McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

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World Ofc ‘‘Sometimes a horse can’t be broke’’ cNeese Cowboys don’t re- build. They reload.’’ The :' new battle cry has spread across the campus, spurring new visions of a victorious Cowboy season. This year’s football team saw the arrival of a new head coach, Sonny Jackson. In Jackson's rookie season, Cowboy fans were assured that the ‘‘forecast would be Sc. Nyse The outlook proved, however, to be less than predictable. When it was all over, the Cowboys finished the season with a 2-9 record and a last place standing in the Southland Conference. Undaunted, Cow- boy fans look forward to a better day and continued to be reassured by Jackson's past successful record. Jackson himself claims the Cowboys “have only just begun.” ‘“‘We had a rough season,”’ Jackson said. ‘But it’s time to look towards the future.” “The football team had an excellent re- cruiting year, which was one of the best recruiting classes that I’ve ever been a part of,’’ Jackson said. According to the head coach, many of the recruits may contribute immediately to the 1988 season, giving the team added size and speed which they lacked during the last season. Understandably, counting on these players to turn the Cowboy pro- gram around immediately would be a mis- take, according to Jackson. 178 Football @®) “It will be their junior and senior years before the class can be effectively judged,’’ Jackson said. ‘‘We had a young team this year and their inexperience may have hurt us. But we still have many of the same players coming back for the next season, with a little bit of experience and a lot more enthusiasm. Combined with the new re- cruits, they should make the 1988 season an exciting one.” While the Cowboy’s overall 1987 record was not an exciting one, their performance throughout the season showed much po- tential. The Cowboy ‘‘Blue Wall’ defenses came through for the team as they won their first game, a 20-8 victory over Ste- phen F. Austin. Coach Jackson said it all when he remarked after the game, ‘‘It just felt good to get a blue and gold win.” During their contest with North Texas State, the Cowboys were ahead for three quarters, but the fourth quarter proved to be their downfall. The Pokes gave up three touchdowns, falling to the Eagles 38-16. But although they lost in the final mo- ments, the Pokes put up a good fight. Jackson’s rookie season can be looked upon as a mere ‘‘learning experience’’; it was a time for adjustment, and the Cow- boys’ sights have surely been set. As the team reaches for another handful of bullets, fans everywhere look for a clear shot at the 1988 season. SCOTT DIETERICH (Quarterback), Lance Wiley (Place Kicker) and Tony Citizen (Running Back) proved to be strong factors in the McNeese lineup. COWBOY WIDE RECEIVER Michael Ceasar of Lake Charles ( 1) catches a pass during the Sept. 19 game with Stephen F. Austin. QUARTERBACK SCOTT DIETERICH hurls a pass to Running Back Jeff Bryant in the Homecoming Game against Arkansas State. TONY CITIZEN OF Church Point fends off numerous tackles during the Homecoming Game.

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