There were a lot of blank faces on the field at Turpin Stadium after the agonizing 20-17 loss to Texas State. The Bobcats got the game-winning field goal with one second left, and they earned the win.
The Demons, on the other hand, had two turnovers at the goalline, a touchdown called back and all sorts of hair-splitting miscues that twisted the game toward Texas State.
Coach Scott Stoker told the players on the field afterwards that everybody needed to take responsibility for what they didn't get done to help make the difference in NSU's favor. In a game that close, if the Demons made one more play, it would have been a happy homecoming evening in Natchitoches.
It was good to run into two Demon greats in the elevator going down to the field in the closing minutes of play. Top 100 roster picks Bobby Hebert and Darryl Toussaint, teammates in the late 1970s and early 1980s, were running buddies Saturday. Hebert and Toussaint were discussing the running ability of current Demon QB Germayne Edmond, and both were impressed. Toussaint kidded Hebert about his running ability, and Bobby reminded him that he had a couple of 100-yard rushing games in college.
"But that was only because the defense was looking for Joe D (Delaney) to get the ball," Bobby laughed.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Third quarter
Just when things were going well. Demons take a 17-10 lead and give up a quick 4-play, 80-yard drive to Texas State, tying the game at 17-17. The highlight of the drive was a 58-yard Karrington Bush run. NSU gets into the red zone and has a touchdown wiped out by a holding call. Demons lose the ball when Ben Bailey fumbles at the one and Texas State recovers in the end zone. Bailey made a good effort to have a chance to score, but lost the ball.
David West
David West
Scenes at halftime
A half-dozen boys with their chests painted in Demon colors are on the field as the kickers and punter Marshall Burton warm up. The kids are shagging the puns and relaying the kicks back from the fieldhouse after Robert Weeks and Lee Scott boom them past the Clayton Plaza. It looks like fun for the boys, who appear to be from 8-13 years old and they spell out "Demons" if arranged in the right order.
... A couple of former Demon football players were among the Long Purple Line recipients at halftime. Top 100 Demon Football Players honoree David Wright and Top 100 honorary captain Bryant Lewis were among those recognized, along with regular Bossier City/Shreveport QB Club lunch buddy John Manno.
Demons will kick off to open the third quarter. They've been good in second halves at home in the last two SLC games, so let's hope that coninues!
... A couple of former Demon football players were among the Long Purple Line recipients at halftime. Top 100 Demon Football Players honoree David Wright and Top 100 honorary captain Bryant Lewis were among those recognized, along with regular Bossier City/Shreveport QB Club lunch buddy John Manno.
Demons will kick off to open the third quarter. They've been good in second halves at home in the last two SLC games, so let's hope that coninues!
Halftime
Tied with Texas State 10-10 at halftime. Demons missed a great chance to get more points when a Germayne Edmond pass to Dudley Guice barely missed late in the second quarter.
NSU has shut down the Texas State running game, but Bobcat quarterback Bradley George has been effective. Demons need to keep playing good defense and protect the ball on offense. Have a great opportunity to win the game.
David West
NSU has shut down the Texas State running game, but Bobcat quarterback Bradley George has been effective. Demons need to keep playing good defense and protect the ball on offense. Have a great opportunity to win the game.
David West
First quarter
Demons began working their way back into the game after falling behind 10-0. NSU kept the ball on the ground and went 65 yards in 10 plays to get within 10-7. Byron Lawrence has 9 rushes for 65 yards in the first quarter.
Two early turnovers by NSU is not a good way to start.
David West
Two early turnovers by NSU is not a good way to start.
David West
If it was any prettier, ...
The late, great Judge Richard Ware, Demon football legend and longtime color analyst for the Demon Sports Network football broadcasts, was one of the all-time upbeat people I've known.
Ask Richard how he was doing, and you would get one of a variety of answers along the lines of "if I was any better, I couldn't stand it."
Well, if today was any prettier for the homecoming football game, we wouldn't believe it. Avid tailgaters are milking overy moment out of the pregame festivities before entering the stadium, and so was Graduate N Club Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Lewis.
Kevin, looking sharp in his suit, didn't exactly dash onto the field for the pregame introductions of the seven new Hall of Fame members, but he trotted out as the introductions began. He still looked like he could get in a few snaps in the Demon secondary if needed.
Demetrius Bell, who picked up his 2007 SLC East Division championship ring as a Demon basketball player in a Friday evening ceremony, is flanked by Ray Martin as the Demons' team captains today. NSU will get the ball first in a game that well may come down to who has it last.
Ask Richard how he was doing, and you would get one of a variety of answers along the lines of "if I was any better, I couldn't stand it."
Well, if today was any prettier for the homecoming football game, we wouldn't believe it. Avid tailgaters are milking overy moment out of the pregame festivities before entering the stadium, and so was Graduate N Club Hall of Fame inductee Kevin Lewis.
Kevin, looking sharp in his suit, didn't exactly dash onto the field for the pregame introductions of the seven new Hall of Fame members, but he trotted out as the introductions began. He still looked like he could get in a few snaps in the Demon secondary if needed.
Demetrius Bell, who picked up his 2007 SLC East Division championship ring as a Demon basketball player in a Friday evening ceremony, is flanked by Ray Martin as the Demons' team captains today. NSU will get the ball first in a game that well may come down to who has it last.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Demon World Series underway with Kelly's Heroes taking game one
Kelly’s Heroes, coached by volunteer assistant coach Kelly Spann, erased a early 4-0 deficit then got outstanding bullpen production on its way to an 8-6 win over (assistant coach Bobby) Barbier’s Garkos to take a 1-0 lead in the first game of the three-game Demon Baseball World Series.
New Northwestern State skipper J.P. Davis resurrected the series to cap off the fall practice period.
Heroes’ starting pitcher Jimmy Heard threw four innings giving up five runs with just two earned but the bullpen work of Michael Ocampo and Justin Morgan was the story of the game.
Ocampo, in getting the win, tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and striking out four while Justin Morgan threw three strong innings giving up a run with seven strikeouts in earning the save.
The Garkos took a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the second when Hero first baseman Mike Jaworski nailed a solo home run to put the Heroes on the board.
Jaworski finished 2-for-4 and Chase Lyles went 3-for-4 for the winning team.
Clayton Cooper took the loss for the Garkos after throwing five innings and giving up two earned runs with a walk and three strikeouts.
Roberto Gallegos and Leonard Porche each went 2-for-5 for the losing team while Brett Johnson finished 3-for-4.
Game two of the series will be played at 5 on Friday at Brown-Stroud Field with the third and final game being played at 3 on Sunday.
“I was really pleased with the great turnout on Thursday,” said Davis. “I want to invite everyone to come out for the final two games and want to remind everyone to bring some type of non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank of Natchitoches.”
Kyle Broughton is expected to get the start for Kelly’s Heroes on Friday with Heath Hennigan getting the starting nod for Barbier’s Garkos.
New Northwestern State skipper J.P. Davis resurrected the series to cap off the fall practice period.
Heroes’ starting pitcher Jimmy Heard threw four innings giving up five runs with just two earned but the bullpen work of Michael Ocampo and Justin Morgan was the story of the game.
Ocampo, in getting the win, tossed two scoreless innings with a walk and striking out four while Justin Morgan threw three strong innings giving up a run with seven strikeouts in earning the save.
The Garkos took a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the second when Hero first baseman Mike Jaworski nailed a solo home run to put the Heroes on the board.
Jaworski finished 2-for-4 and Chase Lyles went 3-for-4 for the winning team.
Clayton Cooper took the loss for the Garkos after throwing five innings and giving up two earned runs with a walk and three strikeouts.
Roberto Gallegos and Leonard Porche each went 2-for-5 for the losing team while Brett Johnson finished 3-for-4.
Game two of the series will be played at 5 on Friday at Brown-Stroud Field with the third and final game being played at 3 on Sunday.
“I was really pleased with the great turnout on Thursday,” said Davis. “I want to invite everyone to come out for the final two games and want to remind everyone to bring some type of non-perishable food item to donate to the Food Bank of Natchitoches.”
Kyle Broughton is expected to get the start for Kelly’s Heroes on Friday with Heath Hennigan getting the starting nod for Barbier’s Garkos.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Old school
OK, going back 20 years doesn't qualify to many of us, but for the Gen-Xers, it does. Suffice to say current Demon football players would have enjoyed the lunch conversation today at the Bossier City/Shreveport QB Club Luncheon at Ralph & Kacoos, when head coach Scott Stoker traded cracks with former teammate Dr. Randolph Hayes.
I mean, how would you expect a quarterback and a linebacker to get along? They are actually old friends, but with any set of old teammates, there's plenty of material to cover, and plenty of barbs to throw.
Tim Fletcher of KTBS TV and Mike Dirmann of KSLA TV, both who will be covering Saturday's homecoming game at Turpin Stadium, were seated at the table with us and enjoyed the ribbing immensely.
Both Hayes and Stoker bemoaned the departure, mandated several years ago by the NCAA, of athletic dorms. Some of the hijinks they described might have been the bane of the Dean of Students, but the bottom line is that teammates lived together as well as played together, and that togetherness is something that is all too rare today across the country as players dwell in dorms, apartments, houses and trailers instead of on a couple of floors in the same dorm.
I remember the year that the rule changed, all of the coaches here were frustrated, especially because having their teams housed together made it easy to adjust when team travel plans changed (which they often do) or during holiday periods or weekends, when people off campus are scattered. It wasn't like our players were living at a standard any different than other NSU dorm residents, but the legislation wasn't directed at schools like Northwestern, but much higher up the food chain.
Another case, I suppose, of excess at the top spoiling a good thing for the majority of NCAA members.
Doug Ireland, SID
I mean, how would you expect a quarterback and a linebacker to get along? They are actually old friends, but with any set of old teammates, there's plenty of material to cover, and plenty of barbs to throw.
Tim Fletcher of KTBS TV and Mike Dirmann of KSLA TV, both who will be covering Saturday's homecoming game at Turpin Stadium, were seated at the table with us and enjoyed the ribbing immensely.
Both Hayes and Stoker bemoaned the departure, mandated several years ago by the NCAA, of athletic dorms. Some of the hijinks they described might have been the bane of the Dean of Students, but the bottom line is that teammates lived together as well as played together, and that togetherness is something that is all too rare today across the country as players dwell in dorms, apartments, houses and trailers instead of on a couple of floors in the same dorm.
I remember the year that the rule changed, all of the coaches here were frustrated, especially because having their teams housed together made it easy to adjust when team travel plans changed (which they often do) or during holiday periods or weekends, when people off campus are scattered. It wasn't like our players were living at a standard any different than other NSU dorm residents, but the legislation wasn't directed at schools like Northwestern, but much higher up the food chain.
Another case, I suppose, of excess at the top spoiling a good thing for the majority of NCAA members.
Doug Ireland, SID
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Jackie Smith, gumbo chef
Everybody loves gumbo -- even folks in St. Louis.
They may have NSU legend Jackie Smith to thank for the best gumbo they'll ever have.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, a St. Louis icon along the lines of Stan
"The Man" Musial," took part in the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff Oct. 14 in New Iberia.
Smith, 67, opened a Cajun restauarant in his adopted hometown. He found a master chef in Kernis Louviere of New Iberia, who helped the "Ole Redhead" open the eatery and attract business with his delicious Cajun fare.
How good is Louviere's gumbo? His cooking team won both first place trophies in the professional division of the New Iberia cookoff.
As for Jackie, he was in his home stomping grounds (as a native of Kentwood) doing work for Hobie Cat, a boat company.
A recent story about the event and Jackie was posted on the Natchitoches area stories on www.cnn.com ... and noted Smith is a graduate of NSU.
Speaking of pro football players from NSU, word is that we'll get a visit from a few former players and current Baltimore Ravens cornerback David Pittman on homecoming weekend.
Doug Ireland, SID
They may have NSU legend Jackie Smith to thank for the best gumbo they'll ever have.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end, a St. Louis icon along the lines of Stan
"The Man" Musial," took part in the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff Oct. 14 in New Iberia.
Smith, 67, opened a Cajun restauarant in his adopted hometown. He found a master chef in Kernis Louviere of New Iberia, who helped the "Ole Redhead" open the eatery and attract business with his delicious Cajun fare.
How good is Louviere's gumbo? His cooking team won both first place trophies in the professional division of the New Iberia cookoff.
As for Jackie, he was in his home stomping grounds (as a native of Kentwood) doing work for Hobie Cat, a boat company.
A recent story about the event and Jackie was posted on the Natchitoches area stories on www.cnn.com ... and noted Smith is a graduate of NSU.
Speaking of pro football players from NSU, word is that we'll get a visit from a few former players and current Baltimore Ravens cornerback David Pittman on homecoming weekend.
Doug Ireland, SID
Monday, October 22, 2007
SLC basketball media days are back!
Here at the Merrell Center in Katy, Texas, the Southland Conference basketball media days tipped-off the 2007-08 season with the release of the preseason polls and all-conference teams.
ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla broke the ice with several jokes poking fun at a few of the coaches in the audience then gave a great speech that hyped up the coming season.
The Merrell Center is a multi-million dollar facility that is run by the Katy Independent School District and is home to the area's high schools.
The arena is nice with a layout that's similar to the CenturyTel Center in Shreveport. It's fan friendly with numerous concession stands, restroom facilities and is very spacious.
There is ample lockerroom space that can accomodate every participating team.
After lunch and brief speakings from SLC Commissioner Tom Burnett and Fraschilla, coaches were interview by several media members.
If you're a fan of neutral site tournaments, the SLC can't go wrong with The Merrell Center.
ESPN basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla broke the ice with several jokes poking fun at a few of the coaches in the audience then gave a great speech that hyped up the coming season.
The Merrell Center is a multi-million dollar facility that is run by the Katy Independent School District and is home to the area's high schools.
The arena is nice with a layout that's similar to the CenturyTel Center in Shreveport. It's fan friendly with numerous concession stands, restroom facilities and is very spacious.
There is ample lockerroom space that can accomodate every participating team.
After lunch and brief speakings from SLC Commissioner Tom Burnett and Fraschilla, coaches were interview by several media members.
If you're a fan of neutral site tournaments, the SLC can't go wrong with The Merrell Center.
Birthday for the AD
Happy birthday, Greg Burke! The Demons' athletics director turns 51 today. You'd think 41 if you looked at him, and if you tried to keep pace with him, 31 would be more like it.
He took a blow to the chops last night with his beloved Cleveland Indians losing Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
As usual, he's on the move - in suburban Houston today, attending the Southland Conference Basketball Media Day currently being streamed on www.southland.org (click and take a look!). NSU head coaches Jennifer Graf and Mike McConathy are there, along with assistant SID Matthew Bonnette, who no doubt will have news to report and some Daily Demon blog entries to offer.
Doug Ireland, SID
He took a blow to the chops last night with his beloved Cleveland Indians losing Game 7 of the American League Championship Series.
As usual, he's on the move - in suburban Houston today, attending the Southland Conference Basketball Media Day currently being streamed on www.southland.org (click and take a look!). NSU head coaches Jennifer Graf and Mike McConathy are there, along with assistant SID Matthew Bonnette, who no doubt will have news to report and some Daily Demon blog entries to offer.
Doug Ireland, SID
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