morning they could play here, they were so happy. They just want to play,” Buckman said.

Taylor was more than happy to oblige.

“You feel the responsibility to help them and when our state association (MHSAA) said any Louisiana kid that was displaced would be immediately eligible, then come on,” Taylor said. “We’re down in numbers, so having three more can help us.”

At Class 5A Brother Martin, Baer was slated to open the season as the starting quarterback. John Buckman was to start at free safety and Slater was to start at linebacker.

Like the trio from Brother Martin, Walker was slated to start at defensive tackle at G.W. Carver High School in New Orleans.

“The week before the storm, we were getting ready to play our (preseason) jamboree,” said the 5-foot-11, 265-pound Walker. “Then they canceled it because of the hurricane. We had been working hard since Aug. 7, and really longer than that, considering we started our offseason weight program back in January.”

Walker said he was one of 65 Carver football players.

“I have no idea where my teammates are. They’re probably in Texas,” he said.

Stevens said he is eager to help any displaced student who wants to play football.

“I’m very sympathetic to what’s happened to them. This is a giant step, but we’re family here and we want to help with their transition. No matter where they’ve been before, we’re going to be hospitable,” the VHS coach said.

Walker’s uncle, George Smith, was glad to see the open-arms policy.

“I know Ryan is excited about getting a chance to play football,” said Smith, a veteran football official in the MHSAA. “He has a brother who’s in the band and the cousin plays basketball, so I introduced him to Coach (Dellie C.) Robinson.”