McNeese State’s first trip to College Station, Texas came about thanks to the Aggie head coach, who just happened to be a former Cowboy.

Texas A&M was paying teams to come play them in non-conference games like now, but few visiting schools brought much of a crowd. So the Aggie top dog had an idea.

Slocum, the winningest coach in Texas A&M history, knew just the program that could use the money and would bring a following, and it just so happened to be his alma mater.

“I went to our athletic director with the idea,” Slocum said. “I knew it would help their program out and I knew they would bring people.

“I figured I could help out my school with the money and they would help fill the stadium for us. It seemed like a good idea.”

Halfway through that game in 2021 Slocum wasn’t so sure, as the Cowboys held a surprising 16-10 lead.

“McNeese put up a heck of a fight that day,” said Slocum. “At halftime, it was close, and I wasn’t so sure it was such a good idea. I thought maybe I had gone too far.”

McNeese would lose that day, 38-24, but the effort made the ex-Cowboy tight end on the other sideline smile just a little.

“I was proud of them,” said Slocum. “They fought us to the end and their crowd was tremendous. It worked out but it was close.”

Slocum hopes the same happens this Saturday when McNeese makes its first trip back to Kyle Field for a morning kickoff. But make no mistake, Slocum, who posted a 123-47-2 record over 14 seasons as the Aggie head coach, will be rooting for the home team.

“I have spent 50 years at Texas A&M,” Slocum said. “I’m very proud of McNeese, loved the people there and my time in Lake Charles, but in terms of the outcome of the game, I’m rooting for the Aggies.”

Yet he will never forget his time at McNeese,

“I still have a lot of good friends and a lot of great memories there,” Slocum said. “One of the reasons I went into coaching was because of the coaches I had at McNeese and back in high school. They were some great men.”

Slocum grew up in Orange, Texas, and went to Stark High School before heading to McNeese. He started out with the Cowboys as a split end but grew into a tight end’s body.

McNeese’s coaches moved it to the position on the line and he became one of the school’s best. Slocum was named to the All-75th Anniversary team and is a member of the Cowboys’ Hall of Fame.

“I’m very proud to be on that team and recognized by McNeese,” Slocum said. “It was such a great experience for me to get that chance to play there and meet those people. I meant so much for my future.”

Slocum played three seasons at McNeese, ending in 1967. He quickly moved into the coaching profession after graduation.

He took a job at Lake Charles High, where he worked for two years before getting a shot at the college ranks as a graduate assistant at Kansas State. However, as he informed the principal of his decision he was told he could become the first head coach at the new local high school, Barbe.

“It was a great honor to be considered for that job at such a young age,” said Slocum. “But I really wanted to get into college coaching. Fortunately, it all worked out.”

Slocum would be named the Southwestern Conference Coach of the Year three times and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2012.

He would also become a fixture in the history of both McNeese and Texas A&M’s football programs and is remembered for his actions on and off the field.

And for the second time, Slocum will see his two schools square off as followers from both sides remember him fondly.

Yes, it all worked out.

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