Nov. 22, 2007

CONCORD, Calif. - About five minutes into the Thanksgiving meal, the players realized their favorite dish prepared by mom or grandma wasn't going to come out of the kitchen at the Hometown Buffet, but it wasn't about the food on Thursday for the Colonels, it was about spending time with each other and being thankful.

Sure the usually turkey, dressings, and pumpkin pie headed up the selection for the Colonels at the buffet, but it was a little different to look across the table and not see a family member.

"It is tough to be away from home and away from your family, but at the same time it is great to be around our basketball family and spend time with the team," said senior Adonis Gray.

Gray, a three-year letter winner for the Colonels, has spent the last four Thanksgivings away from his hometown of Thibodaux, La. for non-conference games with Nicholls Basketball.

Juniors Gil Verner from Napoleonville, La. and Justin Payne from Opelousas, La. are also not far from the campus of Nicholls, but have missed Thanksgiving with their families over the last three seasons. Even though they miss the time with their families, the best friend duo understands how important it is for the team to have this time with each other.

"I'm sure that all of us would like to be home with our families for Thanksgiving, but we understand that some of the guys would not be able to do that, so it is good to have all of us together as a team," said Payne.

"Every year when we schedule, we try to play some games on the road during the holiday break because Thibodaux and the campus clears out, and it is not fair for our players who can't go home to sit in the dorm," said head coach J.P. Piper.

There are 10 players on the current roster do not live in the immediate area surrounding Nicholls, and are unable to go home during the holiday. Even though the Colonels have been on the road the last four consecutive years, it doesn't stop them from thinking about the good home made food that they are missing out on.

"When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of a lot great food, and one of things I love each and every year is my Aunt Wilda's sweet potato pie," said Payne.

"My family really cooks it up on Thanksgiving, but it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without my Grandma Boney's shrimp melaton," said Verner.

"My grandma Barbara makes the best rice dressing and peas that I have ever had, and I miss it all the time," added Gray.

When asked if there would be any leftovers waiting for them when they got home from the road trip, Payne, Verner, and Gray all said that the families will have eaten everything by the time they get back.

"The food is to good for everyone to pass up, and we won't be back until Sunday, so there won't be any leftovers left for us," said Verner.

The Colonels will conclude their west coast tour with a contest at St. Mary's on Saturday at 3 p.m. local time. St. Mary's upset No. 12 Oregon 97-89 on Tuesday night, and their game against Nicholls will be their first contest since their upset victory.

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