NATCHITOCHES – Chance Newman is ready to play football.
The Daphne, Alabama, native will play his last season on the gridiron following a college career that began with two years at Virginia Military Institute and a year at Jacksonville State before he landed at Northwestern State University in 2022. A concussion in a car accident held him out for the entire 2022 season and after last year, the premature end of the Demons’ season left Newman with an unexpected extra year of eligibility.
A utility player at quarterback and tight end, as well as an honor student, Newman is a leader in a program that’s been rebuilt in just a few months. He was named team captain during the spring Delaney Bowl and in July joined teammate Cadillac Rhone of Many and first year head coach Blaine McCorkle in sharing their optimism about the upcoming season at the Southland Conference’s Opening Drive event. They talked about belief in their team and a renewed sense of excitement, despite being ranked last in the conference.
Newman graduated from NSU this past May with a master’s degree in public health and is pursuing a post-baccalaureate certificate in project management. He also holds an undergraduate degree in economics. Football and academics are a backdrop to his devotion to his young family – his wife Jessica and their daughter Lani.
NSU visited with Newman the day before fall camp to talk about the upcoming season, balancing football with family and making a positive impact on those around him. The conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.
NSU: How was your experience representing NSU at the Southland Conference’s Opening Drive event?
Newman: It was an honor. I’ve gone to war with these guys basically every day over the past eight months with the off-season and the ending of last season. We got a fresh start. It was good to go out and represent the team and display what we’ve been doing over the last few months to the rest of the conference and meet some of the guys on the other teams. It was a really fun experience.
NSU: A lot has changed in college athletics in the last five years. Can you talk about that?
Newman: With the transfer portal, with COVID, with a lot of guys getting the extra year of eligibility, we’ve got a lot of old heads on the team and coming from last season everybody got another year of eligibility. Coach McCorkle is trying to go back to the old ways and trying to keep a team and build a foundation and keep guys for four or five years that get united and love each other and play football and make it an experience rather than just going somewhere with the option of leaving the next year. That’s something we’re trying to get back to as we’re moving on right now.
NSU: You’ve had a few setbacks in your athletic career. If you could speak to yourself five years ago, what do you think you would say?
Newman: Stick it out and get that first degree. This is my third school. Five years ago, I would have said “Get that degree” and then move on with life from there, but in the grand scheme of things I’m glad things went the way they’ve gone because I’m able to really appreciate where I am today and appreciate the experiences I’ve made with these teammates and the growth that we’ve had as a team. We are building something special here.
NSU: Can you talk about how being a student-athlete at NSU has impacted you as a player and as a person?
Newman: Northwestern State has been unique for me. I came out here and I was having a daughter. It’s been a different very experience than a lot of my teammates. I go home to my wife and daughter every day rather than going and hanging out with the guys. Which I still make time for. We go out to eat at least once a week. But it’s a different experience than the normal student-athlete. I’m trying to balance my family/student/athlete life. It’s been something I’ve adjusted to and truly enjoyed. It’s something I wouldn’t change for the world.
NSU: How you balance your drive to win at football with your family responsibilities?
Newman: I think they balance each other out. It drives me in opposite forces, which has been great for me as an athlete and as a father. It correlates in many different aspects.
NSU: Where did you meet you wife?
Newman: We met at my last school, Jacksonville State, which is why I go back and say I’m glad everything has played out the way it’s played out so I can truly enjoy this experience where I am now without any regrets.
NSU: With a new head coach and an overhaul of the staff, how has that resonated with the team?
Newman: It brings hope. There’s optimism. All the guys who are here are the guys who want to be part of this team and the rebranding of NSU football and that’s something everybody is excited about. The guys who didn’t want to be part of this have gone on to other schools and the guys who are here are here for a reason. It’s showing every day.
NSU: Can you talk about being a team veteran and how you might impact young players?
Newman: I try to be a positive influence in any way I can, whether it’s in the weight room or the meetings, taking notes, trying to be attentive and playing it out on the football field. I think being a good teammate is just part of being on a team. It’s something every player should do and that’s what I’m trying to display day in and day out.
NSU: How is your relationship with the O Line?
Newman: Great! I love those guys. They are my buddies.
NSU: You’re not rooming with them since you’re married.
Newman: I would otherwise.
NSU: Your graduate degree is in public health. How did you become interested in that field?
Newman: I’ve always been interested in health, kinesiology, working out in the gym, nutrition, so I took that approach when I finished my undergrad in economics. I wanted to study something I’m really interested in rather than something that sounds good on a resume.
NSU: You mentioned you might like to own you own business one day.
Newman: I’m trying to take all the lessons I’ve learned over the last few years. I’d love to have a gym. I’ve tried to go through different areas of what I may want to do. I want to make sure I fully love what I do so that’s the deciding factor on where that will go.
NSU: What are some of your other interests?
Newman: I love cooking. I love surfing. I love going to the beach. I’m a simple guy. I love nature so I love going on walks every day with my dog. Just the little things.
NSU: What would you say to student-athlete recruits considering attending Northwestern?
Newman: I would say “Come to Northwestern.” It’s such a unique experience between the town of Natchitoches and Northwestern State University. Natchitoches is one of the coolest communities I’ve ever been a part of. Everybody is so supportive. It’s a small town. It’s a unique spot. I love the food here. There are good people wherever you go. It’s a very tight knit community.
The NSU Demons will host five home football games at home in Turpin Stadium this season. The team’s home opener against Prairie View A&M will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. For more information the team, tickets and NSU Athletics visit www.nsudemons.com.
