2003 McNeese State Cowboys football team

The 2003 McNeese State Cowboys football team was an American football team that represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Conference (Southland) during the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their fourth year under head coach Tommy Tate, the team compiled an overall record of 10–2, with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, and finished as champion in the Southland. The Cowboys advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs and lost to Northern Arizona in the first round.

2003 McNeese State Cowboys football
Southland champion
ConferenceSouthland Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 8
Record10–2 (5–0 Southland)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorMatt Viator (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorLance Guidry (2nd season)
Home stadiumCowboy Stadium
Seasons
← 2002
2004 →
2003 Southland Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 8 McNeese State $^   5 0     10 2  
Stephen F. Austin   4 1     7 4  
Northwestern State   2 3     7 5  
Texas State   2 3     5 7  
Sam Houston State   2 3     3 8  
Nicholls State   0 5     0 11  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
  • Nicholls State forfeited 5 wins including 3 conference victories, over Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, and Texas State.
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule edit

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30Henderson State*No. 1W 42–014,956[1]
September 6at No. 7 (I-A) Kansas State*No. 1L 14–5544,544[2]
September 13No. 2 Georgia Southern*No. 3
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 34–1517,189[3]
September 20at No. 13 Grambling State*No. 1W 31–2017,485[4]
October 4at Southeastern Louisiana*No. 1W 58–209,758[5]
October 18at Southern Utah*No. 1W 33–204,210[6]
October 25Sam Houston StateNo. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 56–3716,767[7]
October 30at Texas StateNo. 1W 38–288,889[8]
November 8Stephen F. AustinNo. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA
W 20–1715,417[9]
November 15Northwestern StateNo. 1
  • Cowboy Stadium
  • Lake Charles, LA (rivalry)
W 13–917,289[10]
November 22at Nicholls StateNo. 1W 63–2810,650[11]
November 29No. 16 Northern Arizona*No. 1
L 3–3514,300[12]

References edit

  1. ^ "McNeese thumos Henerson State in opener". The Shreveport Times. August 31, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Robertson hurt in K-State win". The Wichita Eagle. September 7, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "McNeese State 34, Ga. Southern 15". The Daily Advertiser. September 14, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Defeat proves aura of GSU". The News-Star. September 21, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "McNeese St. 58, SE Louisiana 20". The Shreveport Times. October 5, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "McNeese State defeats Southern Utah". The Daily Spectrum. October 19, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "McNeese St. 56, Sam Houston St. 37". The Tyler Courier-Times. October 26, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Cowboys' ground attack wears down stalwart Bobcats". Austin American-Statesman. October 31, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "McNeese rallies to defeat SFA". Longview News-Journal. November 9, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "NSU trips en route to upset of McNeese". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. November 16, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "McNeese St. steamrolls Nicholls St. in SLC play". The Daily Advertiser. November 23, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "A first worth savoring: NAU hammers No. 1 McNeese State for its first ever I-AA playoff victory". Arizona Daily Sun. November 30, 2003. Retrieved March 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.