After getting a tough-luck no decision Friday night in a 4-3 loss by the New York Mets at home to the Florida Marlins, former Demon pitcher Brian Lawrence earned respect from the Mets media for another solid outing.
He could easily have been 2-0 after allowing only two runs in six innings, but Mets' ace closer Billy Wagner blew the save when Florida scored twice in the top of the ninth.
"My goal is definitely to get through six innings and possibly seven," Lawrence said. "You can't feel good about losing, but you feel good about going out there and giving the team a chance to win."
Lawrence allowed six hits in the first two innings, then not another for three more. Florida got two hits in the sixth, but he got a popup to end a first-and-third, two-out threat, and left the game for a pinch-hitter with a 3-2 lead.
He said he didn't think he was in trouble after two innings. Watching the Mets telecast, I'd have to agree -- he struck out four in the first three innings, and only one of the Marlins' hits was a rope. The rest were flares and broken bat base hits, all of them singles.
“I felt like I was making good pitches,” Lawrence said. “I didn’t feel like I had to go out there and change anything.”
He'll get another start next week. The New York Times suggested that he might be demoted when, or if, Pedro Martinez returns to the Mets from his rehab assignment. Martinez had a rocky outing earlier last week but is expected back in September.
One of the Mets' TV analysts made an excellent point, however. Lawrence could easily be 2-0 now, and even if he doesn't make it to postseason, if the Mets have success, he will have played a role and perhaps a big role if he comes up with 3-4 wins and other good outings plugging a gap in the rotation.
Doug Ireland, SID
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Pitt making strides with Ravens
Nice story on the Baltimore Ravens' fan website about second-year pro David Pittman, the former Demon great who had a disappointing rookie season in 2006 after being hampered by a hamstring injury in preseason.
Check "Inside The Ravens With Aaron Wilson - CB PITTMAN FEELING MORE ACCEPTED" at Ravens24x7.com, which is not the team's official website.
The Ravens didn't like Pittman's approach following the injury and he saw little action as a rookie. But he learned from his mistakes, evidently, and has impressed his position coach, former NFL player Dennis Thurman.
"He has started to understand what it is to be a pro, and his attitude has been 100 percent better than it was at this time a year ago. I think he has a bright future. He's very talented. He just has to continue to work toward what it takes to play in the NFL.
"He's a great natural athlete," Thurman said. "He has quick feet, wonderful change of direction, can cover man-to-man.
"If David understands what it means to be consistent and do his job play in and play out, it's a matter of us incorporating what he can do into our scheme."
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was quoted in the offseason as saying Pittman had more ability than most of the players in the NFL, but he needed to mature, or else. Pitt, who graduated with his business administration degree from NSU, took the challenge to heart.
"You have to take your game to another level, and this is the top level for this sport," Pittman said in Wilson's story on the website. "You have to take your game up higher. I was the guy at Northwestern, but that doesn't matter now. It doesn't change who I am.
"I'm just working hard to be like guys like Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle. My work ethic, studying habits and ability to anticipate and react, all of that has gotten better."
Thanks to Otto Fad, the sage observer of the Football Championship Subdivision, for passing along the clip to us. Nobody knows the division formerly known as I-AA better than our friend Otto, who runs College Football Annual Advantage, a comprehensive news service based out of his hometown of Lakeland, Florida.
Otto has a fascinating day job - he oversees care of Orca the Whale at Sea World in nearby Orlando.
Doug Ireland, SID
Check "Inside The Ravens With Aaron Wilson - CB PITTMAN FEELING MORE ACCEPTED" at Ravens24x7.com, which is not the team's official website.
The Ravens didn't like Pittman's approach following the injury and he saw little action as a rookie. But he learned from his mistakes, evidently, and has impressed his position coach, former NFL player Dennis Thurman.
"He has started to understand what it is to be a pro, and his attitude has been 100 percent better than it was at this time a year ago. I think he has a bright future. He's very talented. He just has to continue to work toward what it takes to play in the NFL.
"He's a great natural athlete," Thurman said. "He has quick feet, wonderful change of direction, can cover man-to-man.
"If David understands what it means to be consistent and do his job play in and play out, it's a matter of us incorporating what he can do into our scheme."
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan was quoted in the offseason as saying Pittman had more ability than most of the players in the NFL, but he needed to mature, or else. Pitt, who graduated with his business administration degree from NSU, took the challenge to heart.
"You have to take your game to another level, and this is the top level for this sport," Pittman said in Wilson's story on the website. "You have to take your game up higher. I was the guy at Northwestern, but that doesn't matter now. It doesn't change who I am.
"I'm just working hard to be like guys like Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle. My work ethic, studying habits and ability to anticipate and react, all of that has gotten better."
Thanks to Otto Fad, the sage observer of the Football Championship Subdivision, for passing along the clip to us. Nobody knows the division formerly known as I-AA better than our friend Otto, who runs College Football Annual Advantage, a comprehensive news service based out of his hometown of Lakeland, Florida.
Otto has a fascinating day job - he oversees care of Orca the Whale at Sea World in nearby Orlando.
Doug Ireland, SID
Demon Dash draws dozens
About 50 people walked and ran in the Demon Dash 5K put on Saturday morning on campus by the Lady Demon volleyball team.
Everyone enjoyed pancakes cooked by the Pellegrins, Dr. Charles of the history faculty and Ronnette, the administrative assistant in the sports information office.
Volleyball coach Brittany Uffelman reports another 20 entrants simply donated their $15 fee to support the program.
One neat sidenote - after reading about the event and seeing the Brazilian players on the squad, a Brazlian family living in Winnfield came in to visit with their fellow South Americans. It's a small world, after all!
Doug Ireland, SID
Everyone enjoyed pancakes cooked by the Pellegrins, Dr. Charles of the history faculty and Ronnette, the administrative assistant in the sports information office.
Volleyball coach Brittany Uffelman reports another 20 entrants simply donated their $15 fee to support the program.
One neat sidenote - after reading about the event and seeing the Brazilian players on the squad, a Brazlian family living in Winnfield came in to visit with their fellow South Americans. It's a small world, after all!
Doug Ireland, SID
Friday, August 10, 2007
B-Law and Craig Nall stand tall
Two Demon righties threw well in the pros Friday night.
Three hours away from home in Alexandria, quarterback Craig Nall made the most of his brief opportunity for the Buffalo Bills in the Superdome against the New Orleans Saints in an NFL exhibition game.
On one of baseball's biggest stages, right-handed pitcher Brian Lawrence had another
"quality" starting outing for the New York Mets in Shea Stadium.
Lawrence didn't get his second win in his second big league start of 2007 Friday night. He did raise his stock with the Mets and the New York media, however, battling through a rocky first two innings in which Florida scored two runs off six hits and allowing only two more hits and no runs in the next four innings.
Lawrence was in position to be the winning pitcher, leaving up 3-2 when he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth. Ace reliever Billy Wagner had a hiccup, giving up his first runs since June 15 as the Marlins cracked three hits and scored twice to rally for a 4-3 triumph at Shea Stadium.
Said Mets manager Willie Randolph to the Big Apple media afterward:
"Brian did a good job. He didn't bend much. He got into a little trouble early but he kept the damage to a minimum. He's given us two quality starts, if you will. He kept us in the game even though we didn't score behind him and he could easily have gotten his second win in his second start. He knows how to pitch and he's shown that when he hits his spots. He changes speeds nicely and keeps the hitters off stride. He did a nice job again tonight in his second start."
Nall hit his first five passes and finished 5-of-7 for 54 yards, steering the Bills to 62 of their 104 first-half yards in a late 14-play drive that produced a field goal to forge a 3-all halftime knot. Craig, sporting a crew cut, warmed up before the start of the second half but didn't play as the Bills gave rookie Trent Edwards from Stanford the entire second half. He went 10-of-11 for 49 yards.
Nall's former NSU teammate Terrence McGee didn't appear to play much despite starting at cornerback, but had a 34-yard kickoff return and one assisted tackle. He is one of the NFL's top kickoff return specialists and will also be the Bills' top cover corner.
Although NSU alumnus Brian Duval, working with the CBS Television crew in the press box, called before kickoff to say rookie Derrick Doyle from Northwestern might get a few snaps late in the game for the Saints at receiver, that didn't materialize. Doyle arrived in camp Wednesday as a late free agent addition and if he doesn't overcome the odds to make the team, he could enhance his status for other professional opportunities, particularly in Canada.
The Bills "won" 13-10. New Orleans is 0-2 in preseason. Fear not, Saints fans. The home team outgained Buffalo 258-104 in the first half with the better players in the game.
Doug Ireland, SID
Three hours away from home in Alexandria, quarterback Craig Nall made the most of his brief opportunity for the Buffalo Bills in the Superdome against the New Orleans Saints in an NFL exhibition game.
On one of baseball's biggest stages, right-handed pitcher Brian Lawrence had another
"quality" starting outing for the New York Mets in Shea Stadium.
Lawrence didn't get his second win in his second big league start of 2007 Friday night. He did raise his stock with the Mets and the New York media, however, battling through a rocky first two innings in which Florida scored two runs off six hits and allowing only two more hits and no runs in the next four innings.
Lawrence was in position to be the winning pitcher, leaving up 3-2 when he was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth. Ace reliever Billy Wagner had a hiccup, giving up his first runs since June 15 as the Marlins cracked three hits and scored twice to rally for a 4-3 triumph at Shea Stadium.
Said Mets manager Willie Randolph to the Big Apple media afterward:
"Brian did a good job. He didn't bend much. He got into a little trouble early but he kept the damage to a minimum. He's given us two quality starts, if you will. He kept us in the game even though we didn't score behind him and he could easily have gotten his second win in his second start. He knows how to pitch and he's shown that when he hits his spots. He changes speeds nicely and keeps the hitters off stride. He did a nice job again tonight in his second start."
Nall hit his first five passes and finished 5-of-7 for 54 yards, steering the Bills to 62 of their 104 first-half yards in a late 14-play drive that produced a field goal to forge a 3-all halftime knot. Craig, sporting a crew cut, warmed up before the start of the second half but didn't play as the Bills gave rookie Trent Edwards from Stanford the entire second half. He went 10-of-11 for 49 yards.
Nall's former NSU teammate Terrence McGee didn't appear to play much despite starting at cornerback, but had a 34-yard kickoff return and one assisted tackle. He is one of the NFL's top kickoff return specialists and will also be the Bills' top cover corner.
Although NSU alumnus Brian Duval, working with the CBS Television crew in the press box, called before kickoff to say rookie Derrick Doyle from Northwestern might get a few snaps late in the game for the Saints at receiver, that didn't materialize. Doyle arrived in camp Wednesday as a late free agent addition and if he doesn't overcome the odds to make the team, he could enhance his status for other professional opportunities, particularly in Canada.
The Bills "won" 13-10. New Orleans is 0-2 in preseason. Fear not, Saints fans. The home team outgained Buffalo 258-104 in the first half with the better players in the game.
Doug Ireland, SID
Thursday, August 09, 2007
Nice debut for season ticket pick-up party
What a big turnout and a nicely executed event! That's what I was hoping for today with Fall Sports Media Day. Check your TV stations and newspapers to see how that went, but let me tell you that ticket manager Zach Williams spearheaded a great party this evening in the Demon football locker room.
It's in high gear as I fire this off. Suffice to say the locker room has never smelled better, and the interest level is clearly soaring. From what I've seen in practice so far, there's good reason!
Doug Ireland, SID
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Wait 'til Friday for B-Law
Being the fifth starter means you have to be flexible in major league baseball. Brian Lawrence was listed as the probable starter for the New York Mets earlier this week for tonight's ESPN-televised home game against the Atlanta Braves, but has been pushed back to Friday night's home game against the Florida Marlins.
Too bad for us, but maybe good for Brian, who didn't issue a walk in his five-inning start last Thursday in Milwaukee.
Doug Ireland, SID
Too bad for us, but maybe good for Brian, who didn't issue a walk in his five-inning start last Thursday in Milwaukee.
Doug Ireland, SID
Lawrence on the bump on ESPN tonight
Brian Lawrence takes center stage this evening, starting on the mound for the New York Mets in Shea Stadium against the Atlanta Braves in front of ESPN cameras.
His first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 CST. The former Demon, the 1998 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, has made it back to the big leagues after missing 2006 with major arm surgery.
He'll get a care package today from director of athletics Greg Burke, including one of the snazzy new adidas NSU logoed polo shirts available through Campus Corner and online at nsudemons.com. Good luck, Brian!
Doug Ireland, SID
His first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 CST. The former Demon, the 1998 Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, has made it back to the big leagues after missing 2006 with major arm surgery.
He'll get a care package today from director of athletics Greg Burke, including one of the snazzy new adidas NSU logoed polo shirts available through Campus Corner and online at nsudemons.com. Good luck, Brian!
Doug Ireland, SID
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
The Doctor makes a home visit
Watching Tuesday morning's practice, with his five kids and wife, visiting from Morgantown, W.V., was Natchitoches native and former Demon player Dr. Julian Bailes.
Bailes is the chairman of the department of neurosurgery for the West Virginia University School of Medicine, and is a team doctor for the Mountaineers football team. He previously lived in Pittsburgh and was a team neurosurgeon for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dr. Bailes was joined in the stands by two lifelong friends and fellow former Demons, Britt Brittain and Gary McElwee. Gary's son Taylor is a freshman defensive back.
You might have noticed Dr. Bailes' involvement early last year with the recovery of Randy McCloy, the only survivor of the horrible Sago mining accident in West Virginia. McCloy spent nearly 42 hours trapped underground. He recovered remarkably, so much so that when he was released from the hospital in late March, 2006, the governor renamed the street leading to McCloy's home "Miracle Street."
Tuesday morning, Dr. Bailes greeted several Demon coaches after practice and told head coach Scott Stoker he would be happy to help facilitate a visit by the NSU staff to Morgantown next spring or summer to exchange ideas with Rich Rodriguez and the WVU football coaches. He said Florida coach Urban Meyer has visited more than once.
As for Tuesday's "oooooooo moment" of practice, that's easy. Watching Jeremy Jefferson break loose on a 64-yard TD run to wrap up the newcomers' scrimmage, it was hard not to get excited about seeing him on kick and punt returns. As my friends in Shreveport-Bossier have said, give the kid open space and get ready to applaud.
Also enjoyable: standing next to a conversation between a Demon legend, Johnny Emmons, and one of the current team's better players, Charles McDaniel. Big Mac was on the sideline Tuesday but without the sling he had on Monday after bruising his left forearm. Emmons, who keeps close tabs on the Demons, expressed his admiration for senior offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, who he got to know in December while joining the NSU basketball team on its trip to Hawaii. Bell, of course, is a center on the hoop squad, in addition to shaping into an NFL prospect in his third season of football.
Emmons peppered McDaniel with questions about the team and a few tales of Demon history. He was recently named to the Top 100 Players in Demon Football History roster and will be among the honored guests Sept. 1 during the Centennial Celebration.
Doug Ireland, SID
Bailes is the chairman of the department of neurosurgery for the West Virginia University School of Medicine, and is a team doctor for the Mountaineers football team. He previously lived in Pittsburgh and was a team neurosurgeon for my beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
Dr. Bailes was joined in the stands by two lifelong friends and fellow former Demons, Britt Brittain and Gary McElwee. Gary's son Taylor is a freshman defensive back.
You might have noticed Dr. Bailes' involvement early last year with the recovery of Randy McCloy, the only survivor of the horrible Sago mining accident in West Virginia. McCloy spent nearly 42 hours trapped underground. He recovered remarkably, so much so that when he was released from the hospital in late March, 2006, the governor renamed the street leading to McCloy's home "Miracle Street."
Tuesday morning, Dr. Bailes greeted several Demon coaches after practice and told head coach Scott Stoker he would be happy to help facilitate a visit by the NSU staff to Morgantown next spring or summer to exchange ideas with Rich Rodriguez and the WVU football coaches. He said Florida coach Urban Meyer has visited more than once.
As for Tuesday's "oooooooo moment" of practice, that's easy. Watching Jeremy Jefferson break loose on a 64-yard TD run to wrap up the newcomers' scrimmage, it was hard not to get excited about seeing him on kick and punt returns. As my friends in Shreveport-Bossier have said, give the kid open space and get ready to applaud.
Also enjoyable: standing next to a conversation between a Demon legend, Johnny Emmons, and one of the current team's better players, Charles McDaniel. Big Mac was on the sideline Tuesday but without the sling he had on Monday after bruising his left forearm. Emmons, who keeps close tabs on the Demons, expressed his admiration for senior offensive tackle Demetrius Bell, who he got to know in December while joining the NSU basketball team on its trip to Hawaii. Bell, of course, is a center on the hoop squad, in addition to shaping into an NFL prospect in his third season of football.
Emmons peppered McDaniel with questions about the team and a few tales of Demon history. He was recently named to the Top 100 Players in Demon Football History roster and will be among the honored guests Sept. 1 during the Centennial Celebration.
Doug Ireland, SID
Monday, August 06, 2007
Fun Monday
Today's been a busy day with nearly the entire morning swallowed up by a long, tough practice, so I'll make this one brief, with apologies.
The "oooooo moment" of this morning's practice:
Richuel Massey breaking over the left side and bursting free down the sideline on a 65-yard run against the No. 1 defense. It will be interesting watching to see how Massey handles a heavier workload, because the way he's going, he's about to get it.
Close seconds:
1) Coach Stoker's tirade about disclipline after players committed two personal fouls in the first nine plays of the scrimmage. I don't know that I have seen him more irate on the field, and he did get the point across.
2) Mack Dampier bringing the hat, shaking off two blockers to tattoo Byron Lawrence on a "Student Body Sweep." One of the blockers was QB Germayne Edmond, who made a good effort, but was chucked aside.
3) Antonio Robinson -- no, not his 85-yard streak on a screen pass, which was impressive, but roughly a 17-yard run earlier in the practice. He showed a burst of speed that made me hopeful for more ...
4) The fiery leadership by senior Ray Martin. When the second-team defense was on the field early in the scrimmage, there wasn't the energy level apparent with the first team unit. Leave it to Ray, Mack Dampier and Big Al Smith to get things cranked up from the sideline. When heads were sagging as the team went through post-practice conditioning, there was Ray again, challenging and encouraging his teammates.
5) The very direct words from Demetrius Bell to his teammates, talking about responsibility, at the end of practice. Each day Stoker calls on a player and asks him to talk about his goals and his role on the team. It's a very effective tool.
OK, that was more than one runner-up, but I couldn't leave out any of them.
Enjoyed visiting on the sidelines with Coach Gene Knecht, and listening to him and Britt Brittain reliving demanding practices in their day in the 1970s. Britt told Coach he was really tough and Coach said he wasn't tough enough. He laughed but I think he was serious!
Doug Ireland, SID
The "oooooo moment" of this morning's practice:
Richuel Massey breaking over the left side and bursting free down the sideline on a 65-yard run against the No. 1 defense. It will be interesting watching to see how Massey handles a heavier workload, because the way he's going, he's about to get it.
Close seconds:
1) Coach Stoker's tirade about disclipline after players committed two personal fouls in the first nine plays of the scrimmage. I don't know that I have seen him more irate on the field, and he did get the point across.
2) Mack Dampier bringing the hat, shaking off two blockers to tattoo Byron Lawrence on a "Student Body Sweep." One of the blockers was QB Germayne Edmond, who made a good effort, but was chucked aside.
3) Antonio Robinson -- no, not his 85-yard streak on a screen pass, which was impressive, but roughly a 17-yard run earlier in the practice. He showed a burst of speed that made me hopeful for more ...
4) The fiery leadership by senior Ray Martin. When the second-team defense was on the field early in the scrimmage, there wasn't the energy level apparent with the first team unit. Leave it to Ray, Mack Dampier and Big Al Smith to get things cranked up from the sideline. When heads were sagging as the team went through post-practice conditioning, there was Ray again, challenging and encouraging his teammates.
5) The very direct words from Demetrius Bell to his teammates, talking about responsibility, at the end of practice. Each day Stoker calls on a player and asks him to talk about his goals and his role on the team. It's a very effective tool.
OK, that was more than one runner-up, but I couldn't leave out any of them.
Enjoyed visiting on the sidelines with Coach Gene Knecht, and listening to him and Britt Brittain reliving demanding practices in their day in the 1970s. Britt told Coach he was really tough and Coach said he wasn't tough enough. He laughed but I think he was serious!
Doug Ireland, SID
Sunday, August 05, 2007
The Heavy Lunch Box goes to ...
...senior defensive end Ray Martin (again), and Sunday's "oooooooo moment" was provided by sophomore offensive guard Charles McDaniel.
The Heavy Lunch Box is an attaboy award created by the defensive coaching staff reflecting the "blue collar approach" that defensive coordinator Kurt Corbin wants from the Purple Swarm. That Ray Martin won it is not surprising to anybody who has watched No. 58 play for the Demons. That he won it two straight days this weekend was very impressive to his coaches and teammates.
Ray-Ray's motor runs fast, as they say. It ran so fast that he had some dehydration issues -- he lost 15 pounds after winning the Lunch Box award for Saturday morning. He was medically cleared to work out Sunday but everybody and their brother expected the senior to taper back, except Ray knows only one way to play.
"That was impressive," said defensive line coach Roy Locks, not far removed from his 2002 All-America award for the Demons. "When the guys see a senior giving effort like that and being as productive as Ray is, that is exactly the kind of example we want to show a blue collar approach. Come to work every day, have fun, work hard, and get it done. That's Ray. For him to win it two straight days, in that situation, that's amazing."
There were some noteworthy battles in one-on-one confrontations between offensive and defensive linemen in the first half of Sunday's practice. Both sides agreed that McDaniel made the biggest impression, battling successfully against some of the Purple Swarm's top big fellas.
Demetrius Bell, Albert Smith, Charlie Brooks and Martin were among other standouts.
"But the thing I like best," said Locks, "was that we went into the drill together and we came out of it as one unit, o-line and d-line. Coach O (offensive line coach Jeremy Offutt) and I are teaching the same things. We're going to compete and we like to compete but we are all on the same side."
A couple of rookies made their marks in that competition -- offensive lineman Jace Prescott, the 6-5, 360-pounder from Haughton who is turning heads not only by the shadow he casts, but with the ability he is showing to move and move people out of his way; and Opelousas product Marshall Harris, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end.
But as Locks said, the hitting the past two days was nothing compared to what's going to unfold Monday morning with full pads on for the first time.
Doug Ireland, SID
The Heavy Lunch Box is an attaboy award created by the defensive coaching staff reflecting the "blue collar approach" that defensive coordinator Kurt Corbin wants from the Purple Swarm. That Ray Martin won it is not surprising to anybody who has watched No. 58 play for the Demons. That he won it two straight days this weekend was very impressive to his coaches and teammates.
Ray-Ray's motor runs fast, as they say. It ran so fast that he had some dehydration issues -- he lost 15 pounds after winning the Lunch Box award for Saturday morning. He was medically cleared to work out Sunday but everybody and their brother expected the senior to taper back, except Ray knows only one way to play.
"That was impressive," said defensive line coach Roy Locks, not far removed from his 2002 All-America award for the Demons. "When the guys see a senior giving effort like that and being as productive as Ray is, that is exactly the kind of example we want to show a blue collar approach. Come to work every day, have fun, work hard, and get it done. That's Ray. For him to win it two straight days, in that situation, that's amazing."
There were some noteworthy battles in one-on-one confrontations between offensive and defensive linemen in the first half of Sunday's practice. Both sides agreed that McDaniel made the biggest impression, battling successfully against some of the Purple Swarm's top big fellas.
Demetrius Bell, Albert Smith, Charlie Brooks and Martin were among other standouts.
"But the thing I like best," said Locks, "was that we went into the drill together and we came out of it as one unit, o-line and d-line. Coach O (offensive line coach Jeremy Offutt) and I are teaching the same things. We're going to compete and we like to compete but we are all on the same side."
A couple of rookies made their marks in that competition -- offensive lineman Jace Prescott, the 6-5, 360-pounder from Haughton who is turning heads not only by the shadow he casts, but with the ability he is showing to move and move people out of his way; and Opelousas product Marshall Harris, a 6-3, 260-pound defensive end.
But as Locks said, the hitting the past two days was nothing compared to what's going to unfold Monday morning with full pads on for the first time.
Doug Ireland, SID
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