NorthoftheBorder

You can count me in the "think big" crowd.  I am ecstactic the program is back and all the support it is receiving.  I hope that the support stays at near this level during the next few years where it will be up and down.  I also hope that LU will work hard to improve and grow the program to national heights in the FCS level we are now while always being in tune to the potential to elevate it to the top if the opportunity presents itself.  That is the key, always wanting to better your self but being smart about it.  I am excited we won our first game, but surely would rather be playing North Texas, La Tech, Ark State et al at home than the Webber International's down the road.  And using the logic of previous posts on the board, maybe coach Woodard needs to cancel some of the games that have been scheduled for the future.  We are reaching out to far I guess.

The whole experience was fantastic and the LU faithful showed up in force.  It was great to see the "sea of red" in PU stadium.  Thank you Dr. Simmons for your vision and leadership for Lamar.  You have done more for LU in the last 10 years than all the presidents combined in my lifetime.  I hope you have 5-10 years left in you.  No telling where LU will be at the end of your tenure!

[quote name="STiger85" post="844293" timestamp="1284183258"] [quote author=WTB link=topic=72729.msg844288#msg844288 date=1284182875] 9 never saw triple coverage. he has a good game and was bracketed most of it but not tripled [/quote] Yes several times in the second half he was covered by a CB with a safety over the top and a LB sliding over to his side. One time he caught the ball and three Lumberton players were around him. [/quote] As good as you say he is then he should have single handedly won the game for Silsbee.

This is really tough.  Looks like (in alphabetical order Indian fans) LCM, Lumberton and PNG are the top three, but I don't know if you can even say that for sure.  Was disappointed in Ned's loss to BH tonight.  Central has played the toughest competition so far but has had it handed to them so I guess I'm saying that it is probably still wide open at this point.  Will make for some fun distict games.

Box score shows Lumb 326 total yards to 130 for Silsbee (of which only 6 were rushing).  Lumb FD 17 Silsbe FD 10.  The score was closer than the game really was.

Looks like Merka is not having the kind of senior year he had hoped for.

[quote name="coachacola" post="843968" timestamp="1284175037"] Going FBS is more of a long term goal than a short term goal.  A year or two ago Dr. Simmons said it probably wouldn't happen while he was president of LU.  Then just this past year either him or the AD said they were looking to go FBS in 4 or 5 years.  It's all about money so Lamar still needs to be talking to FBS conferences behind the scenes, even if they don't plan on moving up for a while. [/quote] Absolutely, positively right Coachacola.  And if the right deal comes up, then the powers that be need to be in a position to move.  That means that they should be having meaningful discussions with the money power broker supporters now so that they could be lining up the proper support in case the right opportunity opens up.  That said, one of the best things that can also happen is that this first team surpasses any expectations for a start up program and really generates and maintains major support from the Golden Triangle.  Lets don't let a SWT alum try to throw water on our parade.

[quote name="coachacola" post="843179" timestamp="1284147882"] It's probably mostly a matter of money.  Can Lamar increase their athletic budget from $8 million in 2008-2009 to roughly $15+ million in the next 3 or 4 years?  Lamar still has to start softball plus raise $5 million for Vincent-Beck.  They have their work cut out for them. [/quote] Based on your numbers you did in an earlier post, they may bring in as much as $3mil in football revenues this year!

[quote name="coachacola" post="843154" timestamp="1284145312"] [quote author=NorthoftheBorder link=topic=72726.msg843131#msg843131 date=1284144120] [quote author=westendfirst link=topic=72726.msg843118#msg843118 date=1284143590] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=72726.msg843002#msg843002 date=1284134953] Lynn Hickey, UTSA's AD, is already talking to the WAC.  Hopefully Lamar is at least talking to the WAC too. [/quote] Why in the world would we want to go to the WAC?!  Granted, the money would be great but other than that it is just crazy. [/quote] As others have posted in previous threads, it would only make sense if they could establish an Eastern division around La Tech of Tx, NM, OK, Ark, or La schools so that it would reduce travel requirements.  However UTSA may not care about that and be willing to travel out west for the majority of their games. [/quote] That's exactly right.  It only makes sense if there's an Eastern division, which I think there's a good chance of that happening.  By going FBS then you can get the Sun Belt and CUSA type schools into Beaumont, otherwise we'll see these non-D1 schools every year.  Basketball would be a lot more fun with teams like La Tech, Utah State and New Mexico State coming to town.  But Dr. Simmons may not want Lamar to go FBS at this time. [/quote] I for one, along with UNLV would like to take advantage of any good opportunity that makes sense that comes along.  I think it would be wrong to summarily write off any possiblity that would come along without exploring its potential.  It needs to make sense economicly, accademicly, and athleticly.  I would think that if the right opportunity presented itself it would go over really well with the major donors who would be inclined to donate for such a move.  I trust Dr. Simmons and believe that he would be astute in his approach.

[quote name="westendfirst" post="843118" timestamp="1284143590"] [quote author=coachacola link=topic=72726.msg843002#msg843002 date=1284134953] Lynn Hickey, UTSA's AD, is already talking to the WAC.  Hopefully Lamar is at least talking to the WAC too. [/quote] Why in the world would we want to go to the WAC?!  Granted, the money would be great but other than that it is just crazy. [/quote] As others have posted in previous threads, it would only make sense if they could establish an Eastern division around La Tech of Tx, NM, OK, Ark, or La schools so that it would reduce travel requirements.  However UTSA may not care about that and be willing to travel out west for the majority of their games.

[quote name="raideroldtimer" post="843080" timestamp="1284140983"] This is great, every Friday in Louisiana you can watch High School football, it's about time we got the chance in southeast Texas. [/quote] I wonder what this will do the the attendance for the game?  I have tried to watch a couple of the HS games on Fox and ESPN but couldn't really stay interested myself.  But will see if it reduces the crowd.  By the way, I haven't heard about attendance yet at the WB games at the new stadium yet.  How has that been so far?

[quote name="kingkat99" post="842909" timestamp="1284123323"] Since this lowly Bearkats team doesnt have their first home game until 9-25 I somehow managed to get a free ticket to this game...let the heckling begin...not really since yall are playin Webber High School... [/quote] You probably should stay incognito since you have disparged both Beaumont and Lamar as being dirty!

[quote name="raider17" post="842708" timestamp="1284084252"] Any word on injuries this past week. I heard some starters are out. [/quote] I went by practice Wednesday and (I think it was) Kyle Gilliam and for sure Anthony Beard were not suited up.  There were several other players but I do not know who they were.

So Bronco fans, AJ Dugat is not going to school anywhere?  Maybe he should check with Woodard.  He may get a second chance in what will be a very up and coming program.

[Hidden Content] Here is an article on some of the things fans can expect on game day!  No mention of the flyover but I keep hearing it is going to happen.

[quote name="Americanair" post="842557" timestamp="1284066184"] American Air Systems has Lamar Stadium Seats, totes and 3 tents left [/quote] Got 2 stadium seat there this morning.  They have really nice tailgaiting accessories and they are big fans!  Go LU!

[quote name="YouCanUseaMint" post="842530" timestamp="1284063109"] [quote author=HoopInsider_Cooper link=topic=72367.msg839642#msg839642 date=1283661022] [font=Courier]SW Texas State still want to play with the big boys? Houston could have scored 150 on them.[/font] [/quote] I love the trash talk from a start-up program.. You're right, they could have scored 150; they have an incredible offense and a Heisman candidate QB. What did you expect? [/quote] That guy is a UH alumni and fan.  And I doubt they could have hung 150 myself.  Didn't see the game or talk to anyone, maybe they could have gotten a few more scores but 150 is a a bit inflated.

[Hidden Content]

Great post.  I was at a small business in Beaumont this morning that is selling LU merchandise and those guys are so fired up it was contagious.  There really is a real buzz going on in the community.

Went by Kampus Korner Bookstore yesterday and bought some really nice shirts for me and the kids.  They have a good selection of Nike and Under Armour shirts, nice caps and lot of other LU accessories.

Parking is the next big obstacle.  I am mapping out my strategy since I do not purchase a paid parking pass in one of the closer lots.

Sometimes the opponent can be so bad that  your team is actually worse and not better from playing the game.  I hope this is not the case here.

[quote name="TexasTerror" post="842024" timestamp="1283978392"] I've [url=[Hidden Content]] a list. [/quote] Terror, I saw a quote in an article where one of the LU players sad after the McNeese game that LU had 20 more games before they played McNeese again, so someone thinks LU plays McNeese @ home the last game of 2011.  Looks like SELU already knows there 2011 conference schedule, why doesn't everyone else know?

[quote name="WOS95" post="842020" timestamp="1283978147"] unlv wont be satified until we have a stadium the size of kyle field that has a retractable roof  :D [/quote] That may be true, but I like his big time thinking. Just like coach Woodard would rather have a very agressive player that he has to harness a little to keep under control instead of a passive kid he has to try to motivate to be agressive, I like big thinkers who want to reach instead of those who say we are too small and weak to be better and bigger.  You achieve bigger goals with the former.

What a contrast in a week.  Some were fearing that McNeese was going to hang about 50 on LU and now were concerned about hanging 60 on Webber and it not being a fun game.