LAKE CHARLES - Eight days of practice is in the books for the McNeese Cowboys as they continue to prepare for the 2026 football season and the August 29 season opener at home against defending Southland Conference champion Stephen F. Austin.
 
So far, head coach Matt Viator says the team is right on schedule.
 
"We've had eight practices, six of them in pads and two without, and I think we're on schedule to what I would like for us to be," said Viator who is in his second season at the helm since returning last year, and 12th overall. "The routine and structure in terms of what we're doing, I think it's gotten better. I'm really excited to see some guys Saturday and see what we can do there."
 
The Cowboys will conduct their first off two preseason scrimmages this Saturday morning at approximately 9:30 in Cowboy Stadium. The event is open to the public.
 
Viator praised the work of Wes Piersall, the program's new Director of Sports Performance, for having the Cowboys well-conditioned and prepared for the season.
 
"I think the conditioning and what we did this summer with Coach Wes Piersall and his staff, I've been impressed with how the players have been able to get through the work that we're doing. There are a lot of these days where we haven't gotten a break in the weather either. And this is usually the time where you start to see 'camp legs' but we've worked through it pretty good."
 
Viator has set up his camp schedule to pretty much duplicate one of in-season.
 
"I kind of set it up like this is almost like a Thursday to a Saturday in terms of the game," he said. "We're going to do it again next week and again the next week. And the reason we are, we're still getting the same amount off work, but we have a conference game in the first game, so it's not like we have three or four weeks and let's try to figure this out. Hopefully we'll understand the routing and kind of what we're doing."
 
On Friday the Cowboys will do a walk-through then scrimmage Saturday morning.
 
On Thursday, the Cowboys worked a lot of red zone situations with less good-on-good match-ups, just like they'll do during the season.
 
"We condensed the field to save their legs a little bit, like we do every Thursday. We're trying to simulate that and go through the process, and hopefully, be good at it on week one."
 
The Cowboys have been working on a lot of install up to this point, but after Saturday's scrimmage, Viator says the install will slow down.
 
"After that, you hope to play a little bit faster, but a lot of the first 7-8 practices is packed with install every day, so there's a lot of kids thinking a little too much, and so hopefully that improves.
 
"I like the shape our kids are in. I like the way we look."
 
The Cowboys will hold their second and final scrimmage of fall camp on August 15 in conjunction with Fan Fest.
 
Season tickets are still on sale at the McNeese Ticket Office and online at McNeeseSports.com.

Other News:
• RSVPs for the 1976 and 2006 Southland Conference Championship team reunion is still being accepted for the September 26 game vs. East Texas A&M. To RSVP, email Matthew Bonnette at wbonnette@mcneese.edu.