January 2008 is McNeese State Month at AGS - Read the Fact a Day

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January 2008 is brought to you by the fans of McNeese State University. Thanks to all the fans who contributed to sponsor this month.

McNeese State is located in Lake Charles, LA, a city of 80,000 in the Southwest part of Louisiana.

McNeese was established in 1939 as a junior college and a division of the Louisiana State University system. It later broke away becoming McNeese State. the school is named for John McNeese, the first superintendent of education in Calcasieu Parish (the parish in which Lake Charles is located). The school mascot is the Cowboy and was derived from the fact that John McNeese was also a cattle rancher and was renowned for making the first cattle drive across the Sabine River (the river that separates Louisiana and Texas).

McNeese is a coed university with an enrollment of 8,800. Dr. Robert Hebert serves as the president and Tommy McClelland is the interim athletic director.

The schools of study for the university are: the Arts, Sciences, Engineering/Technology, Nursing, Education, Business and the Graduate School.

Among the many former McNeese State athletes who have gone on to professional stardom are: Joe Dumars in basketball (now president of the Detroit Pistons), B. J. Sams (kick returner for Baltimore) and Keith Smith (defensive back for Detroit) in football and Ray Fontenot (New York Yankees) and Ben Broussard (Seattle) in baseball.

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Coaching Records:

2006-07 Matt Viator 2 17 3 0 .850
2000-06 Tommy Tate 7 49 24 0 .671
1999 Kirby Bruchhaus 1 6 5 0 .545
1990-98 Bobby Keasler 9 78 34 2 .702
1987-89 Sonny Jackson 3 13 20 0 .394
1983-86 John McCann 4 21 20 2 .512
1982 Hubert Boales 1 4 6 1 .409
1979-81 Ernie Duplechin 3 28 6 1 .814
1970-78 Jack Doland 9 64 32 3 .662
1966-69 Jim Clark 4 17 22 0 .435
1957-65 Les DeVall 9 58 24 1 .705
1955-56 John Gregory 2 10 7 1 .553
1946-54 A. I. Ratcliff 9 50 42 2 .543
1940-45 Wayne Cusic 2 4 8 0 .333

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Head Coach

Matt Viator led the Cowboys to a Southland Conference football championship and into the NCAA Division I championship in his first season as the McNeese State head coach.

He took over the head job four games deep into the 2006 season, went 6-2 the rest of the way, won the SLC title and put his team into the NCAA Divison I championship.

For his and the team’s efforts, Viator was named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year, the Louisiana Coach of the Year and he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson award.

He claimed his first collegiate coaching victory in his very first game as head coach when the Cowboys posted a 30-27 win over Southern Utah.
The 14th head coach in McNeese history, Viator was 6-2 in his first season and 5-1 in league play, winning the final five league games of the year.

Prior to his becoming head coach, Viator, who is a graduate of McNeese, had served the university as offensive coordinator and is regarded as one of the top Division I offensive minds.

Prior to joining the Cowboys he was one of the top prep coaches in Louisiana, producing an 81-37 won-lost record, winning one state crown and five league titles. He joined McNeese in 1999 as linebacker coach and was made offensive coordinator in 2000, the Cowboys leading the league in both scoring offense and total offense that year.

+ posts are from the 2007 media guide and may not be correct after the 2007 season. Please PM mod66 with any corrections or suggestions for the fact of the day.

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McNeese State’s Cowboy Stadium was constructed in 1965 and renovated and expanded to a 17,410 seating capacity in 1975. Added in 1998 was a three million dollar, three tier press box.

Affectionately known as "The Hole," Cowboy Stadium has become one of the most feared stadiums in all of FCS football. Over the past decade, the Cowboys have led the Southland Conference in attendance and have placed among the national leaders in attendance for FCS schools.


http://www.apalmainc.com/images/mcneese5.jpg

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McNeese State has retired only two football jerseys in the school’s history, the 82 that Charles Kuehn wore as a standout defensive end and the 76 that David Poche wore as an all-American tackle.

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Lark Hebert is the team’s co-defensive coordinator as well as the linebacker coach. He was a four year letterman for the Cowboys during his playing career, participating as both an offensive and defensive lineman.

As a prep coach, Hebert served as head coach at Sulphur High, Beau Chene High and Elton High. Three times his teams won a district title and he compiled an overall 53-35 won-lost record. Twice his teams posted 10-2 marks, once at Elton and again at Sulphur, and he was named a district coach of the year (twice) and parish coach of the year.

Age: 44, born January 18, 1963 High School: Port Barre ‘82 College: McNeese State ‘87 High School Athletics: all-state, all-district, all-parish College Athletics: four year letterman at McNeese; team captain; second team all-SLC and all-Louisiana; pre-season all-American Coaching Career: assistant Vinton High ‘87-89, assistant LaGrange High ‘90, head coach Elton ‘91-94, assistant LaGrange ‘95, head coach Beau Chene ‘96, assistant Sulphur High ‘97-98, head coach Sulphur ‘99-01; assistant coach McNeese State ‘02-present

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Jason Rollins is also serving as a co-defensive coordinator and will be working with the secondary. Rollins has also worked with the team’s linebackers. Prior to joining McNeese, the Cowboy coach spent two seasons as the defensive backfield coach at Northwestern State, helping lead the Demons to the Southland Conference title in 2004. In fact, he is one of the few assistant coaches in the Southland Conference who has been a member of two SLC championship staffs. Rollins had also served as a student assistant coach at McNeese State as well as an assistant coach in the prep ranks in Texas.

Age: 31, born December 28, 1974 High School: Newton (TX) High, ‘93 College: McNeese State ‘98 High School Athletics: all-state in football both as an offensive and defensive performer; all-district; three letters in football, track and baseball College Athletics: lettered as a safety at McNeese State Coaching Career: student assistant McNeese State, 1997-1999; assistant coach Galveston (TX) Ball High 1999-2003; assistant coach Lamarque (TX) High 2003; assistant coach Northwestern State 2003-05, assistant coach McNeese State ‘05-present

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Jason Rollins is serving as a co-defensive coordinator this season and will be working with the secondary. He’s a McNeese State. Rollins has also worked with the team’s linebackers. Prior to joining McNeese, the Cowboy coach spent two seasons as the defensive backfield coach at Northwestern State, helping lead the Demons to the Southland Conference title in 2004. In fact, he is one of the few assistant coaches in the Southland Conference who has been a member of two SLC championship staffs. Rollins had also served as a student assistant coach at McNeese State as well as an assistant coach in the prep ranks in Texas.

Year at McNeese: second (joined 2005) Age: 31, born December 28, 1974 High School: Newton (TX) High, ‘93 College: McNeese State ‘98 High School Athletics: all-state in football both as an offensive and defensive performer; all-district; three letters in football, track and baseball College Athletics: lettered as a safety at McNeese State Coaching Career: student assistant McNeese State, 1997-1999; assistant coach Galveston (TX) Ball High 1999-2003; assistant coach Lamarque (TX) High 2003; assistant coach Northwestern State 2003-05, assistant coach McNeese State ‘05-present

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Carlos McGee is the team’s running backs coach and has produced outstanding backs during his tenure. In the last few seasons, McNeese has had the Southland Conference’s top running back, Vick King taking the award twice. Also, former Cowboy fullback Luke Lawton is a member of the world champion Indianapolis Colts. A former McNeese player as well as graduate, McGee has also served as tight end coach, helping Jeff Hamilton to all-league honors, and as defensive backfield coach. During a four year playing career with the Cowboys, McGee caught five td passes. He began his coaching career in the prep ranks.

Age: 39, born January 7, 1967 High School: Pt. Barre (LA) ‘85 College: McNeese State ‘96 High School Athletics: all-state and all-district wide receiver and defensive back; all-district in baseball; track and basketball letters College Athletics: four year letterman at McNeese; 23 pass receptions for 322 yards and five tds in career Coaching Career: assistant Beau Chene High ‘96-99; assistant coach McNeese State ‘00 to present.

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Jake Morrison is a former Cowboy standout who is now working with the defensive line and in particular the defensive ends. In the past he helped Bryan Smith achieve all-America status. Smith broke Morrison’s team record for quarterback sacks. Morrison had joined the Cowboys from Northwestern State where he had served as a defensive end coach, helping that team win the Southland Conference championship. He played on a conference championship team and has coached two different teams that have won league titles. During his playing career at McNeese, Morrison earned all-America, all-conference and all-Louisiana honors as a defensive end. He was regarded as one of the best defensive ends in 1-AA and went on to sign a free agent contract with the Washington Redskins.

Age: 29, born February 1, 1978 High School: Clear Creek ( Nassau Bay, TX) 1996 College: McNeese State ‘01; Marketing degree High School Athletics: all-state in football and four letters College Athletics: all-American (Associated Press, The Sports Network, ESPN-USA Today, Football Gazette), all-conference and all-Louisiana honors as a defensive end at McNeese State; named the team’s outstanding defensive player Professional Career: signed free agent contract with Washington Redskins Coaching Career: served as graduate assistant at Northwestern State in 2004; joined Cowboys in 2005

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Zack Bronson is marking his second season with the Cowboys, working with the defensive backfield, mainly with the safeties. Bronson is a former McNeese State all-American and MVP who was also a standout safety in the NFL for eight seasons. He played seven years with San Francisco and one season with St. Louis before retiring in 2005. During his career at McNeese, Bronson led the team in pass interceptions three straight years and intercepted 19 passes. In 1993 he intercepted nine pases and returned them a school and conference record 253 yards. He also played on two conference championship teams and in three NCAA playoffs.

Year at McNeese: joined in spring of 2006 Age: 33, born January 28, 1974 High School: Jasper (TX), 1993 College: McNeese State High School Athletics: all-state as defensive back and all-district as wide receiver...ran two KOs back for tds...all-state in track College Athletics: four letters; team MVP; all-American; all-conference; all-Louisiana; 19 career pass interceptions; played in Blue-Gray game; four time all-SLC (one of only five in history of league) Professional Career: eight years in the NFL (San Francisco, seven years; St. Louis, one year); 19 career pass interceptions; team record 97 yard pass interception return td; played in NFC championship game Coaching Career: assistant coach McNeese State ‘06-present

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Reggie Nelson is handling the offensive line, an area that he knows a lot about. He was an all-American offensive lineman during his playing days at McNeese and he went on to play in the NFL, having been the eighth pick in the fifth round of the 1999 draft by San Diego. He also played for Minnesota, Jacksonville and Green Bay, in the NFL Europe League and in the CFL where his career was cut short after a broken ankle in 2005.

Joined in spring of 2007 Age: 31, born June 23, 1976 High School: Alexandria (LA) Senior ‘94 College: McNeese State, 98, Masters ‘05 High School Athletics: only played two years and was all-district and all-CENLA College Athletics: four letters; All-American, all-conference, all-Louisiana, member of national honor society Professional Career: assistant coach San Diego (CA) High School ‘00; assistant coach Washington Marion High ‘03-06; assistant coach Louisiana Swashbucklers ‘03-06; 2004 prep power lifting coach of the year.

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Tim Leger is the first former McNeese State quarterback to make it back to the university as an assistant coach and he’s back as the Cowboy quarterback coach. He took over the role in time for spring training where he got acquainted with Derrick Fourroux, the McNeese starting quarterback and SLC and Louisiana freshman of the year. Leger was an all-conference quarterback in 1996 when he led the league in passing and set a school record for total offense per game of 230.5 yards. He played on league championship teams in 1995 and 1997, the ‘97 team advancing to the Division I national championship game. Prior to joining McNeese, Leger served as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at St. Thomas More High in Lafayette, LA, helping that school to four state semifinal appearances as well as to six district titles. More than 30 of the prep players he helped coach have gone on to collegiate careers.

Age: 33, born November 15,1973 High School: Acadiana High 1992. College: McNeese State ‘99 High School Athletics: all-district in football, all-state, all-district in baseball as well as district MVP College Athletics: all-conference at quarterback at McNeese; completed 184 of 365 passes for 2954 yards and 21 tds in career; holds school record with 61 plays and five td passes in single game Professional Career: played professional baseball for three seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirate organizatoin as an outfielder before starting collegiate football career; was a fourth round pick in the 1992 draft Coaching Career: served McNeese as student assistant and graduate assistant coach in 1999 and 2000 seasons; offensive coordinator and quarterback coach at St. Thomas More High ‘00-’06; quarterback coach McNeese State ‘07-present

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Broderick Fobbs is with the Cowboys, having joined them in the spring following a three year stint at Northwestern State where he had served as co-offensive coordinator. He has taken over as the team’s wide receiver coach. He’s a former Grambling Tiger, having played for the legendary Eddie Robinson and serving as team captain. The new Cowboy coach played on conference championship teams at Grambling and coached them at Northwestern State. Last year he coached running backs for the Demons and receivers for two years prior to that. Fobbs, the son of North Carolina A&T head coach Lee Fobbs, has also served a minority assistantship in the NFL, working with the Buffalo Bills. And, he also coached the fullbacks and linebackers for the Arena II football team in Lafayette.

Age: 33, born August 8, 1974 High School: Carroll High (Monroe, LA) ‘92 College: Grambling ‘97 High School Athletics: earned all-state and all-district honors in football and baseball; played in state all-star game; earned scholarship to Grambling as a running back College Athletics: football and baseball letterman at Grambling; twice named team captain in footballl; honor roll student; winner of Burger King scholar athlete of week award; Coaching Career: fullback/linebacker coach for Lafayette Arena II team 2001; graduate assistant at Univ. of Louisiana-Lafayette ‘00-02; tight end coach at Northwestern State ‘02-04; minority fellowship as receiver coach with Buffalo Bills ‘05 summer; co-offensive coordinator, receivers coach at Northwestern State ‘04-07; assistant coach McNeese ‘07-present

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Jeff Breaux is on the Cowboy staff this season. He’s had three previous years of coaching experience. He’ll be working with the McNeese tight ends. The new Cowboy coach is a native of Sulphur and a graduate of Nicholls State where he was a second team all-conference selection in 2003 as an offensive lineman. For the past two seasons he’s been an assistant coach in the prep ranks, two years ago coaching the linebackers at Thibodaux High School and last year serving as the offensive line coach at Plaquemine High.

Age: 24, born September 30, 1982 High School: Sulphur High ‘00 College: Nicholls State ‘05 High School Athletics: four year letterman in both football and track and field; first team all-district in football and also first team all-state from the coaches association College Athletics: four year letterman as offensive guard and center at Nicholls State; named to the all-Southland Conference second team in 2003; earned the coaches’ leadership award in 2003 Coaching Career: student assistant coach for offensive line at Nicholls State ‘04-05; linebackers coach at Thibodaux High School ‘05; offensive line coach at Plaquemine High ‘06-07

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McNeese State All Americans (Associated Press)

2006 Bryan Smith, DE, Steven Whitehead, Ret, Blake Bercegeay, PK

2003 Dwight Hudler, OL, Roderick Royal, LB

2002 Hadley Prince, DB, Roderick Royal, LB. Jason Davis, C

2001 Joe Judge, DB

2000 Jake Morrison, DE, Wes Hines, OT

1998 Reggie Nelson, OT, Charles Ayro, LB

1997 Donnie Ashley, KR

1996 Zack Bronson, DB

1995 Kavika Pittman, DE

1994 Ronald Cherry, OL

1993 Terry Irving, LB , Jose Larios, PK

1992 Terry Irving, LB

1988 Glen Koch, OL

1983 Buford Jordan, TB

1982 Leonard Smith, DB

1981 Rusty Guilbeau, DE

1975 James Files, C

1974 James Files, OT

1972 James Moore, TE, Larry Rawlinson, LB

1969 Glenn Kidder, OG

1952 Charles Kuehn, DE

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McNeese SLC Coach of Year

2006 - Matt Viator
2003 - Tommy Tate
1997 - Bobby Keasler
1995 - Bobby Keasler
1993 - Bobby Keasler
1991 - Bobby Keasler
1990 - Bobby Keasler
1979 - Ernie Duplechin
1976 - Jack Doland

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COWBOYS IN POST SEASON ALL-STAR GAMES

2003
Keith Smith: Senior Bowl
Luke Lawton: Las Vegas All-American The Villages Gridiron
Roderick Royal: East West Shrine
Vick King: Blue/Gray

1996
Zack Bronson: Blue/Gray

1995
Kavika Pittman: Senior Bowl

1984
Buford Jordan: East West Shrine

1981
Don Stump: Olympia Gold, East West Shrine

1979
John Miller: Blue/Gray

1976
James Files: East West Shrine, Senior Bowl

1960
Lenny Kahn: All-American Bowl

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A new athletic fieldhouse is on the way and ground could be broken next year on Phase One which will be the restructing and addition of 15,000 square feet for the locker room and weight room. Phase Two is the remodeling of the existing 17,000 square foot fieldhouse and Phase Three is the building of a new end zone seating facility.*

http://www.mcneesefieldhouse.com/images/fieldhouse01.jpg

*suggested by AGS Member McTailgator.

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TEAM RECORDS

Total Offense (Game) - 644 vs Sam Houston, 2004
Total Offense (Cowboy Stadium) -614 vs Ark-Monticello 1996
Rushing (Game) - 465 vs Arkansas State 1980
Rushing (Cowboy Stadium) - 421 vs Prairie View 1986
Passing (Game) - 405 vs Nicholls State 1985
Passing (Cowboy Stadium) - 405 vs Nicholls State 1985
Points Scored (Game) - 76 vs West Virginia Tech 2006
Points Scored (Cowboy Stadium) - 76 vs West Virginia Tech 2006
Touchdowns Scored: 11 vs WestVirginia Tech 2006
Total Defense (Game) - minus 21 yards to West Virginia Tech 2006
Total Defense (Cowboy Stadium) - minus 21 yards to West Virginia Tech 2006
Rushing Defense (Game) - minus 82 yards to La Tech 1965
Rushing Defense (Cowboy Stadium) - minus 82 yards to La Tech 1965
Passing Defense (Game) - 0 several times
Passing Defense (Cowboy Stadium) - 10 yards to USL 1966
QB Sacks (Game) - 12 vs Southwest Texas 1998
Biggest Margin of Victory - 76 points vs West Virginia Tech 2006

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McNeese broke ground on January 9th on a total of $10.4 Million dollars in improvements to Cowboy Stadium. A new GSE GeoMax Sports Surface will replace the natural surface that has been in place since the stadium opened in 1965.

The surface is designed to prevent flyout like the typical rubber filled surfaces and will also be cooler than other similar types of turf surfaces.



http://people.delphiforums.com/tailgateguy/McTurf.jpg


*Today's post written by AGS member McTailGator.

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Cowboy All-time Winning Streaks

13 1995 Bobby Keasler
11 1979 Ernie Duplechin
9 2003 Tommy Tate
9 2002 Tommy Tate
8 1993 Bobby Keasler
8 1963 Les DeVall
7 1992 Bobby Keasler
7 1980 Ernie Duplechin
7 1971 Jack Doland
7 1952 A. I. Ratcliff
7 1997 Bobby Keasler

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COACHING HONORS -
National Coach of Year - Tommy Tate, 2002

Louisiana Coach of Year - Matt Viator 2006; Tommy Tate, 2002; Bobby Keasler 1995, 1994. 1991; Ernie Duplechin 1980, 1979; Jack Doland 1976, 1971

Southland Conference Coach of Year: Matt Viator 2006; Tommy Tate 2003, Bobby Keasler 1997, 1995, 1993, 1991, 1990; Ernie Duplechin 1979; Jack Doland 1976

Gulf States Coach of Year: Jim Clark 1967; Les DeVall 1963, 1961, 1957

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McNeese State Athlete of the Year (Desmond Jones Award)

2003-4 B. J. Sams, football
2002-3 Hadley Prince, football
2001-2 Joe Judge, football
1997-8 Donnie Ashley, football
1995-6 Kerry Joseph, football
1994-5 Ronald Cherry, football
1993-4 Terry Irving, football
1992-3 Terry Irving, football
1989-0 Tony Citizen, football

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McNeese Conference Champions

2007, 2006, 2003, 2002, 2001, 1997, 1995,1993, 1991, 1980, 1979, 1976 (Southland)

1967, 1965, 1963, 1961, 1957 (Gulf States)

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McNeese has won 12 SLC Championships. The other SLC teams have only won a total of 11, combined. McNeese's closest competitor has 4 titles.

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McNeese has competed in 14 of the last 18 NCAA Division I Championship Playoffs.

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McNeese went to the NCAA Div IA for 1978-1981 seasons. They went to NCAA Div IAA in 1982.

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McNeese State's winningest coach was Ernie Duplechin. Coach Duplechin led the Cowboys to a 28-6-1 record in his three seasons at McNeese. 1979-81

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Among former McNeese athletes who have gone on to professional stardom have been basketball’s Joe Dumars (Detroit), baseball’s Ray Fontenot (New York Yankees) and Ben Broussard (Cleveland Indians) and football’s Keith Smith (Detroit) and B. J. Sams (Baltimore).

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The McNeese State most valuable player receives the R. L. Cline Sr. trophy in memory of G. W. “Billy” Cline. This award has been presented since 1945 . There have been eight double winners of the award, the last being B. J. Sams who won the award in 2002 and in 2003.

2006 Steven Whitehead,WR/KR
2005 Quinten Lawrence, WR
2004 Henry Smith, WR
2003 B. J. Sams, WR/KR
2002 B. J. Sams, WR/KR
2001 Joe Judge, DB
2000 Jake Morrison, DE
1999 Tarius Davis, DB
1998 Charles Ayro, LB
1997 Donnie Ashley, WR
1996 Zack Bronson, DB
1995 Kerry Joseph, QB
1994 Vincent Landrum, LB
1993 Terry Irving, LB
1992 Terry Irving, LB
1991 Eric Roberts, PK
1990 Mike Pierce, DB
1989 Tony Citizen, TB
1988 Brian McZeal, TB
1987 Randy Moss, LB
1986 Flip Johnson, WR
1985 Vance Robichaux, LB
1984 Simon Jordan, TB
1983 Buford Jordan, TB
1982 Leonard Smith, DB
1981 Buford Jordan, TB
1980 Stephen Starring, QB
1979 Artie Shankle, TB
1978 Richard Ellender, WR
1977 Bob Howell, LB
1976 Bill Moseley, LB
1975 Johnnie Thibodeaux, QB
1974 Bobby Wilson, FB
1973 Johnnie Thibodeaux, QB
1972 Allan Dennis, QB
1971 Larry Grissom, TB
1970 Richard Vidrine, LB
1969 Glenn Kidder, G
Larry Grissom, TB
1968 Glenn Kidder, G
1967 David Bourgeois, QB
1966 David Poche, T
1965 Merlin Walet, TB
1964 Gerald Conner, C
1963 Darrell Lester, FB
1962 Darrell Lester, FB
1961 Don Breaux, QB
Nolan Viator, QB
1960 Charles Stevenson, DB
1959 Olen Clark, RB
1958 Wilbert Zimmerman, LB
1957 Robert Morris, QB
1956 Donald Tumey, G
1955 Jesse Castete, RB
1954 Jesse Castete, RB
1953 Calvin Billings, C
1952 Lester Landry, QB
1951 Desmond Jones, RB
1950 Harold Brewster, RB
1949 Kenneth Sweeney, RB
1948 Irving Richard, RB
1947 Carol Neeley, E
1946 Wayne Kingery, RB
1945 Bobby Bland, RB