Dubbed “The Hole” for its unique design and layout, construction on the McNeese State College Football Stadium began in 1964 as part of   a $1.5 million construction project green-lighted by the State Bond and Building Commission. The project also included  an athletic field house, men’s dormitory and dairy milking parlor.

Built on a 65-acre plot, the American Press reported more than 80,000 cubic yards of soil was removed to get the field 12 feet below normal ground level. An underground drainage network was also installed with two pumps that when worked simultaneously could pump a tanker truck full of water from the field in a minute.

The stadium was designed to hold 12,200 spectators with 45 rows of seats between the 10-yard lines and 56 box seat sections of four seats each. Seventeen rows of seats were created in the excavated portion of the stadium and 28 rows above. Ten ramps provided entrance to the stadium.

McNeese’s first game in the stadium was as hosts to the University of Tampa’s Spartans on Sept. 18, 1965. There were 6,384 general admission seats with the remainder reserved.

“Christmas, New Year’s and all the holidays rolled into one couldn’t compare to the excitement of the thousands who Saturday night lived the first moments of realism,” then-City Editor Jim Beam wrote in the Sept. 19, 1965, edition of the American Press.

Cowboy Athletic Director Albert Ratcliff estimated 11,000 attended the first game in the stadium.

The American Press noted that other spectators enjoyed “all the comforts of home” while watching the game under the brightness of the quartz lighting.

“In fact, at least eight end zone spectators were at home — a homeowner just to the south of the stadium had eight aluminum chairs and the ‘home fans’ enjoyed the game while eating ‘real home goodies,’ ” the newspaper reported.

McNeese lost 16-12 — or were “upended” as the American Press described it — “despite a “brilliant comeback by the never-say-die Cowboys.”

“Victory appeared within the Pokes’ grasp in the third quarter but a rugged ban of Spartans stopped the touchdown drive one yard shot of pay dirt,” the newspaper wrote.

American Press Editor Truman Stacey, in an editorial printed the day after the game entitled “MSC Enriches City” said the inauguration of the new stadium provided an occasion to speculate upon the impact of McNeese on the community.

“When McNeese was founded in 1939, the southern part of Lake Charles, where the college campus is located, was mostly farm land,” Stacey wrote. “There were few residences, almost not places of business, and little economic business. Now, 25 years later, McNeese is the hub of a commercial and residential area of considerable size, and of major importance to the life of the community.”

It was estimated at the time that because of McNeese, $5 million or more was spent in the community each year.

Also because of the college, streets had improved, businesses were established, shopping centers opened and land values around the campus doubled.

“It’s impact upon the community has certainly been profound,” Stacey wrote. “While the college itself pursues its goals in the fields of knowledge, or experimentation and of acculturation, those of us who live in Southwest Louisiana will continue to draw sizable material benefits.”

Despite the pomp and circumstance of that first game, the day was marred by tragedy in the west stands.

Former City Judge Albert Cox suffered a heart attack as he walked up the ramp towards his seat. He was pronounced dead on arrival at a local hospital, the newspaper reported.