This Vintage McNeese Collection is For Sale With Rowdy Costume!

I don't know if I have told you this or now, but I am a HUGE Lake Charles history nerd. I have a few "vintage" pieces from the past that are some of my prized possessions. I have an old LCPD patrolman's cap from the 40s, a vintage Lake Charles key to the city, and a really old canvas Lake Charles American Press paperboy bag to name a few. When I ran across this ad, for some vintage McNeese things INCLUDING the main selling item, my heart skipped a beat! Listed about a day ago on Facebook Market Place is a vintage McNeese swag collection including an official 80's Rowdy Mascot Uniform.

Before we get to the BIG item, let's digest a few of the other items that I own, and still have, to this day, and makes me feel old to know they could indeed be considered "vintage" in some shape or form. I remember the foam cowboy hats. I made my dad buy me one at my first-ever Cowboys game along with a hot dog. We had a TON of large McNeese cups, including the convenient koozie cup combo as well. I also STILL have the giant foam finger! Did anyone else pretend to pick their nose with it, or was that just me? How about poking each other in the butt with it while walking? The pom-pom saw a lot of action as well when I would use it to play with the cats.

What's a McNeese game without a cowbell? Both examples here are still sitting on my parents' piano to this day. They came in handy for not only the games, but when you were sick at my house, you got the bell to use when you needed something laying in bed. Yes, before cell phones. You'd ring it a few seconds, and help would be on the way. I still can hear it echoing down the hallways when I hear one ring at the games. Now, on to the whole reason I got excited about this "lot" for sale.

According to the seller, this is an original 80s-era Rowdy costume. A little bit of history on the famous mascot. The very first mascot from the beginning was actually a palomino named "Mac". Fast forward to the 80s after a cowboy was chosen as a mascot and Rowdy was born. The name Rowdy was actually named after a Clint Eastwood character, Rowdy Yates from the "Rawhide" series. Eastwood actually sang the song "Rowdy" in season 5 episode 27 called "Incident of the Hostages". The story behind the McNeese Rowdy is that during a cattle drive, he stopped in Lake Charles and decided to stick around.

You don't know how badly I want to message the seller and buy the entire lot just to get the costume. I know I wouldn't fit in it and have no idea what I would do with it. My hope would be someone would buy it and perhaps donate a few things back to McNeese. I'm sure they could find a little spot to display it at the Legacy Center!