For the fourth straight year, the Lady Demons find themselves getting ready to play in the State Farm Southland Conference Tournament.
Making the tournament is not a given. Just ask the three teams who were eligible, but did not qualify.
But while NSU is happy to play another day, I don't think they will be satisfied unless they are playing Friday--for the tournament championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.
The road will not be easy, starting with Monday's quarterfinal game against long-time rival Stephen F. Austin. SFA is the league's hottest team, having won seven straight. However, NSU has a couple of things in their favor.
The Lady Demons beat SFA earlier this season--in Nacogdoches. Even though they dropped the return game in Natchitoches, NSU knows they can beat SFA--if they play well as they did in their win.
Also, NSU comes into the tournament on the heels of last Saturday's confidence-booster, a double-digit win over Southeastern Louisiana that snapped a four-game losing streak.
On the bus ride Monday morning (well, okay, most everyone slept), at their Noon shootaround, and at lunch and dinner, the team was relaxed--and focused. They know if they play like they are capable of playing (and like they have shown at times this year), they have as good a shot as anyone of winning the tournament.
Everyone packed for a week-long trip, and when we leave the hotel Tuesday morning for the Noon tipoff, we are not bringing our luggage. We have every hope of staying in Katy a little longer.
I hope you listen to all the action Tuesday on the Demon Sports Network (100.7 KZBL in Natchitoches, 92.1 in Shreveport, and here at nsudemons.com). Matt Bonnette and I will be on the air at 11:45 with the Lady Demons pre-game show.
Fork 'Em, Lady Demons!
Tony Taglavore
Voice of the Lady Demons
Monday, March 08, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Baseball Buzz
Everyone I've talked to, from NSU in-house sports analyst and long-time employee Thomas Foster to boosters who have watched practice to some from within the program, have told me how good they think J.P. Davis' Demon baseball team is going to be this year.
Apparently, there are others a bit further removed from Natchitoches who think the same thing.
Former NSU baseball clubhouse manager Ray Meade, now living in Tennessee but still very much in-tune with what is happening on the NSU athletic scene, called to tell me about the Demons being the topic of conversation on the national Rivals.com radio morning show recently. The discussion centered around teams, outside of the preseason 25, that might make some postseason noise....and the NSU Demons were included in that category.
Also mentioned was the rich coaching history that has been a part of Demon baseball for the past two decades and how those coaches have moved on to head positions at major programs, starting with newly retired Alabama skipper Jim Wells in 1990 and continuing with Wells' former graduate assistant, Mike Bianco (Ole Miss); Dave Van Horn (Nebraska and now Arkansas); his pitching coach, Rob Childress (Texas A&M); John Cohen (Kentucky and now Mississippi State); and Wells' replacement at Alabama, Mitch Gaspard.
Southland Conference preseason polls, by the way, have picked the Demons middle-of-the-pack at best.
I like the Rivals.com prognosticators better.
Greg Burke
Athletic Director
Apparently, there are others a bit further removed from Natchitoches who think the same thing.
Former NSU baseball clubhouse manager Ray Meade, now living in Tennessee but still very much in-tune with what is happening on the NSU athletic scene, called to tell me about the Demons being the topic of conversation on the national Rivals.com radio morning show recently. The discussion centered around teams, outside of the preseason 25, that might make some postseason noise....and the NSU Demons were included in that category.
Also mentioned was the rich coaching history that has been a part of Demon baseball for the past two decades and how those coaches have moved on to head positions at major programs, starting with newly retired Alabama skipper Jim Wells in 1990 and continuing with Wells' former graduate assistant, Mike Bianco (Ole Miss); Dave Van Horn (Nebraska and now Arkansas); his pitching coach, Rob Childress (Texas A&M); John Cohen (Kentucky and now Mississippi State); and Wells' replacement at Alabama, Mitch Gaspard.
Southland Conference preseason polls, by the way, have picked the Demons middle-of-the-pack at best.
I like the Rivals.com prognosticators better.
Greg Burke
Athletic Director
Thursday, February 18, 2010
The way it ought to be
NSU-McNeese is a great rivalry. In any sport.
In men's basketball, it's the ideal rivalry - even down to after the game ends.
It's been a tradition since McNeese head coach Dave Simmons left the NSU Demon basketball staff to take over as the Cowboys boss, that NSU supporters cook for both teams after they play at Prather Coliseum.
Now McNeese is returning the favor. The Cowboys fed both teams a wonderful brisket dinner at Burton Coliseum after last night's Demon win. You talk about sportsmanship and building relationships, that's what we saw during and after.
That postgame hospitality is nothing new in many sports, but it's always great to see.
In men's basketball, it's the ideal rivalry - even down to after the game ends.
It's been a tradition since McNeese head coach Dave Simmons left the NSU Demon basketball staff to take over as the Cowboys boss, that NSU supporters cook for both teams after they play at Prather Coliseum.
Now McNeese is returning the favor. The Cowboys fed both teams a wonderful brisket dinner at Burton Coliseum after last night's Demon win. You talk about sportsmanship and building relationships, that's what we saw during and after.
That postgame hospitality is nothing new in many sports, but it's always great to see.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Doing it right
Received the following e-mail early this morning. It requires no setup except to say the NSU Demon basketball team played at Stephen F. Austin Wednesday night.
"I would like you to congratulate Coach Mike McConathy on the character of his team.
They were all standing and giving respect to the National Anthem. They all had their hand over their heart and looking at the flag.
There are some teams where the coaches may not observe any respect themselves and the players may be talking and joking around.
This respect is a result of your coaches true goal to teach young men about life and being a good God loving American and preparing them for the future.
My Father-In-Law (Ted Jefferies) was a football coach here at SFA during the late 40's and 50's and would have known coach Turpin. He always had his players dress up when they travelled. He said if you look nice you are more apt to act nice.
I see Walter Ledet and his wife here at church with his son and family.
Please pass this on to Coach McConathy and his players so they know that people notice how young people behave and these guys are a blessing.
God Bless You
Roland Muckleroy
SFA Grad 1956
"I would like you to congratulate Coach Mike McConathy on the character of his team.
They were all standing and giving respect to the National Anthem. They all had their hand over their heart and looking at the flag.
There are some teams where the coaches may not observe any respect themselves and the players may be talking and joking around.
This respect is a result of your coaches true goal to teach young men about life and being a good God loving American and preparing them for the future.
My Father-In-Law (Ted Jefferies) was a football coach here at SFA during the late 40's and 50's and would have known coach Turpin. He always had his players dress up when they travelled. He said if you look nice you are more apt to act nice.
I see Walter Ledet and his wife here at church with his son and family.
Please pass this on to Coach McConathy and his players so they know that people notice how young people behave and these guys are a blessing.
God Bless You
Roland Muckleroy
SFA Grad 1956
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Refreshing Honesty
I was a bit nervous as Lady Demons Head Coach Jennifer Graf settled into the chair next to me for her post-game radio interview Wednesday night. After all, the Lady Demons had just lost by 18 points to conference rival Stephen F. Austin--after trailing by as many as 35 points.
When you interview a coach on the short end of a score--especially one as lopsided as this one--you never know what you are going to get. Except with Coach Graf. You always get honesty. And that's refreshing.
She didn't try to sugarcoat anything. She told it like it was. Coach Graf said her team got a good 'ol fashioned whippin'. She questioned her team's heart. She questioned her team's effort. She questioned her team's desire.
Those are things you wouldn't hear from most coaches. But Coach Graf is as honest as the day is long. She also has too much respect for the fans to think she could pull the wool over their eyes. The Lady Demons' performance was not up to the high standards set by previous NSU teams. Coach Graf knew it, and it's a pretty good bet the players knew it also. If they didn't, I'm sure they got the message in the locker room after the game.
In victory, Coach Graf is humble, giving all the credit to her players and assistant coaches. In defeat, Coach Graf tells it like it is.
In sports, and in life, it would be nice if we were all more like Coach Graf.
Tune in for the all the action Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Demons regroup against Eastern Division leader Central Arkansas. Tip-off from what is sure to be a snowy Conway, Arkansas, is 2pm. Matt Bonnette and I (road conditions permitting) will be on the air with the Lady Demons pre-game show at 1:45 on 100.7 FM (KZBL) and the Demon Sports Network.
Tony Taglavore
Voice of the Lady Demons
When you interview a coach on the short end of a score--especially one as lopsided as this one--you never know what you are going to get. Except with Coach Graf. You always get honesty. And that's refreshing.
She didn't try to sugarcoat anything. She told it like it was. Coach Graf said her team got a good 'ol fashioned whippin'. She questioned her team's heart. She questioned her team's effort. She questioned her team's desire.
Those are things you wouldn't hear from most coaches. But Coach Graf is as honest as the day is long. She also has too much respect for the fans to think she could pull the wool over their eyes. The Lady Demons' performance was not up to the high standards set by previous NSU teams. Coach Graf knew it, and it's a pretty good bet the players knew it also. If they didn't, I'm sure they got the message in the locker room after the game.
In victory, Coach Graf is humble, giving all the credit to her players and assistant coaches. In defeat, Coach Graf tells it like it is.
In sports, and in life, it would be nice if we were all more like Coach Graf.
Tune in for the all the action Saturday afternoon, as the Lady Demons regroup against Eastern Division leader Central Arkansas. Tip-off from what is sure to be a snowy Conway, Arkansas, is 2pm. Matt Bonnette and I (road conditions permitting) will be on the air with the Lady Demons pre-game show at 1:45 on 100.7 FM (KZBL) and the Demon Sports Network.
Tony Taglavore
Voice of the Lady Demons
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