Ex-LSU, NCAA Outlaw Will Wade's Greatest Hits On Him By Media Grace T-Shirts

New McNeese State basketball coach Will Wade - alias former LSU and NCAA outlaw - will be going after more than just No. 5 seed Gonzaga (25-7) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament Thursday night in Salt Lake City.

Wade has had a spectacular season at McNeese, leading the program to a record-breaking season at 30-3 after it went 11-23 a year ago. But he apparently still wants revenge against various media members who ripped him back when the NCAA was investigating and confirming his many recruiting violations while LSU's coach from 2017-22.

 Wade, 41, is in his first season at McNeese after a year in exile following his 2022 firing by LSU. He wore his heart on his sleeve concerning the NCAA and LSU at a press conference Wednesday at the Delta Center, then spelled it out on T-Shirts his assistant coaches and players wear.

Staff members Reed Vial, the special assistant to Wade, and Brady Jones, McNeese's video and analytics coordinator, were spotted wearing very wordy T-Shirts at the Cowboys - aka Bayou Bandits - practice on Wednesday at the Delta Center. McNeese players reportedly also have the T-Shirts.

McNeese State basketball special assistant Reed Vial (left) and video/analytics coordinator Brady Jones (right) wear T-Shirts with excerpts of various media members harshly criticizing McNeese coach Will Wade (center) for his many NCAA violations while LSU's coach from 2017-22. (Getty Images) 

The media featured on the T-Shirts include yours truly as I covered the NCAA's probe of Wade at USA Today Louisiana before coming to OutKick in 2021 and a lot after for OutKick. Also excerpted are former ESPN announcer Dick Vitale and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith. Other writers on the very busy shirts are Sports Illustrated's Pat Forde, USA Today's Dan Wolken and CBS' Jeff Goodman. Headlines from the Gainesville Sun and The Athletic also appear.

READ: Will Wade's Louisiana Purchases While LSU's Coach

Vitale's entire tweet on Wade appears from March 7, 2019 - the day Forde, Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel broke the story for Yahoo.com about Wade, including his infamous quote about giving LSU recruit Javonte Smart a "strong ass offer." 

"Wade Sounds Sinister In The Scheme, Woodward Comment Not Exactly An Endorsement," is the excerpt that appears on the T-Shirt from my column. That piece detailed Wade's appearance in the 2020 HBO documentary called "The Scheme" that delved into the FBI's investigation of college basketball corruption.  

"There has been no reckoning for SEC cheaters like Will Wade" is the excerpt on the T-Shirt from the Gainesville Sun.

READ: LSU Fires Will Wade After Years Of NCAA Probe And 8 Level I Violations

No one asked Wade about the T-Shirts during his press conference Wednesday.

But he was asked about his dark days at LSU and battles with the NCAA, which ended up penalizing him for five of the most serious Level I recruiting violations.

"Just knowing some of the things you've been through personally, some of the adversity that you've been through," began one reporter.

Will Wade Criticizes NCAA

Wade interrupted and said, "You can say it. I got fired."

Wade then was asked what good came out of the FBI's lengthy investigation into college basketball corruption that led to his firing by LSU.

McNeese State coach Will Wade (right) has his team at 30-3 on the season entering the NCAA Tournament Thursday night against No. 5 seed Gonzaga. (Getty Images).

"No, I mean, I think it ruined a lot of people's lives," he said. "I was able to recover. There were a lot of people that were not able to recover. I think it ruined a lot of people's lives for very little reason. I think it was extremely unfortunate. I stay in touch with a lot of the people who haven't been as fortunate as me to be able to find a route back."

Wade then referenced Name, Image & Likeness, which started in the summer of 2021 and legalized paying college athletes after the NCAA was already deep in its investigation of Wade's illegal recruiting that pre-dated 2021.

"I mean, look, we're talking here today, everything that some of these people got their lives ruined for, I mean, it's standard operating procedure today," Wade said. "It's just extremely disappointing. I wish the NCAA would step in and say, ‘Look, we need to let these other folks back in. We need to get rid of some of these punishments that they had.’ They need to wash it, start clear, let those guys back in, let them get going and give them the opportunity to rebuild their career. They've been punished, I promise you. They've been punished enough."