Saturday, October 18, 2008
Lions cash in another long play
A 33-yard screen pass led to a 46-yard SLU field goal and the Lions are up 9-0 13 minutes before halftime. The Demons have moved it fine but haven't taken advantage of an obviously emotional SLU defense. Lions head coach Mike Lucas is sedated at home in Hammond awaiting a heart surgery next week and understandably his team is keyed in. Let's see if the Demons can sustain their offense and close the gap now after the kickoff.
Whew!
SLU missed a field goal after having its extra point blocked so we're still at 6-0. The Lions got down in range on a long screen pass but were stymied outside the 20.
Knock on wood
You hate to bring up the great job the Demons have done so far protecting the ball, making only six turnovers in six games.
Because Byron Lawrence just lost his fourth fumble of the year, and his first in four games, at the SLU 20 to end a solid first drive by NSU.
Because Byron Lawrence just lost his fourth fumble of the year, and his first in four games, at the SLU 20 to end a solid first drive by NSU.
Second chance gets SLU first blood
The Demons stopped the Lions and forced a punt, but a bad punt worked out great for SLU. A short one clipped the back of the calf of true freshman Jeremy Lane, who was a good 10 yards upfield from the returner, and SLU recovered. On third and 10 from the NSU 30, the Lions did a good job of blitz pickup and hit a touchdown pass to open the scoring.
Demons will come out with Drew Branch at QB. John Hundley is not dressed out after spraining a knee last week vs. Nicholls.
The Colonels, BTW, gave up a 29-14 halftime lead at home today and were beaten 50-39 by Stephen F. Austin. Other afternoon winners were McNeese, 28-17 at Sam Houston State, and UCA by 7 at Texas State.
Demons will come out with Drew Branch at QB. John Hundley is not dressed out after spraining a knee last week vs. Nicholls.
The Colonels, BTW, gave up a 29-14 halftime lead at home today and were beaten 50-39 by Stephen F. Austin. Other afternoon winners were McNeese, 28-17 at Sam Houston State, and UCA by 7 at Texas State.
Big city, two teams, one hotel
Baton Rouge is the state's biggest city. There are many full service hotels. So figure the odds that the Demons would wind up in the same hotel, the Holiday Inn on Airline, as the hometown Southern Jaguars on Friday night?
SU's team was hunkered down before a home game tomorrow night. The Demons worked out late Friday afternoon at the LSU Indoor Practice Facility, and will roll out about 2:45 Saturday for Strawberry Stadium and their game against SLU.
SU's team was hunkered down before a home game tomorrow night. The Demons worked out late Friday afternoon at the LSU Indoor Practice Facility, and will roll out about 2:45 Saturday for Strawberry Stadium and their game against SLU.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mike Green back in the NFL; and Bills update
It's a good fit for Mike Green, who joined the Washington Redskins Tuesday as the club placed safety Reed Doughty on injured reserve.
Green, a nine-year NFL vet who was an All-American for the Demons in 1998-99, played opposite Redskins head coach Jim Zorn for two years when Zorn was offensive coordinator and Green was a safety for the Seattle Seahawks.
Green also played the first six years of his career with the Chicago Bears, where he played under current Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Bache.
Green started 45 of 81 games for the Bears and was their second-leading tackler during his time, trailing only All-Pro Brian Urlacher.
Traded to Seattle during the 2006 offseason, Green missed his first year with the Seahawks after being placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc foot injury.
He played in 15 games for Seattle last year, including one start, and logged 17 tackles and one pass defended. He was released right before training camp this summer, reportedly because his NFL Players Union mandated salary was too stiff for the Seahawks to handle.
Green, a Ruston native, attended the NSU game at Baylor. He lives in Dallas and planned to attend the Grambling game in Natchitoches on Sept. 13, but Hurricane Ike ruined that trip. He also was looking forward to homecoming next weekend and the 1998 Reunion and Sam Goodwin Tribute on Nov. 15, but those events appear not to be in his short-term future now.
Meanwhile, up the road in Buffalo, Terrence McGee is not able to practice full-gear yet with his knee injury suffered last month. He's trying to get ready for Sunday's game against the powerful San Diego offense.
Demetrius Bell remains on the 53-man roster, but hasn't been on any of the 45-man game-day rosters. Bell hopes to get into some special teams action as the season progresses. Head coach Dick Jauron made clear when the Bills kept Bell that he didn't expect to play him this year, but couldn't afford to waive him and risk losing him before the Bills resigned him to the practice squad. Bell's upside is just too great.
For his career, Green has 406 tackles (327 solo), six sacks, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Green, a nine-year NFL vet who was an All-American for the Demons in 1998-99, played opposite Redskins head coach Jim Zorn for two years when Zorn was offensive coordinator and Green was a safety for the Seattle Seahawks.
Green also played the first six years of his career with the Chicago Bears, where he played under current Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Bache.
Green started 45 of 81 games for the Bears and was their second-leading tackler during his time, trailing only All-Pro Brian Urlacher.
Traded to Seattle during the 2006 offseason, Green missed his first year with the Seahawks after being placed on injured reserve with a Lisfranc foot injury.
He played in 15 games for Seattle last year, including one start, and logged 17 tackles and one pass defended. He was released right before training camp this summer, reportedly because his NFL Players Union mandated salary was too stiff for the Seahawks to handle.
Green, a Ruston native, attended the NSU game at Baylor. He lives in Dallas and planned to attend the Grambling game in Natchitoches on Sept. 13, but Hurricane Ike ruined that trip. He also was looking forward to homecoming next weekend and the 1998 Reunion and Sam Goodwin Tribute on Nov. 15, but those events appear not to be in his short-term future now.
Meanwhile, up the road in Buffalo, Terrence McGee is not able to practice full-gear yet with his knee injury suffered last month. He's trying to get ready for Sunday's game against the powerful San Diego offense.
Demetrius Bell remains on the 53-man roster, but hasn't been on any of the 45-man game-day rosters. Bell hopes to get into some special teams action as the season progresses. Head coach Dick Jauron made clear when the Bills kept Bell that he didn't expect to play him this year, but couldn't afford to waive him and risk losing him before the Bills resigned him to the practice squad. Bell's upside is just too great.
For his career, Green has 406 tackles (327 solo), six sacks, seven forced fumbles and four interceptions.
Zany tradition continues
Basketball practice is about to begin, so ... let's watch them play softball!
That's right, Wednesday afternoon at 5 at the Demon Diamond, there will be softball of a skill level we hope not to see from Northwestern athletes next spring.
The Demon basketball team is having its annual softball game to signal the end of preseason conditioning and individual workouts, and the impending launch of real honest-to-goodness basketball practice Thursday evening.
Assistant coach Mark Slessinger initiated the tradition close to nine years ago after his arrival in the second season of Coach Mike McConathy's tenure. Slessinger, hailing from the suburban Chicago area, sees his role in staging the game to be somewhat Harry Carrayesque.
There is highly irreverent commentary, delivered by Sless, on the public address system as the players and staff go through their bases ... errr, paces.
It often looks like a Michael Jackson sighting -- somebody wearing one glove on their hand for no apparent reason. But it's always somewhat competitive because these are, after all, athletes who like to compete.
If you thought Jermaine Wallace's shot to beat Iowa was impressive, you were right. But his shot over the left field wall in this game was titantic at the outset of the 2005-06 season.
Coach McConathy, as he often does, mans the grill for this one. It's basic fare, usually, although in the 2005 contest he did bring some elk out of his freezer at home, just for grins to see who might enjoy a different flavor.
What will happen this Wednesday evening? One thing's for sure. It will be over in time for the team to be in the stands at Prather Coliseum at 7 for the Lady Demon volleyball game. Other than that, no predictions, except that the score will be a little bit like the Devil Rays-Red Sox game Tuesday night.
That's right, Wednesday afternoon at 5 at the Demon Diamond, there will be softball of a skill level we hope not to see from Northwestern athletes next spring.
The Demon basketball team is having its annual softball game to signal the end of preseason conditioning and individual workouts, and the impending launch of real honest-to-goodness basketball practice Thursday evening.
Assistant coach Mark Slessinger initiated the tradition close to nine years ago after his arrival in the second season of Coach Mike McConathy's tenure. Slessinger, hailing from the suburban Chicago area, sees his role in staging the game to be somewhat Harry Carrayesque.
There is highly irreverent commentary, delivered by Sless, on the public address system as the players and staff go through their bases ... errr, paces.
It often looks like a Michael Jackson sighting -- somebody wearing one glove on their hand for no apparent reason. But it's always somewhat competitive because these are, after all, athletes who like to compete.
If you thought Jermaine Wallace's shot to beat Iowa was impressive, you were right. But his shot over the left field wall in this game was titantic at the outset of the 2005-06 season.
Coach McConathy, as he often does, mans the grill for this one. It's basic fare, usually, although in the 2005 contest he did bring some elk out of his freezer at home, just for grins to see who might enjoy a different flavor.
What will happen this Wednesday evening? One thing's for sure. It will be over in time for the team to be in the stands at Prather Coliseum at 7 for the Lady Demon volleyball game. Other than that, no predictions, except that the score will be a little bit like the Devil Rays-Red Sox game Tuesday night.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Prather progress
The bucket trucks are in Prather Coliseum today beginning the process of installing the new Daktronics scoreboards.
First step is taking the old scoreboards off the walls, and that's a delicate process.
They're doing the north end wall first since there is a Lady Demon volleyball game here Wednesday night. The new scoreboard should be up by then.
Then comes the south end scoreboard, the one most of us look at for basketball.
That's not all. There will be new scoretables with a data display panel, the same as on the scoreboards, so game stats and other info can be available.
You'll see some of the sharply produced signage in the concourse and concession areas similar to what has gone up over the concession stands at Turpin Stadium.
There is also a breathtaking display in the works that will completely transform the interior of the arena. If you liked the championship banners going up several years ago, you are gonna love what you see in Prather this season.
Even before tipoff!
First step is taking the old scoreboards off the walls, and that's a delicate process.
They're doing the north end wall first since there is a Lady Demon volleyball game here Wednesday night. The new scoreboard should be up by then.
Then comes the south end scoreboard, the one most of us look at for basketball.
That's not all. There will be new scoretables with a data display panel, the same as on the scoreboards, so game stats and other info can be available.
You'll see some of the sharply produced signage in the concourse and concession areas similar to what has gone up over the concession stands at Turpin Stadium.
There is also a breathtaking display in the works that will completely transform the interior of the arena. If you liked the championship banners going up several years ago, you are gonna love what you see in Prather this season.
Even before tipoff!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)