Franklin, Maroney help Barat break ground
Local pros show support for school's new athletic complex
Though the full completion of Watson Stadium is a long way off, administrators hope the facility will be operational in time for the fall sports season.
With the school entering its second year of operation, Barat Athletic Director David German said it will be just the third high school facility in St. Charles County equipped with FieldTurf, which is quickly becoming the new standard for turf fields. It will be one of the many new features Barat students will have at their disposal."We've got laptops for every kid in the school, a new global technology center in the library and a nice field for the kids in field hockey, soccer and lacrosse," said German, who previously coached at St. Dominic and Ritenour high schools. "We're just trying to present a quality product through the teachers we hire and the facilities we maintain to help the kids feel successful."
Laurence Maroney, running back for the New England Patriots, and Will Franklin, wide receiver for the Kansas City Chiefs, were both on hand for the groundbreaking. Both players grew up in the St. Louis area and have kept their ties to the city despite their high-profile jobs.
A 2003 graduate of Normandy High School, Maroney attended the University of Minnesota and was the second running back taken behind Reggie Bush in the 2006 NFL Draft. New England selected the 5-foot-11, 220-pounder 21st overall and Maroney became the team's feature back in 2007 following the retirement of teammate Corey Dillon. He helped the Patriots reach 18-0 last season before they lost to the New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII. After rushing for a combined 244 yards in his first two playoff games, Maroney was limited to just 36 yards on 14 carries in the Super Bowl.
Franklin, a 6-1, 205-pound graduate of Vashon High School (2004), contributed to the Missouri football team's 12-2 record last year, including a 38-7 Cotton Bowl victory over Arkansas. He finished his four-year playing career fourth in school history with 2,125 receiving yards. After averaging more than 14 yards per catch in 2007 with the Tigers, he was picked in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft by Kansas City and signed a four-year contract on June 18.
The two sat down for a Journal Q&A.
Laurence Maroney
Journal: Why do you feel that as a professional football player it's important to come out to events like this?
Laurence Maroney: I think it's always good to give back to the community. I found out (about the groundbreaking) through my publicist and I said I'd love to come because honestly right now all I do is work out. I'm glad they allowed me to come out and do it. It's a good thing for me and for them.
J: What's it like being the starting running back on one of the NFL's great franchises?
LM: It's a dream come true. Everybody plays football growing up through JFL and high school and you always want to be that guy. Everybody wants to be that guy and play in the NFL and just me growing up saying that's what I wanted to do and actually achieving my goal (makes it) that much better to be that guy.
J: What was it like being a part of such a memorable and historic Super Bowl?
LM: At least I'll always be remembered in one way or another. Those are the games you dream about having. That game, the Super Bowl, is one game you always dream of being in. Playing that type of game, a close game like that where anything can happen and a change of plans happen in a matter of seconds, that's the game I always wanted to be in. It was the best. I love it. If I could replay it, I would. Hopefully (next time) it'll be a different outcome.
J: How does the team stay focused on football when the east coast media brings gossip and off-the-field drama to the limelight?
LM: We're all adults and we don't let ourselves get big heads. We know we've got to come in and do the same thing week in and week out and just get better. That's the one thing about our team. We have a lot of superstars ... but they don't have that superstar mentality. That's one thing I can say about New England; it's always about the team. Nobody wants to be a superstar individually. They want to be a team and that's one thing I really love and appreciate.
Will Franklin
J: Why do you feel that as a professional football player it's important to come out to events like this?
Will Franklin: It's great for the town of St. Charles to have these facilities. I'm actually a resident of St. Charles now. I have a younger daughter that loves playing sports and it's going to be great once she gets older and has a great school like this and also great facilities where she can come and find out what sport she's going to be good at. And daddy can come watch.
J: What's the last two months been like for you?
LM: (It's been) definitely overwhelming going through the whole draft process. It's a tiring process. I wouldn't do it over again if my life depended on it. It was great, though. A dream come true, something you work for all your life. With one phone call, I got the call and got a great opportunity to go in there and contribute early, maybe having a starting job. I'm tied right now with a guy. I have the opportunity to play and help the team right away.
J: Do you feel fortunate the draft played out the way it did for you?
LM: It's great that I'm actually still in state. I knew one way or another I'd (end up in Missouri). Just being in state, I have a bigger fan base and that's big knowing you've got fans that you don't have to win over so fast, which I planned on doing anyway. Going from one end of the state to the other is great. It's still close enough where my family can take a trip up to Kansas City and continue to watch me play and my friends also. Of course my guys at Mizzou, I can go down (to Columbia) on a Saturday, check those guys out and go back to Kansas City and get ready for my game the next day. It works out for me and I feel I'm in a great spot with a great situation and I'm looking forward to the season.
J: Historically, Kansas City hasn't been known for its wide receivers. Does that make you think you can step in and have an immediate impact?
LM: I have an opportunity to go up there and be a big playmaker. That's something I did at Mizzou and now I have the opportunity again and I'm looking forward to grabbing it and taking advantage of it.
J: Was it important to get your contract situation resolved in a timely manner?
LM: That was big. I got offered something that a lot of guys wouldn't take but my situation being in Kansas City and being so close to home, I would love to stay there if the opportunity comes. I'm in camp early and ready to go.
J: How fun was it to be part of one of the best Missouri football squads in the university's history?
LM: Oh man, I can't explain how much fun I had last year. Going from 5-6 my freshman year to 7-5 to 8-5 to 12-2, I've really seen the gray side of what hard work takes. Last year was just an amazing season for us. We put in a lot of work and it paid off.
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