NATCHITOCHES – The Northwestern State Athletic Department and Posey's Sports Center have partnered to bring the local community a way to prove its members are "ALL IN" for NSU student-athletes.
 
Posey's has designed a special "ALL IN Natchitoches" T-shirt for Demon fans to wear and show their support for their favorite team and for the Natchitoches community as we fight the novel coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic.
 
The purple shirt is emblazoned with the facades of Front Street businesses with Natchitoches in script below and is topped by the words "ALL IN" arched in the Northwestern State font and a cursive #GoNatchitoches hashtag completing the arc.
 
The #GoNatchitoches logo was created by a coalition of local organizations that include the Cane River National Heritage Area, the Natchitoches Historic District Business Association, the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Natchitoches Main Street. The #GoNatchitoches campaign was launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to encourage pride and support of local businesses and community efforts.
 
The shirts can be ordered online at https://poseys.chipply.com/nsugonatchitoches/product-detail.aspx?pid=567771 and cost $20. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to the Demons Unlimited Foundation, the fundraising arm of the NSU Athletic Department. Purchasing the shirts, or making a donation directly to the DUF, are two ways local residents can show they are "ALL IN" with both NSU athletics and the Natchitoches community. The deadline to purchase a shirt is May 1.
 
"We have been in constant contact with our local sponsors and corporate partners, trying to collaborate on creative ways we can help each other through this difficult time," said Associate Athletic Director for External Affairs Dr. Haley Taitano. "Matt and Cherish Clark at Posey's always have been so supportive of NSU Athletics, and they are one of the many businesses that have been adversely affected by the cancelation of all spring sporting events because of the COVID-19 pandemic. We sincerely hope our community members will get behind us, purchase a shirt and wear it proudly about town to show they are 'ALL IN' with us. We are all in this together."
 
With the cancelation of the NCAA Tournament, the Northwestern State Athletic Department will see a significant decrease in its NCAA distributed monies, which brings with it challenges from an operations standpoint.
 
Additionally, the NCAA Division I Council's March 30 vote to provide eligibility relief for spring sports student-athletes had far-reaching financial effects. Northwestern State was among the schools who voted in favor of the measure, which allowed spring sports student-athletes to maintain a year of eligibility regardless of their classification.
 
"There will be financial ramifications in the $250,000-$300,000 range to athletic department budgets as a result of providing these one-year additional scholarships, but again, it was the right decision," NSU Director of Athletics Greg Burke said after the vote. "To be more precise, it's a one-year decision that I would never want to look back years later and regret voting a different way."
 
Scholarships for spring sports seniors can be renewed at the same rate they were in the 2020 season.
 
"While we remain optimistic about the future of NSU Athletics, donor support will be paramount to our continued efforts to provide athletic scholarships to all of our student-athletes," Taitano said. "We look forward to the day we can all come together again and cheer these student-athletes, who represent our university so well, to victory."
 
For more information on how to donate to the Demons Unlimited Foundation, log onto www.NSUDemons.com and click "Donate."