By Jason Pugh, Northwestern State Associate Athletic Director for External Relations; featured photo by Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
NATCHITOCHES – Somewhat fittingly, the most recent time Northwestern State played a football game at home, the lone time Chance Newman touched the field was for a pregame ceremony honoring him as the Jack Clayton Scholarship winner.
That award is given to a deserving senior who embodies the trademarks of legendary Northwestern coach Jack Clayton — leadership, integrity and work ethic – while lettering at least one season and maintaining at least a 3.0 grade point average.
Newman returned to action a week ago after missing three games, and he again will be in action Saturday when the Demons host McNeese at 1 p.m. on Senior Day at Turpin Stadium. It will mark the final home game for Newman and seven other seniors.
“It’s hit throughout the season,” Newman said. “I’ve been trying to soak these moments in. I’m trying to get close with the guys over the next couple of weeks, lead them and take advantage of the opportunity to go play hard and have fun with it a couple more times.”
For Newman, the matchup with McNeese marks the end of his three-year Demon career that began with him transferring from Jacksonville State ahead of the 2022 season.
That year, an automobile accident kept Newman from seeing action.
In 2023, Newman carved out a niche as a versatile player who saw time at quarterback and tight end after having also worked at linebacker in fall camp. After six games, however, Newman’s first senior season came to an abrupt end.
In the sixth game of his second-chance senior year, Newman hauled in a career-long, 32-yard catch at Stephen F. Austin only to leave with an ankle injury that kept him out of action until returning for seven plays this past Saturday at Southeastern.
The injury emphasized a key point Newman has learned during his lengthy college career that also included a stop at Virginia Military Institute.
“Relationships lead the way,” he said. “That’s true in a lot of different areas of life. That’s one of the greatest things about college football. You learn so many lessons and create so many relationships. It’s a beautiful thing and a beautiful game.”
Having taken advantage of a waiver offered to Northwestern players to regain a year of eligibility based on the shortened 2023 season, Newman returned to play for first-year head coach Blaine McCorkle.
The new coach named Newman one of the team’s permanent captains after spring practice. In addition to his work ethic and passion for the game, there was something else Newman displayed that McCorkle noticed.
“He’s been at three schools, but he will tell you Northwestern State is where he played college football,” McCorkle said. “He fell in love with this place and calls it home. He’s here and stayed for the right reasons. We joked before that he doesn’t really have a position. He just a football player. His path has not been easy. It hasn’t been light. He’s persevered, and he’s coming out on the other end in a good way.
“I’m excited for him to play these last two games and hope they go well for him. He will forever be a part of this place and of what we’re trying to build. He as much as anybody has tried to buy in and believe and recognize some things he can do to help leave this place better than he found it.”
Newman’s Northwestern career has two games remaining, but taking in Saturday’s pregame Senior Day ceremony – a year delayed – will offer Newman and his family a chance to add to their scrapbook of memories that have happened in Natchitoches.
That includes watching his daughter, Lani, becoming more aware of what her father has done.
“Now she’s talking, saying different words,” the doting dad says of his 1-year-old. “When she sees football now, she says, ‘Dad.’ She’s got more sense of understanding what’s going on.
“(Saturday) is going to be meaningful and the following Saturday as well. I’m excited to have a bunch of family here to celebrate. My twin brother is coming to his first game at NSU. I’m excited about that and getting to hang out with him, my mom and dad. The whole crew’s coming up. It will solidify the end of something and the beginning of something else. I’m excited to get the whole family up here to enjoy that last home game and one of the last games of my career.”