The 2025 Northwestern State University Demon football season served as a time to build the program through dedication, hard work and the right mindset. While the results on the field were not what the team hoped for, the season laid the foundation for the team’s success moving forward.
Senior running back Myion Hicks, a health and human performance major, spoke about the importance of long-term development while building up the program. “I feel that this season was definitely a learning process, and the kind of season that builds towards the successful seasons. A lot of people think that success happens overnight, but it’s more of a step-by-step process, especially when you’re rebuilding a program from the ground up,” Hicks said.
“It’s gonna take multiple years to get where you want to go. So, I feel like last season was one of those seasons where we’re headed in the right direction, and we’re building a foundation. It was a learning experience for all of us, and even though we didn’t get the results we wanted, we know that success is coming, and we’re building the foundation towards that,” Hicks said.
While everything takes a process, Braden Woods, a freshman criminal justice major and defensive end, discussed the goals of the team for the next season and how they want to change the narrative about football at NSU. “Goal-wise, we want to move forward to winning the conference. We want to win a playoff game, host a playoff game and eventually get to a national championship. We want to show the community that we’re not the old Northwestern, that this is a new team and we come to work. We’re coming to win, and that’s why we want everyone to know we’re here to get better, and we’re going to show that this coming fall,” Woods said.
Through thick and thin, the players want the fans to know how much they appreciate their support. Danny Sears, a junior sport recreation and management major and linebacker, talked about the impact that fans have on the team. “We love their support. It’s continuous, no doubt. I know it’s obviously tough supporting the team that hasn’t had the best times, but they show the support and we see that, and we love that,” Sears said.
“I hope they know we genuinely appreciate them, and we want them to keep coming out and supporting us because they play a major factor in home games. We appreciate our fans, and they don’t go unnoticed,” Sears said.
As NSU football prepares for the next season, they are focused on growth, accountability and proving their success for the 2026 season. Having a mindset of hard work and grit is how the football team will continue to represent NSU.
