Bob Rosato

Photo Essays: St. Augustine High School

Life is slowly getting back to normal for some since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Following a morning down-pour that left its field covered in mud. St. Augustine High School played its first football game in over a year against Archbishop Shaw. This assignment was originally shot for Sports Illustrated for Kids featuring the St. Augustine Purple Knights, a school that has a rich tradition of academics, discipline and athletics.

St. Augustine Purple Knights head coach Wayne Cordova stands in the training room adjacent to their weight room which was damaged by 5 feet of water from Katrina.
   
A broken trophy lays on the floor in the basement at St. Augustine High School. The trophies representing St. Aug's long athletic tradition once were proudly on display in their trophy case.
  
Members of the team get ready for the final walkthrough the day before their first game in over a year.
     
  
Heavy rain forced the team to conduct their final practice before the first game in the school's gym.
   
Coach Cordova speaks to his team following their practice in the school's gym.
   
After practice, the team exits the locker room to a suprise in the parking lot.
     
  
Members of St. Aug's Marching 100 band high step into the school's parking lot for a pep rally the day before the game. The band's instruments were also heavily damaged by the storm.
   
Band members, players and students broke into tears and cheers during the inpromptu prep rally.
   
The school's practice field became a facility for FEMA trailers which caused the team to relocate and bus to another field.
     
  
Neighborhoods in the 8th ward near the school still have reminders of the devastation of Katrina.
   
St. Augustine freshman long snapper Rodney Mitchell sits on front steps of his abandoned home which was destroyed by Katrina.
   
Coach Wayne Cordova, who was living in a FEMA trailer, makes a call from his office next to the Purple Knights locker room.
     
  
Students walk the hallway as a team member sits outside the locker room.
   
A long standing tradition at St. Augustine is before each game the players engage in a mass removing their shoes and senior players lay down their jersey as they meet and pray privately together.
  
As the team awaits their time to play in the City Park Jamboree, senior strong safety Deron Lacour displays a pensive look.
     
  
Prior to the start of the City Park Jamboree, Coach Cordova spends some private time away from the team.
   
The Purple Knights begin to get suited up for their game against Archbishop Shaw.
   
Senior Joe Gaskins yells during a pre-game drill with his fellow special teams players.
     
  
The Purple Knights meet at mid-field just prior to the kickoff. Heavy rain fell in the morning and left the field muddy.
   
Players react to recovering a fumble early in the game against Shaw.
   
A Purple Knight defensive player makes a play against the Shaw quarterback.
     
  
Senior quarterback Tahlako Williams gets loose for some yardage on the muddy field.
   
Senior Joe Gaskins stands along the sidelines covered in mud during the game against Shaw.
   
The Purple Knights defense stops a Shaw runner in the mud.
     
  
A Purple Knights player walks with head down into the stands.
   
Coach Wayne Cordova (left) skaes hands with the Shaw coach (right) after playing to a 0-0 tie.
   
The Purple Knights proudly sing their Alma Mater with their fans following a 0-0 tie in their return to the gridiron.
     
  
Micah Smith leans on the bench covered in mud moments following their 0-0 tie.
   
Senior quarterback Tahlako Williams exits the bus after retruning back to the school.
   
Senior cornerback Garrett Santiago lays on the ground after exiting the bus and is tended to by assistant coaches for a hamstring injury suffered during the game. Debris still lines the adjacent neighborhood.
     
  
Senior cornerback Garrett Santiago is carried by assistant coaches to the locker room.
   
The Purple Knights gather with coach Cordova in the grotto of the schoolyard follwing their game. A long time tradition of the school.