June 27, 2008

A standing room only crowd greeted McNeese State coaches during Thursday's athletic roundup stop in Houston.

The event was held in Union Station of Minute Maid Park and before the Houston Astro baseball game with Texas Rangers.

It was one of the best crowds of the two week tour which brought to fans around Southwest Louisiana and Southeast Texas information on all of the Cowboy and Cowgirl sports. It was also the final stop on the six city tour that began two weeks ago in DeRidder and then had stopovers in Lafayette, Jennings, Basile, Lake Charles and Houston.

Coaches have been on hand at each of six locations during the tour. Speaking at Thursday's gathering were Terry Burrows from baseball, Natalie Poole of softball, Scooter Savoie of soccer, Dale Starr of volleyball, Brendon Gilroy of track and field, David Simmons of men's basketball, Garry Brodhead of women's basketball and Tim Leger of football.

Athletic director Tommy McClelland also spoke and Ryan Ivey was the master of ceremonies.

Dub Morris, the president of the McNeese alumni chapter in Houston, was in charge of setting up the event.

Special guests were Staci Smith and Evan Cavusos of Verizon, the official wireless provider for McNeese athletics.

Among those on hand were McNeese Hall of Fame member Ann Roubique, KHOU-TV sports anchor Butch Alsandor (a former Cowboy football standout) and Gary Laney, the McNeese beat writer for the Lake Charles American Press.

Following the event all of the coaches and fans attended the Astro-Ranger baseball game.