Saturday, August 16, 2008
Check out Kenta's latest blog
Go to the Kenta Bell button in the middle of the nsudemons.com homepage ... he sends his best wishes to 2000 Olympian LaMark Carter and updates us heading toward his competition in Beijing!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Busy night for D-Bell
Last year's Demon football All-American, offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, is getting more action tonight in the Buffalo Bills' second preseason game than anybody would have expected a few weeks ago.
He played the entire second half last weekend against Washington, but was expected to be busier against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game being played in Toronto. Because of a holdout by the starting left tackle, a potentially season-ending shoulder injury to the second-team left tackle and an injury to a third tackle, the Bills had only three healthy tackles going into the game tonight.
So he is lining up against one of the best defenses in the NFL, just early in his third season ever as an offensive football player and his fourth year of football, period. Bell, you remember, came to NSU on a basketball scholarship and decided to give football a try in his basketball redshirt year of 2005, with the blessing of Demons' basketball coach Mike McConathy.
His football future blossomed so much last fall that Bell reluctantly passed on his senior basketball season to get ready for the NFL Draft last April. He was picked in the seventh and final round by the Bills, and signs indicate they see his potential and are going to be patient as he develops.
Earlier this week, Buffalo News reporter Mark Gaughan offered these thoughts on his blog: "No. 5 tackle Demetrius Bell ... looks very promising in camp. He has a great - and we really mean great - body. He has an ideal "power pack" (a big butt and powerful thighs). But he is very, very green, and it's unrealistic to think he can get on the field in the regular season this year. (Due to the Bills' woes at tackle) Bell better be ready for about 60 snaps against the Steelers."
By the way -- McConathy sent Bell a good luck text message on the night before the opening exhibition against Washington. Bell sent a text back: "Coach, I don't think I ever told you - thank you for allowing me to play football."
He played the entire second half last weekend against Washington, but was expected to be busier against the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game being played in Toronto. Because of a holdout by the starting left tackle, a potentially season-ending shoulder injury to the second-team left tackle and an injury to a third tackle, the Bills had only three healthy tackles going into the game tonight.
So he is lining up against one of the best defenses in the NFL, just early in his third season ever as an offensive football player and his fourth year of football, period. Bell, you remember, came to NSU on a basketball scholarship and decided to give football a try in his basketball redshirt year of 2005, with the blessing of Demons' basketball coach Mike McConathy.
His football future blossomed so much last fall that Bell reluctantly passed on his senior basketball season to get ready for the NFL Draft last April. He was picked in the seventh and final round by the Bills, and signs indicate they see his potential and are going to be patient as he develops.
Earlier this week, Buffalo News reporter Mark Gaughan offered these thoughts on his blog: "No. 5 tackle Demetrius Bell ... looks very promising in camp. He has a great - and we really mean great - body. He has an ideal "power pack" (a big butt and powerful thighs). But he is very, very green, and it's unrealistic to think he can get on the field in the regular season this year. (Due to the Bills' woes at tackle) Bell better be ready for about 60 snaps against the Steelers."
By the way -- McConathy sent Bell a good luck text message on the night before the opening exhibition against Washington. Bell sent a text back: "Coach, I don't think I ever told you - thank you for allowing me to play football."
Good news from Houston on Petey
Demon great Petey Perot came through his triple-bypass heart surgery well today in Houston, according to NSU assistant head football coach Johnny Nagle.
Nagle spoke to Perot's son right after the Demons finished their late afternoon practice, and got a good report on his friend and NSU legend.
We'll get an address for you to use to send well wishes.
Nagle spoke to Perot's son right after the Demons finished their late afternoon practice, and got a good report on his friend and NSU legend.
We'll get an address for you to use to send well wishes.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Prayers for Petey Perot
One of the Demons' greatest and most popular football players, former NFL offensive lineman and Natchitoches native Petey Perot, undergoes heart bypass surgery Thursday in Houston.
The Graduate N Club Hall of Famer last year was named to the roster of Top 100 Players in Demon Football History. A tackle for the Demons, he played guard for the Philadelphia Eagles and in the last of his eight NFL seasons, for the New Orleans Saints.
He was a four-year starter from 1975-78, All-Louisiana in 1977 and 1978 when NSU wasn't in a conference, and was the 48th player picked (second round) in the 1979 NFL Draft.
Perot started in Super Bowl XV at the Superdome for the Eagles. He was noted for giving future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White of Dallas fits in the bitter Eagles-Cowboys series during the years Dick Vermeil coached in Philadelphia.
He won Sports Illustrated's NFL Offensive Player of the Week award on Sept. 29, 1985 with the Saints for a tremendous game at San Francisco.
He met his wife, the former Kate Adams of Hodge, at NSU. His y0unger brother Andy is a close friend of Demon basketball coach Mike McConathy, and his sister-in-law Angie (Andy's wife) is the administrative assistant to vice president Jerry Pierce.
Petey has been coaching the offensive line for more than a decade at Louisiana Tech. He is close friends with Demons assistant head coach Johnny Nagle from years of crossing paths on the recruiting trail, and he called Nagle Saturday to tell him about the situation.
We ask you to keep Petey and the Perot family in your prayers.
The Graduate N Club Hall of Famer last year was named to the roster of Top 100 Players in Demon Football History. A tackle for the Demons, he played guard for the Philadelphia Eagles and in the last of his eight NFL seasons, for the New Orleans Saints.
He was a four-year starter from 1975-78, All-Louisiana in 1977 and 1978 when NSU wasn't in a conference, and was the 48th player picked (second round) in the 1979 NFL Draft.
Perot started in Super Bowl XV at the Superdome for the Eagles. He was noted for giving future Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Randy White of Dallas fits in the bitter Eagles-Cowboys series during the years Dick Vermeil coached in Philadelphia.
He won Sports Illustrated's NFL Offensive Player of the Week award on Sept. 29, 1985 with the Saints for a tremendous game at San Francisco.
He met his wife, the former Kate Adams of Hodge, at NSU. His y0unger brother Andy is a close friend of Demon basketball coach Mike McConathy, and his sister-in-law Angie (Andy's wife) is the administrative assistant to vice president Jerry Pierce.
Petey has been coaching the offensive line for more than a decade at Louisiana Tech. He is close friends with Demons assistant head coach Johnny Nagle from years of crossing paths on the recruiting trail, and he called Nagle Saturday to tell him about the situation.
We ask you to keep Petey and the Perot family in your prayers.
Bad break for 2000 Olympian LaMark Carter
Demon great and 2000 USA Olympian LaMark Carter of Shreveport is watching the 2008 Olympics from a bed on the ninth floor of the LSU Medical Center in his hometown after suffering extensive injuries in a nasty auto accident on Friday.
Northwestern track coach Leon Johnson had a telephone conversation with Carter today and said he was "lucky to be alive" after the wreck. Carter said rescue crews had to cut him out of the wreckage and among his injuries are fractures in his hip and shoulder.
Carter, a four-time All-American for the Demons from 1991-93, competed in the triple jump at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and retired from competitive track and field after the 2004 Olympic Trials.
He expects to be in the hospital for 5-6 weeks. You can send a card to him by using this address: LaMark Carter, LSU Medical Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130.
Carter, a Shreveport-Captain Shreve product, ranked among the world's best triple jumpers for more than a decade following his college career. He is a seven-time USA champion in the triple jump (1998, 1999, 2001 outdoors, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 indoors).
Carter was fourth in the 1996 Olympic Trials, second in the 2000 Trials and eighth in the 2004 Trials (also 14th in 1992). He finished as high as second in World Championship competition (1999 World Indoors silver medalist) and was as high as fifth outdoors in World Cup competition in an 11-year pro track career.
Carter placed eighth or better in the triple jump at USA Championships from 1993-2004, except for 2002-03 while recovering from a knee injury. He was ranked sixth in the world in 1998 and eighth in 1999. Carter had personal bests of 57-2 3/4 in the triple jump in 1998 and 26-2 1/4 in the long jump in 1996.
A four-time NCAA Division I All-American for Northwestern, he won the 1993 SLC Indoor and Outdoor Field Performer of the Year awards. He was a three-time SLC Outdoor champion in the triple jump, setting the school record (that still stands) with a 55-2 3/4 mark to win the 1993 title. Carter won the 1993 SLC Indoor High Point Award with 28 of the Demons' 101 points, winning the triple jump and 55m dash and finishing second in the long jump to lead NSU to its first SLC track title.
Outdoors that season, he gave up his redshirt status at the SLC Championships and led the Demons to their first SLC Outdoor crown by winning the TJ, anchoring the winning 4x100 relay and finishing second in the long jump, all in NCAA qualifying performances. He was fourth in the 1993 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the triple jump (55-0 3/4), 10th in the long jump; he was third in the triple jump at the 1993 NCAA Indoors, and eighth in the triple jump at the 1992 and 1991 NCAA Outdoors. In all, he won seven SLC titles (1992, 1993 Indoor TJ, 1993 Indoor 55m dash, 1991-93 Outdoor TJ, 1993 Outdoor 4x100m).
Northwestern track coach Leon Johnson had a telephone conversation with Carter today and said he was "lucky to be alive" after the wreck. Carter said rescue crews had to cut him out of the wreckage and among his injuries are fractures in his hip and shoulder.
Carter, a four-time All-American for the Demons from 1991-93, competed in the triple jump at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000 and retired from competitive track and field after the 2004 Olympic Trials.
He expects to be in the hospital for 5-6 weeks. You can send a card to him by using this address: LaMark Carter, LSU Medical Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71130.
Carter, a Shreveport-Captain Shreve product, ranked among the world's best triple jumpers for more than a decade following his college career. He is a seven-time USA champion in the triple jump (1998, 1999, 2001 outdoors, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001 indoors).
Carter was fourth in the 1996 Olympic Trials, second in the 2000 Trials and eighth in the 2004 Trials (also 14th in 1992). He finished as high as second in World Championship competition (1999 World Indoors silver medalist) and was as high as fifth outdoors in World Cup competition in an 11-year pro track career.
Carter placed eighth or better in the triple jump at USA Championships from 1993-2004, except for 2002-03 while recovering from a knee injury. He was ranked sixth in the world in 1998 and eighth in 1999. Carter had personal bests of 57-2 3/4 in the triple jump in 1998 and 26-2 1/4 in the long jump in 1996.
A four-time NCAA Division I All-American for Northwestern, he won the 1993 SLC Indoor and Outdoor Field Performer of the Year awards. He was a three-time SLC Outdoor champion in the triple jump, setting the school record (that still stands) with a 55-2 3/4 mark to win the 1993 title. Carter won the 1993 SLC Indoor High Point Award with 28 of the Demons' 101 points, winning the triple jump and 55m dash and finishing second in the long jump to lead NSU to its first SLC track title.
Outdoors that season, he gave up his redshirt status at the SLC Championships and led the Demons to their first SLC Outdoor crown by winning the TJ, anchoring the winning 4x100 relay and finishing second in the long jump, all in NCAA qualifying performances. He was fourth in the 1993 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the triple jump (55-0 3/4), 10th in the long jump; he was third in the triple jump at the 1993 NCAA Indoors, and eighth in the triple jump at the 1992 and 1991 NCAA Outdoors. In all, he won seven SLC titles (1992, 1993 Indoor TJ, 1993 Indoor 55m dash, 1991-93 Outdoor TJ, 1993 Outdoor 4x100m).
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Mesmerized
A nearly 90-year-old man mesmerized some of the best players on the NSU Demons football team this morning.
Walter Ledet is an extraordinary senior citizen -- and an iconic figure at Northwestern for a multitude of reasons. Chances are that most of the 10 Demon players taping pieces for the new videoboard at Turpin Stadium knew that Ledet was the first football All-American in school history, back in 1938, as an offensive guard for the Louisiana State Normal Demons of Coach Harry Turpin.
But there's no way for college students to fully grasp how life was 70 years ago. This morning, they got a glimpse from Ledet, as he fielded all of the same questions the current day players did -- and then some.
Not wanting to spoil the enjoyment of those in Turpin Stadium this year, I won't be specific about the answers and dialog that ensued as the players sat in the NSU journalism department's TV studio and watched and listened to Ledet.
But I can share a little insight without giving away the surprises. There was absolute silence as Ledet explained the harsh lifestyle during the Great Depression and what it meant to have a chance to be in college during those days. There were roars of laughter when Ledet explained why he spurned a $150 per game, 10-game contract offer in 1939 from the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles to accept a coaching position at the Normal School. (Hint - money wasn't the biggest reason.)
After Ledet fielded questions that covered decades of Demon football history, and life lessons, there was one final reaction. The Demon players and coaches applauded.
You can look for some of the content from this morning's taping session all season long on the videoboard during the seven home games at Turpin Stadium.
There will be other prominent Demons, including current and former NFL stars, involved.
Walter Ledet is an extraordinary senior citizen -- and an iconic figure at Northwestern for a multitude of reasons. Chances are that most of the 10 Demon players taping pieces for the new videoboard at Turpin Stadium knew that Ledet was the first football All-American in school history, back in 1938, as an offensive guard for the Louisiana State Normal Demons of Coach Harry Turpin.
But there's no way for college students to fully grasp how life was 70 years ago. This morning, they got a glimpse from Ledet, as he fielded all of the same questions the current day players did -- and then some.
Not wanting to spoil the enjoyment of those in Turpin Stadium this year, I won't be specific about the answers and dialog that ensued as the players sat in the NSU journalism department's TV studio and watched and listened to Ledet.
But I can share a little insight without giving away the surprises. There was absolute silence as Ledet explained the harsh lifestyle during the Great Depression and what it meant to have a chance to be in college during those days. There were roars of laughter when Ledet explained why he spurned a $150 per game, 10-game contract offer in 1939 from the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles to accept a coaching position at the Normal School. (Hint - money wasn't the biggest reason.)
After Ledet fielded questions that covered decades of Demon football history, and life lessons, there was one final reaction. The Demon players and coaches applauded.
You can look for some of the content from this morning's taping session all season long on the videoboard during the seven home games at Turpin Stadium.
There will be other prominent Demons, including current and former NFL stars, involved.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Dads day
On the sideline Sunday watching the Demons practice were two proud pops - Butch Stoker and Billy Laird.
Butch's son is NSU head coach Scott Stoker. Defensive coordinator Brad Laird is Billy's boy. Brad's boy, 2-year-old Brock, was waddling around with his granddad. Scott's daughter, 7-year-old Zoe, came by to say hello to her "pap-pa."
Early 2023 recruiting update -- Brock Laird was working on his passing. Daddy is the Demons' career leader, unseating Stoker, who toppled Bobby Hebert from his perch atop the school career yardage list.
After the practice ended, the Demons' newcomers and backups went through a 25-play situational scrimmage. Tulane transfer Lamont Simmons was eye-catching at linebacker, and sophomore tailback Jeremy Jefferson and true freshman Josh Johnson made some sharp cuts for mid-range gains.
Butch's son is NSU head coach Scott Stoker. Defensive coordinator Brad Laird is Billy's boy. Brad's boy, 2-year-old Brock, was waddling around with his granddad. Scott's daughter, 7-year-old Zoe, came by to say hello to her "pap-pa."
Early 2023 recruiting update -- Brock Laird was working on his passing. Daddy is the Demons' career leader, unseating Stoker, who toppled Bobby Hebert from his perch atop the school career yardage list.
After the practice ended, the Demons' newcomers and backups went through a 25-play situational scrimmage. Tulane transfer Lamont Simmons was eye-catching at linebacker, and sophomore tailback Jeremy Jefferson and true freshman Josh Johnson made some sharp cuts for mid-range gains.
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