Football Preview: Northwestern State
It is a whole new ballgame at Northwestern State, thanks to the energy infusion created by the hiring of former LSU assistant coach Bradley Dale Peveto as the Demons' head football coach.
Peveto spent the last four years as linebackers coach with the Tigers, winning four consecutive bowl games, including the 2007 BCS National Championship. Just as important, the 21-year coaching veteran spent three impressive seasons (1996-98) as the Demons' defensive coordinator. His attacking style created the "Purple Swarm" brand that remains the identity of Northwestern's defense a decade later, and it rewrote school records while helping produce consecutive Southland Conference championships (1997, 1998) and a national playoff semifinal appearance and No. 2 national ranking in 1998.
In his first head coaching assignment, Peveto has already signed a recruiting class ranked No. 1 in Football Championship Subdivision by Rivals.com and has created a buzz not only on campus, in the community and in the Northwestern support base, but regionally, extending into the fertile recruiting territory in Texas.
He takes over a program that was hardly listing. Northwestern was 7-5 last year and returns its biggest senior class (19) in several seasons, along with 16 starters, including nine on defense. The Demons beat Southland Conference FCS playoff representative Texas State in San Marcos to move into position to challenge for the league title entering the final three weeks of the year.
The Purple Swarm defense held five of the nation's top 14 offenses, including four of the top six, below their season's averages. Against four Southland teams in the top 14 (three in the top six nationally), Northwestern State limited McNeese State, Texas State and Sam Houston State (Nos. 4-6) and Stephen F. Austin (No. 14) to an average of 74 yards below their normal output.
Schemes have changed on both sides of the ball. Defensively, the Demons shift to a 4-3-4 alignment but will retain their trademark aggressive style. Offensively, Northwestern will not abandon the power running game that has been a hallmark for the Demons for more than two decades, but former Central Arkansas offensive coordinator, Todd Cooley, plans more one-back and multiple sets with his attacking passing scheme dubbed the "Purple Strike" at the outset of spring practice.
Peveto's extensive special teams background and his hiring of Brendan Farrell from LSU as special teams coordinator signals intense focus on that phase of the game.
Senior safeties Wesley Eckles (2008 first-team All-Southland, 91 tackles, 2 INT, 6 PBU) and Gary Riggs (2007 second-team All-Southland, 187 career tackles, 8 INT), senior defensive tackle Albert Smith (2007 second team All-Southland, 96 career tackles, 16 TFL), junior defensive end Ledell Love (2008 second-team all-conference, 50 tackles, 10 TFL, 3 1/2 sacks), and linebacker Blake Delcambre (2009 preseason second-team all-conference, 192 career tackles) spearhead the defense.
Offensively, Northwestern has four returning starters up front - including three-year starter Marcus Washington at center and the talented guard tandem of converted tackle Jace Prescott and Michael Booker - plus quarterback John Hundley (1,307 pass yards, 55 percent aim, 8 TD in 9 games) and preseason second-team all-league tight end Gordon Freeman (18-139, 2 TD) back.