[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1802]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  FOOTBALL RETURNS TO LAMAR UNIVERSITY

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 29, 2010

  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, it is September and back home in 
Texas that can only mean one thing--football season is in full swing. 
Each week helmets are buckled and cleats are tied as hundreds of teams 
line up to compete across the state, from the Pop Warner leagues up to 
the professionals. I was honored to be a part of history as the Lamar 
University Cardinals played and won its first home game in over twenty 
years against the Weber International University Warriors.
  Lamar University began playing football in 1923, when it was known as 
South Park Junior College. The team was a Southland Conference power in 
the late 1960s, notching four championships in seven years. In 1989, 
the program was discontinued, forcing alumni and football fans in the 
area to choose a new favorite college team. Now, after several years of 
hard work, the Cardinals are back on the gridiron with all of Southeast 
Texas supporting them.
  The first steps towards bringing football back to Lamar were taken in 
January 2008, as the student body voted for a tuition increase to help 
fund the program. That tells you all you need to know about the hunger 
for football in Southeast Texas. Lamar University President Dr. James 
Simmons and Athletic Director Billy Tubbs searched long and hard for 
the coach who could oversee the rebirth of the football program from 
the ground up. The right man for the job was 20-year coaching veteran 
and former NFL player Ray Woodard. He assembled a staff of experienced 
coaches and developed an offensive and defensive scheme without a 
single player recruited.
  When it came time to recruit players, Coach Woodard made good on his 
promise to attract local talent. Nine of his starters come from the 
area and he has eleven additional local back-ups. Leading the offense 
is Quarterback Andre Bevil, who played high school football a short 
drive down the road at West Orange-Stark. The defense is headed by 
former West Brook High School standout Jacody Coleman. Lamar is a young 
team with no senior starters, leaving the Cardinals with a bright 
future.
  The Cardinals opened their returning season in Lake Charles, 
Louisiana, with a nail-biting 30-27 loss to longtime rival and 
nationally ranked McNeese State University. There was little time to 
lament, as the following week was sure to be one of the biggest events 
in Southeast Texas sports history--the return of football to Lamar 
University.
  As I made my way through the Lamar campus on September 11, the sights 
I saw amazed me. Fans wearing red and white were lined up as far as the 
eye can see, enjoying the spirit of community that only college 
football can bring. I met some alumni who had been there battling the 
intense Texas heat since noon, others who flew in from across the 
Nation to witness the first home game in 21 years.
  By kickoff time, the standing room only crowd of 16,600 was as loud 
and excited as I have ever seen. Less than two minutes into the game, 
Quarterback Bevil hit wide receiver J.J. Hayes for a 25-yard touchdown 
pass that had the newly remodeled Provost Umphrey stadium rocking. The 
Warriors evened the score at 7-7 in the first quarter. Then, both 
defenses stood strong, not allowing a score until Bevil threw a 57-yard 
touchdown pass to receiver Kendrick Prejean towards the end of the 
third quarter. In the end, the Cardinals prevailed 21-14, lead by Bevil 
and another local talent, former Lumberton running back Cody Hussey on 
the offense. Linebacker Asim Hick led the defense with 8 tackles and a 
sack.
  Madam Speaker, after years of rumors and false starts, football has 
returned to Lamar University in grand fashion. The team is loaded with 
local, talented players. They have beautiful new facilities that help 
bring in the ``big game'' college experience. I am proud to celebrate 
the hard work that numerous people put in to bring college football 
back to Lamar University. I wish them the best of luck in the future. 
Finally, GO BIG RED!!
  And that's the way it is.

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