Northwestern State Demons
Encyclopedia
The Northwestern State University
athletic teams go by the Demons, with women's athletic teams generally called the Lady Demons, and its mascot is Vic the Demon
. Once a member of the celebrated SIAA conference, the school now competes in the Southland Conference
.
"Fork 'em" is a hand gesture and slogan used by students at Northwestern State University in their celebration of sports teams. The gesture is performed by curling the ring and middle fingers under the thumb against the palm, and extending the pinky and index fingers – identical in fashion to the University of Texas "Hook 'em Horns" gesture.
On March 17, 2006, NSU's 14th-seeded basketball
team shocked the college basketball
world by defeating 3rd-seeded, 11th-ranked, Big Ten Conference
tournament champion Iowa
in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
on a late three-pointer by Jermaine Wallace. NSU was the lowest-seeded team to advance to the second round in 2006. NSU's men's basketball team also won the inaugural play-in game
, beating the Winthrop University
Eagles 71-67 in 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
to advance to the 16th-seeded spot. In doing so, the Demons became the first #16 seed to earn a victory in the NCAA Tournament .
Prominent athletic alumni include former New Orleans Saints
quarterback Bobby Hebert
, St. Louis Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith
, Miami Dolphins
wide receiver Mark Duper
, former Kansas City Chiefs
running back Joe Delaney
, University of Southern California
defensive line coach Ed Orgeron
, John Stephens, former Houston Oilers wide receiver Charlie Hennigan
, current Buffalo Bills
cornerback and Pro Bowl
kickoff returner Terrence McGee
, U.S. Olympians LaMark Carter and Kenta Bell, Junior Olympian Latrell Frederick, former Chilean High Jump record holder Felipe Apablaza and Major League Baseball
pitcher Brian Lawrence
. Former Major League relief pitcher Lee Smith
is a former Demon, having played basketball at Northwestern. Smith held the major league record for career saves from 1993-2006.
The NSU athletic offices are housed in the George Doherty Wing, named for George Doherty
(1920-1987), a former head football coach of the Demons.
NSU also has the distinction of being the only NCAA division IAA/FCS member to have 2 NFL rookies of the year. In 1981, Delaney, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, was awarded the AFC Rookie of the year by UPI. In 1988, Stephens, another former Demon running back, of the New England Patriots, was named Offensive\AFC Rookie of the year. No other 4 year institution in the state of Louisiana has more than 1. The pair of awards is more than won by Ohio State, Texas A&M and UCLA.
of Nacogdoches, Texas
and Northwestern State play for the country's largest football trophy. In 1961, longtime rivals SFA and Northwestern State decided to award the winner of the game a trophy, the game was won by Northwestern State University. According to the stipulations of that particular match, the loser would have to present the winner with a tree chopped down from a nearby forest.
In March 1962, the Lumberjacks of SFA in Nacogdoches, Texas, presented NSU with a black gum tree trunk from the SFA campus from which a statue was to be carved. The black gum tree weighed over a ton and was thirty inches in diameter. An Indian statue, Chief Caddo
, was chosen because of the historic founding of Natchitoches, Louisiana and Nacogdoches, Texas by Indian tribes. Natchitoches means chinquapin eaters and Nacogdoches means persimmon eaters. It was carved by Harold Greene in Logansport and required over 200 hours of labor. The name “Chief Indian Caddo” was selected in honor of the ancient federation of Caddo Indian tribes, which once inhabited the northern Louisiana area. The final painting of the statue was done at Northwestern. The finished product stands around 7.6 feet tall and weighs about 320 pounds. The first game for Chief Caddo was September 15, 1962. Northwestern won 23-6. Tradition has it that the winner of the annual NSU and SFA football game keeps Chief Caddo on their respective campus. Currently, Chief Caddo is the largest college football trophy in the nation.
After the November 22, 2009 meeting of the two teams, Chief Caddo resides at Stephen F. Austin State University. The final score was 19 - 10, SFA.
Go ye Demons take the field.
Northwestern Demons never yield.
Fight Demons win tonight,
Victory is on our side!
Go! Fight! Win! (line inserted after 1970)
Purple and White shall ever reign,
Filling the air with battle strain.
So, Demons forever stand,
And fight for dear old Demonland!
Lyrics by Larry D. Powell, MD
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University, known as NSU, is a four-year public university primarily situated in Natchitoches, Louisiana, with a nursing campus in Shreveport and general campuses in Leesville/Fort Polk and Alexandria. It is a part of the University of Louisiana System.NSU was founded in 1884 as...
athletic teams go by the Demons, with women's athletic teams generally called the Lady Demons, and its mascot is Vic the Demon
Vic the Demon
Vic The Demon is the mascot at Northwestern State University. His name is short for "VICtory."He is most noted as the mascot involved in a fight with Northeast Louisiana University mascot Chief Brave Spirit, in which playful sparring on the sidelines turned into an ugly fight. The two mascots were...
. Once a member of the celebrated SIAA conference, the school now competes in the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
.
"Fork 'em" is a hand gesture and slogan used by students at Northwestern State University in their celebration of sports teams. The gesture is performed by curling the ring and middle fingers under the thumb against the palm, and extending the pinky and index fingers – identical in fashion to the University of Texas "Hook 'em Horns" gesture.
On March 17, 2006, NSU's 14th-seeded basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team shocked the college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
world by defeating 3rd-seeded, 11th-ranked, Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
tournament champion Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2006 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball as a culmination of the 2005–06 basketball season...
on a late three-pointer by Jermaine Wallace. NSU was the lowest-seeded team to advance to the second round in 2006. NSU's men's basketball team also won the inaugural play-in game
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Play-In Game
The Opening Round game, of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship was the first official game of the tournament, played between two of the lowest-seeded teams to qualify for an automatic bid to the tournament...
, beating the Winthrop University
Winthrop University
Winthrop University is a public, four-year liberal arts university in Rock Hill, South Carolina, USA. In 2006-07, Winthrop University had an enrollment of 6,292 students. The University has been recognized as South Carolina's top-rated university according to evaluations conducted by the South...
Eagles 71-67 in 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament
2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
to advance to the 16th-seeded spot. In doing so, the Demons became the first #16 seed to earn a victory in the NCAA Tournament .
Prominent athletic alumni include former New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
quarterback Bobby Hebert
Bobby Hebert
Bobby Joseph Hebert Jr., is an American sportscaster who is best known as a retired Pro bowl American football quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. He played professionally in the USFL and NFL from 1983 to 1996 for the Michigan Panthers, Oakland Invaders, New Orleans Saints, and Atlanta Falcons...
, St. Louis Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys tight end Jackie Smith
Jackie Smith
Jackie Larue Smith is a former professional American football player in the National Football League. He played tight end for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Dallas Cowboys from 1963 to 1978. He has career marks of 480 receptions, 7,918 yards, and 40 touchdowns...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
wide receiver Mark Duper
Mark Duper
Mark Super Duper is a former American football wide receiver who played for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League from 1982 to 1992. He played collegiately at Northwestern State University and was selected by the Dolphins in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft...
, former Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
running back Joe Delaney
Joe Delaney
Joe Alton Delaney was an American football running back who played two seasons in the National Football League . In his two seasons with the Chiefs, Delaney set four franchise records that would stand for over 20 years....
, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
defensive line coach Ed Orgeron
Ed Orgeron
Ed Orgeron is an American football coach who is currently serving as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach/recruiting coordinator for the USC Trojans. Orgeron previously served as the head football coach of the Ole Miss Rebels from 2005 to 2007...
, John Stephens, former Houston Oilers wide receiver Charlie Hennigan
Charlie Hennigan
Charles Taylor Hennigan, Sr., known as Charlie Hennigan , is a retired American football player with the former Houston Oilers who resides in Shreveport, Louisiana. Born in Bienville in Bienville Parish in north Louisiana, Hennigan grew up in nearby Minden, the seat of Webster Parish, located...
, current Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
cornerback and Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
kickoff returner Terrence McGee
Terrence McGee
Terrence Dewayne McGee is an American football cornerback and kick returner who currently plays for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by Bills in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
, U.S. Olympians LaMark Carter and Kenta Bell, Junior Olympian Latrell Frederick, former Chilean High Jump record holder Felipe Apablaza and Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
pitcher Brian Lawrence
Brian Lawrence
Brian Michael Lawrence is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.-High school:Lawrence attended Carthage High School in Carthage, Texas...
. Former Major League relief pitcher Lee Smith
Lee Smith (baseball)
Lee Arthur Smith is an American right-handed former baseball pitcher who played 18 years in Major League Baseball for eight teams. Pitching primarily for the Chicago Cubs, with whom he spent his first eight seasons, Lee served mostly as a relief pitcher during his career...
is a former Demon, having played basketball at Northwestern. Smith held the major league record for career saves from 1993-2006.
The NSU athletic offices are housed in the George Doherty Wing, named for George Doherty
George Doherty
George E. Doherty was a National Football League player from 1944–1947, who thereafter was the defensive coach of the Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs in Ruston and the head coach of the Northwestern State University Demons in Natchitoches from 1972-1974.-Early years and education:Doherty was...
(1920-1987), a former head football coach of the Demons.
NSU also has the distinction of being the only NCAA division IAA/FCS member to have 2 NFL rookies of the year. In 1981, Delaney, running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, was awarded the AFC Rookie of the year by UPI. In 1988, Stephens, another former Demon running back, of the New England Patriots, was named Offensive\AFC Rookie of the year. No other 4 year institution in the state of Louisiana has more than 1. The pair of awards is more than won by Ohio State, Texas A&M and UCLA.
Chief Caddo
Each season, Stephen F. Austin State UniversityStephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
of Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches, Texas
Nacogdoches is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the city's population to be 32,996. It is the county seat of Nacogdoches County and is situated in East Texas. Nacogdoches is a sister city of Natchitoches, Louisiana.Nacogdoches is the home of...
and Northwestern State play for the country's largest football trophy. In 1961, longtime rivals SFA and Northwestern State decided to award the winner of the game a trophy, the game was won by Northwestern State University. According to the stipulations of that particular match, the loser would have to present the winner with a tree chopped down from a nearby forest.
In March 1962, the Lumberjacks of SFA in Nacogdoches, Texas, presented NSU with a black gum tree trunk from the SFA campus from which a statue was to be carved. The black gum tree weighed over a ton and was thirty inches in diameter. An Indian statue, Chief Caddo
Chief Caddo
Chief Caddo is the name of the statue given to the winner of the annual football game between Southland Conference members Northwestern State University of Natchitoches, Louisiana and Stephen F...
, was chosen because of the historic founding of Natchitoches, Louisiana and Nacogdoches, Texas by Indian tribes. Natchitoches means chinquapin eaters and Nacogdoches means persimmon eaters. It was carved by Harold Greene in Logansport and required over 200 hours of labor. The name “Chief Indian Caddo” was selected in honor of the ancient federation of Caddo Indian tribes, which once inhabited the northern Louisiana area. The final painting of the statue was done at Northwestern. The finished product stands around 7.6 feet tall and weighs about 320 pounds. The first game for Chief Caddo was September 15, 1962. Northwestern won 23-6. Tradition has it that the winner of the annual NSU and SFA football game keeps Chief Caddo on their respective campus. Currently, Chief Caddo is the largest college football trophy in the nation.
After the November 22, 2009 meeting of the two teams, Chief Caddo resides at Stephen F. Austin State University. The final score was 19 - 10, SFA.
Fight song
Northwestern Demons never yield.
Fight Demons win tonight,
Victory is on our side!
Go! Fight! Win! (line inserted after 1970)
Purple and White shall ever reign,
Filling the air with battle strain.
So, Demons forever stand,
And fight for dear old Demonland!
Lyrics by Larry D. Powell, MD