For Bibeault, it's great to be back
Cumberland product out to make up for lost time with URI football team after two injury-plagued seasons
A little of this, a little of that …
• Former Cumberland High standout Andre “A.J.” Bibeault stopped by last Friday’s Injury Fund high school football jamboree at Tucker Field, his old stomping grounds. He was smiling from ear-to-ear as he shook hands and mingled with his former CHS coaches, all of whom were eager for Bibeault to provide a recap of his pigskin adventures from the previous night.
A defensive lineman who’s listed at 6-foot-3 and
255 pounds, Bibeault didn’t start but received quite a number of snaps – between 30 and 40 – in URI’s season-opening 21-19 win over nationally-ranked Delaware. The upset that materialized on the Blue Hens’ turf was extra special for Bibeault – it marked the first time he felt completely healthy since he suited up for the Clippers on Thanksgiving Day in 2015.
“To finally get my feet wet … I waited a long time after battling injuries,” Bibeault said.
Bibeault’s freshman year with the Rams came to a grinding halt after breaking his left foot. Last year, he missed all but three games after breaking his right foot. Now as a redshirt sophomore, he’s chomping at the bit to make up for lost time.
“I’ve waited three years. It’s been a long time coming, but (last Thursday night in Delaware) felt great,” Bibeault said. “The [URI] coaches have been pushing me and waiting for me to develop and I’ve been trying to give it everything I’ve got.”
To mark the occasion, Bibeault's mother Carol organized a 20-person viewing party at the family
home. No doubt, there was plenty of cause for celebration as the final seconds ticked off the clock and the Rams were closing in on winning the season’s inaugural game for the first time since 2009.
Rhode Island raised plenty of eyebrows by taking down a top-25 team on the road. To Bibeault, there was no shock factor – just the realization of hard work paying off.
“I see it every day in the locker room. Everyone is close and there’s good camaraderie,” Bibeault said. “Training camp definitely made us better players.”
Now, it’s a matter of URI building off the Delaware game with the home opener on tap Saturday against Delaware (1 p.m. kickoff).
“We watched film [the day after knocking off the Blue Hens] and felt we could have done a lot better,” Bibeault said. “Some teams may still underestimate us, but that’s why we’ve got to go out, learn from our mistakes, and prove ourselves every week.”
• Last Saturday at Beirne Stadium, on the Bryant University campus, held special meaning for Woonsocket High principal Carnell Henderson. The proud father came across loud and clear as Henderson was able to witness the Bryant varsity football debut of son/sophomore cornerback Mehki.
“Watching Mekhi, it was a great feeling knowing he had the opportunity to achieve another goal in life. To be able to be a part of that is a blessing,” Carnell Henderson said. “I think he’s caught up to the speed of the game. Mentally, he’s in a better place than a year ago. His approach to the game is much improved.”
The elder Henderson experienced a second watershed moment as he sat in the Bryant stands last Saturday. On the opposite sideline was New Haven head coach Chris Pincince, who also happened to be Henderson’s football teammate at the high school level (Woonsocket) and again during college (Boston University).
“You always knew that coaching was the direction that Chris was going to head in and do well at,” Henderson said. “The way he carries himself … it’s no surprise.”
• Little League season might be over, yet here’s some food for thought: Should leagues look into placing an age restriction on when pitchers can throw curveballs, knowing the stress it can place on youngsters as their bodies develop?
We posed this to Dave Belisle, former Cumberland American manager and ESPN Little League commentator. Anyone below age 13, which includes the Majors Division, should stay away from the curveball, Belisle feels.
“I think it may be a good time for Little League baseball to eliminate the curve,” Belisle said. “You put everyone on the same playing field … let’s do fastballs and changeups and let’s pitch. Let’s not rush the body. We don’t want to see anyone hurt.”
• Rafael Devers turns 22 next month. Had his developmental path not been accelerated last season, the promising Boston Red Sox third baseman would have been the youngest player in the 2018 Pawtucket Red Sox clubhouse.
There’s no question that Devers has been forced to grow up on the fly. He’s been challenged as far as deciphering major-league pitching while fitting in with a Red Sox team that roster-wise is built to win now.
“There are veteran guys who have helped him, but that major-league staff has a very good relationship with Rafey. He’s surrounded by quality people,” said Pawtucket manager Kevin Boles while Devers recently rehabbed with the Triple-A club. “No one is expecting him to be a finished product at this point. Obviously, the stakes are high up there and there’s definitely a demand to get results, but he doesn’t have to be perfect. He’s in good hands up there.”
• Whether it’s spring training, rookie development camp, or during the season, the Red Sox make sure to remind their minor leaguers to exercise supreme caution when it comes to posting on social media. Another prompt came in the wake of Boston slugger J.D. Martinez having to defend himself regarding a five-year-old Instagram post.
“I think it’s certainly something we’ve doubled back on and asked guys to make sure they’re careful,” said Ben Crockett, Red Sox vice president of player development. “You’re accountable for whatever you put out there and it’s important for guys to understand that.”
• Due to a referee shortage, the clock feature on the scoreboard wasn’t turned on during last Friday’s fourgame Injury Fund football card at Tucker Field. I’m sure I’m not the only one who found it annoying that snaps were being taken and a guessing game ensued. Was it the first quarter or the second?
One of the teams at Tucker featured a statistician whose only task was to track the time of possession. So much for an alleged dress rehearsal.
“You don’t know where you stand,” said one head coach. “When you don’t have a clock, your play calls are a little different. You don’t know if you have four minutes or one minute. That messes with you regardless if it’s calling plays offensively or defensively.”
• Congrats to former St. Raphael basketball standout Antone Gray on being tabbed as an assistant coach at Brown University. That’s now two former SRA All-State hoopsters on the Bears’ staff as Gray joins T.J. Sorrentine, now entering his 11th season as a Brown assistant.
• For whatever reason, Nike elected to bring Colin Kaepernick’s name back into the mainstream. So much for adding another layer to an existing controversy.
• If there’s a so-called Rhode Island-based winner of the PawSox’ decision to head to Worcester, it’s got to be the Providence Bruins. There’s advertising revenue for the local AHL entry to potentially gain – perhaps sooner than before Pawtucket’s expiration date at McCoy Stadium.
• Speaking of the PawSox, I would love to know the creative soul behind the “Bye Bye PawSox, Bye Bye Gina!” sign – which appears to be professionally done – that was planted into the ground at the bottom of Exit 28 off Interstate 95, the School Street exit in Pawtucket. The sign also shows a tear rolling down the left cheek of Paws, the team’s popular mascot. Sad times, indeed.