Nebraska to Play Host to McNeese State

Lincoln -- The University of Nebraska football team will play host to McNeese State on Oct. 5, 2001. McNeese State is a Division I-AA team located in Lake Charles, La. The Cowboys are a member of the Southland Football Conference. In 2002 and 2003, the NCAA is allowing all collegiate football teams to play in a 12th regular-season game, because there are 14 available Saturdays between the last Saturday in August and the last Saturday in November. Oct. 5 became available when the Nebraska - Iowa State Big 12 Conference game was moved from Oct. 5 to Sept. 28.

Coached by Tommy Tate, who has posted a 16-8 record in two years at MSU, the Cowboys won the Southland Football Conference title, and earned their second straight appearance in the I-AA playoffs, losing to Maine, 14-10. The Cowboys took Big 12 Conference member Texas A&M down to the wire in the 2001 season opener, losing 38-24. McNeese State's Director of Athletics, Sonny Watkins, will accept a $450,000 payment for playing in the game. The Huskers finished the 2001 season at 11-2, tied for first in the Big 12 North, and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl National Championship game, losing to No. 1 Miami, 37-14.

Nebraska Director of Athletics Bill Byrne said the search for a 12th team was difficult. "Finding quality opponents who are willing to play in Lincoln has always been difficult. We are pleased to be able to secure this game with McNeese State, as the Cowboys are one of the top Division I-AA programs in the country."

While Nebraska now has 12 games on the 2002 schedule, Byrne said the scheduling process is never complete. "We have not ruled out a preseason game for this season and of course we are still looking for a 12th game for the 2003 season."

Nebraska Head Football Coach Frank Solich was pleased to secure a seventh home game. "We were searching for a quality opponent for our 12th game and really wanted that game to be at home because our road schedule for next season is already one of the toughest in the country and we wanted to provide a seventh home game for our fans."

Nebraska's five-game road schedule includes stops at three schools who earned bowl bids, including Iowa State (Sept. 28), Texas A&M (Oct. 26) and Kansas State (Nov. 16). Nebraska's non-conference road game is at Penn State on Sept. 14. NU will also play a league game at Oklahoma State on Oct. 19.

The Huskers will begin spring ball on March 25, concluding with the annual Red-White Spring Game on April 20 (12:30 p.m.).