Big Red Mania Set to Tip Off 2007-08 Basketball Season

[Guest abovetherim]

Event scheduled to generate excitement for Lamar basketball

Oct. 8, 2007

BEAUMONT - As excitement grows for the men's and women's 2007-08 basketball teams at Lamar University, Big Red Mania has been scheduled for Tuesday, October 16 from 5-8 p.m. to officially tip off the season.

Big Red Mania will be a "Midnight Madness" type of event, marking the beginning of the men's and women's basketball season as well as provide an opportunity for the general student population to meet and interact with Lamar athletes from all sports.

At 7 p.m., Big Red Mania will officially get underway inside the Montage Center for the introduction of Lamar's championship teams and the men's and women's basketball teams. The women's team will put on a three-point shooting display and the Cardinal men will cap off the team performances with a slam dunk contest.

In addition to the basketball festivities, the Lamar Student Athlete Advisory Committee will make a presentation food to the Southeast Texas Foodbank. The food will be gathered by all of the LU athletes on a scavenger hunt on October 15.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. with the Cardinal Carnival in the Montagne Center parking lot. The dining hall will be closed for dinner, and Chartwells will be serving only at the Cardinal Carnival. Food and beverage tickets will be available for $1 each, with entrees costing two tickets and drinks one ticket. Students on a meal plan can use their card to purchase tickets.

Events in the Cardinal Carnival will include a street ball court, a blow up obstacle course, blow up soccer game and live D.J.'s from 94.1 FM and 102.5 FM.

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/100807aaa.html

[KFDM COOP]

Can't wait!

[NewCardinal]

I'll be there with a few friends!

[LamarJunior]

The girlfriend and myself will be there getting to know some of the coaches, players, and supporters of our great university! Go Cardinals!!

[GiGi]

It's been some time since LU had a event like this. I'm sure with the addition of Coach Tidwell for the women's team and Coach Roc adding some quality players the community will be out showing their support. See you guys there!

[Guest abovetherim]

I'll be working on the 16th darn it but this is a great event which I personally believe will be well supported. I was told the students put in a great deal of the details they wanted provided at this "Big Red Mania". I expect a great turnout. 8)

[YoungLUFan]

This sounds awesome and hopefully I'll be there. I really want to see the Slam Dunk competition. Ashton Hall, Jay Brown, Justin Nabors, Tristan Worrell, Lamar Sanders and Matt Barrow will put on a exciting event.

I can't wait to see if this girl from Spain is as good as I've been told. I heard she is one HOT lady! Forgive me, I forgot her name. ;D

[Guest abovetherim]

Tamara Abalde I believe is the Lady Cardinals Basketball player you are referring to Young. I believe she is a little too tall and too old for you. Now, get to bed! 8)

[KFDM COOP]

[Guest abovetherim]

Bio for Lamar Men's Head Coach Steve Roccaforte

University president Dr. James Simmons and athletics director Billy Tubbs could not have found another person on the planet with as much enthusiasm, passion and desire to be the men's basketball coach at Lamar University than Steve Roccaforte.

Roccaforte grew up in Port Arthur, was a prep basketball and baseball player at Thomas Jefferson High School and was a Lamar basketball fan for as long as he can remember. He attended every Cardinals' game he could and was often a ball boy.

"I've always stated that Lamar is the one place I wanted to be the head coach when I've been asked that question as an assistant coach over the years," said Roccaforte. "I grew up here, went to school here and this is home. I feel I know a lot of people here and I'm very comfortable with the situation. There is a lot of support already in place from the community and administration. I've always viewed this as a premier job with lots of potential.

"I watched all those good Lamar teams of the 1970s and 1980s, and I will do my best to get this program back to that level of success."

Having worked along side some of the best college coaches in Billy Tubbs, John Calipari and Perry Clark, Roccaforte brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to job.

Roccaforte was listed as one of the top four assistant coaches ready to take over their own program according to Dan Wetzel of CBS Sportsline.com and was voted the seventh best assistant coach in the country by Basketball Times for the 2002-03 season. As reported by recruiting analyst Dave Telep, Roccaforte is one of the 25 hardest working coaches in the nation as well as one of the top 15 recruiters in the country. Clark Francis of HoopScoop listed Roccaforte as the top mid-major assistant coach in the country in 2005.

Roccaforte is also no stranger to postseason play, having served on the staff of seven teams that extended their seasons. He has been to a pair of NCAA Tournaments, one each with Tulane and Memphis, and five NITs with Tulane, Wyoming and Memphis. Tulane advanced to the NIT Final Four at Madison Square Garden in New York in 1996. Memphis made a pair of trips to MSG including winning the NIT championship in 2002.

During his career, Roccaforte has coached or recruited such future NBA players as Larry Robinson-Centenary, Jerald Honeycutt-Tulane, Chris Owens-Tulane, Linton Johnson-Tulane, Josh Davis-Wyoming, Dejuan Wagner-Memphis, Antonio Burks-Memphis, Earl Barron-Memphis, Sean Banks-Memphis, Qyntel Woods-Memphis, Amare Stoudemire-Memphis, Kendrick Perkins-Memphis and Rodney Carney-Memphis.

Known as a relentless recruiter, Roccaforte put together Top 25 recruiting classes at Tulane, Memphis and Lamar. In fact, Memphis had the top rated recruiting class in 2001. Lamar's class in 2004, the first full recruiting class with Roccaforte on staff, was rated among the Top 10 in the country by HoopScoop Online.

Roccaforte, who served on Billy Tubbs' staff the past three seasons as the recruiting coordinator, put together a stellar recruiting class for this season that included a pair of NJCAA All-Americans. The recruiting class also included the addition of five players that weigh over 230 pounds, which was a need area following the departure of the Cardinals' top four inside players.

"We are going to play hard-nosed, physical, aggressive defense and try to push the ball as much as possible on offense," said Roccaforte of his style of play. "You have to have a good defense if you want to be successful and that starts with controlling the lane. We expect to do that with the personnel we recruited."

Roccaforte spent three years as an assistant coach at the University of Memphis before coming home to Lamar. He helped the Tigers advance to the NIT final four in 2001, won the NIT championship in 2002 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 2003 for the first time in seven years. The Tigers had Top 10 recruiting classes in all three years of his tenure, including the No. 1 rated class in 2001, and he recruited to McDonald's All-Americans.

Prior to Memphis, Roccaforte spent two seasons as an assistant coach on the Wyoming staff (1998-2000). The Cowboys were 37-22 during his tenure which included a trip to the NIT, where they advanced to the second round. He helped put together the top-rated recruiting class in the Mountain West Conference in his first season.

Before heading to Wyoming, Roccaforte worked at Tulane where he coordinated the Green Wave's recruiting activities. During his four years at Tulane, the Green Wave consistently ranked among the Top 25 recruiting classes in the nation and included an All-American and seven all-Conference USA selections. The final recruiting class that he helped sign was ranked eighth nationally.

Roccaforte was part of a Tulane staff which coached the Green Wave to three consecutive 20-win seasons during his tenure (1994-98). The Green Wave advanced to the NCAA Tournament Second Round in 1995, the NIT Final Four in 1996 and a second NIT appearance in 1997.

Prior to coaching stints at Tulane and Wyoming, Roccaforte was an assistant coach at Centenary College for five seasons (1989-94). Centenary won its first TAAC regular-season championship during his tenure.

Roccaforte has come full circle after beginning as a student assistant coach for three seasons at Lamar. He earned his bachelor of applied arts and sciences degree from Lamar in 1989.

Roccaforte, 41 (born May 21, 1965), and his wife Tina have a daughter, Victoria Elise, 10, a son, Lucien Anthony, 7, and another daughter due in November.

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/roccaforte_steve00.html

[Guest abovetherim]

Bio for Lamar Ladies Basketball Head Coach Larry Tidwell

Larry Tidwell, who has spent the last eight seasons as the associate head coach at TCU, has been selected to take over as head coach of the Lamar University women's basketball team, announced athletic director Billy Tubbs on Wednesday.

"Larry brings a lot to the table," Tubbs said. "He is one of the nation's top recruiters and he'll be a great head coach that will bring credibility and respect to our program.

"He has head coaching experience, which was important, and has been very successful wherever he has been. He is someone who I think can bring pride and enthusiasm back to the women's basketball program."

A 32-year coaching veteran, Tidwell coordinated recruiting efforts for the Lady Frogs, helped with on-the-floor coaching and gave individual instruction to the Lady Frogs' post players.

In his eight years at TCU, Tidwell helped the Lady Frogs to 173 wins and seven straight appearances in the NCAA tournament. The run of seven straight appearances in the Big Dance put TCU in elite company as one of less than 20 programs to go to the tournament every year since 2001.

Tidwell is known as one of the nation's top recruiters, as he played a major role in putting together numerous nationally ranked recruiting classes at TCU. He was instrumental in bringing in the 2001 recruiting class that was ranked as high as fourth nationally, and the 2003 class that was also ranked in the top 10.

In May 2002, Tidwell was honored for his efforts, as he earned AFLAC National Assistant Coach of the Year recognition. Among 300,000 candidates, he was one of just 500 assistant coaches across the country to receive the award.

Prior to his time at TCU, Tidwell spent time as athletics director and head coach at Mexia (Texas) High School. Before assuming his duties at Mexia, he spent six seasons as an assistant coach at Baylor University, from 1992-1998.

During his tenure with the Bears, Tidwell saw Baylor post an 86-84 overall record, capturing 35 victories over his final two seasons and securing a Women's National Invitation Tournament berth. His recruiting classes were recognized among the top 25 in the nation on two occasions. In all, seven of his 12 college recruiting classes have been ranked among the nation's top 30.

"I think Lamar University is a diamond in the rough," Tidwell said. "Recruiting in the Golden Triangle and getting the top local talent to come to Lamar is a priority, and we plan to contend for the Southland Conference championship next season."

A native of Sanger, Texas, Tidwell made three stops as a girls high school coach starting in Frisco 1978-1973, at Schulenburg from 1984-1992 and at Mexia from 1998-1999. During 11 years as a Texas high school coach, he compiled a 267-74 (.782) career record, and his teams made the state playoff 10 out of a possible 11 times.

Married to the former Teresa Ann Davis, also of Sanger, the couple has three sons, Marc, Marty and Michael. In addition, Tidwell has two daughters-in-law, Kristin and Michelle, two granddaughters, Ryan and Skylar, and two grandsons, Matt and William. He received his bachelor degree in education from Austin College in 1975 and his master degree in education from Austin College in 1976.

http://lamarcardinals.cstv.com/sports/w-baskbl/mtt/tidwell_larry00.html

[KFDM COOP]

He can coach, there's no doubt!