Power Surge

What is the first thing you notice different about your team this season?

Viator, starting his second year back as head football coach at McNeese after a nine-year absence, didn't hesitate with his answer.

“We look much more like a football team is supposed to look,” the all-time winningest man in program history proclaimed.

Two weeks later, on the eve of the first scrimmage, Viator answered a follow-up question much the same way.

When asked which player or coach has impressed him the most after the first eight practices, Viator said: “Coach (Wes) Piersall and what he has done this summer with our players.”

Piersall is the new strength and conditioning coach of the Cowboys, joining the program in January. His official title is McNeese Athletics' Director of Sports Performance, but Piersall is a guy who likes to get in the trenches with his players.

“You have to get in there and work with them, making sure they are doing everything right to get the most out of their workouts,” Piersall said.  

He joins McNeese after a career of helping build players through everything from hard work in the weight room, conditioning, nutrition and even sleep, though that last part is tough.

“We can monitor how they practice, what they are eating and the effort they are putting in, but it’s hard to know how much they are sleeping,” Piersall said, accepting that they are college kids.

Piersall joined McNeese after spending the last two seasons at Southeast Missouri State in Cape Guirardi. He has also spent time at Texas A&M, LSU and Florida State during the course of his career. 

He began working as an intern under nationally renowned strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt while in Baton Rouge. 

Already, Piersall has made a big impression on the program, especially the players.

“Coach Piersall worked really hard with us during the summer and in the spring,” said fifth-year safety Javon Davis. “We are much stronger and in much better condition than we have been in the past.”

Piersall himself is impressed with McNeese, as he gets to work inside the Navarre Performance Center, the remodeled Cowboy weight room, which is much more than that.

Not only does the building host the weights and equipment, but it is also the home of the nutrition center.

“This is a very impressive facility for a school on this level,” said Piersall. “You can see the investment here.”

Piersall says the key to building a strong football team is a lot more than just lifting weights and running sprints. He brings an entire program to McNeese so players can get the most out of their abilities.

Keeping players on the field and out of the trainer’s room is Piersall's biggest goal. That will be important with FCS going to 12-game seasons from now on.

Early returns seem to indicate it’s working.