NATCHITOCHES – At Northwestern State, the value of its athletic program goes beyond, wins, losses and championships.

     Northwestern’s 14-sport, Division I athletic program competes in the Southland Conference generating national exposure for the university and numerous opportunities to reach alumni and students in prime recruiting areas in Louisiana, Texas and Arkansas.

     “Athletics provides a level of excitement that is vital to the college experience,” said Director of University Recruiting Jana Lucky. “Many things spring out from athletics such as the marching band, danceline, cheerleaders and pompon line.  Athletic events are an important part of the university calendar and provide opportunities for our student organizations to come together. Our collegiate sports teams bring pride to the university.  In addition, students that participate in the athletic programs tend to be easier to retain. These students make a true life-long connection to the university.”

     Northwestern receives national media exposure for its athletic program on a regular basis. Over the past 10 years, 12 NSU games have been telecast on CBS or ESPN. Football and men’s basketball scores along with other Division I teams are run on ESPN networks. The Demons have wins in recent years over nationally prominent schools including LSU, Iowa, Mississippi State, Oregon State, Notre Dame, TCU and Minnesota. Highlights of Northwestern’s last second win over Iowa in the 2006 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament was shown thousands of times, and continues to be played each March during TV coverage of the highly-rated NCAA Tournament. That shot helped earned the university a $100,000 scholarship from Pontiac in a national contest.

     Northwestern’s athletic programs help the Natchitoches area by making the community more attractive to prospective businesses and retirees and providing a boost to local businesses throughout the year. NSU athletic events, along with athletic events hosted by the university bring up to 150,000 visitors to the Northwestern campus annually.

     “The economic impact of the NSU athletic program to Greater Natchitoches is at least $40 million annually and that is a hard and indisputable figure which directly benefits every household and business in the area,” said Director of Athletics Greg Burke. “The soft dollar benefits - the fact that Demon and Lady Demon athletics generate an immeasurable amount of recognition and publicity and that the quality of life and entertainment value factors for those within the NSU service area are greatly enhanced - just solidify the positives of having a Division I athletic program at Northwestern State University.”

     Student-athletes at Northwestern promote the quality of the university’s academic programs through their performance in the classroom. Northwestern has had the highest NCAA Graduation Success Rate of any Louisiana Division I institution. The university has also performed strongly in NCAA Academic Progress Rate reports. The men’s and women’s soccer programs have received national commendations from the NCAA for ranking among the top 10 percentile among all 340 Division I institutions.

     “Academics is emphasized from the first time we meet as a team each year,” said senior Chelsea Brozgold of Arlington, Texas, a member of the NSU women’s soccer team. “We know there is an expectation that we will maintain high standards both on the field and off.”

     Brozgold, an Honor Roll and Dean’s List student majoring in health and exercise science, says her experience as a student-athlete has prepared her to enter physical therapy school after graduation and move successfully into her career.

     “In order to be a successful student-athlete, you have to show dedication and a strong work ethic,” said Brozgold, who is president of the NSU Student-Athlete Advisory Council. “There are a lot of demands on your time and you have to go to class and keep your grades up. You also have to practice and take care of yourself to be able to perform at the highest level.”

     Being part of a team also has other benefits Brozgold says will be helpful on the job.

     “When you are on a team, you have to learn to work together with a diverse group of people from different backgrounds,” she said. “You have to interact with each other to come to an agreement and make things work.”

     Student-athletes at Northwestern were involved in more than 2,200 hours of community service in 2008-09.  Those activities include reading to local elementary school students and constructing playground equipment at a local school.

     “It’s been great to go out and do things in the community,” said Al Smith of Matthews, a senior business administration major at Northwestern who plays defensive line on the football team. “The children look up to us and pay attention to the things we say.”

     Getting student-athletes out into the community is one way Northwestern’s athletic program provides a well-rounded college experience for team members.

     “I have had a great college experience at Northwestern,” said Smith, who is an Honor Roll student and plans to attend graduate school after earning a bachelor’s degree. “Everything I have learned in and out of the classroom has prepared me for the rest of my life.

     “Without an education, you have nothing. A football career could be over in a second, but you never lose an education.”

     In addition to those on athletic scholarships, a large number of students are at Northwestern because of the athletic program. The acclaimed “Spirit of Northwestern” Marching Band is part of any football game day experience at NSU. Members of the band also perform in a number of ensembles within the School of Creative and Performing Arts. Band members are in a variety of academic majors, helping boost university enrollment.

     “The School of Creative and Performing Arts, and in particular the marching band, profits from a strong athletic program in that it provides positive exposure for the entire University,” said Director of the School of Creative and Performing Arts and Director of Bands Bill Brent.  “This, in turn, greatly assists in the recruiting process. When one of our teams gets a big win, high school students know about it.”