ROUSES_Fall2023_Magazine

WWL is measured in hours and miles, literally. Known to many as “The Football Guy,” Detillier lives in Mathews, Louisiana, and, like Hebert, grew up on the bayou, but Central Lafourche, where he also played football, was home. The former fullback and linebacker studied aquatic engineering at Louisiana Tech and Sacramento State, and eventually took an engineering job for the State of Louisiana. For Detillier, sports — football — was a passion, whereas engineering was a profession. It was the late Hap Glaudi who invited him to come on his radio show in the early 1980s, and Detillier’s exposure grew when he connected with the late Buddy Diliberto, making regular appearances to discuss his vast knowledge of football players and the NFL draft. He retired from engineering, and interviews around the nation about football talent kept him so busy, Detillier thought he would never do anything full-time again. “I finished covering the 2021 draft and I get a call from WWL radio’s management, asking if I would do sports talk full-time again. And working with Bobby Hebert? That was an easy transition,” says Detillier. “One thing Bobby and I have in common besides growing up on the bayous of Lafourche Parish: Neither of us knows when to shut up sometimes.” For Detillier the drives are worth it and, as he says, if he’s going to do anything he is doing it with “both feet in,” adding: “A lot of people don’t really recognize me but as soon as I open my mouth, it is a dead giveaway. So many people listen, and the outreach is tremendous. Had it been another radio station I am not sure I would have said yes.”

DePaul Smith, director of Saints radio sales

things the old-fashioned way. Hebert agrees, because, as he says, “I am like an old newspaper guy. I like stuff in my hand. When you rapidly have to talk on the radio, you don’t always have time to look something up. But I think I have a knack for knowing what’s relevant, which helps.” Hebert also is not shy to say what he thinks about the teams whose performance he discusses. “I speak the truth, and sometimes the truth as I see it hurts. But in the end, I believe the fans appreciate honesty.” And the honest truth about the upcoming Saints season has Hebert singing a positive song. Mike Detillier, Hebert’s afternoon cohost, is positive too and smarter than most when it comes to talking football talent. And his role at By the time his playing days would end after nine seasons and 97 games, Deuce McAllister had amassed 6,096 yards through 1,429 career carries, with an average gain of 4.3 yards, scoring 49 touchdowns on the ground. And that was just in the running game. He also finished with 234 receptions, totaling 1,720 yards, five of those catches resulting in a score. “Deuce is so smart and very humble, and one of the most hard-working guys I know,” - Mike Hoss

30 ROUSES FALL 2023