2002 McNeese State Cowboys football team

2002 McNeese State Cowboys football
Southland champion
ConferenceSouthland Football League
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 2
Record13–2 (6–0 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Viator (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorLance Guidry (1st season)
Home stadiumCowboy Stadium
Seasons
← 2001
2003 →
2002 Southland Football League standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 2 McNeese State $^   6 – 0     13 – 2  
No. 16 Northwestern State ^   4 – 2     9 – 4  
No. 23 Nicholls State   3 – 3     7 – 4  
Stephen F. Austin   3 – 3     6 – 5  
Jacksonville State   2 – 4     5 – 6  
Sam Houston State   2 – 4     4 – 7  
Southwest Texas State   1 – 5     4 – 7  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

The 2002 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Football League during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Tommy Tate, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 13–2 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, beating Montana State in the first round, Montana in the quarterfinals, and Villanova in the semifinals, before losing to Western Kentucky in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game. The team played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 31No. 10 Grambling State*No. 11
W 52–2020,300[1]
September 7at No. 8 Youngstown State*No. 6
W 28–1317,829
September 14at Louisiana–Monroe*No. 3
W 24–1910,091
September 28Western Kentucky*No. 2
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 38–1316,840
October 5at Nebraska*No. 2
L 14–3877,192
October 19Jacksonville StateNo. 2
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 28–2015,600
October 26at Sam Houston StateNo. 2
W 47–106,110[2]
November 2Stephen F. AustinNo. 2
W 42–138,437
November 9Southwest Texas StateNo. 2
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 47–715,200[3]
November 16at No. 7 Northwestern StateNo. 2
W 27–317,031
November 23No. 17 Nicholls StateNo. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 33–218,221
November 30No. 24 Montana State*No. 1
W 21–1416,211
December 7No. 9 Montana*No. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA (NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal)
W 24–2015,758
December 14No. 12 Villanova*No. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA (NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal)
W 39–2816,517[4]
December 20No. 15 Western Kentucky*No. 1
L 14–3412,360

[5]

References

  1. ^ "Cowboys give GSU a rough ride". The News-Star. September 1, 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "McNeese 47, SHS 10". Daily World. October 27, 2002. Retrieved December 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "McNeese State's King runs for two TDs in blowout of Southwest Texas". Austin American-Statesman. November 10, 2002. Retrieved March 17, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Villaova tumbles in I-AA seminfinals". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 15, 2002. pp. D1, D4 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "McNeese State - 2002 Football Schedule". McNeese State Sports. Retrieved January 30, 2019.