Northwestern State’s Laird prepares for first season as head coach

On Thursday, Southland Conference coaches and players will meet with the media at the league’s annual Media Day in Houston.

Area fans of the Northwestern State Demons got a small preview of the event Monday night when new head coach Brad Laird, athletic director Greg Burke and other school officials held the opening event of their Victory Tour at Bobby Hebert’s Cajun Cannon in Metairie.

Hebert, a former quarterback for the Demons before his successful pro career, even paid a visit to the event.

Laird – like Hebert a former Demon quarterback – served as the team’s defensive coordinator last year before being elevated to head coach, his first stint leading a college program.

“The thing I’ve been most excited about is watching our young men develop,” Laird said. “It’s showing right now during the summer. The sacrifice they’re making this summer is a direct reflection of the attitude they have.”

Northwestern opens the 2018 season Aug. 30 at Texas A&M, which also has a first-year head coach in former Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher.

“It’s kind of both ways,” Laird said. “Are they going to do the same things they did at Florida State? Is it going to be different? I think the thing that’s intriguing about that (game) is our guys … know what’s ahead Week 1. It gives us a little extra motivation to make sure we’re preparing the best way we can prepare this summer.”

The Demons are looking to return to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2004 but can go into 2018 with a good feeling, based on their finish.

“Last year, winning four of the last five in conference, and some of the ones we lost, leading 59 minutes against Sam Houston … leading 55 minutes (against Nicholls),” Laird said. “The opportunity is going to be there, but I think consistency across the board, when we get into those fourth quarters, we need to be able to finish those games off.”