With college softball in the World Series and college baseball beginning NCAA Regional play this weekend, Demon fans have plenty of rooting to do even without our teams playing.
Last night in the Women’s College World Series, there was former Demon football tight end and assistant softball coach (and NSU alumnus) Glenn Moore, coaching his eighth-seeded Baylor Lady Bears in an extra inning thriller against No. 1 Arizona. The Wildcats escaped with a 2-1 win in nine intense innings at Oklahoma City in a game shown on ESPN. Glenn’s wife is former Lady Demon high jump record-holder Janice Miller.
The baseball regionals give us lots of reason to cheer. Six teams – Texas A&M, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Nebraska, Southern Mississippi and Sam Houston State – have former Demon coaches helping them excel.
For Texas A&M, coached by former Demon pitching coach Rob Childress, with his assistant Matt Deggs. Childress and Deggs worked at NSU in 1995-97 on the staff of Dave Van Horn. Rob went with Dave from NSU to Nebraska, and when Dave came “home” to his alma mater at Arkansas, Rob stayed with the Cornhuskers. Deggs left here to become the head coach at Texarkana Community College, then joined Van Horn in Fayetteville, then moved to work with his dear friend Childress when Rob took over the A&M program before the 2006 season.
For Arkansas, and the aforementioned Dave Van Horn. Boy, is he just about the big Hog in Razorback land? They led the nation in home attendance and could win it all (so could the Aggies).
For Nebraska, and yet another Van Horn-era Demon assistant, Andy Sawyers. He’s back at his alma mater.
For Ole Miss, and former Jim Wells assistant coach, head coach Mike Bianco. Trivia fact: after Jim Wells took the Alabama job following the 1994 season, Bianco was a finalist for the Demons’ top job along with Dave Van Horn – after Mitch Gaspard turned it down to go with Jim to Tuscaloosa.
It’s a Demon-heavy regional in Oxford. Former John Cohen assistant Lane Buroughs is a veteran member of the Southern Mississippi staff. Lane gave us the infamous “gas man” story about his days playing football at West Lauderdale (Miss.) HS. I’ll save that story for the beginning of football season. It brought down the house more than once at Demon QB Club lunches.
Also in Oxford – Southland Conference Tournament champion Sam Houston State, with former Mitch Gaspard assistant and LSU pitcher Justin Hill, and four-year Demon letterwinner, Phillip Miller. Two of the nicest guys you’d ever want to meet – we were happy for their win last weekend at Brown-Stroud Field. Rooting for Phil – his long-term girlfriend, NSU softball second baseman Lyndsey Gorski, who found it in her heart to root for the Bearkats in between working at the concession stand during the tournament.
Don’t be shocked if A&M and Arkansas each make it to Omaha for the CWS – unless they meet in a Super Regional!
Doug Ireland, SID
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