Rooting for the ref

Does the referee above look familiar? Why would a former Lady Demon volleyball standout be rooting (silently) for him, along with former Lady Demon softball and volleyball coach Rickey McCalister?

That's Mike Thornton, Demon basketball player from 1989-93. "Thor" didn't play high school basketball, but he walked on to Dan Bell's first NSU team. Yes, the one that beat Kentucky in Rupp Arena.

Thornton, a Tallulah native, attended the Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts. He came to NSU and earned a spot on the Demons' team.

He also earned, eventually, the heart of Lady Demon volleyball player Kim Jesiolowski, who played here from 1992-95. They are married and have three kids, two daughters and a pre-school son who joined Mom and Rickey Mac in the stands Monday night as Mike worked his first regular-season game in Prather Coliseum.

He has been here for exhibition games, but this was his first in-season contest at NSU. He did a very fine job and looked the part of a rising star in the business.

Thornton is a professor at Texas A&M. The family lives in College Station. He also puts on a summer basketball camp for kids.

He stays in touch with his Demon basketball teammates and coaches, having a steady conversation with former assistants Robert Epps and Randy Anderson. Anderson is probably coming in this summer to work the basketball camp.

George Cook, once Voice of the Demons

We know him as George Cook, who followed in the huge footsteps of Norm Fletcher as the play by play man for NSU sports from 1979-87.

Up in West Virginia, he's known as Don Cook, because the management at the radio station he joined there in 1987 thought Don would be best received.

Reading the story below, there's no doubt he's been well received around the state.

But right now he's fighting for his life with a very tough cancer. This story in the Charleston Daily Mail tells the tale well. You may have to paste the link into your browser to get to the story:

http://dailymail.com/Sports/201001050472

George has improved and is going to be leaving the hospice to enter a rehabilation center aiming to get him able to function at home. That move to the rehab center could come any day. When it does, we'll provide contact information in case you want to reach out with notes, cards or even calls.

George and wife Linda were very active in the Natchitoches community during their years here. If you were around then, you probably remember "the Cookie Man" fondly.

Update on Brooke Shepherd's injury

The Lady Demons' second-leading scorer told Demon Sports Network play by play man Tony Taglavore at halftime that she may have a broken hand.

Worse, it's her right (shooting) hand, not her left hand as I mistakenly said earlier.

She is averaging 10.8 points and shooting an amazing 52 percent from 3 point range to rank among the best in the nation.

She said trainer Jason Drury told her they would look at the hand tomorrow and get it X-rayed and examined, and she might have surgery as quickly as tomorrow. If so, she could miss 4-6 weeks. Brooke had the stiff upper lip, but it did quiver more than once. She wants to play. She's as competitive as it gets.

She said she knew it hurt but she wasn't sure how bad the injury was until she air-balled a 3-pointer on the next trip down the floor after the injury, which happened when she went for a steal and knocked the ball out of bounds.

Check the website for Matt Bonnette's reports tonight and tomorrow on Brooke's status.

Brooke hurts her hand

Early in tonight's Lady Demon basketball game in Prather Coliseum, junior guard Brooke Shepherd hurt her left hand at the base of her pinkie finger. They'll recheck it at halftime and probably go to get X-rays after the game, but she may have a broken finger - or hand.

Former Athletes Can Be Talent Scouts

Former Demon baseball pitcher Rob Breutsch (1986-88), now living back in his native state of New York, recently passed along information about a football prospect from that part of the country. I forwarded the information to Coach Bradley Dale Peveto and his staff and at this point, the proverbial ball is now in their court.

The bigger message here is my passing along an encouraging word to all NSU former athletes, especially those who live in our prime recruiting areas of Louisiana and Texas, to follow Rob's lead and keep an eye out for future Demons and Lady Demons from their area. I will quickly advise, so as to not get crossways with NSU compliance coordinator Dustin Eubanks (actually he's a Steelers fan and I am a Browns fan so there is only so much "get along" as is), that alumni should be cognizant of NCAA rules and regulations which limit, and in many cases prohibit, former athletes (""representative of athletics interest")from having direct contact with a prospect. The safest and most prudent course of action by a former NSU athlete who has identified a prospect that might be a good fit for NSU is to directly contact the head coach of that sport. Contact information for NSU coaches can be found on our athletic web site - www.nsudemons.com - under "staff directory." Finally, please be understanding if the prospect that you recommend does not receive an offer to attend NSU. I have always said that talent evaluation is ultimately the job of our coaches but that they are always appreciative of alumni who serve as "eyes and ears" for them....some of the best athletes to every play for NSU got on our recruiting radar as a result of a tip from a former athlete.

Finally, to all former athletes, I extend best wishes for a healthy and happy 2010 and encourage you to call, email, or stop by my office at any time.

Greg Burke, Athletic Director

New year, fresh start

Didn't plan on a month-long hiatus from postings here, and apologize for that. But hold on to your mouse, we're roaring back to life with The Daily Demon.

We'll have more variety in 2010 and will come close to the implied credo - i.e. "Daily" ... that's the goal.

It's funny, there's never a boring day around the athletic department at NSU, but in trying to keep the train running, this feature too often has gotten less use than it should.

Perhaps partly inspired by the non-stop action in the movie "Avatar" (saw it in 3D Friday night in College Station with Voice of the Demons Patrick Netherton), we're wheels up on bringing you a lot of inside info and insight on The Daily Demon in 2010. (BTW, do not walk, but run to your nearest 3D-friendly theatre and check out that movie!)

It may be trivial, it may be funny, it may be serious, and it may or may not be interesting (we hope it always will be), but we'll have frequent blog entries for you to check out.

Thanks for your interest in Northwestern State Athletics!

Doug Ireland, Sports Information Director