Northwestern State University of Louisiana athletics enjoys the support that its fans provide, with the football program having its fair share of donors.
The Demon Brothers Booster Club (DBBC) is a private organization that raises and donates money to NSU Demons football. This money can be used to purchase items such as new equipment, jerseys or electronics which supports the team whether they are on the field or in the classroom.
The club consists of NSU alumni; some are even former Demon football players. John Kulaskoski, DBBC club founder and former defensive end for the Demons, explained why he started this organization five years ago.
“I can’t really explain it fully. It feels like a calling,” Kulaskoski said. “The program did so much for me that the least I can do is get involved with the program after.”
Megan Bailey, DBBC board member, shared why her NSU alumnus husband believes it’s important for alumni to support their school.
“Everything that NSU has done for my husband and what the sports organization as a whole brings to the university,” Bailey said. “All the board members are former NSU players and to show that level of love and passion to the school that gives them their lives.”
David Groman, DBBC board member and former wide receiver for NSU, wants to bring the same amount of energy to the program that he had growing up to motivate the football team.
“We had a blast when we played, and we just want these players to have some fun that we had,” Groman said.
The club strictly donates to the football team because, during his time as a player, Kulaskoski explained the fans did not control where the money they donated went towards.
“To be honest, not harsh, the accountability wasn’t there when it came to where the donation money went to,” Kulaskoski said. “And so our program is strictly just football.”
According to Groman, lack of funding and choice of where the funds were distributed hurt the football program during his time as a player at NSU.
“When you are a player, you are kind of ignorant to it. It’s only when you look back, and the condition that you played in needed to change,” Groman said. “I remember the coaches coming to us asking for cameras, and cameras are the most basic things to get an athletic program.”
In the last five years of its existence, the DBBC has raised $6,800 in recruitment money and $20,000 for food during spring training and has purchased 13 squat racks worth $5,000, a drone and cameras.
“This is a non-profit private organization, so me and all of the board members do not make a cent of it. It goes to support and improve the football program,” Bailey said.
Tradition is important to the DBBC, Bailey shared how every spring they make events happen.
“What we like to do every year is that NSU has a spring game, and what we like to do is hold a Joe Delaney Crawfish Bash in the parking lot. You know, get people to donate and enjoy the food and the game,” Bailey said.
This year the Joe Delaney Crawfish Bash will be held on Saturday, April 26, from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Delaney Bowl.
To make a donation towards the NSU football team through the DBBC, visit www.demonbrothers.org and pay online or mail a check to the address on their website.
