June 13, 2008

The second annual McNeese State summer Cowboy/Cowgirl athletic tour begins Monday in DeRidder.

The event is scheduled to be held at the Beauregard Country Club and run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. This is a free event and everyone is invited.

"We had a very successful beginning last year in taking our athletic program to the surrounding communities and we are hoping to build off that this summer," said McNeese athletic director Tommy McClelland.

Other stops this week will be in Lafayette at the Petroleum Club on Wednesday and in Jennings at the Jeff Davis Parish Fair Grounds-Multipurpose Building on Thursday.

The second and final week of the tour will include stops in Basile at Basile High School on June 23, in Lake Charles at the Lake Charles Civic Center on June 25 and in Houston at Minute Maid Park on June 26.

All Cowboy and Cowgirl coaches as well as members of the administration will be on the tour that will feature a meet and greet period, refreshments and door prizes at all stops.

McClelland said that taking this tour to the communities is one way that the school has of showing its appreciation to the support fans have provided.

Each event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., is free to the public and will feature short talks by all head coaches as well as topic tables featuring McNeese athletic ticket sales and Cowboy and Cowgirl souvenirs, booster clubs and the McNeese Athletic Foundation.

Head coaches who will be on the tour are Matt Viator (football), David Simmons (men's basketball), Brooks Donald Williams (women's basketball), Terry Burrows (baseball), Natalie Poole (softball), Brendon Gilroy (track), Neel DeRouen (men's golf), Mike Fluty (women's golf), Scooter Savoie (soccer), Dale Starr (volleyball) and Magali Risoleo (tennis).

Dates and meeting places for the tour are as follows:

June 16 DeRidder (Beauregard Country Club)

June 18 Lafayette (Petroleum Club)

June 19 Jennings (Jeff Davis Parish Fair Grounds-Multipurpose Building)

June 23 Basile (Basile High School)

June 25 Lake Charles (Lake Charles Civic Center)

June 26 Houston, TX (Minute Maid Park)

Coach Dave Simmons and Coach Brooks Donald Williams will be guest speakers on the tour.