Stoker cites big difference in experience betweenBaylor, NSU
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
NATCHITOCHES Northwestern Stateıs practices for Saturday nightıs visit to
Baylor have pleased Demons coach Scott Stoker, even if the prospect of
facing a team with 31 seniors doesnıt.
³Weıve got seven. They have 31. Iıve never heard of so many seniors,² said
Stoker. ³What that says is there are a lot of players who have bought into
what theyıre doing and a lot of guys who have tremendous experience.
Meanwhile we played 27 guys in their first games last week, and weıll
probably bring a few more out this week.²
Two newcomers last week, redshirt freshmen fullbacks Dante Austin and
Quinten Goodie, have moved up a notch on the depth chart. Starting fullback
Tyler Cheramie, a sophomore, reinjured a fractured finger that he hurt in
the middle of preseason camp. Cheramie will have surgery in hopes of being
back in the lineup Oct. 7 when Northwestern plays host to Sam Houston State
in the Southland Conference opener for both teams.
³Tyler has a year of experience under his belt, so losing him isnıt good,
but both the freshmen did good jobs last week (at Kansas),² said Stoker.
³Tyler is our best fullback but these guys, other than having a lot to
learn, theyıre competitors and good players and I donıt expect it to be a
problem area for us.²
Wednesday morningıs two-hour workout in full pads was the third straight
practice that left Stoker smiling.
³We had another good one this morning. Weıve really hit the practice field
with the right approach this week,² he said. ³Getting to play against
somebody else, especially Big XII (Conference) teams, itıs safe to say has
our full and undivided attention.²
The Demons will practice Thursday and Friday mornings before heading to Waco
Friday afternoon. Kickoff is 6 Saturday evening at Floyd Casey Stadium in
the first-ever football meeting between the Demons (0-1) and Bears (0-1).
