Special Return

Wade to bring LSU to town

By Jim Gazzolo

After turning McNeese basketball around, Will Wade said he would do whatever he could to help the program after he left.

He has lived up to that promise and will continue to do so this fall.

Wade, who returned to LSU as the head coach last spring, will bring his Tigers to Townsley Law Arena on Thursday night, Oct. 8, for an exhibition game.

McNeese officially announced this week, but reports had been circulating since April. 

Wade was even asked about the possibility during his re-introductory press conference at LSU.

“We are going to try to make something happen,” Wade said. 

Now that the event is set, all proceeds will go to the Cowboy basketball program.

“We can’t thank Coach Wade enough for all he has done for our program,” said McNeese head coach Bill Armstrong, a former assistant under the LSU coach and good friend.

Armstrong replaced Wade after he left for one season at North Carolina State. Armstrong led the Cowboys to a 28-6 record last season. 

For Wade, coming back to McNeese for even one night is something he is looking forward to.

“It is going to be exciting to be back,” Wade said. “McNeese is always going to be very special to my family and me. And it should be a fun game between two good teams.”

The two programs will always be tied as long as Wade is around. It was McNeese that gave Wade a chance to restart his coaching career after LSU fired him. That started his comeback path that led back to Baton Rouge. 

Now he will return the favor by bringing LSU to town for just the second time ever. Dale Brown did it once to help open Burton Coliseum. 

“It is going to be fun to have Coach Wade back,” said Armstrong. “He has done so much for the program. He continues to help us out.”

The Cowboys also picked up two regular-season games this week. They will play Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara in December in Henderson, Nev.

But for McNeese fans, the moment they are looking for to start the year is Oct. 8 against LSU. 

It’s Will vs. Bill.

Jim Gazzolo is a freelance writer who covers sports in Southwest Louisiana. He is also the host of Poke Nation, which airs weekly on CBS Lake Charles.