More tomorrow, but for now, plenty of praise deserved by the Demons football team for its gut-check win today over Southeastern.
If any team had reason to be downtrodden coming into the game, it was our Demons, but those players and coaches fought through it and earned the victory this afternoon. WOW!
Also praise to the fans at Turpin who made enough noise on a fourth-quarter play by the Lions to help goad the visitors into a false start. That's what the Demon players mean when they talk about the homefield edge at Turpin!
Doug Ireland, SID
Saturday, October 13, 2007
What a start!
A 14-0 first quarter lead, with scores on the first two possessions, and 5-for-5 passing from starting quarterback Drew Branch -- along with a blocked SLU field goal by Gary Riggs and some tremendous pass coverage and pressure on SLU's Brian Babin.
That's the happy news so far from Turpin early in the second quarter. SLU just got sacked back at its own 2. Demons will get the ball back in good field position.
That's the happy news so far from Turpin early in the second quarter. SLU just got sacked back at its own 2. Demons will get the ball back in good field position.
Super Duper coin toss
Demon great Mark Duper participated in the pregame coin toss. Duper is in the area visiting family and will be on the sideline with the Demons today. Look for him on CST in the second quarter with announcers Kevin Eschenfelder and Ronnie Rantz.
Any edge is an edge
Curious to see who will play quarterback today?
The Demons didn't show their hand in pregame warmups. The Demons didn't show, period, for pregame warmups.
At least, they didn't warm up on the field in Turpin Stadium.
Holding his cards very close to the vest, NSU coach Scott Stoker sent his team into the infield of the adjacent Walter Ledet Track Complex for pregame warmups, hoping not to give Southeastern any inkling of what might be about to happen with NSU's offense.
Further, if SLU figured out the Demons were getting loose elsewhere, they couldn't have figured out who was doing what.
NSU warmed up without shoulder pads and jerseys, wearing helmets and their warmup shirts without numbers. The NSU players and coaches knew what they were doing but it was impossible for any observer to know who was doing it.
Track the live stats for the quickest in-game updates, but we'll try to keep you current as possible on what could be a very intresting afternoon.
GO DEMONS!
Doug Ireland, SID
The Demons didn't show their hand in pregame warmups. The Demons didn't show, period, for pregame warmups.
At least, they didn't warm up on the field in Turpin Stadium.
Holding his cards very close to the vest, NSU coach Scott Stoker sent his team into the infield of the adjacent Walter Ledet Track Complex for pregame warmups, hoping not to give Southeastern any inkling of what might be about to happen with NSU's offense.
Further, if SLU figured out the Demons were getting loose elsewhere, they couldn't have figured out who was doing what.
NSU warmed up without shoulder pads and jerseys, wearing helmets and their warmup shirts without numbers. The NSU players and coaches knew what they were doing but it was impossible for any observer to know who was doing it.
Track the live stats for the quickest in-game updates, but we'll try to keep you current as possible on what could be a very intresting afternoon.
GO DEMONS!
Doug Ireland, SID
Quite a day of play
Baseball Home Run Derby. Softball Alumni Game. High school cross country invitational. Opening of preseason basketball practice. A golf scramble involving teammates and friends treasuring the memory of a legendary Demon football player.
And the main course, a home, televised football game against an old in-state rival.
There’s plenty to choose from, or sample, today on campus. We’re counting down to kickoff now at Turpin Stadium, and a lot of the action is already in the books.
The Home Run Derby was entertaining and exciting. Justin O’Neal, junior outfielder/first baseman, was the top slugger, ripping out five. Right on his heels, surprisingly, was rail-thin outfielder Johnnie Santangelo, who poked out four. So did last year’s slugging champ, senior outfielder Dylan Libadisos.
Not to say that Voice of the Demons Patrick Netherton wasn’t top notch duing the public address for the Derby, but the most lively element of the morning’s activities had to be the flowing public address commentary at the Demon Diamond by head softball coach Becky McMurtry. To say that she was heckling the softball alumni does not do her justice.
Meanwhile, on the field, the former players – and quite an all-star lineup it was, with many of the great names in NSU history and everyone on the alumni team bringing a great love and appreciation for their days at NSU – were enjoying a spirited game against the current day softball team.
It was more along the lines of a neighborhood pickup game than an intensely competitive contest, but it was a great experience for both sides. There were even alumni umpires. Really.
Good buzz coming out of Prather Coliseum from folks who watched both workouts. Lots of signs that this winter will be a fun one to pull for our people in purple.
Back with some football notes in a bit.
Doug Ireland, SID
And the main course, a home, televised football game against an old in-state rival.
There’s plenty to choose from, or sample, today on campus. We’re counting down to kickoff now at Turpin Stadium, and a lot of the action is already in the books.
The Home Run Derby was entertaining and exciting. Justin O’Neal, junior outfielder/first baseman, was the top slugger, ripping out five. Right on his heels, surprisingly, was rail-thin outfielder Johnnie Santangelo, who poked out four. So did last year’s slugging champ, senior outfielder Dylan Libadisos.
Not to say that Voice of the Demons Patrick Netherton wasn’t top notch duing the public address for the Derby, but the most lively element of the morning’s activities had to be the flowing public address commentary at the Demon Diamond by head softball coach Becky McMurtry. To say that she was heckling the softball alumni does not do her justice.
Meanwhile, on the field, the former players – and quite an all-star lineup it was, with many of the great names in NSU history and everyone on the alumni team bringing a great love and appreciation for their days at NSU – were enjoying a spirited game against the current day softball team.
It was more along the lines of a neighborhood pickup game than an intensely competitive contest, but it was a great experience for both sides. There were even alumni umpires. Really.
Good buzz coming out of Prather Coliseum from folks who watched both workouts. Lots of signs that this winter will be a fun one to pull for our people in purple.
Back with some football notes in a bit.
Doug Ireland, SID
Friday, October 12, 2007
Thank goodness they play basketball...
After sitting through seven innings of a comic-filled attempt by the NSU Demon basketball players at playing softball, it's a good thing they haven't taken up that sport.
Well, for most of them anyway.
I will say it was a good, competitive game, with the winning team of Demetrius Bell, Keithan Hancock, Colby Bargeman, Damon Jones, Dominic Knight, Logan McConathy, Jerry Moody, Deividas Petravicius and trainer Jeremy Musser, squeaking out a 9-8 come-from-behind win in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Some power was shown during the game with Bell smashing three home runs while Kalem Porterie, a member of the losing team, bombing one.
Hancock picked up the win on the mound. I think it was his approach to each batter, circling the mound 3-4 times before lofting his pitch. He kinda resembled a dog right before laying down for its daytime nap.
Knight, of the winners, and Dwayne Watkins of the losing team, came up with some nice left field grabs.
Perhaps the one thing that got the biggest outburst of chuckles was the play of Petravicius. The native Lithuanian has probably never played the game of softball before, or even watched the game at that.
But his first time up to the plate, he connected with an infield grounder... only one thing, he didn't know he had to run to first base. "David" did get a nice hit later in the game and played a big part in his team coming back for the win.
Oh yeah, the public address announcing, or should I say play-by-play calling, of assistant coach Mark Slessinger will be one thing that's sure to keep him on the coaching sidelines.
The fifth annual event was well worth time. It was a lot of fun with a lot of laughs, and a pretty good game too. It also gave the chance for the fans in attendance to get to meet and talk to the Demon coaches and players.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Do home runs count for 3?
This evening, at the Demon Diamond softball complex, you can watch the NSU Demon basketball team play.
Softball.
It's the "5th Annual Demon Basketball Softball Classic" pitting team members in a semi-serious battle just prior to getting down to business with the start of preseason practice this weekend.
The Demons tip off practice Friday night at 8:30, right after the NSU soccer team's big game against Southeastern. The Lady Demons work out at 8 Saturday morning, and the Demons return at 9:30. Of course, you are more than welcome to check them out on the basketball court at any time.
If you want some offbeat entertainment, and to enjoy watching folks having fun, drop by the softball field this evening. It's made possible, of course, by the NSU softball program providing the facility and the equipment.
As usual, it's the brainchild of out-of-the-box thinking assistant coach Mark Slessinger, whose creativity has few boundaries, whether we're talking strategic decisions in practice and games or any of a thousand and one other topics. He's also the public address man for the game, providing hilarious commentary each year on the diamond prowess of the Demon hoopsters.
The 6:30 contest pits "The Switches" vs. "The Goons." We'll have to ask Sless about those names.
Trey Gilder and Gerrell Thomas captain "The Switches" while Colby Bargeman and Jerry Moody head up "The Goons."
Interestingly, the game represents the first "basketball" action of the fall for Demetrius Bell, who is spending his time at left offensive tackle for the Demons football team and continues to improve his stock in the eyes of pro football scouts. You have to think Bell might be able to drive a softball into the Prather parking lot across the street from the Demon Diamond.
Coach Mike McConathy will be manning the grill. A couple of years ago he cooked up some ostrich along with burgers and such. No word what he may have on the plate for the post-game meal.
It will be fun to see if the long-range shooters on the Demon squad can go deep on the softball field, too. Do home runs count for 3?
Doug Ireland, SID
Softball.
It's the "5th Annual Demon Basketball Softball Classic" pitting team members in a semi-serious battle just prior to getting down to business with the start of preseason practice this weekend.
The Demons tip off practice Friday night at 8:30, right after the NSU soccer team's big game against Southeastern. The Lady Demons work out at 8 Saturday morning, and the Demons return at 9:30. Of course, you are more than welcome to check them out on the basketball court at any time.
If you want some offbeat entertainment, and to enjoy watching folks having fun, drop by the softball field this evening. It's made possible, of course, by the NSU softball program providing the facility and the equipment.
As usual, it's the brainchild of out-of-the-box thinking assistant coach Mark Slessinger, whose creativity has few boundaries, whether we're talking strategic decisions in practice and games or any of a thousand and one other topics. He's also the public address man for the game, providing hilarious commentary each year on the diamond prowess of the Demon hoopsters.
The 6:30 contest pits "The Switches" vs. "The Goons." We'll have to ask Sless about those names.
Trey Gilder and Gerrell Thomas captain "The Switches" while Colby Bargeman and Jerry Moody head up "The Goons."
Interestingly, the game represents the first "basketball" action of the fall for Demetrius Bell, who is spending his time at left offensive tackle for the Demons football team and continues to improve his stock in the eyes of pro football scouts. You have to think Bell might be able to drive a softball into the Prather parking lot across the street from the Demon Diamond.
Coach Mike McConathy will be manning the grill. A couple of years ago he cooked up some ostrich along with burgers and such. No word what he may have on the plate for the post-game meal.
It will be fun to see if the long-range shooters on the Demon squad can go deep on the softball field, too. Do home runs count for 3?
Doug Ireland, SID
Monday, October 08, 2007
Why NSU Athletes are Family
Everyone knows or should be well aware that collegiate athletes are a pretty exclusive group. Not everyone can be a college athlete and people that are not or never have been can have a tough time understanding their experiences. So, by their nature, athletes are a pretty insular group.
That doesn't necessarily mean that athletes from certain sports show up and cheer for other sports. I found that to be true in a lot of college scenarios but not at NSU.
A great example of that can be found this past weekend in Thibodaux. The Demon football team was scheduled to play Nicholls at 2 pm. The Demon volleyball team also was playing in Thibodaux, but at a conflicting time.
In a terrific move of solidarity, Demon coach Brittany Uffelman asked the Nicholls coach to move the time of the game back to noon, meaning that her team would be able to play their match and then go watch the football team, one of the few times that her squad could do that this year. And since the football team is one of the biggest supporters of volleyball, the decision was an easy one.
Keep in mind that the team had played Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond the night before, putting them in Thibodaux late. Couple that with an early wake-up call and an early match and Uffelman should have been setting her team up for failure...all in the name of school spirit.
The great news is that despite getting down 2-0, the Demons rallied for the win. And they also showed what the Spirit of Northwestern is all about.
That doesn't necessarily mean that athletes from certain sports show up and cheer for other sports. I found that to be true in a lot of college scenarios but not at NSU.
A great example of that can be found this past weekend in Thibodaux. The Demon football team was scheduled to play Nicholls at 2 pm. The Demon volleyball team also was playing in Thibodaux, but at a conflicting time.
In a terrific move of solidarity, Demon coach Brittany Uffelman asked the Nicholls coach to move the time of the game back to noon, meaning that her team would be able to play their match and then go watch the football team, one of the few times that her squad could do that this year. And since the football team is one of the biggest supporters of volleyball, the decision was an easy one.
Keep in mind that the team had played Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond the night before, putting them in Thibodaux late. Couple that with an early wake-up call and an early match and Uffelman should have been setting her team up for failure...all in the name of school spirit.
The great news is that despite getting down 2-0, the Demons rallied for the win. And they also showed what the Spirit of Northwestern is all about.
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