Story by Matt Vines, Assistant Sports Information Director
With the relaxing of quarantine standards during the COVID-19 pandemic, Northwestern State wants to spread enthusiasm by land and by water.
Demons fans can grab one of NSU’s ALL IN yard signs at the Vic The Demon “Ride Around” or have it delivered by boat on Cane River Lake or Sibley Lake
The Ride Around, which will visit different locations in Natchitoches, and the boat delivery will occur Thursday – weather permitting.
The Ride Around will start at 11 a.m. on NSU’s campus at the Jimmy D. Long Sr. Student Services Center near the corner of Caspari St. and Sam Sibley Drive. The boat delivery will start around 1 p.m.
Vic will roll in his convertible to downtown on Front Street, turn on Texas Street and take a left on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before looping around on Amulet St. past Natchitoches City Park.
The route will turn right on Jefferson Street, crossing the Keyser Ave. bridge.
The Ride Around will visit the St. Clair neighborhood before traveling to Chinquapin Village and ending at Beau Riviera at the house of NSU head football coach Brad Laird. The Ride Around is expected to last two hours, and fans not living in those neighborhoods are encouraged to see Vic in the downtown area.
Laird will then captain one of the boats that will set sail on Cane River Lake to deliver additional yard signs. If you are an NSU football season-ticket holder who lives on Cane River or on Sibley Lake and would like a yard sign placed in your yard, contact Deputy Athletic Director Dr. Haley Taitano at 318-357-4278.
Fans are encouraged to adhere to all Center of Disease Control guidelines, including social distancing, during the Ride Around.
“We wanted to bring a little cheer to the community, and we want to encourage our fans to sit outside in lawn chairs and wave at Vic when he rides by,” Taitano said. “Vic will be wearing a mask and practicing social distancing, but we want to show that NSU is still ALL IN with the Natchitoches community and its residents.”
Fans can display their ALL IN yard signs to show continued support for NSU and the #GoNatchitoches community. Fans can also wear their ALL IN T-shirts designed by Posey’s Sports Center. A couple dozen shirts are still available in store.
The Ride Around is a Demon Rewards event, which fans can attend to earn points toward cool prizes. Download the free NSU app on your phone, click on “Rewards” at the top left of your home screen and check in at the event to receive points in the first Demon Rewards event of the 2020-21 academic year.
Cade Stepp, an assistant director in NSU’s recruiting office, is this year’s Demon Rewards winner. Stepp, who accumulated the most points at Demon Rewards events, will receive an orange Yeti cooler filled with NSU merchandise and prize packs, which includes two sideline passes to NSU football’s home opener vs. Incarnate Word on Sept. 3
Fans can earn points toward prizes like NSU keychains, T-shirts and other merchandise, including sideline passes.
“NSU coaches, staff and administrators are preparing for a Demon football season in which fans can remain safe yet still enjoy the action under the Turpin Stadium lights,” Laird said.
In addition to the ALL IN signs, season-ticket holder yard signs for those not participating in Thursday’s drop-off day are available and can be secured at the NSU Athletics Fieldhouse upon renewal of a season-ticket purchase. Contact Mike Jacklich for season-ticket packages at 318-357-4268.
