Hundreds of people gathered at the Cajundome Convention Center on Sunday to pay their respects to UL Baseball Coach Tony Robichaux.
Robichaux died Wednesday at 57.
Visitation started at 3 p.m. and ended at 9 p.m. A rosary was prayed at 7 p.m.
Anthony Babineaux, UL Baseball Associate Head Coach, spent 25 years as an assistant with Robichaux.
"What comforts me? I'm not really sure if anything has or will," an emotional Babineaux expressed. "I am comforted to know is that for the last 25 years, I've been able to work side by side with him and learn some invaluable lessons and help him teach these kids the way that you're supposed to do things."
Robichaux's longtime friend Fred Cart said the Robichaux did something special for him when he needed it most.
Cart was diagnosed with bone cancer about three years ago, and Robichaux asked him to throw the first pitch at one of his games. Cart said, as he was choking back tears, that Robichaux really made an impact on his life.
"He taught me to be a man. See, he raised men, not baseball players. Without even seeing him, like, I'd see him on TV, and he would impress me," said Cart. He was such an admired guy."
Baseball player R.J. Davis remembers Robichaux as a mentor.
"We went to Cajun Field and had a team meeting on how to be a better person, on and off the field," said Davis.
One of Robichaux's biggest coaching rivals also attended the wake.
"We had some battles. I mean, we battled for king of the hill in the conference. And, what a great guy. I mean, class. Our teams, our players didn't particularly like each other. It was a bitter rivalry; I'll be honest with you, but we were great friends," said former University of South Alabama Coach Steve Kittrell.
Kittrell said Robichaux's influence reaches beyond the field and his legacy runs deeper than his accolades.
"When you talk about Tony Robichaux, he's one of the nicest, most competitive coaches that I've ever met and had the pleasure of coaching against," offered Kittrell.
To see a tribute video and read about the funeral arrangements for Monday, go to https://www.katc.com/news/fans-and-friends-asked-to-wear-read-along-robichauxs-funeral-route.
