Carencro Joe is heading home.

After three years as a fan favorite inside the Cajundome, Joe Charles will return to Lafayette Sunday in enemy shorts.

Charles is a local product from Carencro High School who was a star at Louisiana-Lafayette. But soon after last season, the 6-foot-9 forward traded in his love of red for blue and gold, transferring to McNeese State.

“It has been great,” said Charles. “I really like it here, and I feel like I fit right in.”

Sunday, however, he will return to the Cajundome one last time as his Cowboys take on 3-9 Louisiana-Lafayette in a rivalry game that was a little spiced up last season.

During McNeese’s second-half comeback, the two teams had a scuffle in front of the Cajuns bench, and while no punches were thrown, a bunch of technical fouls were handed out.

“It wasn’t really a fight, but it was interesting,” said Charles. “It got everybody on both sides fired up.”

McNeese finished off the rally to win in the first meeting between the teams since Will Wade took over the Cowboys program. His history with former ULL head coach Bob Marlin added fuel to the fire.

Marlin was fired Thursday by Louisiana-Lafayette.

“That game was the talk of the town as soon as Coach Wade got hired at McNeese,” Charles remembered. “We all knew about their history. It is a rivalry, for sure. I know what side I’m on now.”

Charles said he doesn’t expect anything as exciting this time but admitted there has been some trash talk between him and some of his ex-teammates this week.

“It’s all been fun. I have nothing but love for them over there,” Charles said.

He added that he has even heard from some Cajun fans.

“I’m looking forward to seeing them Sunday,” said Charles. “I’m excited to go back.”

He doesn’t expect to be booed, either.

“No, I don’t think they will boo me,” Charles added. “They better not boo me. If they boo me, it will be on.”

Charles hopes his playing style will make a statement for his new team. He is coming off his best game as a Cowboy, scoring a season-high 19 points in a 66-63 loss to Mississippi State.

“Joe has been a really good player on both ends of the floor for us,” said Wade. “He has been coming on for us and maybe been our best player. We have to get him the ball even more.”

Charles is averaging 9.2 points and 6.2 rebounds for the Cowboys. He has played in nine of the team’s ten games, missing one with a sore knee.

Charles was a third-team All-Sun Belt selection last season at Lafayette. He started all 33 games, averaging 11.3 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. He hit 34.3% of his 3-pointers, shot 78.6% at the free-throw line, and was the team’s top defender with 60 steals and 37 blocks.

When asked why he transferred, he said he was looking to win. McNeese went 30-4 last year.

“You look at Coach Wade’s resume, and he is a winner,” said Charles.

Wade wants to ensure his forward isn’t too hyped up for his return.

“Joe is a pretty calm guy, so I’m not worried about that,” Wade said. “We just need him to go out and play his game.”

Charles knows what is at stake.

“I got to be smart,” he said. “I’m usually pretty calm, but it is a big game.”

It is also the 100th meeting between the two programs, but first with Charles on the McNeese side.

He just has to remember which uniform to wear.