NorthoftheBorder

I hate that the Brook lost because you have to hear how Htown is always superior (west of the trinity).  That said, I'll take a great system with great coaches with good players all day long.  Will win the vast majority of your games and Katy proves that year in year out.  Our local programs should emulate what they do.

I think LU has a pretty balanced group right now of Juniors, Sophomores and Freshmen.  Albeit there are more Juniors and Freshmen, there is still a pretty good group of sophs, so when the current Juniors graduate, the current freshmen will be Juniors and you have a strong 3 deep class of recruits with a decent senior class.

I know that SELA did not have the starting QB but this was still a very big win for LU.  Should be a huge confidence booster and hopefully propel them to a very good first season.

[quote name="BIG HOUSE" post="848887" timestamp="1284689138"] We are a START-UP program this year with a very diffucult schedule.. There will be ups and downs, thats for sure. If our coaching staff is solid we will make progress and learn from each game for next season when we will be senior heavy....My advise is to come out and support these kids no matter what happens this year.. [/quote] I think we will surprise some folks on how well we do for a startup program.  With everyone coming back next year, it has the potential barring any major injuries/setbacks to be a special year. 

[quote name="HoopInsider_Cooper" post="848256" timestamp="1284597632"] [font=Courier]FYI, The 2 MAJOR contributors gave not because of Tubbs...LOL. Tubbs is getting way too much credit. [/font] [/quote] Sounds like you have and axe to grind!

BigRedInsider.com is reporting that Anthony Beard has a torn ACL and will be out for the season.  What a bummer!!  He has the chance to have a special career at LU if he can stay healthy.  Here's hoping that he returns next year better than ever.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="848843" timestamp="1284687193"] [quote author=TexasTerror link=topic=73028.msg848827#msg848827 date=1284686214] For comparison's sake - anyone have the enrollments from say...10 years ago? 2000? [/quote] 235 [/quote] Now that's what I call positive growth! ;)

I sure hope West Brook wins Saturday night but you have to admit, Katy's program is a machine!

It is getting pretty close to lockdown time on this thread.  Can't see anything productive coming out it anymore.

Thought it would exceed 15k.  Maybe it will when they release they release the final numbers.

I think Woodard needs to offer him at LU.  Long shot but they should recruit every local D-1 prospect from this area even if they are going against UT etc.

Coach thanks for posting that PANews article on Simmons.  I remembered that I read something like that but couldn't remember where or when.  I think I will drop out of this FBS chatter for awhile because reading that again renews my belief that LU has the right guy at the helm and he has a big time vision for Lamar in all areas of the University including athletics.  As just a fan on the sidelines, I will trust it with him.  All my comments about it are just my opinion hope and desire for my alma mater.  On another note, I'm sure I am experiencing what everyone else is and that is Lamar football is very much in the social conversation of most all the people I come in contact with.  It is really refreshing to see such a widespread interest in Lamar and the program.  It makes the daily conversations much more fun and interesting.  Hope it stays that way from here on out.

[quote name="UNLV" post="848397" timestamp="1284633475"] [quote author=ispeakjive link=topic=72967.msg848356#msg848356 date=1284607278] That's a fair question, but it is ultimately apples and oranges.  Boise St. is the only big time program in Idaho and in that region.  They get their pick of the players in that region and have been successful enough to recruit outside of that region as well.  I love Lamar, but we would be competing to be the eighth pick of FBS recruits in the state behind UT, A&M, Tech, UH, Baylor, UTEP, and Rice.  And that doesn't even factor in LSU, Oklahoma, North Texas, and the other FBS schools in the state and region.  Lamar can fill a FCS niche here especially if Texas State and UTSA move up and have a very successful program for years to come. [/quote]Exactly like they did when they dropped the football program playing I-AA/FCS. Community support will once again dry up if LU continue to bring in "who are you" schools. That is a fact backed up by Lamars own history. [/quote] We had a full house for Webber International because it was a the first home game in 21 years.  Bring them in 3 or 4 years from now and the crowd will not be nearly what it was.  I am ecstactic its back, have season tickets, and am 100% behind the program.  But in an age where you can have your choice of 15+ college games on TV on a Saturday night, it's my concern that the average fan will stay home and watch a game between VT and Boise State instead of coming to see Webber Int. @ PU stadium.  No matter, I am encouraged that Ray Woodard is the real deal and has put together a very good staff and he wants to win.  I think that what should be happening is the LU brass should have its finger on the pulse of what coach Woodard wants for his own carreer.  If his goal is to coach in the FBS some day, then if he has what it takes to do that, he will leave when his success level reaches the ceiling of what he know the goal and committment of the University is.  That's why Tubbs left in 1980.  He wanted more for the program than the adminstration did at the time and he went somewhere that had the same goal and committment as he did.  I don't think I need to chronicle the history of the basketball program  from that point to today.  Successfful businesses (college athletic programs) don't sit back and bask in the glory of their most recent success and take it easy and be satisfied with where they are at that moment, they are always  in tune to what is going on and what the goal is ahead and how to achieve it.  That said, go BIG RED!

[quote name="LTrain" post="848132" timestamp="1284582610"] man im glad we arent in 67 anymore  :D [/quote] I think that was the very 1st season of LHS football.

Being in and around the financial world and consulting for the last 30 years, I can tell you that I understand the importance of "business models" and "business plans" and studies to assist with and make decisions by.  I whole heartedly support that and I believe that it has already been done on some level to bring the program back if not for the purpose of a FBS move.  I also understand that all of these studies are based on assumptions of future events that are based on historical data.  Knowing that no one can identify all the variables nor how outside forces (people, institutions, etc.) will really react when you put a plan together, you can get 3 experts to do the same study and come up with 3 seperate conclusions.  Wow!  I say all that to say this. It has been my experience that everyone (person, business, instituion) that has acheived great success has had these things in common: a vision, a tireless pursuit of that vision, refusal to look at and be deterred by the obstacles (including those who repeatedly say it can't be done) that are in the way, an enthusiasm for the vision that is contagious, flexibility to adapt to the changes and unexpected events (not planned for in the business model).  I know I haven't really enlightened anyone.  And I know that this post doesn't include any great ideas of how to accomplish a move to FBS.  I just lays out the mindset that would be necessary for such a move.  I am in the camp of wishing that LU would move to FBS if possible.  But my support is not conditional on that.  I just hope that at the least, we will be committed to being a championship caliber program in all aspects and pursue that goal at whatever level we are at.

[quote name="HoopInsider_Cooper" post="847813" timestamp="1284525675"] [font=Courier]I don't think tubbs will be making any more major decisions at Lamar.[/font] [/quote] Thank God he was at the helm to guide and assist during the last 7/8 years or we wouldn't be where we are.  And any major moves such as a FBS conference will be greatly enhanced with him as a spokesman for Lamar.

[quote name="coachacola" post="847403" timestamp="1284490208"] The "In the Cards" blog says that their QB will not play against Lamar. [/quote] Coach, I saw in a post on another website where you said you hoped to make it down for a football game sometime this season.  I thought you must live in the area by your posts of pictures of the stadium and you local knowledge of LU.  How did I get that confused?

Kudos.  Hope he is very successful in building the program their.

I understand that San Antonio is a much bigger city/TV market, but it really remains to be seen if San Antonio will support a college football team.  Can't throw water on anyone who wants to better themselves and has the Kahunas to go for it.  Hope 10 years from now we aren't doing Monday morning quarterbacking and saying coulda/shoulda/woulda on the FBS conference situation.

[quote name="AJ25" post="847056" timestamp="1284443671"] [quote author=NorthoftheBorder link=topic=72891.msg846421#msg846421 date=1284398238] [quote author=AJ25 link=topic=72891.msg846418#msg846418 date=1284397814] [quote author=mffl link=topic=72891.msg845569#msg845569 date=1284321049] [quote author=TopDawG52 link=topic=72891.msg845453#msg845453 date=1284306674] Not to bad Also Tulane lost this Week to Ole Miss 27 to 13 [/quote] Of course Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State in week 1  :D. Wish I could make it to this one. [/quote] Tulane was 2 blown plays away from making Ole Miss 0-2. [/quote] AJ25 you should have been at the game Saturday night.  Your homeboys played very well. [/quote] Sure wish I could have made it, just didn't have the money to make it all the way down to New Orleans. I know it's off subject, but Tulane is much improved this year and will continue improving. Back to the subject.. SELA should be a top 25 ranked D1-AA team if they aren't already. Those boys can play. [/quote] I was talking about your home boys at Lamar.  All 4 played well although I saw this morning that A Beard has reinjured his knee.  Don't know what that means but the rumblings don't sound good.

Biggest HS game in Beaumont in years.  Hope WB makes a statement and squeezes out a big time win.

Looks like the Gilmer talent pool is drying up a little.  Lost their second game of the season.  Not saying they are not still pretty good, just doesn't appear they are as formidable as in the last few years.  That or they have significant injury issues.

[quote name="Americanair" post="846553" timestamp="1284406886"] I would like to thank all of the Cardinal tailgaters that came by our area and said hello this past weekend. We had a wonderful time and with the amount of food around us, there was no way of leaving hungry. It felt like we were on the surface of the sun; however we would not have missed this event for anything. We look forward to the next home game and invite all to swing by and say hello. We are in the Montagne Parking lot. Look for the American Air Systems van and 3 Flags and you will find us. Go cards [/quote] Had several people ask me where I got the stadium seats I purchased from you guys.  Maybe you will  sell a few more.

[quote name="AJ25" post="846418" timestamp="1284397814"] [quote author=mffl link=topic=72891.msg845569#msg845569 date=1284321049] [quote author=TopDawG52 link=topic=72891.msg845453#msg845453 date=1284306674] Not to bad Also Tulane lost this Week to Ole Miss 27 to 13 [/quote] Of course Ole Miss lost to Jacksonville State in week 1  :D. Wish I could make it to this one. [/quote] Tulane was 2 blown plays away from making Ole Miss 0-2. [/quote] AJ25 you should have been at the game Saturday night.  Your homeboys played very well.

I don't see it as UNLV being critical in any way of the tremendous progress that has been made in bringing fooball back.  When Coach Gilliagan says this is the biggest event on campus in his tenure here, that is pretty solid as to how big this is.  And I think that LU should be greatly commended for at least starting at the FCS level instead of DII which some on this board advocated when the effort was first starting to happen to bring it back.  I sense a degree of hostility that in my opinion is out of bounds for someone who I think just want's LU to be big time.  Obviously, Ravine your points on feasibility studies are well taken and I know that I do not (nor do I believe UNLV does) advocate leaping blindly, but I also think that this study should be done soon with the changing landscape of college athletics.  I think that discussions with the major Alumns/Supporters should be held in confidence to see if LU were afforded an the chance to move to a BCS conference in the future would the funding be there to take that step.  If it is out of the reach, then so be it.  All the while, we can continue the great strides we are currently experiencing bringing it back and the fans can enjoy and support it.  I just don't agree with the thinking that we "can't so lets don't even try" position and from all that I have read from your friend UNLV, I think he feels the same.