Delaney Bowl a big success

I've been around NSU spring football games, or the "Delaney Bowl" as it has been called since 1990, for the better part of 25 years and have to say that the one held this past Wednesday has to rank in the top 2-3 during that time period.

The crowd, which I would conservatively say was in the 2,000 range, is in part a testimony to the interest surge over the hiring of Bradley Dale Peveto as head football coach. To BDP's credit, he and his staff have done their part since arriving in town, making countless public relations appearances and actually going door-to-door throughout the Natchitoches business community.

Other promotional activities scheduled as part of the Delaney Bowl event by the NSU marketing staff also helped attract fans and made it a fun atmosphere once they arrived. The newly established Student Alumni Association continued to gain steam with its pre-game tailgate party, the video board made its Delaney Bowl debut, having a "Spirit of Northwestern" pep band and the cheerleaders in attendance gave the event a September Saturday feel, and it also was good to see former Demon football players conspicuously in the crowd. Some, including Texans Butch Ballard from Huntsville and Jack Serpas from Houston, were hanging around for Coach Peveto's golf tournament the next day. Another nice feature was the introduction of some faculty members, along with members of the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, on the field at halftime as part of National Student-Athlete Month.

All in all, as I drove home on Wednesday evening, it felt good to be a Demon.......and it's just getting better every day!!

Greg Burke
Athletic Director

Are you ready for the Delaney Bowl tonight?

Need to get your juices flowing for tonight's Delaney Bowl? Here's a preview from veteran Alexandria Town Talk writer Jeff Matthews:

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090408/SPORTS/904080317/1006

For a unique perspective on Demon football, read this story about two players going through their first spring practice -- in fact, their first college practices at all. Kelly Morris at the Shreveport Times talked to NSU newcomers Jeremy Dowden and Cord Larsen:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20090408/SPORTS02/904080338

Check KSLA TV sportscasts Thursday night

You probably read here about the NSU Etiquette Dinner held last Thursday night. Enjoy a report by KSLA TV Shreveport sports director Mike Dirmann on his sportscasts Thursday night at 6 and 10.

If you can't see KSLA on air, you can visit the www.ksla.com website to check out the story.