After a couple of months without athletic competition, the dawn of the 2017-18 Northwestern State athletic year is drawing near.

Beginning Monday, Northwestern State football coach Jay Thomas, many of his staff and other Demons coaches and athletic staff kick off the annual NSU Victory Tour with the Winn Parish Tour Stop at the Louisiana Political Museum in downtown Winnfield at 499 East Main Street at 6 p.m. Monday.

The visit to Winn Parish is the first of eight stops spread across two weeks from Monday through July 27. In addition to the kickoff event in Winnfield, the tour will visit Many (Tuesday), Alexandria-Pineville (Thursday), Coushatta (Friday), Shreveport (July 24), Lafayette (July 25), Baton Rouge (July 25) and New Orleans (July 27).

There is no admission charge for any of the events, which will feature complimentary appetizers, soda, tea and water for guests. Fans will be able to purchase exclusive Demons gear, including T-shirts, caps and other items.

“The Victory Tour is not only exciting for our fans, it’s exciting for our staff,” said assistant athletics director Mike Jacklich, who coordinates the events and directs ticket operations. “We get to take our enthusiasm for NSU out on the road and host a mobile pep rally. What’s not fun about that? But we also take the tour seriously. It is vital for our staff to mix with communities around Louisiana and make connections with fans who might not otherwise make it onto campus.

“Victory Tour gives our fans an opportunity to mingle with the football coaching staff — and often staffs from other sports — while enjoying an inside look into the upcoming football season, some good food, and the opportunity to score the best season ticket spots available. And it’s totally, 100 percent free. Like I said: fun!”

All Victory Tour stops are reception-style events that will last approximately two hours, including a brief program midway featuring Thomas and other NSU coaches in attendance. Door prizes will be awarded at each stop, with schedule cards and other promotional materials available.

A night after starting the tour in Winnfield, the Sabine Parish Tour Stop in Many follows at 5:30, hosted by Foy Motors at 1095 San Antonio Ave.

The Rapides Parish Tour Stop is Thursday at the Levee Bar at 701 4th Street in Alexandria, beginning at 6.

The Red River Parish Tour Stop will be Friday at the home of former mayor Tray Murray, 185 Army Road in Coushatta, beginning at 6:30.

On July 24, the second week of the Victory Tour opens at 6 o’clock in Shreveport-Bossier. Superior Steakhouse at 855 Line Avenue in Shreveport is the site for the Victory Tour stop.

On July 25, the 6 p.m. Victory Tour stop in will be hosted at Ruffino’s on the River, 921 Camellia Blvd. in Lafayette.

A night later, on July 26, the tour will stop at 6 in Baton Rouge at the Superior Grill on 5435 Government Street.

A July 27 visit to the New Orleans metro area ends the Victory Tour with another 6 p.m. outing at Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon, owned by the Demon football great, at 4101 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in Metairie.

For more information on any Victory Tour stop or for details about season tickets, contact Jacklich via e-mail at jacklichm@nsula.edu or by calling him at 318-357-4268. Complete football season ticket information is also available at the NSUDemons.com website.