Happy anniversary!

To quote CBS Sports announcer Jim Nantz's prelude to "One Shining Moment" after Florida's 2006 NCAA Final Four basketball national championship win:

"The shared experience, always the best ... Northwestern State, the little guys playing like a giant, they made us all take notice. It's doubtful they'll ever be underestimated again."

St. Patrick's Day, 2006. Auburn Hills, Michigan. As if you didn't remember. From my seat, a few snapshots and reflections to enjoy:

Memories of the usually placid Southland Conference commissioner Tom Burnett pounding his fist in joy on the press table, venerable Demons athletic trainer Ed Evans hugging Vic the Demon, assistant coach Mark Slessinger's wild dance across the court, Voice of the Demons Patrick Netherton trying to shut off my mike so anyone listening could understand what had just happened, and SID assistant Brian Seiler dashing to the locker room to retrieve Jermaine Wallace (no explanation needed) for CBS's postgame interview keep flashing through my mind ...

As well as the gleams on the faces of CBS announcers Verne Lundquist and Bill Raftery, who had really been blown away by our coach in their visit the day before the Iowa game. It was great working with Verne, who of course was a fixture in Dallas and didn't have to be told where Natchitoches was or how to say it.

In fact, his wife had often traveled here as a regional marketing rep for Lincoln Mercury.

Every time a new model came out, she toured the regional dealerships in east Texas and north Louisiana to be sure the salesmen knew all about the features on the new car.

The next morning, Verne told me that when he got back to the hotel late that evening, after broadcasting three more games, he called his wife in Colorado, as he always does. The first thing he told her was, "Honey, the team from Natchitoches won."

After our loss to West Virginia, he thanked me for having had the chance to do our games. I just don't think that happens all the time. Neither does the head coach having the SID deliver handwritten thank you notes to the CBS announcers, producer and director before the second game in the tournament.

Great memories. They come up every year at this time.

What a great reason to always celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Doug Ireland, SID

How's spring football going?

We're just two practices into spring drills for the NSU Demon football team under first-year coach Bradley Dale Peveto, but more people than ever want to know what's going on.

Veteran Demon Sports Network sideline reporter Britt Brittain watched most of the first practice last Wednesday and was entertained. Yes, that's the right word - entertained. As he said afterward, and on the local sports talk radio show "Sports On Call" on 100.7 KZBL FM, it was the most fun football practice he has seen in at least 15 years; which may mean go way, way back because there was a time when Britt was so busy he didn't have a chance to watch football practice!

For an outside/inside perspective, check the story link below from Sunday's Alexandria Town Talk. Jeff Matthews has been covering NSU sports since 1998 and hasn't seen nearly as many practices as Britt, but his account gets across the same message. It's high energy, it's fun, and if you can, you'll want to see for yourself. The first extended scrimmage is Saturday morning.

For now, check the link from Sunday's Town Talk:

http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20090315/SPORTS10/903150319/1006/SPORTS

UTSA finishes the journey

It was bittersweet to see Texas-San Antonio win the State Farm Southland Conference Women's Basketball Tournament title today, beating Texas-Arlington in the championship game.

The Roadrunners will make their second straight NCAA Tournament trip. Yet I still think our Lady Demons are every bit as good. They're just not grown up yet. The veteran savvy saved UTSA from the tremendous run the Lady Demons mounted Friday, and it was obvious to see today when UTA closed within two points with five minutes left.

Congrats to UTSA for the title, and good luck in the tournament. There are a couple of former NSU staffers extra happy about it. Former NSU athletic business manager Ross Cobb is in the same post as an assistant AD at UTSA, and his wife is former Lady Demon track and field assistant coach Bridget Cobb. It's always a joy to see them on trips into the Alamo City.

Odd to not see the gracious AD at UTSA, Lynn Hickey, there to enjoy the tournament, one which is especially fun for UTSA fans since their sixth-seeded men's team is playing for the championshp tomorrow. Meanwhile, Hickey is in seclusion with the rest of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Selection Committee in Indianapolis, as the first woman ever involved in the committee. Her expertise as the longtime women's basketball coach at Texas A&M has to be helpful to the process. Her kindness a couple of years ago after coach Mike McConathy had one of his infrequent fainting spells at UTSA will not be forgotten, making it easier to root for her Roadrunners.

Doug Ireland, SID

Down 53-40 with 5:16 to go

Lady Demons have struggled offensively much of the second half and UTSA has solved the NSU half-court defense and is now getting good shots and finishing them. Lady Demons again are having a bad game on 3-point shooting, usually a strength. They were 3-18 at UTSA in a five point loss on Feb. 25 and are 4-23 now.

NSU pep band is goooooood

That's proven again this year at the SLC Tournament. The faces may change, but the style does nothing but get better year after year. Not only with their music, the pep band members put on a show that even opposing teams and fans have to appreciate.