With giant chips on their shoulders, the Cowboys began their redemption tour Wednesday as camp officially opened.

Coming off an all-time disappointing season, McNeese State begins a pivotal season in the football program’s history.

There is a lot on the line for these Cowboys, 57 of whom are new.

There is also no place to go but up.

After hitting rock bottom last season, finishing just 1-10, McNeese regrouped then retooled. Coaches and players alike took it rough season personally.

“Going through tough times makes us all stronger and better,” said head coach Gary Goff. “We know where we are coming from and we’re excited about the future.”

Everybody associated with the Cowboys admits they have something to prove this fall.

“We want to right the ship,” said linebacker Micah Davey. “The main thing I’m excited about is redemption, proving everybody wrong, and restoring McNeese to its former glory.”

That’s what everybody wants but it is much easier said than done.

McNeese football has been down for close to a decade now. The last time the Cowboys made the playoffs was in 2015. The last time they won a playoff game was 13 years before that.

McNeese has also suffered through four straight losing seasons. That’s a lot to take for a proud program that used to be the Southland Conference’s top dog.

None of this was Goff’s creation. Now in his third season leading the Cowboys, it is squarely his problem to fix even if it was inherited.

Goff believes he has the pieces in place to do just that. His staff, which has had a few key changes, started right after last season and by changing how they recruit.

The fact that the staff mostly returns after such a year is contrary to what is taking place around the rest of college football. They welcome their opportunity.

“I’m glad to get the chance to help fix this,” said defensive coordinator Tony Pecoraro.

With that the staff got on board with the new world of the transfer portal, getting an FCS best 20 players from college football’s top-level of FBS, including a new quarterback.

Getting back to solid recruiting on the national level has given the Cowboys a boost when it comes to depth and talent on the roster. It makes them more interesting but this is still a football team that must prove it on the field.

Their fellow conference members don’t seem overly impressed.

Monday McNeese was picked to finish sixth in the nine-team Southland in the league’s preseason poll.

Of course, that poll needs to be taken with a grain of salt. In last preseason men’s basketball poll McNeese was picked second when it was clear to anyone with an eye for hoops that the Cowboys were by far the SLC’s best.

McNeese ran away with that championship.

Still, there is a lot to be said about what needs to be done by these Cowboys if they are to jump back into the race for a title.

One thing about these Cowboys though, they seem to understand the challenge and are ready to accept it.

They know they have something to prove and are looking forward to the challenge.

That chase began Wednesday.

Each journey back home starts with a first step.

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Jim Gazzolo is a freelance sports writer who covers McNeese State athletics for the American Press. He can be reached at jimgazzolo@yahoo.com