LAKE CHARLES - Former LSU national champion football head coach and Louisiana staple Ed Orgeron will join McNeese legendary head coach Matt Viator to headline the 2026 Cowboy Kickoff Dinner and Auction this August.
 
The event, which is taking the place of the Bag Bingeaux, will be held on August 21 in the Townsley Law Arena. Doors will open at 5:30.
 
"We're excited to have Coach O headline this year's football dinner and auction," said Matt Fontenot, Deputy AD and MAF Executive Director. "Coach O is loved all across the state, especially here in Lake Charles and McNeese. Having Coach O and Coach Viator on the same stage, it's definitely going to be a night you're not going to want to miss."
 
Orgeron coached the Tigers from 2016-21 and led LSU to the 2019 national championship with arguably the best team in college football history. He recently rejoined the Tigers' staff as the special assistant to recruiting and defense.
 
He spent the 1985 season on the McNeese coaching staff as a graduate assistant then was a regular at Cowboy football games to watch his sons Cody and Parker suit up in the blue and gold.
 
Tables will go on sale July 1. For more information visit https://mcneesefoundation.org/kickoff/.
 
All proceeds will support the McNeese Football program.