Tylor Skipper

[Krishna Agrawal @Krishnasagrawal]

INSTEAD OF WATCHING AN HOUR OF NETFLIX TONIGHT.

This 1 hour Stanford lecture by Joel Peterson will teach you more about negotiation and getting what you want than most people learn in years.

Bookmark it and give it an hour, no matter what.

[Ben Stiller @BenStiller]

This is incredible

KNICKS ARE CHAMPS

NEW YORK 💙🧡HOME

[Sam Block @theblockspot]

Knicks won the NBA Finals.
Sam Darnold won the Super Bowl.
Indiana won the National Championship.

Apply for your dream job.
Buy your dream car.
DM your crush.

2026 is the year to just go for it all.

[104.5 ESPN @1045espn]

🚨EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW🚨

Senior Deputy Athletic Director/Executive Director of External Relations for the LSU System @HSchroyer joins @MattMoscona on #AFR to discuss his new position and Will Wade's return to @LSUBasketball 🏀🐯

[Chaston Tavares @Chaston_Tavares]

An open letter to Poke Nation from Heath Schroyer is below...

Poke Nation,

For me, this has been so much more than just a job.

I came to Lake Charles eight years ago, and although I’ve never shared this publicly, I almost left one week in. The first time I tried to book a flight to recruit players, I was told I couldn’t. The program had no money. If I wanted to recruit, I’d have to raise the money myself. On top of that, we were on the cusp of an academic postseason ban.

The truth is, I was basically lied to about the state the program was in. Had I known how bad things were, I never would have taken the job. I had never seen a program run that way—and as someone who has worked at eight different Division I schools, that says a lot.

I called my old boss and he offered me my job back, plus a hefty raise. I told him I was on my way.

That evening, I met with Dr. Wallace. He shared his passion for the program and told me how badly he wanted to win. He believed we could build something special here. I could see the desperation in his eyes, and in that moment I just couldn’t bring myself to tell him I was quitting.

So I called my old boss back.

“I’m going to stay,” I told him. “And I’m going to change this damn place.”

I had no idea how true that statement would be.

Later, when I was asked to transition into the Athletic Director role, I doubled down on my promise. I made it my mission to make sure McNeese’s athletic department ran like a proper Division I program.

I remember August 28, 2020 like it was yesterday. I’d only been the AD for a few months, we were in the middle of COVID and then Hurricane Laura hit. Our university—and our community—were absolutely devastated.

That moment was a turning point for me. I realized I wasn’t sent to Lake Charles just to coach basketball. I was sent for a higher purpose. From that point forward, my mission was to transform our athletic department and to help rebuild both the university and our community.

My faith has always been strong, and I truly believe everything happens for a reason. In those difficult months after the hurricane, I found my stride as a leader. Those first six months were the hardest stretch of my professional and personal life—but also the most rewarding.

We literally rebuilt this program from nothing.

We had 400 student-athletes displaced all over the country. Every facility was destroyed. We were operating with a $3 million annual deficit.

Look at us now, Poke Nation.

Through it all, I have fallen in love with Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana. This community has meant so much to me, and it’s become home in a way no other place ever has. In fact, I’ve now lived in Lake Charles longer than I’ve lived anywhere else.

My son Hayden, who is on the spectrum, has flourished here. He graduated from Barbe High School and today works on the grounds crew at McNeese. Watching him grow here has meant so much to me.

Over the years, as our success grew, I have had several opportunities to leave for other jobs at bigger schools that offered more money. I didn’t take them for one simple reason: I wanted to finish what we started.

Today, McNeese is a legitimate, nationally relevant Division I athletic program. After 19 championships, over $11 million in naming rights partnerships, state-of-the-art facilities, the best collection of coaches in the history of McNeese, and an athletic department that is the most financially stable in the state—it’s time for me to step aside and take on a new challenge.

There are so many people I want to thank—far too many to name individually—they know who they are. None of this would have been possible without an incredible team working toward the same vision.

I’m especially grateful to our amazing staff, our executive leadership team, and especially Dr. Wade Rousse. Dr. Rousse gave me the freedom to lead and he trusted me to be myself. He led this university with a contagious energy and passion. We worked hand in hand every day to move McNeese and McNeese Athletics forward.

When you care about something as much as I care about McNeese and this community, you don’t walk away without making sure the transition is smooth and well executed.

I’m proud of the team we’ve built here.

Bridget Martin is one of the best and most respected administrators I’ve ever worked with, and I’m proud to share that she will serve as your next Athletic Director. Bridget has dedicated 30 years to McNeese. She shares the same passion for this department that I do, and I have complete confidence that she will continue the momentum we’ve created.

Matt Fontenot is one of the best young administrators in the country. He will step into an expanded role overseeing the McNeese Athletic Foundation and will serve as the primary point of contact for our corporate partners.

This transition plan has been in place for some time. True leadership means empowering the people around you so they are prepared to succeed—even without you.

I’m excited about the opportunity to work with Verge Ausberry and to reunite with Dr. Rousse at LSU. I love the vision Verge has for how I can best serve, and I believe this role is tailor-made for my skillset. I’m ready to get to work.

I’m also grateful that I’ll be able to stay in Louisiana. This state has become home.

Lake Charles, this isn’t goodbye, it’s simply see you later.

Thank you… for everything. I’m humbled, grateful, and forever proud of what we built together.

Geaux Pokes Forever,
Heath Schroyer

[CLEAN CAR CLUB @TheCleanCarClub]

Travelling tips

[BOXTOROW MEDIA @boxtorow]

“I’m gonna lobby for a statue at some point.”McNeese State head men’s basketball coach Bill Armstrong talks about players Larry Johnson and Javohn Garcia and what they mean to the basketball program. Full conversation: https://t.co/y8vmQnqOfb @dware1 @Coacha15 @McNeeseMBB

[The Field of 68 @TheFieldOf68]

NEW: @McNeeseMBB's Bill Armstrong talks with @RobDauster and @GoodmanHoops after clinching the @SouthlandSports tourney bid! 🎟️

🎥: https://t.co/WndhTXVE5Y

[HarmonyHaven @HarmonyHaven_1]

15 Deep Lines about Life:

1

[Pokes Talk @pokes_talk]

The Legacy will be rocking😤

Men's and Women's teams will be a fun watch this year

[Steve Harvey @IAmSteveHarvey]

💯💯

[Brandon Chambers @chambershoops]

Star in the role you have and work for the role you want.

[CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 @CBSSportsCBB]

Will Wade is very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very, excited.

[College Basketball Report @CBKReport]

Best records in conference play over the last two seasons:

McNeese | 36-2
Saint Mary’s | 32-2
Yale | 24-3
Vermont | 28-4
Houston | 33-5
GCU | 29-5
Drake | 34-7
Auburn | 29-6
Akron | 29-6
High Point | 27-6
JMU | 31-7
CCSU | 26-6
UC Irvine | 30-7
UCSD | 29-7
UConn | 31-8

[McNeese Athletics @McNeeseSports]

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝🤠

Thank you to everyone who made McNeese Athletic’s first NIL summit a success! Your support means everything.

📸 https://t.co/wmg0iUZ3Xh

#GeauxPokes

[Allistair McCaw @AllistairMcCaw]

QOTD: