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
Friday, June 01, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
HOSTING A TOURNAMENT TAKES A TRUE TEAM EFFORT
Last week’s Southland Conference Baseball Tournament, in my opinion, was a success, despite Northwestern State not qualifying for the event.
The employees of NSU and volunteers around the community made sure of it.
Fans and media from the visiting teams, and even players and coaches, commented on how well NSU did hosting the tourney, especially since the Demons were not part of it. Most said that we went all out when we could have just gone through the motions.
A lot of people stepped up in areas where they may have not been familiar.
For example, Wednesday’s first game was halted for nearly three hours due to rain. After the rains stopped, the field still needed to be tended to as pools of water stood in the outfield.
Demon coaches, aka tournament grounds crew, Mitch Gaspard, J.P. Davis, Jeff McCannon, Troy Moock and Bobby Barbier began working on the field while other staff members joined in, including director of athletics Greg Burke, compliance coordinator Dustin Eubanks, facilities director Chuck Bourg, marketing director Ryan Holloway, director of development Will Broussard, athletic trainer Ed Evans, Demon fan Patrick Korn, yours truly, and probably several others I can’t remember right now.
Once the slate of games resumed, fans were treated to an atmosphere many have not experienced at their own home ballparks.
Marketing intern Brian Seiler operated the music and sound effects, student SID Fletcher Jonson did the PA, while the almighty Coach Black handled the scoreboard.
More people behind the scenes that helped make the tournament a success… ticket manager Zach Williams, associate AD Donnie Cox, athletics administrative assistants Liz Yeaman, Allison Cadwallader, Geri LaCour, Ronnie Pellegrin, SID Doug Ireland, student SID Matt English, business manager Roxanne Freeman, personnel from all the other sports in the athletic department and from other departments on campus, David and Davey Antilley, and many more I’m sure I’m leaving out.
And who can forget NSU student and super fan Scotty Dawson. Scotty captured the fans hearts with his boisterous cheers and his very own “Scotty Dawson Jam Session” each game. Fans would clap along to his dancing, giving him standing ovations when done. He even had some peaks from both dugouts as the competing players watched and clapped along.
Putting on a league tournament is a lot of work, but when the total team chips in, success will always be the result, no matter what the scoreboard says.
The employees of NSU and volunteers around the community made sure of it.
Fans and media from the visiting teams, and even players and coaches, commented on how well NSU did hosting the tourney, especially since the Demons were not part of it. Most said that we went all out when we could have just gone through the motions.
A lot of people stepped up in areas where they may have not been familiar.
For example, Wednesday’s first game was halted for nearly three hours due to rain. After the rains stopped, the field still needed to be tended to as pools of water stood in the outfield.
Demon coaches, aka tournament grounds crew, Mitch Gaspard, J.P. Davis, Jeff McCannon, Troy Moock and Bobby Barbier began working on the field while other staff members joined in, including director of athletics Greg Burke, compliance coordinator Dustin Eubanks, facilities director Chuck Bourg, marketing director Ryan Holloway, director of development Will Broussard, athletic trainer Ed Evans, Demon fan Patrick Korn, yours truly, and probably several others I can’t remember right now.
Once the slate of games resumed, fans were treated to an atmosphere many have not experienced at their own home ballparks.
Marketing intern Brian Seiler operated the music and sound effects, student SID Fletcher Jonson did the PA, while the almighty Coach Black handled the scoreboard.
More people behind the scenes that helped make the tournament a success… ticket manager Zach Williams, associate AD Donnie Cox, athletics administrative assistants Liz Yeaman, Allison Cadwallader, Geri LaCour, Ronnie Pellegrin, SID Doug Ireland, student SID Matt English, business manager Roxanne Freeman, personnel from all the other sports in the athletic department and from other departments on campus, David and Davey Antilley, and many more I’m sure I’m leaving out.
And who can forget NSU student and super fan Scotty Dawson. Scotty captured the fans hearts with his boisterous cheers and his very own “Scotty Dawson Jam Session” each game. Fans would clap along to his dancing, giving him standing ovations when done. He even had some peaks from both dugouts as the competing players watched and clapped along.
Putting on a league tournament is a lot of work, but when the total team chips in, success will always be the result, no matter what the scoreboard says.
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