Northwestern State Demons

1. Vic The Demon Is Named That For A Reason. In one of the most noted mascot brawls in sports history, in October 1992, NSU mascot Vic the Demon got into it with Louisiana-Monroe mascot Chief Brave Spirit, after playful sparring on the sidelines turned into an ugly brawl. The Shreveport Times reported that Chief Brave Spirit ripped off Vic's head, and that Vic then "landed a series of haymaker blows." The police had to rush in and separate them. The game was televised, and footage of the brawling mascots made sports newscasts around the nation.

2. Their Head Coach Looks Like Woody Paige. Taking some of the luster off of the Demons' 15-1 Southland Conference record this season is the fact that their coach, Mike McConathy, resembles ESPN dog food gulper Woody Paige. As if that wasn't odd enough — two of their players look like Napolean Dynamite and Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat ( Michael McConathay, who is the coach's son, and Clifton Lee). No one on the team, however, looks like Jim Croce, the singer-songwriter who died in a plane crash hours after finishing a 1973 concert on the NSU campus.

3. In Louisiana, Girls Are Better Free Throw Shooters Than Boys. Center Byron Allen raised his free throw percentage from 51 percent in preseason to 68 percent in conference play thanks to a tip from NSU women's assistant coach Kia Converse. Allen hit the game-winning free throw in the final four seconds vs. Stephen F. Austin. — Rick Chandler