Varsity Insider

Jim Provost update
Former Rice Memorial football coach Jim Provost slipped back into South Burlington with his Champlain Valley Union football team on Saturday and took away a 33-8 win in Division II play.

Provost, who stepped down in 1999,  didn’t leave without offering some nice words of praise for new Rice football coach Neil Brodeau, one of his former players.

“I could not be happier that this program is in his hands,” said Provost, a former all-league center and member of the Rice Athletic Hall of Fame.

“He’s still  –  and I’ve said this to a lot of people – he’s still maybe the best football player I coached up here, really. He was a very good player. He’s even a greater person. These kids are lucky to have him and believe me he will do a good job. Wins or losses, who knows? But he will do it the right way.”

Nice words of praise for Brodeur, a 1985 graduate and three-year varsity player.

Jim Provost is in his second year at the helm of the Champlain Valley Union football program. He has the Redhawks off to a 1-0 start after last week’s win over Burr and Burton.

Now, in week 2, Provost brings his squad to familiar territory: Rice Memorial. Provost collected two Division II football titles during his 20 years — 14 as head coach — at the South Burlington school. He stepped away after the 1999 season, only to return to the sidelines in 2008 at CVU.

“It will be weird being on (visitors’ sideline), looking towards the bleachers instead of the baseball outfield,” Provost said.

And with the 1989 team being honored on the 20th anniversary of its championship, Saturday’s game has heightened meaning for Provost.

“The novelty isn’t lost on the kids and it’s certainty not lost on the coaches,” Provost said. “It’s a business trip and the whole going back and homecoming … maybe that will mean something after, but once we kickoff, I think it’s going to go away.”

Provost was quick to say that despite his long history with Rice, he bleeds red and white now.

“It’s not a homecoming for me. (CVU) is my home now.”

Note: Burlington coach Brennan Carney is also making a homecoming visit. The BHS coach’s previous stop was Spaulding where he led the Crimson Tide to the 2007 Div. II crown. The Seahorses travel to Barre for a 1 p.m. game today.