General | 11/28/2017 4:35:00 PM

NATCHITOCHES – During his four years as part of Northwestern State's "Purple Swarm" defense, David Pittman Jr. prided himself on taking things away.
 
On what has been termed "Giving Tuesday," Pittman did just the opposite, deciding to give back to the place he transformed from a standout college player to an NFL defensive back.
 
Through the "Perpetually Purple" endowed giving program, Pittman has established the David E. Pittman Jr. Football Scholarship at Northwestern State.
 
"There's a saying I remember about the harvest being measured by the seeds you plant," Pittman said. "I want to increase opportunities through God's grace by planting those seeds. I want to create an opportunity for somebody else down the line."
 
That attitude, from one of Northwestern State's top two-sport standouts, is highlighted on days like "Giving Tuesday," but permeates throughout the rest of the year as well.
 
"One of the best parts of my job is reconnecting with old college teammates and friends and helping them reignite their fire for Northwestern State," NSU Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Dr. Haley Taitano said. "With David, that wasn't hard to do because he experienced great success while he was here – both on the track and on the football field – and he understands the meaning behind our scholarships like the one he once received."
 
Pittman was a four-year football letterman from 2002-05, earning All-American honors in his senior season. A Lutcher High School product, Pittman finished his career with 11 interceptions – three of which he returned for touchdowns – 26 pass breakups and 153 tackles.
 
Pittman, who tallied four career touchdowns, was the lone FCS player who took part in the 2006 Senior Bowl, capping a career that saw him help the Demons capture the 2004 Southland Conference championship and advance twice to the FCS Playoffs.
 
"When I was at NSU, I always had a feeling of being home, even though I was away from home," Pittman said. "A lot of guys I played with at NSU are like brothers to me. Even though a lot of us came from different parts of the country, we had a lot of similarities. We were all trying to accomplish the same goals. We created a lot of relationships, not just the guys I played with. It was with other students, professors who educated me throughout my time there, the people in the Natchitoches community, all of that as a whole."
 
He began his professional career as a third-round draft choice of the Baltimore Ravens, selected 87^th overall.
 
Pittman played for the Ravens, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in his four-year NFL career before joining the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders in 2011-12.
 
Pittman was a two-time, first-team All-Southland Conference cornerback (2004-05) and was a second-team All-Southland selection as a sophomore in 2003.
 
Pittman was a second-team All-Louisiana pick as a junior after intercepting five passes and breaking up 10 others in just nine games.
 
He was equally impressive on the track as he was on the football field.
 
In the 2004 Southland Conference Indoor Championships, Pittman finished third in the 200 meters and ran the second leg on the Demons 4x400 relay team, which finished third by less than a second.
 
A year earlier, Pittman was part of the school-record 4x400 outdoor relay team that reached the semifinals of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. He scored in three events – 100 meters, 4x100 relay, 4x400 relay – for the Demons' SLC outdoor championship squad.
 
A native of Gramercy and a 2006 NSU graduate in business administration, Pittman has settled back near his hometown, working in LaPlace for Marathon Petroleum Company, a group whose philanthropy helped aid his decision to give back to Northwestern State.
 
"Working for Marathon made the decision to give back even easier for Pitt, since they will match his donations dollar for dollar," Taitano said. "But I was proud to hear that he has already solicited additional support for his scholarship from his co-workers, old teammates and friends."
 
Pittman helped lead the way on NSU's vaunted "Purple Swarm" defense throughout his career. He said he hopes what he has done off the field will carry the same weight.
 
"I had it in my mind to do something and seeing what Marathon does as a company to incentivize someone to give back, it pushes you even more," said Pittman, who has returned to school to pursue a master's degree.
 
"There are going to be some employees who are going to help with it also. I'm hoping through me doing this, this can be a driving force to help some of the guys and girls I played with at NSU start to invest in the next generations who want to go to our alma mater."
 
Gifts like Pittman's scholarship endowment provide vital, continuing support to NSU Athletics.
 
The goal is to grow the DUF endowment, through outright donations or deferred gifts, over the next five years from the current $1.8 million level to over $5 million.  The program is separate from the efforts to supplement the annual budget for the athletics program with donations, corporate partnerships and special fund-raising events.
 
A minimum commitment of $10,000 is required to create an endowment fund, but that fund can start from any initial outright gift. Endowments can be established with an outright gift such as cash, a stock transfer or property sale, a life insurance policy, or can be included as a provision in a will or bequest. Arrangements can be made to fund an endowment over an extended period of time.
 
To inquire about the Perpetually Purple program, contact Greg Burke (burkeg@nsula.edu, 318-357-5251), or Haley Taitano (blounth@nsula.edu, 318-357-4278). Information is also available on the NSUDemons.com website.