ATLANTA, Ga.  (Sept. 8, 2009) – The Redfish Cup veteran anglers Capt. Kevin and Cajun Phil Broussard from Lake Charles, La. took home the Academy Sports + Outdoors Team of the Year Award presented by Crocs with 187 points, a 13-point spread between them and the second place team Bryan Watts (Lithia, Fla.) and Greg Watts (Eagle Lake, Fla.) who had 174 points. Eric Rue (Lake Charles, La.) and Larry Puckett (Boyd, Texas) rounded out the top three with 173 points.

The Broussards secured and maintained a strong position in the Team of the Year race from day one of the 2009 season. They had a fourth-place finish at the Punta Gorda tournament back in April; they placed 18th in the Kemah tournament in early June; seventh in the Chalmette tournament in July and 12th at the Biloxi tournament at the end of August. Proving that slow and steady wins the race, the Broussards weighed in the top 20 at every 2009 Redfish Cup tournament, which landed them the coveted Team of the Year title.

“Winning the Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs with my son, Capt. Kevin means everything to me. I honestly don't know of anyone else that puts so much hard work into each event,” said Cajun Phil Broussard. “It just doesn't get any better than this. We love fishing in the Redfish Cup. We love fishing together, and that's what family and love is all about.”

The Redfish Cup teams accumulate Team of the Year points based on their final placement in the four regular-season tournaments (Punta Gorda, Fla., Kemah, Texas, Chalmette, La. and Biloxi/D’ Iberville, Miss.). The Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs awards the winning team $10,000.

“Never has one moment ever changed a life as this one has affected mine. Winning the Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs is our crowning moment. Many years ago my dad started taking me fishing as a small child. I don’t think it took him all that long to realize the fire he had lit in a little boy. And that fire quickly grew over the years into a deep desire and passion for the sport of fishing and the great outdoors,” said Capt. Kevin Broussard.

“My dad is my best friend and my fishing partner and that’s why winning this award with him as my partner means the world to me,” continued Broussard. “This is the ultimate accomplishment in our sport and achieving it against the teams we compete alongside of at every event just makes it that much better. The Redfish Cup anglers are the best competition anyone could ever hope to fish against.”

The Broussard duo has had quite a track record throughout the years in The Redfish Cup. They were the runner up in the 2008 Academy Team of the Year race with a 10-point spread between them and Mark Sepe and Andrew Bostick.

The 2008 season was possibly their most notable season with two second-place finishes in the Hopedale, La. and Port Arthur, Texas tournaments and a fifth-place finish in the Championship.

“Academy Sports + Outdoors congratulates Capt. Kevin and Cajun Phil Broussard on winning the Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs title,” says Scott Frnka, vice president of Academy Sports + Outdoors’ field and stream area. “Our company provides top quality fishing gear at everyday low prices for families all over the southeast. I think awarding the Broussard family team members with the trophy this year makes it extra special.”

The team now heads to Pensacola, Fla. Sept. 25-27 where the top 20 teams after the four regular-season events will contend of the Redfish Cup Championship title. Capt. Kevin and Cajun Phil Broussard will be presented with their Academy Team of the Year presented by Crocs trophies and their $10,000 check on Friday, Sept. 25 during the weigh-ins.