SFA fans show class, contrast, during injury timeout

Silence rarely belongs in the same venues as college football. It’s the rowdy and obnoxious that typically own Saturdays in bleachers across the nation. But it was silence at Homer Bryce Stadium in the final contest of the 2016 season that was perhaps most notable.

It was mid-way through the second quarter when Northwestern State’s Darius Poullard lay unconscious on the field following an SFA score. The scene was chilling. Terrifying, really. Poullard was playing in the final game of an impressive collegiate career that saw him accomplish a great deal – not the least of which included a sweet strip sack former Mississippi State quarterback (and current Dallas Cowboys phenom) Dak Prescott in 2015.

But at that moment the only concern in the stadium was his safety. And as the silence approached nearly twenty-minutes, it was hard not to think back one year to the same rivalry one season before – a game that saw SFA senior David Dane laying on the field in a similarly scary injury moment.

That 2015 moment was alarming for more than one reason though. Clearly there is no love lost between Lumberjacks and Demons and animosity from fans is rarely surprising. But as the student crowd, led by members of the NSU Band, stood to taunt Dane in his final game, while he lay on his back in visible pain, it was nothing short of shocking for those who witnessed – including yours truly. This is an excerpt from an old version of our website and what I wrote that day:

"Ow, it hurts!" yelled a Northwestern State University band member sarcastically as senior offensive lineman David Dane lay on the field holding his leg. "I can't walk!" chimed in another, while more caped "Spirit of Northwestern" members joined in the jeering.

An SFA fan yelled back in disgust while others just shook their heads. Such was the life of the visiting fans on Saturday, and there were lots of them, as SFA football was handed its final agonizing defeat to wrap up a frustrating 2015 campaign.

Dane would eventually be helped to the sidelines where he watched the remainder of his final collegiate game from crutches. It was a sad moment in the midst of an equally tragic game that culminated in a thousand or more Lumberjacks fans watching the Chief dragged helplessly away.

I would be lying if I said this comparison didn’t cross my mind during the scary (and long) minutes this weekend as medical staff attended to Poullard. It shouldn’t even be newsworthy when a crowd shows basic human decency and respect for life. Sadly, considering the events of last year, it was. Silence during an injury is to be expected and no bouquets should be tossed when fans merely do what they’re supposed to.

Still, remembering that 2015 event in Natchitoches, I was maybe just a little extra proud to be on the right side of this rivalry.

Poullard suffered "only" a concussion - and all things considered, that is good news. We wish him well during his recovery.

Oh, and SFA won. So there’s that, too.