About McNeese State

Location: Lake Charles, La.

Founded: 1939

Conference: Southland Conference

Nickname: Cowboys

Colors: Blue and Gold

Enrollment: 8,800

Stadium: Cowboy Stadium (grass)

Seating capacity: 17,410

Head coach: Matt Viator (17-2, second year after taking over as interim head coach five games into 2006 season)

2007 record: 11-0, 1st in Southland Conference

2007 FCS Playoff seed: No. 2

FCS Playoff record: 11-12 in 12 appearances

Playoff history: Lost to Youngstown State 10-9 in 1997 title game; lost to Western Kentucky 34-14 in 2002 title game.

Players to watch: QB Derrick Fourroux, 6-2, 194, So. (1,878 passing yards, 16 touchdowns); WR Carlese Franklin, 5-11, 180, Sr. (48 catches, 812 yards, 4 touchdowns); WR Quinten Lawrence, 6-1, 175 Jr. (28 catches, 587 yards, 6 touchdowns); LB Trey Bennett, 6-2, 240, Sr. (92 tackles, including 6.5 for losses, 2 sacks); CB Marcus Brown, 6-2, 200, Sr. (3 interceptions, 10 pass breakups).

Common opponent with EWU: Portland State (McNeese State 35, Portland State 12 in Sept. 1 season opener at Lake Charles; Portland State 26, Eastern Washington 21 on Sept. 29 at Cheney)