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TexasTerror
July 2nd, 2007, 06:55 PM
The debate continues...should it come back from the dead or should it stay buried? Lamar football...
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Return of football at Lamar would be benefit to many
By PERRYN KEYS, The Enterprise
Maybe you think it won't matter if Lamar University reinstates its football program. And maybe I've got evidence that says otherwise.

A football team at Lamar can help the university grow. A football team at Lamar can help the community grow.

It has happened before.

Come with me, to the late 1990s and a place called Hammond, La., home of Southeastern Louisiana - now one of Lamar's Southland Conference rivals.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18532645&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=583964&rfi=6
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Lamar football is dead and buried; may it rest in peace
By RUSH WOOD, The Enterprise
06/29/2007
Updated 07/01/2007 11:17:56 PM CDT

On Dec. 14, 1989, Lamar University endured perhaps the grimmest setback in its athletic history.

Just 16 days after the Cardinals staged an 80-yard touchdown drive in the final two minutes to notch a 22-17 come-from-behind victory over McNeese State, Lamar's regents - by a 5-4 margin - voted to discontinue the football program.

In recommending this move to the regents, the university's then-president, Billy Franklin, cited the school's inability to cope with mounting deficits in the football program, and he stressed the decision should help the remaining 14 athletic teams become more competitive.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18532643&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=583964&rfi=6
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Fans, ex players still reeling from day LU put football on ice
By PERRYN KEYS, The Enterprise
06/29/2007

BEAUMONT - Like every ounce of life from his body was drained. That's how Frank Messina said he felt when he heard the vote that killed football at Lamar University.

"I couldn't believe it," said Messina, a former player and longtime Beaumont businessman. "I really thought we'd made the case to save the program."

In the 30 days that led up to Thursday, Dec. 14, 1989, Messina and fellow booster Charlie Gibbs spearheaded the Cardinal Club's last-gasp effort to sell season tickets for the following year - and considering the Cardinals' 31-77-1 record through the 1980s, it wasn't an easy pitch.

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18532648&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=583964&rfi=6
Casey_Orourke
July 2nd, 2007, 07:14 PM
It's hard to believe a Texas college actually disbanded football, but there it is. Has Hell froze over?
DFW HOYA
July 2nd, 2007, 07:20 PM
It's hard to believe a Texas college actually disbanded football, but there it is. Has Hell froze over?

Well, tell it to Texas-Arlington, St. Edward's, Hardin-Simmons (1963-90) and, briefly, SMU (1987-88).
TexasTerror
July 2nd, 2007, 07:27 PM
Well, tell it to Texas-Arlington, St. Edward's, Hardin-Simmons (1963-90) and, briefly, SMU (1987-88).

Didn't Prairie View A&M temporarily toss football as well?

SMU was NCAA sanctioned based...
BigApp
July 2nd, 2007, 08:02 PM
SMU didn't have a choice in the matter
DFW HOYA
July 2nd, 2007, 08:11 PM
SMU didn't have a choice in the matter

The first year, yes. But it was a one year ban extended to two by the school's administration. SMU (not just the team) hasn't been the same since.
gokats85
July 2nd, 2007, 08:22 PM
Also think about the effect on Wichita State after football was dropped. Of course they never recovered after the tragic plane crash in 1970, just weeks before Marshall's tragedy.
Mr. Tiger
July 2nd, 2007, 09:41 PM
Didn't Prairie View A&M temporarily toss football as well?

SMU was NCAA sanctioned based...

PV didn't field a team in 1990.
patssle
July 2nd, 2007, 09:47 PM
20 bucks that the first season of Lamar football...the fans will be predicting a national championship. Mark it down, I said it here first.
Seawolf97
July 2nd, 2007, 10:21 PM
Lamar, maybe Vermont. Sounds like two good programs maybe be out in the future but none the less in talking stages.
already123
July 3rd, 2007, 04:39 AM
PV might as well toss the team.

Lamar could try to revive a program....but is it truly worth it??
TexasTerror
July 3rd, 2007, 07:27 AM
20 bucks that the first season of Lamar football...the fans will be predicting a national championship. Mark it down, I said it here first.

They are already predicting that they will lead the SLC in attendance...xrolleyesx
813Jag
July 3rd, 2007, 08:02 AM
Didn't Prairie View A&M temporarily toss football as well?

SMU was NCAA sanctioned based...
Yes they did.
813Jag
July 3rd, 2007, 08:04 AM
PV might as well toss the team.

Lamar could try to revive a program....but is it truly worth it??
Their team has come a long way since those days. They finally have a coach that wants to win.
TheBisonator
July 3rd, 2007, 11:19 AM
Did one of those articles say that Lamar averaged 16,380 fans per game in 1979?? If so, that's freaking INCREDIBLE. Technically, even NDSU hasn't averaged that much in a season, we were 3 shy of that number last year, which was our record for a season (16,377). And we're a state flagship school!!!
McNeese72
July 3rd, 2007, 11:44 AM
Did one of those articles say that Lamar averaged 16,380 fans per game in 1979?? If so, that's freaking INCREDIBLE. Technically, even NDSU hasn't averaged that much in a season, we were 3 shy of that number last year, which was our record for a season (16,377). And we're a state flagship school!!!

And McNeese averaged 19,800 back then. That's back when the Southland was still I-A and tied to the Independence Bowl Game. Of course, we went undefeated that season and played in front of overflow crowds packed on the endzone hills.

The Conference back then consisted of Northeast La (ULM), Sothwestern La. (ULL), La. Tech, Lamar, Texas Arlington, Ark St, and McNeese. A lot of close natural rivalries that brought the fans out.

Conference Rankings in 1979:

League All Games
1979 W L T Pct. W L T Pct.
1McNeese State 5 0 0 1000 11 1 0 .917
Texas-Arlington 4 1 0 .800 9 2 0 .818
Lamar 3 2 0 .600 6 3 2 .636
La.-Lafayette 1 4 0 .200 4 7 0 .364
Arkansas State 1 4 0 .200 4 7 0 .364
2Louisiana Tech 1 4 0 .200 3 8 0 .273
1includes loss in Independence Bowl; 2includes one win by forfeit.

Doc
chrisattsu
July 3rd, 2007, 11:48 AM
And McNeese averaged 19,800 back then. That's back when the Southland was still I-A and tied to the Independence Bowl Game. Of course, we went undefeated that season and played in front of overflow crowds packed on the endzone hills.

The Conference back then consisted of Northeast La (ULM), Sothwestern La. (ULL), La. Tech, Lamar, Texas Arlington, Ark St, and McNeese. A lot of close natural rivalries that brought the fans out.

Conference Rankings in 1979:

League All Games
1979 W L T Pct. W L T Pct.
1McNeese State 5 0 0 1000 11 1 0 .917
Texas-Arlington 4 1 0 .800 9 2 0 .818
Lamar 3 2 0 .600 6 3 2 .636
La.-Lafayette 1 4 0 .200 4 7 0 .364
Arkansas State 1 4 0 .200 4 7 0 .364
2Louisiana Tech 1 4 0 .200 3 8 0 .273
1includes loss in Independence Bowl; 2includes one win by forfeit.

Doc

Doc,

Thanks for that post. I didn't know who all was in the Southland during those years.
Freightliner
July 3rd, 2007, 03:09 PM
20 bucks that the first season of Lamar football...the fans will be predicting a national championship. Mark it down, I said it here first.


LOL.....Pat...I'll back you up on that bet..


IT WONT HAPPEN....and this is coming from someone who WORKED for Lamar's FB program back then.

Rush Wood was the SID back when Lamar cut football - if he says its dead and buried...its DEAD and BURIED.

Would be interesting to see how they would renovate Higgins though...
already123
July 3rd, 2007, 05:27 PM
Lamar Football....best things since sliced bread!
GeauxLions94
July 3rd, 2007, 11:08 PM
20 bucks that the first season of Lamar football...the fans will be predicting a national championship. Mark it down, I said it here first.

You can bet they probably are RIGHT NOW and they haven't made an official announcement yet xrolleyesx
Sly Fox
July 4th, 2007, 04:48 PM
Well, tell it to Texas-Arlington, St. Edward's, Hardin-Simmons (1963-90) and, briefly, SMU (1987-88).

Come on, I get the UTA and Hardin-Simmons references. But St. Eds should never be used in reference to this discussion. The sister school of Notre Dame is mad eup nearly entirely of international students who have zero interest in American football. And there already is a rather significant football program that has its stadium visible form the hilltop campus.

Personally I think Lamar could carve a nice little niche in the Golden Triangle. Its far enough from Houston to have its own identity.
TexasTerror
July 4th, 2007, 05:28 PM
Personally I think Lamar could carve a nice little niche in the Golden Triangle. Its far enough from Houston to have its own identity.

There sure are a lot of Univ of Houston Cougar fans on their board to make a remark like that...
Bearkatpresident
July 8th, 2007, 02:47 PM
High school football is huge in that area, and I really do think they could get thier attendence numbers up to respectable levels. And there ARE enough buisnesses in the Golden Triangle that would support it (I mean, the university sits right behind a chemical plant for crying out loud)

BUT, people are leaving Beaumont in droves and moving away to smaller communites that surrond it.