GAME DAY INFORMATION
	When: Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016 | 6 p.m.
	Where: Lake Charles, La. | Cowboys Stadium
	Record: Tarleton 0-0, 0-0 LSC | #9 McNeese State 0-0, 0-0 Southland
	Make Plans: Purchase Tickets
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Social Media: Facebook | Twitter
Follow the Action: Live Stats | Tarleton Sports Network Broadcast
Watch Online (Pay-Per-View): McNeeseSports.com/Watch

THE GAME
The newest Todd Whitten era of Texan Football will officially get under way Saturday night when the Texans open the 2016 football season against FCS No. 9 McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana at 6 p.m.
 
GAME COVERAGE
A complete broadcast of the game can be heard on the Tarleton Sports Network presented by the North Texas Ford Dealers. Byron Anderson has the call on the flagship station of Tarleton Athletics – KTRL 90.5 FM in Stephenville – and worldwide at TarletonSports.com/ListenLive. Live Stats and a video stream can be found on the football schedule of TarletonSports.com or at McNeeseSports.com. The video stream will be a Pay-Per-View event, but live stats and the Tarleton Sports Network audio broadcast will be free of charge.
 
ABOUT THE TEXANS
Tarleton is coming off a 3-7 campaign, but Whitten has filled the football field house with optimism and enthusiasm since being named the head coach in December. The Texans will return leading passer Zed Woerner (198-317-8; 2,165 yards; 20 tds) and leading rusher Jabari Anderson (101-621; 10 tds) on offense. Defensively, new defensive coordinator Marcus Patton boasts the top returning defensive players in the Lone Star Conference in tackles (Cody Burtscher; 95 tkls) and tackles for a loss (Chase Varnado; 13.5 tfls).
 
ABOUT THE COWBOYS
McNeese State enters the game ranked No. 9 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 11 in the FCS STATS poll and is coming off a 10-1 season a year ago, in which they won the Southland Conference championship. The Cowboys also underwent an offseason coaching change as former defensive coordinator and Cowboy standout player, Lance Guidry, was named the leader of McNeese State football last December when former coach Matt Viator left for the head job at Louisiana-Monroe. McNeese State returns 14 starters on both sides of the ball, including All-American Isaiah Golden on the defensive line. Junior transfer quarterback James Tabary was named the team's opening day starter two weeks ago.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday will mark the first-ever meeting between Tarleton and McNeese State.
 
AFTER THIS ONE
Tarleton will return home next Saturday, September 10, for a 7 p.m. showdown with Southwest Baptist at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville.