Lamar Cardinals football
Encyclopedia
The Lamar Cardinals football program represents Lamar University
in college football
at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Cardinals are members of the Southland Conference
, although they will not play a full conference schedule until 2011. The Cardinals
play their homes games in the 16,000 seat Provost Umphrey Stadium. The team's head coach is Ray Woodard
.
Coach John Gray led his charges to records of 8-1 that season and 8-1-1 in 1934 before the program was discontinued again in 1942 and did not resume again until the end of World War II
. Football was restored in 1946 and the first football scholarships were offered. In the 1946 season Lamar posted an 8-2 ledger. The 1948 club (8-4-0) won two bowl games, and the 1949 outfit won an all time school record 10 games and another bowl trophy as the school bade farewell to the junior college era.
After the school moved up to the NAIA level in the Lone Star Conference, the Cardinals didn’t have a winning season until a superb 8-0-2 season in 1957 ignited a string of 11 consecutive winning campaigns. The 1961 team advanced to the Tangerine Bowl (now the Capital One Bowl
) against Middle Tennessee State on December 29, 1961, and won 21-14.
Just as the Cardinals were becoming a perennial contender in the Lone Star loop, school officials moved the athletic program forward into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college division ranks in 1963 via the Southland Conference
. The football team enjoyed immediate success with three straight SLC grid titles (1964–66). In 1964 the Cardinals were invited to the Pecan Bowl after a 6-3-1 campaign. The Cardinals lost 19-17 to Northern Iowa
. The Cardinals had a second-place finish in 1967. A year later, the school’s athletic program embarked on another challenge by upgrading to the NCAA Division I level.
Lamar averaged 12,000 patrons through 1974, drawing a then record 16,226 against arch-rival McNeese State to Cardinal Stadium in 1972. The transition to Division I proved to be a spark for many LU sports but football experienced a downturn after 1974. Fans responded when new coach Larry Kennan
delivered a 6-3-2 club in 1979; Games against Louisiana Tech (17,600) and West Texas State (17,250) rank second and third, respectively, behind the standing-room-only 18,500 Baylor drew for the 1980 opener. Lamar set an all-time attendance record by averaging 16,380 that season. The Cardinals’ signature win came on September 5, 1981, in an 18-17 win over the UPI #20 ranked Baylor Bears
under Head Coach Larry Kennan
.
Football went independent when Lamar left the SLC in 1987 to join the basketball-flavored American South Conference
.
board of regents to pull the plug on football at their first official session in 1989 (5 to 4 vote). Now a member of the Texas State University System
, the university is in the process of bringing the football team back, fielding a club in 2010. In preparation for the return of play the University has done extensive work on the facilities including, Provost Umphrey Stadium, a new Athletic complex, and high class suites built into the existing Montagne Center
. The university hired former NFL player Ray Woodard
as the head coach to lead the charge in bringing the Cardinals back to the gridiron. Former Basketball Coach Billy Tubbs
was hired as the Athletic Director in 2006 and has had a significant role in bringing back the Cardinals football team.
and his staff. The Cardinals opened up the season on September 4 against arch-rival, #11 in Lake Charles
. The crowd of 19,235 that filled Cowboy Stadium
marked the highest attendance since 2002 for the Cowboys. Lamar quarterback Andre Bevil set a school record for passing yards with 427 yards through the air. The game featured a late fourth quarter surge by the Cardinals with two touch down passes thrown in the final quarter of the game. McNeese clinched the 30-27 victory when they converted on third and 10 with less than a minute left.
Lamar University
Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...
in college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) level. The Cardinals are members of the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
, although they will not play a full conference schedule until 2011. The Cardinals
Lamar Cardinals
The Lamar Cardinals refers to the collegiate athletic teams of Lamar University. The inception of the nickname "Cardinals" dates back to the schools name change to Lamar in 1932. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...
play their homes games in the 16,000 seat Provost Umphrey Stadium. The team's head coach is Ray Woodard
Ray Woodard
Ray Woodard is a former American football defensive tackle and current head coach at Lamar University. He was hired on May 19, 2008 to resurrect the Lamar Cardinals football program that was discontinued in 1989. Woodard played college football at Kilgore College and Texas, was selected 199th...
.
History
From its inception as South Park Junior College in 1923, football was a part of Lamar's history. It was discontinued in 1928 because of a lack of common opponents but was revived again in 1932 by the renamed Lamar College.Coach John Gray led his charges to records of 8-1 that season and 8-1-1 in 1934 before the program was discontinued again in 1942 and did not resume again until the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Football was restored in 1946 and the first football scholarships were offered. In the 1946 season Lamar posted an 8-2 ledger. The 1948 club (8-4-0) won two bowl games, and the 1949 outfit won an all time school record 10 games and another bowl trophy as the school bade farewell to the junior college era.
After the school moved up to the NAIA level in the Lone Star Conference, the Cardinals didn’t have a winning season until a superb 8-0-2 season in 1957 ignited a string of 11 consecutive winning campaigns. The 1961 team advanced to the Tangerine Bowl (now the Capital One Bowl
Capital One Bowl
The Capital One Bowl is an annual college football bowl game played in Orlando, Florida at the Citrus Bowl, and previously known as the Tangerine Bowl and the Florida Citrus Bowl...
) against Middle Tennessee State on December 29, 1961, and won 21-14.
Just as the Cardinals were becoming a perennial contender in the Lone Star loop, school officials moved the athletic program forward into the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) college division ranks in 1963 via the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The football team enjoyed immediate success with three straight SLC grid titles (1964–66). In 1964 the Cardinals were invited to the Pecan Bowl after a 6-3-1 campaign. The Cardinals lost 19-17 to Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
. The Cardinals had a second-place finish in 1967. A year later, the school’s athletic program embarked on another challenge by upgrading to the NCAA Division I level.
Lamar averaged 12,000 patrons through 1974, drawing a then record 16,226 against arch-rival McNeese State to Cardinal Stadium in 1972. The transition to Division I proved to be a spark for many LU sports but football experienced a downturn after 1974. Fans responded when new coach Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966...
delivered a 6-3-2 club in 1979; Games against Louisiana Tech (17,600) and West Texas State (17,250) rank second and third, respectively, behind the standing-room-only 18,500 Baylor drew for the 1980 opener. Lamar set an all-time attendance record by averaging 16,380 that season. The Cardinals’ signature win came on September 5, 1981, in an 18-17 win over the UPI #20 ranked Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears refers to the sports teams of Baylor University. Baylor's men's sports teams are nicknamed the Bears, and some women's teams are nicknamed the Lady Bears. Student athletes participate in the NCAA's Division I, and Baylor is the only private school in the Big 12 Conference...
under Head Coach Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan
Larry Kennan is a former American football coach. He is currently the staff director of the NFL Coaches Association.-Coaching career:Kennan's coaching career began at his alma mater La Verne in 1966...
.
Football went independent when Lamar left the SLC in 1987 to join the basketball-flavored American South Conference
American South Conference
The American South Conference was in the NCAA. The conference existed from 1987 to 1991.-Membership:*Arkansas State *UCF *Lamar *Louisiana–Lafayette *Louisiana Tech *New Orleans...
.
Disbandment and reintroduction
Dismal support finally led to larger-than-expected deficits and provided the bottom line fodder for five new appointees to the then-Lamar University SystemLamar University System
The Lamar University System was a University system based in Beaumont, Texas. It comprised four institutions: the flagship, Lamar University, and the member institutions Lamar State College Port Arthur, Lamar State College Orange, and Lamar Institute of Technology. The system and it's member...
board of regents to pull the plug on football at their first official session in 1989 (5 to 4 vote). Now a member of the Texas State University System
Texas State University System
The Texas State University System was created in 1911 to oversee the state's normal schools. Since its creation it has broadened its focus and comprises institutions of many different scopes. It is the oldest multi-system University System in Texas...
, the university is in the process of bringing the football team back, fielding a club in 2010. In preparation for the return of play the University has done extensive work on the facilities including, Provost Umphrey Stadium, a new Athletic complex, and high class suites built into the existing Montagne Center
Montagne Center
Montagne Center is a 10,080-seat multi-purpose arena in Beaumont, Texas. It was built in 1984. It is home to the Lamar University Cardinals basketball team. The area floor can host sporting events like basketball, volleyball, wrestling, boxing and martial arts tournaments. With stadium and floor...
. The university hired former NFL player Ray Woodard
Ray Woodard
Ray Woodard is a former American football defensive tackle and current head coach at Lamar University. He was hired on May 19, 2008 to resurrect the Lamar Cardinals football program that was discontinued in 1989. Woodard played college football at Kilgore College and Texas, was selected 199th...
as the head coach to lead the charge in bringing the Cardinals back to the gridiron. Former Basketball Coach Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs
Billy Tubbs is a former men's college basketball coach. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native has been the head coach of his alma mater Lamar University , the University of Oklahoma and Texas Christian University .Tubbs was known for his high scoring offense and full-court press defense.Tubbs achieved many...
was hired as the Athletic Director in 2006 and has had a significant role in bringing back the Cardinals football team.
2010
The 2010 season was the Lamar Cardinals's first since 1989 and the first for head coach Ray WoodardRay Woodard
Ray Woodard is a former American football defensive tackle and current head coach at Lamar University. He was hired on May 19, 2008 to resurrect the Lamar Cardinals football program that was discontinued in 1989. Woodard played college football at Kilgore College and Texas, was selected 199th...
and his staff. The Cardinals opened up the season on September 4 against arch-rival, #11 in Lake Charles
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Lake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
. The crowd of 19,235 that filled Cowboy Stadium
Cowboy Stadium
Cowboy Stadium is a 17,410-seat multi-purpose stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana. It is home to the McNeese State University Cowboys football team, and is affectionately referred to as "The Hole". It was transformed for the 2008 season to artificial turf. A new state of the art field house is...
marked the highest attendance since 2002 for the Cowboys. Lamar quarterback Andre Bevil set a school record for passing yards with 427 yards through the air. The game featured a late fourth quarter surge by the Cardinals with two touch down passes thrown in the final quarter of the game. McNeese clinched the 30-27 victory when they converted on third and 10 with less than a minute left.