Noisy, Fun Start

By Jim Gazzolo

For the third straight year, the McNeese women’s basketball team will open their season in front of more than a few fresh fans.

Monday, Nov. 4, the Cowgirls tip off the new campaign by hosting fifth-graders from all over Calcasieu Parish. The event is known as the Kid’s Game and will start at 11 a.m.

Some 2,000 children are expected from area schools. It makes for a lot of noise.

“We are always excited about this game,” said McNeese women’s basketball coach Lynn Kennedy. “They are a lot of fun for the girls to play in. The kids really get into it.”

This year Southeastern Baptist College is the opponent, a late substitution from Ecclesia which had to pull out of the game just a few days ago because of a lack of healthy players.

The opponent, though, is never really the big deal. This game is about the kids.

“It is great for our women’s team to be able to play this game for the students,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “We want to continue to be a part of this community and help it grow.”

The game is also a chance to introduce the seven newcomers, several of who have ties to the area and the state, to a new fan base.

“It is a chance for us to get out there, play somebody different and get the new players introduced to the community,” said Kennedy. “This is a chance for us to give back to the folks who support us. 

“It is also a chance to introduce local kids to McNeese. For many of them, this will be the first time they see our campus.”

It has also been a hit with the Cowgirls as well. After last year’s game, several of the players made it a point to talk about the game and the fans. For them, it might be the most fans they will play in front of all season and the noise really gets them going.

“I love seeing the kids,” said Cowgirl guard Boston Berry. “We can feel their energy.”

The game is the first of three straight McNeese will play at home to open the season. It is a much better schedule than the last few seasons for the Cowgirls.

“We get a chance to get some confidence and some momentum playing at home,” said Kennedy. “It starts with Monday. It is such a fun game for all of us to be a part of.”

Granted, a lot of the kids are just happy to be out of school for the day, but it is also important for them to get a chance to see a college campus.

This game is an experience they would not likely be exposed to if not for the McNeese Athletic Department.

“We get a chance to play in a great environment and then interact with young kids,” said Kennedy. “Everybody wins. It is becoming a great way to start the season.”

After the game, McNeese players will stick around and sign autographs and meet with the students, interacting with individuals up close.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers McNeese athletics. He is the host of Poke Nation on CBS-Lake Charles