Watching Tuesday morning's practice, with his five kids and wife, visiting from Morgantown, W.V., was Natchitoches native and former Demon player Dr. Julian Bailes.
Bailes is the chairman of the department of neurosurgery for the West Virginia University School of Medicine, and is a team doctor for the Mountaineers football team. He previously lived in Pittsburgh and was a team neurosurgeon for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dr. Bailes was joined in the stands by two lifelong friends and fellow former Demons, Britt Brittain and Gary McElwee. Gary's son Taylor is a freshman defensive back.
You might have noticed Dr. Bailes' involvement early last year with the recovery of Randy McCloy, the only survivor of the horrible Sago mining accident in West Virginia. McCloy spent nearly 42 hours trapped underground. He recovered remarkably, so much so that when he was released from the hospital in late March, 2006, the governor renamed the street leading to McCloy's home "Miracle Street."
Tuesday morning, Dr. Bailes greeted several Demon coaches after practice and told head coach Scott Stoker he would be happy to help facilitate a visit by the NSU staff to Morgantown next spring or summer to exchange ideas with Rich Rodriguez and the WVU football coaches. He said Florida coach Urban Meyer has visited more than once.
As for Tuesday's "oooooooo moment" of practice, that's easy. Watching Jeremy Jefferson break loose on a 64-yard TD run to wrap up the newcomers' scrimmage, it was hard not to get excited about seeing him on kick and punt returns. As my friends in Shreveport-Bossier have said, give the kid open space and get ready to applaud.
Also enjoyable: standing next to a conversation between a Demon legend, Johnny Emmons, and one of the current team's better players, Charles McDaniel. Big Mac was on the sideline Tuesday but without the sling he had on Monday after bruising his left forearm. Emmons, who keeps close tabs on the Demons, expressed his admiration for senior offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, who he got to know in December while joining the NSU basketball team on its trip to Hawaii. Bell, of course, is a center on the hoop squad, in addition to shaping into an NFL prospect in his third season of football.
Emmons peppered McDaniel with questions about the team and a few tales of Demon history. He was recently named to the Top 100 Players in Demon Football History roster and will be among the honored guests Sept. 1 during the Centennial Celebration.
Doug Ireland, SID
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