Dear Dad: Not All Super Heroes Wear Capes

Doug Aucoin

Growing up in a football family taught me how to balance a demanding workload and family.  Even though I am the youngest of eight and had two working parents each of us kids felt like number one.  My parents gave me the road map for a great balance.  Without quantity, I focus on quality time with family.  I have always strived to make sure all three kids felt loved and appreciated.  

When my kids were younger, I enjoyed coaching, playing and watching them participate in various sports.  Now that they are older, life gets in the way, but we still find time to swim, eat (crawfish) and enjoy each other's company when we can.  We also try to go fishing, and hunting when time permits.  Becoming a grandfather to Juliana and Rowan has been a treat.  The best part about being "pawpaw" is I can spoil them and send them back home.  I make sure to always let my kids know that I am proud of them and love and cherish who they have grown to become.

Dad jokes?

I have two sons (Ryan and Shane) and one daughter (Chanler).  I always let Chanler know that she is my favorite daughter to get her reply "I'm your only daughter dad."  Or if the kids ever say, "I'm cold or hungry" I reply with "I'm Doug.  Nice to meet you."  

My family is my world.

John Daniel

No, you are not seeing double! I have identical twin girls, Evie and Dori (8). Being a girl dad is my #1 role in life. I love playing games and sports with them, and helping them to find answers to their 1,000’s of daily questions they have about the world.

My favorite dad joke is:  

Did you know that the first French Fries weren’t cooked in France? … They were cooked in Greece!

My favorite thing is seeing them smile.

Hunter Geisman

You want a good dad joke, do you?

Did you hear about the fire at the circus?…  It was in tents.

Why does Waldo wear a striped shirt?  Because he doesn’t want to be spotted.

Mickey Joseph

I love going to Malania Tee ball games and playing catch outside with Lil Mickey. I love watching the movies on Disney with both kids.

LSU is such a kid friendly place our kids are always welcome in the Football Office and they love coming to work with me. This coaching lifestyle can be hard on families. I don’t think people realize how much time is devoted to the job. And the job of being a dad doesn’t always stop with your own kids. I appreciate the opportunity to help to mold my athletes…I treat them like family too! I am thankful to have a wife who can keep us all in check and do it with love!

Garrett Runion

My favorite activity to do with my kids is be on the water, that could be  going on the boat or going to the pool or beach.   

The kids will probably tell you I have more good and bad one liner dad “comments” than jokes.  Only one I can think of right now is. What did the fish say when he swam into a wall?... Dam

The best part of my day that brings me joy is when I return home from work or a trip and my kids run up to see me and hug me excited to tell me everything that happened to them about their day.  It is always awesome when I get to bring my kids around any LSU sporting event or facility and see them get excited about LSU!

Feeling like a dad also happens as a coach as well…Something that gives me joy is when my student-athletes/kids call me to share an accomplishment or goal they have achieved and were excited about.  Like one of my players shot their first buck this winter and she facetimed me from the woods to show me.  I had another player beat a PR in the weight room and she wanted to share that with me.  Things like that, showing they did something new, excited or hard and are growing as a person is awesome and I always think is cool. 

Like many dads , my biggest worry is that I miss small life events with my kids likes birthdays, baseball games, school activities, etc. 

Matt LaBorde

Some of my favorite activities to do with my kids are wrestling, playing outside and watching movies.

My claim to fame is not with my dad jokes but I have long tried to convince my oldest son, Lucas, that I am actually the Hulk. No Joke!

My biggest joy is having my kids run to the door when I get home from work. And while we all pray for our families, I can’t help but to be worried about the health and safety of each child.

Mark Lee

Making the decision to return to the often dynamic day-to-day of the Athletic Department, my daughter Olivia at the time was not nearly three. Although my wife Ashley and I talked a good deal about this decision and the changes this job would have on our lives, it was comforting to know I had her blessing, and by proxy, Olivia’s. We all know working within the Athletic Department that we did not sign up for the traditional 9-5. It takes hard work and at times long hours with the focus being having an impact on other people’s kids. So this is what I promise her… commit to leaving work at the front door, making my time with family intentional, and being emotionally available to her. I want my daughter to grow up with the same love and admiration I have for this university, but she will not if I do not work hard at being her Dad.

Michael Johnson

Being a Dad truly is a gift from God.  My kids know how consuming my work can be, so they also understand why I don't buy them expensive gifts.  Instead, we go places,  experience things, and share moments together.  We ride trains to beaches made of glass.  Take car rides along the Pacific coastal highway. Go fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.  Camp out under the stars at the base of MT. Rainier.  And we laugh together.   We argue about what to eat.  I teach them how to play poker and then take all their money ( which I gave them) LOL!   I've broken up with boyfriends and best friends.   I've been both the best and the worst human being EVER!!!!   In under 30 minutes!  I've sang them asleep.   I've felt their hearts beat and in turn my own.    I've carried them to the ER and pleaded with God to take me instead.    But I think the most important thing I do with them is listen.   Because the child you knew yesterday can be a different person tomorrow.   And a Dad’s job is to always be there,  to always try to understand without judgment.   Lastly my favorite thing to do (because listening isn't always the easiest) is to cook for them and share my life's passion with the ones I love the most. 

Louis Bourgeois

Being a father and working in athletics is a difficult balance. Whether it is a quick visit around the office or off time at home, it makes those moments with the kids all the more special. They love being little tiger fans and seeing dad do what he loves on and off the field!

Greg Stringfellow

When I have a chance to go with the girls to their sporting events, it’s always a fun time! What we do most often is hang out at our house and cook. And by hang out and cook, I mean swim in the pool and GRILL outside! I usually try to make breakfast with them on Sunday mornings. This is always a good time for me to catch up with their plans. Some of our best times are spent at the beach trip we take each summer. My 4 girls and the boss have me out-numbered but I wouldn’t have it any other way!

Russell Brock

It is so important for me to spend time with my son Kory. I’ve helped him start a lawn mowing service in the neighborhood. We mow around 10 lawns together so he can make a little money and I can get some good exercise! We play lots of games (card games, dominoes) and really enjoy our movie nights together. One of our most enjoyable activities is going to LSU Athletic events with my family and co-worker friends! It has beenwonderful to follow along with my oldest daughter’s college volleyball career. As a coach, I get to see life from the coaches view every day. It’s wonderful to see her from the parent side and just be her fan! Giving my daughter Kaelynn away to her husband was a real blessing. We’ve prayed for a loving husband for our girls for years, so having those prayers answered has been humbling and exciting!!

I don’t have any traditional dad jokes, but one of my go to dad humor moves is to purposefully mess up my kids’ friends names by turning them into famous people’s names.  At least gives me a good laugh!

What brings me most joy is being at home with my family…this is always a big goal.  I love being with my wife and kids.  I really enjoy working with my plants and cultivating unique blooms. In my free time, I love to play golf!  On a really great day my son will go with me!

I try not to worry.  Worry is just having faith that something bad is going to happen.  My goal is to have faith and hope in positive outcome. I hope to pass this faith on to my family.

Jeff Grigus

The moment I laid eyes on Mary Rose in the operating room my world was turned upside down in the most amazing way. Samantha and I were blessed with a healthy baby girl and I cannot put into words how amazing that day and the last ten months have been for us. Being a Girl Dad while simultaneously working in LSU Athletics has challenges, but I could never do both without the support and guidance of my wife, Samantha, who is the cornerstone of our household.

Working in college athletics demands long hours and weekends away from the family, but my wife doesn’t blink when it comes to the time that I spend at the office or on the road. Although working in football occasionally takes away from my family, it makes the time we do spend together more special. No matter how tough the day was, I know that Mary Rose and my wife will be excited to see me when I get home. I always make time to do the nightly bedtime routine with Mary Rose, and the time spent with her and my wife remind me that it was all worth it. 

My wife and daughter love being a part of the LSU Football Family and know they always have a support system within it. They are very excited for football season and are currently planning all of Mary’s “game day outfits”. I feel very blessed to be able to do a job that I love and to have a family that supports me and my career 100%. I’m looking forward to growing within LSU Athletics with my family by my side. 

Eddie Kennison

The greatest joy of being a father is teaching and learning from my boys. First and foremost it is learning the word of God and then teaching my boys Godly principles and everything else that goes along with being a dad. Being back in the Football Operations Building at LSU has sparked a fire under me again. Working in Athletics is a love that has always been in my heart. Teaching and learning from the young athletes day in and day out makes for a joyous occasion everyday. Being a father is second to none and working in Athletics is pretty close to fatherhood.