Here's to you, Eskew

Well, I've decided to revive General Pigott's own little world with a tribute that is much too late. For years, Eric Eskew was the "guy behind the guy" at the LSU Student Recreation Complex as Assistant Director of Facilities, but previously being Intramural Coordinator as well as Assistant Coordinator of Tiger's DEN summer camp. When you were using the rec center, it was Eric who oversaw the custodians who cleaned up. It was Eric who reserved your area in the court, field, weight room, or racquetball courts. When something wasn't working, it was Eric who got Mr. Doug to fix it. When an event was going on, it was Eric who arranged the logistics of the event. Before that, it was Eric who took care of your kids during the summer, he was "the guy with the walkie talkie". He was the guy who listened to your bitching about intramural officials. Can you think of anyone else who was more of a "behind the scenes" kinda guy? It takes a great delegater to do that much "behind the scenes" kinda work. That's right Eric was a master delegater. But hey, somebody's gotta do it. While Eric got "his guys" to do his stuff, me and Eric would enjoy talking about "personal officiating work", calling ball, recreational softball, LCIRSA "committees", Fred's, Pigott's late night adventures that everyone thought were a lie until recently, Roy D. Mercer, custodians, and most importantly, EMS. Yep, those were the days.

I really think people miss the greatness Eric demanded when he was at work at LSU Rec Center. Eric supervised two student employees, however, he still got students to do work he didn't wanna do. Only a superstar can do this. How many times did Scott Dunlap, Scott Morgan, Trey Berniard "Eric's Boy", Michael Boudreaux, or Lee Ann Smith do something "for Eric". The number is countless, because that was the softer side of Eric wanting to get students involved in the everyday operations of the rec center. However, eager to take the spotlight from himself, he would simply say, "Pigott, honestly, I just don't wanna do it!". Spoken like a true kindhearted gentleman.

Eric has moved on to "bigger and better things" now as the executive director of the Louisiana 4-H foundation, now being one of those "FFA boys", but no article on Eric can be complete without some of Eric's greatest quotes ever. So, here is a small taste of some of those:

• "Any and all negative attention.....away from the officials."
• "I don't care how annoying, fat, goofy, ugly, or smelly you are......you can get some pussy in that f---ing place."
• "I'm looking out for the Jane Does of the world."
• "Pigott, I'm telling you, if I wasn't going to the Sugar Bowl, I'd be giving her $150 right now."
• "Oh we're going to the Caterie, you just don't know it yet."
• "EMS, custodians, logistics,............parking."
• "I'm just baseball/softball guy that does basketball."
• "I'm just a guy who's all about convenience."
• "I'm making out with one of these mother f---ers tonight."

Well I know I could never capture the true greatness of Big Red, but here's you Eskew, this blog's for you.