A little Ray Woodard news

[Guest coachacola]

From Bob West's Sunday article:

Lamar University football coach Ray Woodard, who deserves two thumbs up for the six-man coaching staff he’s been able to assemble, took his first ever trip to New York City last week. The purpose was to attend a baseball game at Yankee Stadium, but his wife also talked him into a Broadway play. So what was the 6-6, 290 pound Woodard’s impression of NYC? “The size,†he said. “Man, it was so big it even made me feel small.†Now that’s big.

Link: http://www.panews.com/sportsbobwest/local_story_250203845.html?keyword=topstory

[Guest abovetherim]

I really like this coaching staff RW has put together. I know JB has to prove he can coach at the collegiate level but I know he can recruit.

Still looking for the release of the plans for the stadium!

[Guest coachacola]

Still looking for the release of the plans for the stadium!

So am I.  They should start tearing down the old field house soon.  I think the timeline is for them to start building the new athletic complex in a month or two.

On a related note, UNT students will be voting soon on a new athletic fee to help fund a new $60 million stadium. Here's a drawing of the new stadium that will hold about 35,000:

Link: http://www.star-telegram.com/college_sports/story/888698.html

And Texas State is already soliciting bids for about $10 million worth of improvements to their stadium:

The Texas State University System (“Ownerâ€) and Texas State University-San Marcos are soliciting Statements of Qualifications for selection of an Architect/Engineer (A/E) firm for design of the Bobcat Stadium Enlargement project (“Projectâ€) on the San Marcos, Texas campus; in accordance with the terms, conditions, and requirements set forth in this Request for Qualifications (RFQ). The Project involves all necessary improvements needed to create a suitable stadium for the University to move to the NCAA’s Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly called Division I-A). It is anticipated that the construction portion of the improvements will be in the range of $10 to $12 million. The improvements will be built in phases under a Construction Manager at Risk construction contracting arrangement. Phase 1 of the Project; which will include removal of the existing press box and existing landscape berms, construction of foundation and structure improvements and of a new press box, suites, club seating and supporting areas; will be performed on an accelerated basis with a required completion date on August 1, 2009. Phase 2 of the Project will be completed in 2010. Only firms with the skills and available resources needed to produce these accelerated results should submit qualifications in response to this RFQ. THE COMPLETE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS PACKAGE MAY BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED FROM THE FOLLOWING LINK: http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=78682 Texas State University-San Marcos is a member of the Texas State University System

Link: http://esbd.cpa.state.tx.us/bid_show.cfm?bidid=78714

Hopefully this month we'll see complete drawings of LU's athletic complex and renovated stadium.  It would be great if they went ahead and expanded Cardinal Stadium now to 30K, but I'm not counting on it.  But they definitely need it expanded within the next 5 years.