There is just something special about football in the State of Louisiana.

Without fail, each season you can expect high school teams from Shreveport to New Orleans, the LSU Tigers, and also the Saints in the NFL to bring it and grab headlines as some of the best brands of football down South and across America. It goes beyond the game of football, and no team probably knows that better than the Galvez Tigers.

Coming out of Prairieville (a small suburb of Baton Rouge), the Tigers are a youth football team and part of the Southern Louisiana Youth Football Association that consists of Galvez, the Denham Springs Yellow Jackets, Central Wildcats, Live Oak Eagles, Prairieville Broncos, St. Ament Wildcats, Walker Renegades, Woodlawn Jr. Panthers, and Zachary Broncos. While Galvez places an emphasis on teaching the fundamentals of the game and helping young athletes grow and develop on the field, there is also a large focus on coming together and building each other up.

For T.J. Battles, the Team President of the Galvez Tigers, it’s all about family.

“A lot of organizations out there preach about being the best football organization and that is all fine and good, but I'm not building a football and a cheer organization, I am building a football and cheer family,” said Battles.

Battles recently shared his thoughts on Wooter Apparel becoming the team uniform sponsor for the Tigers, the positive impact football has in the community around Southern Louisiana, and how the Galvez Tigers continue to grow in youth football with each passing season.

Louisiana has such a deep rich history with football, from the Galvez Tigers all the way up to the LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints. What does it mean for you guys to throw the pads and that jersey on and take the field this season in Prairieville? 

Taking the field to teach these young children what this awesome game is really about means everything to us board members and coaches alike. We donate countless unpaid hours just so these kids can have a way to learn this team sport that we all love. We do get paid in ways that can not be measured by any type of currency. The smiles and laughs and that look when a kid gets his first touchdown or sack or interception is priceless. We teach these boys not just proper techniques as far as tackling and other parts of the game, but we also teach good sportsmanship, how to take a loss and learn from it -- that win or lose the game at this age is about learning and having fun. Helping to transform these young kids into athletes is an incredible thing to watch and I get to see it every year.

Where did it all start for you with the Galvez Tigers and what are some ways you've seen the program grow since you've been involved?

I have been a part of the Galvez Tigers going on my 8th year I believe...they all start to run together. This upcoming 2020 season will be my third as President. I have also been the Athletic Director for two years prior to that. Before that I was just a regular parent who volunteered any way I could to make sure my kids organization that they loved was supported by our family in anyway possible. This is a family thing for us. I myself am the President, my wife and soulmate is my right hand and my brain she keeps me straight and makes sure I don't forget anything, my oldest 17-year-old daughter serves as assistant cheer coach (she cheered for Galvez for 4 years), my 12-year old son plays football (going on his 5th year), and my youngest daughter (soon to be 6) plays football as well. This organization has had its ups and downs over the years like any organization and we are once again on our way back up. 

What does it mean for you guys to be able to partner and team-up with Wooter Apparel for the customized uniforms for this season? What did the team think of the jerseys and uniforms when they first saw them/tried them on?

It was such a blessing to team-up with Wooter Apparel this year. The quality and customer service was unparalleled by anyone we have used before and we can’t thank Wooter enough for all of their help, support, and being a brand to grow and connect with. The kids loved the jerseys and the sewn on letters and numbers, just like their favorite high school and college teams. The biggest hit, however, were the Wooter undershirts that they can wear on game day or any day. A lot of kids wear them around daily and anytime they have a jersey day at school, the majority of them choose to wear those over any LSU or New Orleans Saints jersey they may have. I have never seen so many smiles from kids as when they got their jerseys and uniforms (the parents were also very pleased with the quality of them too). 

What's been the overall message as you the Galvez Tigers get ready for the upcoming 2020 season? 

Our message is the same every year. Our kids know it and embrace it: we are not a football and cheer organization — We are a family. A lot of organizations out there preach about being the best football organization and that is all fine and good, but I'm not building a football and a cheer organization, I am building a football and cheer family. There are so many truly great and talented players out there on our field week in and week out, along with our cheer teams. I see greatness in every single one of these young men and ladies. We are a family.