About 18 years ago, sometime around the end of his amateur career — first at first Haynesville High and then at the University of Georgia — and just before the start of a 9-year NFL career, Demetric Evans offered to buy a beautiful young woman named Aungel a drink.

A few minutes and polite conversation passed before Aungel said, “Look, I should let you know: I have a boyfriend.”

Demetric, because he carries what we who have lived there call the Claiborne Parish Swagger (I am the only one who doesn’t have it), said, “Sure. Good. But hey, does he know you’re going to be my wife?”

“I thought,” Aungel said, “‘This guy’s delusional.’”

But he wasn’t. Even Aungel — Dr. Aungel Evans now and the mother of Demetrick’s two sons — said during her brief and compelling introduction of her husband for his induction into the Ark-La-Tex Museum of Champions Saturday night at the Shreveport Convention Center, that the past 18 years have her husband right, and have also proved him to be a caring man whose actions speak louder than his words, even louder than his considerable athletic talent.

Football taught Evans humility, he said during his acceptance speech at Saturday night’s always-compelling event. No question that a constant dose of that helped drive him to form the 92 Blessings Foundation, to continue his post-undergrad education, and to accept callings that allow him to help both Haynesville and former Georgia and NFL players.

The next induction will be two years from now; consider attending. It’s a fun, quaint night that serves as a reminder that we live in an area so rich both in athletes and in solid people true to their callings.

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The first college football poll is out for the 2018 season. We can all agree that it’s only about two months too early, but it does what it is designed to do — get people talking about it.

So let’s indulge the poll voters and talk about it. Keep in mind, it’s not how you think they will finish the season; it’s about where they should be ranked as this season begins. Take whatever you want into consideration, but factors should include returning starters, last year’s results and coaching or quarterback transition. What you shouldn’t take into account is the schedule. That will take care of itself in due time.

TOO HIGH IN THE POLL

MIAMI (8): Such a one-trick pony last year. They got a lot of run out of (1) a light schedule and (2) winning against Notre Dame at home. Once teams figured them out, they lost the last three games by a combined 55 points.

Oklahoma (5): Too much question about the quarterback situation.

Michigan (14): Quarterback Shea Patterson, a transfer from Ole Miss, might give them the offense they need. Or he may be a bad fit for a Jim Harbaugh offense. They did nothing last year to justify this spot.

Michigan State (12): Good (based on last year), but not that good. They are the fourth best team in the Big 10?

TOO LOW IN THE POLL

Auburn (10): You saw how good they could be at the end of the regular season last year. Uninspired in the bowl game, but you could understand why after losing the SEC championship game.

Texas (21): New dynamic coaches have a history of having an up-and-down year in their first season and then putting it together in Year Two. This might just happen with Tom Herman and the Longhorns in 2018.

Florida State (19): Sure, the Seminoles were 7-6 and went to the Independence Bowl last year, but do you really think that would have happened if quarterback Deondre Francois hadn’t been lost for the season against Alabama? Plus, three of those non-Alabama losses were by four points or less. It’s hard to rank a 7-6 team very high in the pre-season poll, but this wasn’t a typical 7-6 team.