College Sports Established
1884
Location
Natchitoches, Louisiana
College Name
Northwestern State University
Collegiate History
1987 - Present / NCAA Division I
Conference History
1987 - Present / Southland Conference
Nickname
Demons - We’re talking about the origins of the Northwestern State Demons nickname in the NCAA.
Northwestern State University is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, and its mascot is the Demon. The origin of this unique name dates back to 1923 when a group of students was discussing new names for their school teams during a student assembly meeting at Prather Coliseum on campus. One student suggested “Demons” as an appropriate moniker due to its strong connotations with strength and power – perfect for any athletic team!
The name was so popular that it soon became official, and since then has been used by all NWSU teams across various sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and more. It also serves as an excellent reminder of the university's commitment to excellence on and off the field/court/etc., something that all true Demons fans can appreciate! So there you have it – now you know how one small suggestion from a single student over 90 years ago always resulted in such an iconic nickname adopted by Northwestern State University!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1907
- 1976
- 2001
- 2005
- 2023
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Northwestern State’s first football team was fielded
Northwestern State’s first football team was fielded in 1907. The team plays its home games at the 15,971 seat Harry Turpin Stadium in Natchitoches, Louisiana. -
Northwestern State Demons baseball team wins its first Southland Conference championship
In 1976: The Northwestern State Demons baseball team wins its first Southland Conference championship and advances to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament for the first time. -
Northwestern State Demons men’s basketball team wins its first Southland Conference tournament
2001: The Northwestern State Demons men’s basketball team wins its first Southland Conference tournament and makes its first NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance, upsetting Iowa 64-63 in the first round. -
Northwestern State women’s basketball team wins their first Southland Conference championship
In 2005: The Northwestern State women’s basketball team wins their first Southland Conference championship. -
Northwestern State Demons men’s basketball team wins its third Southland Conference tournament
In 2023: The Northwestern State Demons men’s basketball team wins its third Southland Conference tournament and makes its fourth NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament appearance, reaching the Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Demons
Over time, Northwestern State has earned numerous accolades, including multiple conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances which is no small feat considering that many other schools are unable or unwilling to make such claims due to a lack of resources or talent available at smaller institutions like NSU. The Demons also boast impressive individual achievements from players who became NBA stars, such as Joe Dumars (Detroit Pistons) & Larry Johnson (Charlotte Hornets).
What makes this team so unique is not just about winning but how much pride each player takes when representing this program on national television every year during March Madness, something that can’t be said for many other college basketball programs today! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or enjoy watching great sports action – don’t miss out on catching some exciting games featuring your favorite Demon squad!
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