If you hear someone singing Eddie
Money’s “Two Tickets To Paradise” in the middle of practice, it’s
probably him. Or if you’re
standing on the sideline minding your own business, he might
unexpectedly swoop by to say “Hey” after a play goes out of bounds,
then run back onto the field before it’s even possible to process a
response.
But now that fellow safety Malcolm Bronson is out for the season, Cahee’s fun-loving natural vociferousness is being transferred
into the sound of leadership.
“He was, and probably still is, our
leader on the defense,” Cahee said of Bronson. “He’ll be on the sideline
from now on for
all the games and help all the guys who need help. Like I told
them, if all of us can put away the ‘I’s’ for ‘us,’ we’ll be
all right. If everybody can focus on the team, we’ll be all right
regardless of what happens.”
Bronson’s injury has forced Cahee to be a more versatile player in addition to being a more vocal one. The junior from Westlake
has spent time at his natural position of weak safety, Bronson’s vacated free safety spot, and as McNeese’s dime back.
“I’m really proud of Terrence,” said Cowboys head coach Matt Viator. “He really didn’t come off the field (against Northwestern
State) and played three positions plus special teams.”
Cahee said switching safety spots mid-game isn’t a challenge.
“Both free and weak safety are pretty much the same,” Cahee said. “It’s like we run our own defense on our side (of the field)
and they run their own defense on theirs. It’s just a few calls that are different.”
As Cahee sees it, everyone in the secondary is capable of doing the same thing.
“Everyone should know the whole defense,” Cahee said. “We pride ourselves on everybody knowing a lot of positions just in
case things like this do happen.”
There was even more chaos against Southeastern Louisiana with buck safety Ford Smesny and cornerback Guy Morgan injured during
the game, but Cahee said he thinks that crucible will benefit McNeese long term.
“We lost Malcolm. Guy didn’t play the
last two games. Ford went out against Southeastern. That’s the bad,”
Cahee said. “But
then you get guys like Chris Raggett, Gabe Hamner and Aaron Sam to
play who just haven’t had the chance to get the experience.
So it has its pros and cons. But I think we’re alright. I’m
confident. I’ve practiced with these guys since camp and they
know what they can do.”