By: Doug Ireland/Sports Information Director
NATCHITOCHES – A surprising citywide boil order for the local water system didn't sidetrack Northwestern State's season-opening football game Thursday evening at Turpin Stadium.
The Demons (1-0) prevailed 24-23 at Turpin Stadium against Division II power Delta State (1-1). Just before 10 p.m. Wednesday night, severe drought conditions prompted the city of Natchitoches to issue a boil order for drinking water for its consumers, including the Northwestern campus. With nearly 200 student-athletes from NSU and Delta State preparing for kickoff the following evening, athletic trainers weren't going to be able to utilize their regular sources of drinking water and ice.
NSU athletic officials moved quickly Thursday morning to bring in 640 gallons of drinking water from nearby Many, about 30 miles to the west, and one ton of ice from Leesville, about 50 miles to the southwest, to provide for both teams to use on game day, said director of athletics Greg Burke.
“We had some hustling staff and friends of NSU come up with a quick solution to what could have been a tough challenge,” said Burke. “Water for the fans and game personnel wasn't an issue since that's provided in bottles and our concessions staff is well prepared, but football teams don't operate that way. Their needs for water and ice are immense during a game day, not only during the contest but before and after.
“We've dealt with hurricanes and storms in past years, and now, drought conditions,” he said. “This isn't something you find in the standard football game management manuals. You have to meet the problem and solve it on the fly. Our athletic trainers, Ed Evans, Jason Drury and Jason Parker, were all hands on deck very early this morning to get us in good position in a tough situation."
City officials said the boil order could last 24-48 hours.
