It was fun listening online at wwl.com to Bobby Hebert and Deke Bellevia interviewing Coach Scott Stoker a few minutes ago.
After the interview ended, Bobby pointed out that Stoker broke a lot of his passing records at Northwestern and talked about him being a "little guy" and the "classic overachiever" as a player. Smart and tough and a great competitor, said Bobby.
The Cajun Cannon also bragged a lot on NSU, Natchitoches and the caliber of football in the Southland Conference.
One really interesting comment from Stoker in response to a question from Bellevia, who may be best remembered for his nearly heroic broadcasting turn on WWL in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina:
Asked which position group was the Demons' strongest, Stoker listed two that were among the biggest concerns entering preseason camp.
He said the Demons were awfully good in the secondary. No surprise about the safety spots, which we knew were in good shape led by veterans Gary Riggs, Wesley Eckles, Justin Perry and Lance Lacoste. One corner was pretty secure with Kasey Brown, who had a great year last year. But Stoker said true freshmen Cassius Pollard and Jeremy Lane were great additions. Of course, with all the spread offenses, you need more than 5 starting DBs and it sounds as if the Demons are good there.
Then he mentioned the linebackers, and that was the no-brainer. The top four are two-year veterans. Mack Dampier, Blake Delcambre, Isaiah Greenhouse and Rogers Loche are productive playmakers for the Purple Swarm.
The offensive line was the big surprise. Stoker said the returning players were good and he was very pleased with the true freshmen coming along. He said NSU needs good fortune on injuries in this area, but he really feels good about the O-line.
Stoker once again said the 2008 recruiting class is looking better and better each and every day. He mentioned receiver/returner Calvin Stoker and pointed out he's no relation - Calvin has speed that coach dreamed about having!
Saturday, August 09, 2008
Memories of Delaney, Stephens, Hebert
Those on the field at Turpin Stadium may not realize it -- or coaches through the years might say that too many of the players sometimes do -- but a football practice is a great time for a conversation.
On the sidelines or in the stands, that is. Most safely, in the stands. Up there, there's no chance of having your attention somewhere else when the 6-3, 240-pound tight end stretches to make a great catch or get the extra yard, and you're right in his path. They call that "getting turfed."
I've seen it happen and fortunately not to me.
Another great reason to sit in the stands at a football practice as opposed to watching from field level is the chance to sit, and maybe even in the shade. Saturday morning, that's why I was in the east side student section seats (been a while since I've been there) with former Demon players Britt Brittain and Bryan Arceneaux watching the team go through practice.
Brittain (1974-78) and Arceneaux (1980-84 as a player, the next two years as a student coach) didn't cross paths back in their playing days, but have become good friends. Their first common bond was Bobby Hebert, now known as "The Cajun Cannon," the former Saints and Falcons star quarterback who roomed with "Britt" as a true freshman in the fall of 1978. Arceneaux and Hebert are Bayou Boys from Galliano and South Lafourche High School.
Hebert is now a sports talk show host on WWL-870 AM in New Orleans and will be interviewing Demons head coach Scott Stoker today at 4:45.
Arceneaux talked about his first spring practice as a Demon defensive tackle before Delaney's senior season, 1980. Offensive line coach Joe Raymond Peace made a big impression on Arceneaux, who was oblivious to who he had just smacked down with a helmet to helmet hit.
"I didn't have any clue who Joe Delaney was. He was the guy running the ball, that's all I knew. I hit him right upside the face mask pretty good and here comes Coach Peace, asking me did I know who that was? I got the idea real fast, he was our stud," said Arceneaux.
Brittain chimed in that when he was a player, before the internet and extensive broadcast coverage of prep football, he didn't know much if anything about many of the incoming players. He did, however, say he remembered wanting to see Delaney, the guy who ran a 9.4 100-yard dash at Haughton High School, and Joe D. was everything he was billed as and then some.
Arceneaux was a senior in 1984 when NSU's other NFL Rookie of the Year, John Stephens, was the Gulf Star Conference Freshman of the Year as a tailback right out of Springhill High School.
"John had incredible talent," said Arceneaux. "When he cranked it up full throttle, it was awesome to see. He was learning to play tailback as he went along."
Stephens was an offensive guard at Springhill until his senior season, when a knee injury to the Lumberjacks' returning starter there resulted in moving the powerfully-built future star to the backfield. Such are the amazing twists of fate.
The reminiscing ended as practice did, after phone calls to touch base with former teammates. Brittain's former teammate Kenny Meeks gave Arceneaux the phone number for J.T. Fenceroy, who played in the early '80s, and it wouldn't surprise me if Arceneaux has now gotten in touch with Stephens to remember those days and look ahead to this fall.
Stephens and Stoker stay in contact -- they played together at NSU in 1986-87.
On the sidelines or in the stands, that is. Most safely, in the stands. Up there, there's no chance of having your attention somewhere else when the 6-3, 240-pound tight end stretches to make a great catch or get the extra yard, and you're right in his path. They call that "getting turfed."
I've seen it happen and fortunately not to me.
Another great reason to sit in the stands at a football practice as opposed to watching from field level is the chance to sit, and maybe even in the shade. Saturday morning, that's why I was in the east side student section seats (been a while since I've been there) with former Demon players Britt Brittain and Bryan Arceneaux watching the team go through practice.
Brittain (1974-78) and Arceneaux (1980-84 as a player, the next two years as a student coach) didn't cross paths back in their playing days, but have become good friends. Their first common bond was Bobby Hebert, now known as "The Cajun Cannon," the former Saints and Falcons star quarterback who roomed with "Britt" as a true freshman in the fall of 1978. Arceneaux and Hebert are Bayou Boys from Galliano and South Lafourche High School.
Hebert is now a sports talk show host on WWL-870 AM in New Orleans and will be interviewing Demons head coach Scott Stoker today at 4:45.
Arceneaux talked about his first spring practice as a Demon defensive tackle before Delaney's senior season, 1980. Offensive line coach Joe Raymond Peace made a big impression on Arceneaux, who was oblivious to who he had just smacked down with a helmet to helmet hit.
"I didn't have any clue who Joe Delaney was. He was the guy running the ball, that's all I knew. I hit him right upside the face mask pretty good and here comes Coach Peace, asking me did I know who that was? I got the idea real fast, he was our stud," said Arceneaux.
Brittain chimed in that when he was a player, before the internet and extensive broadcast coverage of prep football, he didn't know much if anything about many of the incoming players. He did, however, say he remembered wanting to see Delaney, the guy who ran a 9.4 100-yard dash at Haughton High School, and Joe D. was everything he was billed as and then some.
Arceneaux was a senior in 1984 when NSU's other NFL Rookie of the Year, John Stephens, was the Gulf Star Conference Freshman of the Year as a tailback right out of Springhill High School.
"John had incredible talent," said Arceneaux. "When he cranked it up full throttle, it was awesome to see. He was learning to play tailback as he went along."
Stephens was an offensive guard at Springhill until his senior season, when a knee injury to the Lumberjacks' returning starter there resulted in moving the powerfully-built future star to the backfield. Such are the amazing twists of fate.
The reminiscing ended as practice did, after phone calls to touch base with former teammates. Brittain's former teammate Kenny Meeks gave Arceneaux the phone number for J.T. Fenceroy, who played in the early '80s, and it wouldn't surprise me if Arceneaux has now gotten in touch with Stephens to remember those days and look ahead to this fall.
Stephens and Stoker stay in contact -- they played together at NSU in 1986-87.
Friday, August 08, 2008
Back home for Arceneaux, Spears
Former Demon stalwarts Bryan Arceneaux and Marcus Spears were avidly watching Friday afternoon's preseason football drills in Turpin Stadium.
Arceneaux, a defensive lineman from 1981-84 who helped Coach Sam Goodwin's Demons win the '84 Gulf Star Conference co-championship, has a vested interest. His son Colby is a sophomore safety who has just transferred in from Ole Miss.
Dad has been an avid supporter of Coach Scott Stoker's since the former Demon QB took over as head coach in 2002. Arceaneaux was a graduate assistant coach on Goodwin's staff when Stoker arrived at NSU as a walk-on in 1986.
"Big Spears" was watching the Demon offensive linemen closely for the second straight practice. He drove up from his Houston home, visited Shreveport for some business after Media Day Thursday at NSU, and came back for Friday afternoon's practice.
Spears was a two-time All-America offensive tackle in 1992-93. He was an Outland Trophy semifinalist in 1993 and shares a distinction with Jerry Rice as the only player from the FCS (then Division I-AA) level ever to make the Football Writers Association major college All-America team.
You may have heard of Rice.
Spears played 13 years in the NFL himself, mostly with Kansas City. For several years, he was invited by the NFL to speak at the annual NFL Rookies Symposium, presenting career advice to the draft picks each year.
Spears was a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears.
Now, he's considering moving back to Natchitoches and completing his undergraduate degree. Always a good student, Spears was a biology major during his college days. He was a true "diamond in the rough" who played in the Baker High School band until convincing his mother he wanted to try to play football as a senior.
Coach Goodwin saw him on film and gave him his only Division I scholarship offer. It worked out pretty well.
Arceneaux, a defensive lineman from 1981-84 who helped Coach Sam Goodwin's Demons win the '84 Gulf Star Conference co-championship, has a vested interest. His son Colby is a sophomore safety who has just transferred in from Ole Miss.
Dad has been an avid supporter of Coach Scott Stoker's since the former Demon QB took over as head coach in 2002. Arceaneaux was a graduate assistant coach on Goodwin's staff when Stoker arrived at NSU as a walk-on in 1986.
"Big Spears" was watching the Demon offensive linemen closely for the second straight practice. He drove up from his Houston home, visited Shreveport for some business after Media Day Thursday at NSU, and came back for Friday afternoon's practice.
Spears was a two-time All-America offensive tackle in 1992-93. He was an Outland Trophy semifinalist in 1993 and shares a distinction with Jerry Rice as the only player from the FCS (then Division I-AA) level ever to make the Football Writers Association major college All-America team.
You may have heard of Rice.
Spears played 13 years in the NFL himself, mostly with Kansas City. For several years, he was invited by the NFL to speak at the annual NFL Rookies Symposium, presenting career advice to the draft picks each year.
Spears was a second-round pick of the Chicago Bears.
Now, he's considering moving back to Natchitoches and completing his undergraduate degree. Always a good student, Spears was a biology major during his college days. He was a true "diamond in the rough" who played in the Baker High School band until convincing his mother he wanted to try to play football as a senior.
Coach Goodwin saw him on film and gave him his only Division I scholarship offer. It worked out pretty well.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
NFL update on Bell, Pittman
Good news for Demon football greats Demetrius Bell and David Pittman, both at critical junctures of their NFL careers, reports veteran NSU football observer Thomas Foster, known as the Demons' "clubhouse man" because he's something of a concierge for visitors to the fieldhouse and the team's locker room.
Part of his job is to take care of the team's locker room and facilities, but "T" adds a huge dose of hospitality to visitors, especially NFL scouts. Through the two-plus decades Foster has been at Northwestern, he's developed close contacts with various pro teams, and formed strong relationships with dozens of Demon players who have gone on to play at football's highest level.
Bell, the rookie offensive tackle who was a seventh-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, called Foster Monday night to say he would be playing the second and third quarters in the Bills' Saturday night exhibition opener against the Washington Redskins. Bell has moved up to second team at tackle, a remarkable step forward for a guy playing the position for only his third season ever.
This, from the excellent www.buffalobills.com website and a q&a with lead writer Chris Brown:
"Q - Any word on Demetrius Bell? How's he looking? Is he getting many reps?
A- Over the last two days I think Bell has really come along. He's fared well in the one-on-one pass protection matchups and I mentioned him in my practice notes tonight under the Getting Reps section. He's still learning, but he's made progress as far as I can see."
As far as Pittman is concerned, the third-year Baltimore Ravens cornerback is battling for the starting nickelback position (not really a starting job, but a busy one) after ending last season with a two-interception performance in the Ravens' 27-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The return of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, despite the exit of head coach Brian Billick, is a good sign for Pittman, says Foster.
Ryan was quoted last season as saying Pittman has as much or more ability than most NFL defensive backs, but just needs to blossom into the player he can be. With a new head coach in Baltimore, this is a great time for Pittman to emerge on a talented Ravens defense.
Baltimore opens the preseason at New England Thursday night.
Part of his job is to take care of the team's locker room and facilities, but "T" adds a huge dose of hospitality to visitors, especially NFL scouts. Through the two-plus decades Foster has been at Northwestern, he's developed close contacts with various pro teams, and formed strong relationships with dozens of Demon players who have gone on to play at football's highest level.
Bell, the rookie offensive tackle who was a seventh-round draft pick of the Buffalo Bills, called Foster Monday night to say he would be playing the second and third quarters in the Bills' Saturday night exhibition opener against the Washington Redskins. Bell has moved up to second team at tackle, a remarkable step forward for a guy playing the position for only his third season ever.
This, from the excellent www.buffalobills.com website and a q&a with lead writer Chris Brown:
"Q - Any word on Demetrius Bell? How's he looking? Is he getting many reps?
A- Over the last two days I think Bell has really come along. He's fared well in the one-on-one pass protection matchups and I mentioned him in my practice notes tonight under the Getting Reps section. He's still learning, but he's made progress as far as I can see."
As far as Pittman is concerned, the third-year Baltimore Ravens cornerback is battling for the starting nickelback position (not really a starting job, but a busy one) after ending last season with a two-interception performance in the Ravens' 27-21 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The return of defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, despite the exit of head coach Brian Billick, is a good sign for Pittman, says Foster.
Ryan was quoted last season as saying Pittman has as much or more ability than most NFL defensive backs, but just needs to blossom into the player he can be. With a new head coach in Baltimore, this is a great time for Pittman to emerge on a talented Ravens defense.
Baltimore opens the preseason at New England Thursday night.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Fast start
While the Demon football team got down to the business of practice Monday, they attracted a fair share of attention before Fall Sports Media Day on Thursday.
Back at Turpin Stadium for the second time in 14 hours was sports director Mike Dirmann of KSLA-TV in Shreveport. After doing interviews Sunday evening as the Demons devoured their jambalaya dinner, Dirmann was back to get some practice footage to use behind the interviews.
Coming in on his first day after a family vacation to Estes Park, Col., was KTBS-TV sports director Tim Fletcher, who cruised down I-49 from Shreveport as soon as his hour-long 8 a.m. radio call-in show wrapped up. Fletcher interviewed junior safety Wesley Eckles of Mansfield and senior receiver Adam Varnado of Big Sandy, Texas, along with head coach Scott Stoker.
He got some practice footage of the second group's early workouts, which wasn't the prime cut. All of the Demons' newcomers were among the 40-plus players in that 10 a.m. session, and the ball hit the ground more in the first half-hour than it did in the nearly two-hour practice preceding it.
Both KSLA and KTBS will be back Thursday for media day. Between now and then, they'll have plenty of coverage of Demon football. If you're not in the viewing area, you can visit their websites to watch.
Back at Turpin Stadium for the second time in 14 hours was sports director Mike Dirmann of KSLA-TV in Shreveport. After doing interviews Sunday evening as the Demons devoured their jambalaya dinner, Dirmann was back to get some practice footage to use behind the interviews.
Coming in on his first day after a family vacation to Estes Park, Col., was KTBS-TV sports director Tim Fletcher, who cruised down I-49 from Shreveport as soon as his hour-long 8 a.m. radio call-in show wrapped up. Fletcher interviewed junior safety Wesley Eckles of Mansfield and senior receiver Adam Varnado of Big Sandy, Texas, along with head coach Scott Stoker.
He got some practice footage of the second group's early workouts, which wasn't the prime cut. All of the Demons' newcomers were among the 40-plus players in that 10 a.m. session, and the ball hit the ground more in the first half-hour than it did in the nearly two-hour practice preceding it.
Both KSLA and KTBS will be back Thursday for media day. Between now and then, they'll have plenty of coverage of Demon football. If you're not in the viewing area, you can visit their websites to watch.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Happy to be here
The Demon football team checked in Sunday afternoon to start preseason practices and every player was obviously happy to be here. The Northwestern players and coaches hit the field for the first time at 8:10 Monday morning (10 a.m. for the newcomers).
The energy around the George Doherty Football Offices was palpable. Eyes were sparkling and there seemed to be a quiet sense of determination to validate all the work in the past 255 days, since the season-ending 31-12 win over Stephen F. Austin.
After the players heard from athletics director Greg Burke and other administrators, and received marching orders from venerable head athletic trainer Ed Evans, it was time for head coach Scott Stoker to set a tone.
"Our goal for the next three weeks in August is to see who's mentally and physically ready to play for 60 minutes, to help us win," he said.
Stoker told his players one primary focus will be special teams improvement. He stressed the new rule moving the kickoff back to the 30 yard line will "make field position very, very critical" and also reminded the players about the new 40-second play clock, which will shave away a few plays each week and will speed the tempo of the game.
The players enjoyed Stoker's declaration that he knows it's going to be hot in preseason camp.
"Guys, this is Louisiana and it's August. I know it's hot. There's no point in saying it out loud. I'm the guy that has to put SPF 50-plus on my shiny head every time we go out, so I don't need anybody pointing out the obvious," he said, to the chuckles of his players.
Shortly after he wrapped up his remarks, the team was treated to a jambalaya dinner prepared by Troy Unbehagen and served by him, Joe Bienvenu and Jack "Britt" Brittain Jr., the Demon Sports Network sideline reporter and four-year letterwinner (1974-78) at wide receiver.
KSLA-TV sports director Mike Dirmann was on hand and interviewed Stoker, senior quarterback Drew Branch, senior offensive lineman Tim Henderson, junior cornerback Kasey Brown, sophomore running back Jeremy Jefferson and junior receiver Chad Bell.
Dirmann will be back about 9:15 Monday morning to get some practice footage, and he'll return again Thursday for Fall Sports Media Day.
The energy around the George Doherty Football Offices was palpable. Eyes were sparkling and there seemed to be a quiet sense of determination to validate all the work in the past 255 days, since the season-ending 31-12 win over Stephen F. Austin.
After the players heard from athletics director Greg Burke and other administrators, and received marching orders from venerable head athletic trainer Ed Evans, it was time for head coach Scott Stoker to set a tone.
"Our goal for the next three weeks in August is to see who's mentally and physically ready to play for 60 minutes, to help us win," he said.
Stoker told his players one primary focus will be special teams improvement. He stressed the new rule moving the kickoff back to the 30 yard line will "make field position very, very critical" and also reminded the players about the new 40-second play clock, which will shave away a few plays each week and will speed the tempo of the game.
The players enjoyed Stoker's declaration that he knows it's going to be hot in preseason camp.
"Guys, this is Louisiana and it's August. I know it's hot. There's no point in saying it out loud. I'm the guy that has to put SPF 50-plus on my shiny head every time we go out, so I don't need anybody pointing out the obvious," he said, to the chuckles of his players.
Shortly after he wrapped up his remarks, the team was treated to a jambalaya dinner prepared by Troy Unbehagen and served by him, Joe Bienvenu and Jack "Britt" Brittain Jr., the Demon Sports Network sideline reporter and four-year letterwinner (1974-78) at wide receiver.
KSLA-TV sports director Mike Dirmann was on hand and interviewed Stoker, senior quarterback Drew Branch, senior offensive lineman Tim Henderson, junior cornerback Kasey Brown, sophomore running back Jeremy Jefferson and junior receiver Chad Bell.
Dirmann will be back about 9:15 Monday morning to get some practice footage, and he'll return again Thursday for Fall Sports Media Day.
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