For the third straight summer, McNeese State’s athletic department will hit the road in an attempt to bolster interest in the Cowboys.

Unlike the first two years, this one is different. The group will be trying to build on momentum instead of creating it.

After an interesting 12 months, McNeese Athletics is riding high entering the new sports season, which really begins with the start of football camp in early August.

All 14 McNeese head coaches are scheduled to be at each of the two stops that begin Thursday night in Westlake. That includes football coach Gary Goff and men’s basketball coach Will Wade.

Athletic Director Heath Schroyer is also expected to be on hand.

“This is big for us because we want to keep building our brand and take advantage of what we have going right now,” Schroyer said.

Both stops will run from 6-8 p.m. with food and drink provided.

The first stop is set for Thursday in Westlake at the National Golf Club. It is also the first time Westlake will be a tour stop.

“We wanted to go to some new places and meet some new fans,” said Schroyer.

The tour will end in Lake Charles a week from tonight, Tuesday, July 18 at Southwest Beverage on Broad Street.

Fans will hear from the coaches and be able to talk with them during the event. Tickets will also be on sale.

McNeese started the tour prior to the 2021 fall seasons and after hurricanes Laura and Delta and the COVID shutdown of 2020.

It was designed to raise interest in the rebranding of Cowboy athletics at a time when McNeese sports was at a low point.

A lot has changed since then as McNeese heads into the new sports year riding a high in interest. Season ticket sales in basketball especially are up after the hiring of former LSU head coach Will Wade in March.

McNeese is hoping to ride their current wave into a winning year, which is what is needed to keep the momentum rolling.

McNeese had scheduled a third event, which was set for tonight in DeRidder but that was called off.

In other McNeese news, ace pitcher Grant Rogers did not hear his name called Monday, as some expected.

The two-time Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year will likely go today, which starts with the 11th round. Rogers still has one year of eligibility left if he doesn’t like where he goes and could either head back to the Cowboys or enter the transfer portal.