LAKE CHARLES – The 2018 football season will mark the 75^th anniversary of McNeese Cowboy football – a winning tradition that began back in 1940.
 
The program has played every year since that inaugural season for the exception of 1941-44 due to World War II.
 
In the previous 74 football playing years, the Cowboys have won 19 conference championships, including a Southland Conference record 14 titles; participated in three Division I Bowl games – all three the Independence Bowl (1976, 1979, 1980) and defeating Tulsa in the inaugural Indy Bowl in '76; have made a conference record 16 FCS (formerly 1-AA) playoff appearances, including national runner-up in 1997 and 2002; have had 143 players named All-Americans; 419 All-Conference selections; and two former players inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (R.C. Slocum and Leonard Smith).
 
Smith and former teammate, Buford Jordan, as well as legendary head coach Jack Doland, are all members of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame while Smith, Doland, Kerry Joseph and Bobby Keasler are all part of the Southland Conference Hall of Honor.
 
A total of 71 players and coaches for football make up of nearly half of the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame.
 
In conjunction with the 75^th anniversary, the McNeese Athletic Department will be releasing an All-75^th Anniversary Team. The criteria for being named to the team includes the following: being a member of the McNeese Sports Hall of Fame, named an All-American, and earned first team all-conference honors two or more years.
 
The team will be broken down by positions and will be released throughout August and leading up to the season opening week.
 
Schedule of team releases:
Thursday, Aug. 2 – Quarterbacks
Monday, Aug. 6 – Running Backs
Wednesday, Aug. 8 – Wide Receivers
Friday, Aug. 10 – Tight Ends
Monday, Aug. 13 – Offensive Line
Wednesday, Aug. 15 – Defensive Line
Friday, Aug. 17 – Linebackers
Monday, Aug. 20 – Defensive Backs
Wednesday, Aug. 22 – Kickers/Punters
Friday, Aug. 24 – Kick/Punt Returners