It's the shortest distance in school history that an opponent will have to travel to take on the Lions in Strawberry Stadium when cross-campus rivals Southeastern Louisiana University and McNeese State University meet Saturday evening in a 6 p.m. Southland Conference football clash.

Thrown together in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita which tore through the Lake Charles area early in the morning hours of Sept. 24, McNeese State has been using the Southeastern Louisiana campus as shelter, or in this case, refuge, from the storm. In the intervening three weeks, the Cowboys have been eating, sleeping, working out and practicing in the Lions' facilities with goodwill amongst all.

So much for home field advantage.

Now if the Southeastern and McNeese football teams were related only by the fact that both institutions are located within the same state, all would be fine. Hunky dory even.

But if one ever wanted to strain the limits of goodwill or the boundaries of tolerance, the following would be a perfect recipe.

First mix two teams from the same football-playing division (I-AA). Then follow by slipping them into the same conference, in this case, the Southland Conference. Next top that off with a healthy dose of revenge from a lopsided game the previous season and combine with heated recruiting battles. Now simmer for three weeks and you've got a bubbling, brewing concoction hot enough to melt lead.

With those types of highly combustible ingredients in such a close proximity, one could only expect there to be exchanged words, significant issues or, in the worst case, conflicts or confrontations.

But there hasn't been. In fact, a situation that would have most coaches cringing at the mere thought of such a set of circumstances has proven to be quite mundane. Likely owing to the fact that many of the Southeastern players were affected by Hurricane Katrina and have a pretty good idea of what the McNeese players are going through.

"I'm sure McNeese would rather be at home in their own beds," replied Southeastern head coach Dennis Roland. "And I understand that. We are both making the best of a bad situation. And I think the players should be commended for avoiding any kind of confrontation.

"I know it's been stressful for everyone and mostly on McNeese," added Roland. "In times like these you do what you can to help others. I'm sure they would have done the same for us."

This week the Lions (1-4, 0-2 SLC) will be attempting to break a four game losing streak and win their first ever conference game against a SLC opponent. McNeese (3-1, 1-0) will be trying to string together a pair of SLC wins and make up for a 51-17 thrashing by the Lions last season in Lake Charles.

The game is also scheduled as Breast Cancer Awareness and "Green With Envy" night as 3,000 green t-shirts will be given away to Southeastern fans. Fans are also encouraged to wear green as the Lions attempt to "green out" Strawberry Stadium. Four former student-athletes, Voncia Bookman (softball), Alan Klein (football), Ken Kenelly (football, distinguished service) and Gino Marino (football, distinguished service) will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at halftime of Saturday's game.