Punisher 'loves to hit people'
Cowboys safety has come long way since leaving Haiti home
Cowboys safety has come long way since leaving Haiti home

By Mike Baldwin

Published: March 16, 2008

STILLWATER — Lucien Antoine's nickname, given by Oklahoma State coaches, grabs your attention. The Punisher.

"He loves to hit people,” said safeties coach Joe DeForest. "That's his goal on every play. It's fun to watch. He's going to add that mentality to that group back there.”

Born and raised in Haiti, Antoine has limited football experience. But it's that background in a third-world country that explains how someone can rapidly develop into a knock-your-block-off junior-college All-American safety.

Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College coach Jeff Sims gave Antoine a similar nickname — the Eliminator.

"When I say he's an eliminator, I mean if he hits a guy it's over,” Sims said. "He's a monster. He's solid muscle. If he hits somebody it will silence the crowd. They'll feel sorry for the kid he hit.”

During DeForest's four-plus seasons at OSU, Jamie Thompson has been the Cowboys' hardest hitter in the secondary. Is Antoine in Thompson's class?

"Absolutely,” DeForest said. "He's a very physical player. The biggest thing is he has to learn our defense and learn some technique things. But he'll get it. He's very eager to learn. It means a lot to him. He wants to be good.”

Sims said Antoine's work ethic is his best asset, even more impressive than above average speed and a 6-foot-1, 205-pound, rock solid frame.

"ESPN will end up doing a story on him, I guarantee it,” Sims said. "Lucien has been in America for seven years. He didn't even speak English seven years ago. Now he speaks it well.

"His work ethic is due to his background. He feels fortunate to have the opportunities he has in this country. When he was a kid there was a war going on. People carried guns.”

DeForest said he's uncomfortable sharing details of Antoine's childhood in Haiti. Since the media isn't allowed to interview first-year players, DeForest offered some insight.

"He's been through a lot,” DeForest said. "It's very unique what he's experienced. This means so much to him.”

Defensive coordinator Tim Beckman said he likes what he's seen the first two weeks of spring practice. Antoine grabbed one of two interceptions Friday in the first scrimmage.

"He's my first Haitian,” Beckman joked. "There's no question Lucien has made some plays. He's done a great job doing what we've asked him to do. But he's still learning.”

Antoine has more to learn than most junior-college players. He played high school football only one season in Coral Springs, Fla.

He was allowed to walk on at Fort Scott only because they had gone 0-9 the season before. Antoine redshirted that season. He played as a reserve his freshman season.

That's when Sims, a California juco coach, accepted the challenge of reviving a struggling program in the ultra competitive Jayhawk Conference.

"When we went to spring ball we thought Lucien was good but didn't think he was great,” Sims said. "But every day Lucien got better. I had never met a kid in my entire career that got better every day. But Lucien did.

"We work our guys extremely hard. Lucien soaked it up like a sponge. We knew he had potential. Now he's the real deal. To appreciate Lucien you have know his whole story. No one at Oklahoma State will outwork him. No one.”

Antoine's track record is once you show him something he will work diligently to master it.

"When I got here he barely knew how to jump rope,” Sims said. "He had never really done it. He went out and bought a jump rope and worked on it every day. By the time he left he could jump rope like (boxer) Roy Jones Jr.”

OSU coaches have seen similar characteristics, a mentality that rubs off on teammates.

"Lucien wants to make himself better,” Beckman said. "That's in the weight room, the class room, learning football, everything. Lucien Antoine wants to be a good person and a good player.

"When you can get those type players in your program, if they're lacking something but they love the game, they'll be successful. His work ethic is rubbing off on all our junior-college players. He's kind the leader of the group.”

Sims said he's coached 47 juco players who have received a Division I-A scholarship. Eleven have played in the NFL. He's confident Antoine will play on Sundays.

"Lucien is one of those kids I've been lucky to coach,” Sims said. "I'm a better person because Lucien was in my life. Nobody doesn't like him. He's different. He's a great kid. And nobody will ever mess with him.”

Antoine already is listed as the backup free safety behind Quinton Moore. Even if Antoine doesn't start the Aug. 30 season opener, he could start later.

"Lucien has ball skills, can tackle and he can run,” DeForest said. "It's up to us as a coaching staff to get him ready mentally. For him, it's all mental because there's no doubt physically he can do it. He's the total package.”

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