NATCHITOCHES – Starting Monday afternoon, first-year Northwestern State football coach Blaine McCorkle gets to enjoy something he has looked forward to since he was announced as the Demons' head coach in late November.
 
The Demons hit the Turpin Stadium field at 3:30 p.m. Monday for the first of their 15 spring practices, a schedule that also includes a pair of scrimmages ahead of the April 20 Joe Delaney Bowl.
 
"It's been a long three months in the weight room and out here running," McCorkle said. "We all have that football itch. We're ready to put a helmet on and see what it looks like."
 
Monday's workout kicks off back-to-back days of workouts before NSU takes Wednesday off. The Demons will resume workouts in full pads Thursday and Friday.
 
After the first four practices, the Demons will take a week off for spring break before returning to the practice field April 2. The first of two spring scrimmages is set for April 6 with the second to follow a week later.
 
NSU's spring schedule concludes April 20 with the annual Joe Delaney Bowl. By that time, McCorkle hopes to have a better handle on what his first Demon team will be.
 
"Everything's brand new," he said. "Our kicking game's brand new. Our offense is brand new. Our defense is brand new. How we stretch is new. We're installing everything from the start. Everything is different, and there is definitely going to be a learning curve that a lot of guys have to adjust to in a hurry. We know that. We're off to a good start with our meetings, just having them ready. They'll have a pretty good feel already so they let loose and play."
 
Throughout the 15 total workouts and scrimmages, McCorkle said he is looking for more than just who can handle the changes in the Xs and Os around the program.
 
"There really is no depth chart now," he said. "Everybody's starting at zero and has a chance to prove themselves. We don't care if you're a senior or a freshman – if you're on scholarship or if you are a walk on – we're going to figure out who can help us win, who can play and who wants to come out and work hard every day. We need to evaluate our personnel and identify our leaders.
 
"We'll find out who really wants to be here. I think there are still some guys figuring out if this is really what I want to do. We'll work through that over the 15 days and come out ready for the preseason and know what we have."
 
Starting his first season at Northwestern State has brought an eagerness for McCorkle even as questions permeate the program.
 
"There's always the unknown," he said. "You don't know what it's going to look like until you get out there. We've got a pretty good feel of who our team is and what we're going to have out there, but until you put a helmet on and blow a whistle and line up against each other, there's still the unknown. I'm excited to see what it looks like, excited to see who steps up and who leads and who can help us get this thing right."
 
2024 Northwestern State Spring Schedule
March 18: Practice
March 19: Practice
March 21: Practice
March 22: Practice
April 2: Practice
April 3: Practice
April 5: Practice
April 6: Scrimmage No. 1
April 8: Practice
April 10: Practice
April 12: Practice
April 13: Scrimmage No. 2
April 16: Practice
April 18: Practice
April 20: Joe Delaney Bowl