2002 McNeese State Cowboys football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 2002 McNeese State Cowboys football Southland Football League Southland 2 13–2 6–0 Tommy Tate 3rd Matt Viator 3rd Lance Guidry 1st Cowboy Stadium Southland champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game L 14–34 vs. Western Kentucky The 2002 McNeese State Cowboys football team represented McNeese State University as a member of the Southland Football League during the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Tommy Tate, the Cowboys compiled an overall record of 13–2 with a mark of 6–0 in conference play, winning the Southland title. McNeese State advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, beating Montana State in the first round, Montana in the quarterfinals, and Villanova in the semifinals, before losing to Western Kentucky in the NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game. The team played home games at Cowboy Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Schedule 2002 NCAA Division I-AA The Sports Network Central August 31 w y 11 Grambling State 10 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 52–20 20,300 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121374818/cowboys-give-gsu-a-rough-ride/ The News-Star Cowboys give GSU a rough ride September 1, 2002 March 21, 2023 Newspapers.com September 7 w y y 6 2002 Youngstown State Penguins Youngstown State 8 Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH 28–13 17,829 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southwest-daily-news-pokes-double-youngs/177080962/ Southwest Daily News Pokes double Youngstown score September 8, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 14 w y y 3 Louisiana–Monroe Malone Stadium Monroe, LA 24–19 10,091 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-ulm-falls-at-home-to-mcneese-s/177081077/ The Shreveport Times ULM falls at home to McNeese State September 15, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 w y 2 Western Kentucky 25 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 38–13 16,840 https://www.newspapers.com/article/messenger-inquirer-hilltoppers-fall-381/177081180/ Messenger-Inquirer Hilltoppers fall 38–13 at No. 2 McNeese State September 29, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 l y y 2 Nebraska Memorial Stadium Lincoln, NE 14–38 77,192 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-huntsville-times-lord-has-no-mercy-o/177081289/ The Huntsville Times Lord has no mercy on McNeese State October 6, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 w 2 Jacksonville State Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 28–20 15,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leesville-daily-leader-mcneese-state/177081400/ The Leesville Daily Leader McNeese State holds off Jacksonville State 28–20 October 20, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 w y 2 Sam Houston State Bowers Stadium Huntsville, TX 47–10 6,110 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114825203/mcneese-47-shs-10/ Daily World McNeese 47, SHS 10 October 27, 2002 December 18, 2022 Newspapers.com November 2 w 2 Stephen F. Austin Homer Bryce Stadium Nacogdoches, TX 42–13 8,437 https://www.newspapers.com/article/beauregard-daily-news-mcneese-crushes-st/177081521/ Beauregard Daily News McNeese crushes Stephen F. Austin 42–13 November 3, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 9 w 2 Southwest Texas State Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 47–7 15,200 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/97843321/mcneese-states-king-runs-for-two-tds-in/ Austin American-Statesman McNeese State's King runs for two TDs in blowout of Southwest Texas November 10, 2002 March 17, 2022 Newspapers.com November 16 w y 2 Northwestern State 7 Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA rivalry 27–3 17,031 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-advertiser-cowboys-claim-slc/177081640/ The Daily Advertiser Cowboys claim SLC November 17, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w 1 Nicholls State 17 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA 33–21 8,221 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southwest-daily-news-cowboys-outlast-nic/177081750/ Southwest Daily News Cowboys outlast Nicholls State November 24, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com November 30 w y 1 Montana State 24 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA NCAA Division I-AA First Round 21–14 16,211 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-inter-lake-bobcats-fall-to-mcn/177081848/ The Daily Inter Lake Bobcats fall to McNeese State December 1, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com December 7 w y 1 Montana 9 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 24–20 15,758 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune-cowboys-advance-wi/177081927/ The Salt Lake Tribune Cowboys advance with backup QB December 8, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com December 14 w y 1 Villanova 12 Cowboy Stadium Lake Charles, LA NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal 39–28 16,517 Villaova tumbles in I-AA seminfinals The Philadelphia Inquirer December 15, 2002 D1, D4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40566948/villaova_tumbles_in_iaa_seminfinals/ Newspapers.com December 20 l y 1 Western Kentucky 15 Finley Stadium Chattanooga, TN NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game 14–34 12,360 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-star-w-kentucky-avenges-early/177082030/ The News-Star W. Kentucky avenges early loss December 21, 2002 July 20, 2025 Newspapers.com https://mcneesesports.com/schedule.aspx?schedule=187&path=football McNeese State - 2002 Football Schedule McNeese State Sports January 30, 2019 References McNeese State Category:McNeese Cowboys football seasons Category:Southland Conference football champion seasons McNeese State Cowyboys football McNeese State