LAKE CHARLES - Christmas came early for the 2023 McNeese Cowboy football team.
 
For the first time on Sunday, the team set its eyes on the brand new, $1.1 million dollar locker room that was met with the same excitement young kids express when waking up on Christmas morning.
 
"This is unreal," said senior long snapper Trey Vondenstein. "I'm on my sixth-year here and just seeing where we started and what all we've been through, and seeing what we got now, I mean, this is the best locker room I've ever seen. I've never been able to experience something like this. I know a lot of the guys feel the same. We were already fired up for the season to start but this adds a little extra on top."
 
Construction began in early June and was completed a week ago but throughout the entire construction, the doors to the locker room have been locked down to prohibit wandering eyes from getting a premature glimpse.
 
"It was a blast watching the guys come in here for the first time and see their lockers, see their home towns," said second-year head coach Gary Goff. "It's a state-of-the-art facility. We're so fortunate to have this, and so thankful for the administration for giving this to us. This makes a big difference and very proud for our young men to have something like this."
 
Vondenstein: "No clue (about what it looked like). Coach Goff stressed the whole time, don't peek at it because it will ruin the surprise. Honestly, I'm so glad that we didn't look at it because this is nothing like we expected. Seeing what we had before and seeing what we have now, it's unreal."
 
The lockers have each of the players' names and home towns listed above their space. There is plenty of storage area that includes power and charging outlets, a combination locker space for valuables, and spaces for each the helmet, shoes and shoulder pads, both with drying blowers.
 
Linebacker Brayden Adams: "This is more than what we could've expected. This shows the support from everybody in the community and the school, university. You look throughout, there's no better place to be."
 
Defensive lineman Earenest Grayson: "This is probably one of the nicest locker rooms I've ever seen. It is truly amazing. It exceeded our expectations for sure. We've been chomping at the bit to get in here since they announced it. This is more we could ever imagine it was going to be."
 
 "I've said all along, we have to invest in our revenue sports. This is the first big step is to redo the locker room and when you saw the excitement and the pride when those players walked in with, it just gives you goosebumps," said McNeese Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer. "I am so excited about this football program, what Coach Goff is building here. Excited for the season. We are on our way. There's not a nicer locker room anywhere in the country than this."
 
Grayson: "It gives me a lot of hope and a lot of confidence that the people upstairs, they care a lot about this team. They want to see us succeed. That gives us the confidence knowing that we can go out there and do what we need to do."
 
Vondenstein: "It's saying we're on the rise. We're coming back. We're getting on the right track to where we once were as a program. Lake Charles is recovering and is growing back to where it once was. This football program is no different."  

The wait is finally over??#GeauxPokes | #TAD pic.twitter.com/XeOaJK9ka6

— McNeese Football (@McNeeseFootball) July 30, 2023