TEAM NAME HERE McNEESE STATE COWBOYS

Dr. Philip C. Williams Dr. Mike Soileau Bruce Hemphill Bridget Martin Matthew Bonnette University President Faculty Athletics Athletics Director Senior Woman Sports Information Representative Administrator Director

2015 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FOOTBALL | 4 3 McNEESE STATE COWBOYS TEAM PREVIEW

UNIVERSITY INFORMATION School:...... McNeese State University Location:...... Lake Charles, Louisiana Population:...... 85,000 Founded:...... 1939 Joined Southland:...... 1972 Enrollment:...... 8,900 Nickname:...... Cowboys Colors:...... Blue and Gold President:...... Dr. Philip Williams Athletics Director:...... Bruce Hemphill Faculty Representative:...... Dr. Mike Soileau Senior Woman Administrator:...... Bridget Martin Ticket Office Phone:...... 337-562-4678

TEAM INFORMATION

Head Coach:...... STADIUM INFORMATION Alma Mater, Year:...... McNeese State, 1986 Record at School, Year in 2015:...... 68-32, 10th Stadium:...... Louis Bonnette Field at Cowboy Stadium Career Record, Year in 2015:...... 68-32, 10th Year Opened:...... 1965 Southland Conference Record, Years:...... 45-18, 9 Record at Stadium, Years:...... 192-87-5, 50 Football Office Phone:...... (337) 475-5235 Capacity:...... 17,610 Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator...... (McNeese, 1995) Surface:...... Artificial, GeoMax2 Offensive Coordinator, Wide Receivers...... Tim Leger (McNeese, 1999) Press Box Phone:...... 337-475-5225 Special Teams Coordinator, Running Backs...... Slade Nagle (McNeese, 2001) Linebackers...... Lark Hebert (McNeese, 1987) Defensive Line...... Manny Michel (Tennessee Tech, 1984) Defensive Backs...... Chris Hampton (South Carolina, 1997) Quarterbacks...... Landon Hoefer (Texas Tech, 2008) Tight Ends...... Toby Willis (McNeese, 2008)

FOOTBALL INFORMATION MEDIA RELATIONS

First Year of Football:...... 1940 Football Contact:...... Matthew Bonnette, Asst.AD/Sports Information Director First Year of Southland Football:...... 1972 E-Mail:...... [email protected] All-Time Record, Years:...... 470-278-13, 71 Office Phone:...... 337-475-5207 All-Time Southland Record, Years:...... 167-88-7, 43 Office Fax:...... 337-475-5202 2014 Overall Record:...... 6-5 Cell:...... 337-263-4822 2014 Southland Record, Place:...... 4-4, T6th Other SIDs:...... Pam Lafosse, Hunter Bower Southland Conference Championships, Last:...... 13. 2009 Website:...... www.McNeeseSports.com NCAA Division I Playoff Appearances, Last:...... 15. 2013 Twitter:...... @WM_Bonnette, @McNeeseFootball Offensive Formation:...... Multiple Pro Defensive Formation:...... 4-2-5 Starters Returning/Lost...... 17/7 Letterwinners Returning/Lost...... 64/16

2015 SCHEDULE 2014 RESULTS

DATE DAY OPPONENT TIME DATE DATE OPPONENT (SN/FCS) RESULT Sept. 5 Sat. at LSU (SECN+) 6:30 p.m. Aug. 30 Sat. OPEN Sept. 12 Sat. UIW (ASN)* 6 p.m. Sept. 6 Sat. at Nebraska L, 24-31 Sept. 19 Sat. at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN3)* 6 p.m. Sept. 13 Sat. Prairie View A&M W, 48-16 Sept. 26 Sat. Mississippi College 6 p.m. Sept. 20 Sat. OPEN Oct. 3 Sat. at Nicholls* 3 p.m. Sept. 27 Sat. Arkansas Tech W, 61-7 Oct. 10 Sat. Southeastern Louisiana* 6 p.m. Oct. 4 Sat. Nicholls* W, 45-3 Oct. 17 Sat at Central Arkansas* 6 p.m. Oct. 11 Sat. at Sam Houston St.* L, 22-38 Oct. 24 Sat. Northwestern State* 6 p.m. Oct. 18 Sat. Abilene Christian* W, 31-20 Oct. 31 Sat. at Abilene Christian* 2 p.m. Oct. 25 Sat. at UIW* W, 41-21 Nov. 7 Sat. Sam Houston State* 6 p.m. Nov. 1 Sat. at Northwestern St.* W, 35-28 Nov. 14 Sat. OPEN Nov. 8 Sat. Stephen F. Austin* L, 16-31 Nov. 21 Sat. at Lamar* 6 p.m. Nov. 15 Sat. at No. 10/10 Southeastern La.* L, 9-28 Nov. 22 Sat. Lamar* L, 24-27

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ABOUT THE COWBOYS 2014 TEAM STATISTICS SOUTHLAND HISTORY MCN OPP SEASON OVERALL SLC POSTSEASON SCORING 356 250 1972 8-3-0 3-2-0 N/A Points Per Game 32.4 22.7 1973 7-3-0 2-3-0 N/A 1974 6-4-1 2-3-1 N/A FIRST DOWNS 233 179 1975 7-4-0 3-2-0 N/A Rushing 127 67 1976 10-2-0 4-1-0 1-0* Passing 89 95 1977 5-5-1 1-3-1 N/A Penalty 17 17 1978 7-4-0 2-3-0 N/A 1979 11-1-0 5-0-0 0-1* RUSHING YARDAGE 2,441 1,238 1980 10-2-0 5-0-0 0-1* Yards gained rushing 2,703 1,565 1981 7-3-1 3-1-1 N/A Yards lost rushing 262 327 1982 4-6-1 2-3-0 N/A Rushing Attempts 485 367 1983 6-5-0 3-3-0 N/A Average Per Rush 5.0 3.4 1984 7-3-1 2-3-1 N/A Average Per Game 221.9 112.5 1985 6-3-2 3-1-2 N/A TDs Rushing 28 10 1986 2-9-0 1-4-0 N/A 1987 2-9-0 1-5-0 N/A PASSING YARDAGE 1,921 2,394 1988 6-5-0 3-3-0 N/A STORYLINES Comp-Att-Int 151-301-10 186-361-14 1989 5-6-0 2-4-0 N/A • Quarterback Daniel Sams appears to be the Average Per Pass 6.4 6.6 1990 5-6-0 4-2-0 N/A man behind center heading into the 2015 season. Average Per Catch 12.7 12.9 1991 6-4-2 4-1-2 0-1 Average Per Game 174.6 217.6 1992 9-4-0 6-1-0 1-1 Sams led the team in rushing with 711 yards on TDs Passing 15 21 1993 10-3-0 7-0-0 1-1 104 carries and completed 46 of 97 passes for 624 1994 10-3-0 5-1-0 1-1 yards in playing part-time. TOTAL OFFENSE 4,362 3,632 1995 13-1-0 5-0-0 2-1 • The Cowboys will look to replace three of Total Plays 786 728 1996 3-8-0 1-5-0 N/A their starting defensive linemen with first-team Average Per Play 5.5 5.0 1997 13-2-0 6-1-0 3-1 Average Per Game 396.5 330.2 1998 9-3-0 5-2-0 0-1 all-conference picks Kevin Dorn, Sean Brown and 1999 6-5-0 5-2-0 N/A Everett Ellefsen. Those three combined for eight Kick Return Average 18.6 19.5 2000 8-4-0 5-2-0 0-1 sacks and 19 tackles for a loss during the season Punt Return Average 6.1 8.1 2001 8-4-0 5-1-0 0-1 while holding opponents to 112.5 yards rushing per INT Return Average 23.1 5.8 2002 13-2-0 6-0-0 3-1 game. 2003 10-2-0 5-0-0 0-1 Fumbles-Lost 14-7 13-7 2004 4-7-0 1-4-0 N/A 2005 5-4-0 3-3-0 N/A OFFENSE PENALTIES-YARDS 74-651 71-607 2006 7-5-0 5-1-0 0-1 • Cowboys return all four running backs, includ- Average Per Game 59.2 55.2 2007 11-1-0 7-0-0 0-1 ing sophomore Ryan Ross, who ranked second on 2008 7-4-0 4-3-0 N/A the team with 599 yards rushing and seven TDs PUNTS-YARDS 55-2,197 66-2,611 2009 9-3-0 6-1-1 0-1 Average Per Punt 39.9 39.6 2010 6-5-0 5-2-0 0-1 last season as a true freshman. Senior Derrick Mil- Net punt average 34.9 36.5 2011 6-5-0 4-3-0 N/A ton ran for 387 yards, senior Kelvin Bennett 354 2012 7-4-0 4-3-0 N/A and senior Dylan Long 346. Time of Possession/Game 32:29 27:31 2013 10-3-0 6-1-0 0-1 • Combined, McNeese returns a group of backs 2014 6-5-0 4-4-0 N/A that rushed for 2,397 yards and 27 TDs in 2014. 3RD-DOWN CONVERSIONS 65/154 52/161 43 Seasons 337-175-9 165-87-7 12-18 Third-Down Pct 42% 32% *Independence Bowl

DEFENSE 4TH-DOWN CONVERSIONS 6/15 11/23 • The DBs will be led by senior Brent Spikes, Fourth-Down Pct 40% 48% COACHING HISTORY who led the Cowboys with 83 tackles and four NAME YEARS RECORD pass interceptions last season while his 156 pass Sacks By-Yards 26-172 22-121 Wayne Cusic 1940, 45 4-8-0 interception return yards set a new school single- A.I. Ratcliff 1946-54 50-42-2 Touchdowns Scored 47 31 season record. John Gregory 1955-56 10-8-1 Les DeVall 1957-65 58-24-1 Field Goals-Attempts 10-13 11-14 Jim Clark 1966-69 17-22-0 SPECIAL TEAMS 1970-78 64-32-4 • Punter and place kicker Jean Breaux returns Ernie Duplechin 1979-81 28-6-1 SCORE BY QUARTERS for his senior season and is on the verge of re- Hubert Boales 1982 4-6-1 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total writing the McNeese record book. The Cowboys John McCann 1983-86 21-20-3 MCN 100 125 44 87 0 356 Sonny Jackson 1987-89 13-20-0 will debut a new full-time field goal kicker and PAT OPP 59 40 68 83 0 250 1990-98 78-34-2 guy with the loss of Alex Kjellsten who transferred Kirby Bruchhaus 1999 6-5-0 to another school. Breaux was 2-for-3 in FGs last 2000-06 49-26-0 season. Redshirt freshman Trent Manuel will be in Matt Viator 2006-pres. 68-32-0 the running as the field goal kicker.

2015 SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE FOOTBALL | 4 5 McNEESE STATE COWBOYS TEAM PREVIEW MATT VIATOR DANIEL SAMS 4 NICHOLLS HEAD COACH SENIOR, 6-2, 207 10TH SEASON QUARTERBACK McNEESE STATE, 1986 SLIDELL, LA. CAREER RECORD SALMEN H.S./KANSAS STATE COLONELS 68-32 (NINE SEASONS)

RECORD AT SCHOOL 68-32 (NINE SEASONS) BRENT SPIKES 6 One of the most successful coaches in the NCAA’s FCS SENIOR, 6-1, 196 division, McNeese’s Matt Viator has guided the Cowboys to DEFENSIVE BACK winning seasons in all nine of his years at the helm and is one NEWTON, TEXAS of three head coaches in school history to never post a los- NEWTON H.S. ing season, joining Les DeVall (1957-65) and Ernie Duplechin (1979-81). He’s the only coach in Southland Conference history to have a winning season each year in his career with a minimum BO BROWN of nine seasons under his belt. 10 In his nine seasons, Viator has compiled a 68-32 record SENIOR, 6-1, 232 for a winning percentage of .680, passing legendary head LINEBACKER coach Jack Doland last season as the No. 2 winningest coach in school history. He needs 10 wins to tie leader Bobby Keasler KATY, TEXAS (78 wins). He’s recorded a league mark of 45-18 (.714), has KATY H.S. won three conference championships and made four FCS play- off appearances, including a second round showing in 2013. That 2013 season saw the Cowboys post its second 10- win regular season under Viator, eighth in school history, when 2014 INDIVIDUAL LEADERS they finished 10-3, including a 6-1 mark in the conference. RUSHING For the second consecutive year, McNeese defeated an FBS NAME G ATT NET AVG TD LONG AVG/G opponent when it handled South Florida 53-21. It was the first Sams, Daniel 13 104 711 6.8 2 40 54.7 Total 11 485 2,441 5.0 28 44 221.9 win for McNeese over a BCS conference opponent. Opponents 11 367 1,238 3.4 10 73 112.5 That win set an NCAA record, and the 53 points scored by the Cowboys were the most scored by a FCS squad over a PASSING BCS team. The 32-point margin of victory was also an NCAA NAME G ATT-CMP-INT PCT YDS TD LONG AVG/G record. Bolfing, Tyler 11 79-146-3 54.1 990 6 47 90.0 Total 11 151-301-10 50.2 1,921 15 48 174.6 As a result of the team’s success, Viator was named a fi- Opponents 11 186-361-14 51.5 2,394 21 60 217.6 nalist for the Eddie Robinson Award as the FCS National Coach of the Year. It was the third time in his career to be named a RECEIVING finalist (2006, 2007). NAME G NO YDS AVG TD LONG AVG/G The 2014 Cowboys appeared to be well on their way to McGilvery, Jereon 11 31 433 14.0 2 48 39.4 Total 11 151 1,921 12.7 15 48 174.6 another playoff appearance and possible championship as they Opponents 11 186 2,394 12.9 21 60 217.6 cruised to a 6-2 record through the first eight games. Injuries then struck the Cowboys as they went on to lose their final TACKLES three games of the season. It was the first three-game skid NAME G SOLO ASST TOT TFL (YDS) SACKS (YDS) since 2011. Spikes, Brent 11 50 33 83 4.5 (19) 1.0 (12) Total 11 368 324 692 77 (303) 26 (172) The Cowboy coach, a graduate of McNeese, had served Opponents 11 - - - - 22 (121) as an assistant coach on the staff for eight years before step- ping into the top job four games deep into the 2006 season. INTERCEPTIONS No. Yds Avg TD Long Taking over a squad that had won one of its first four games, Spikes, Brent 4 156 39.0 1 62 he led the team to a 6-2 record the rest of the way that year, Total 14 323 23.1 2 98 Opponents 10 58 5.8 0 32 won the SLC title and put his team into the NCAA championship playoffs. Viator is the 14th head coach in McNeese history.

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