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.