NorthoftheBorder

I was at the John Gray Center the day that LU hired Tom Abatemarco.  I remember watching Roccoforte climb in the car with him when the press conference was over and they left to go recruit Roc's friend Kevin "Tree" Newman who was at Kilgore JC (or somewhere like that).  He was the first recruit of the Abatemarco era and he was a bust!  Unfortunately for Roc, LU and the fans, his first 5 years as head coach has been like that first recruit he brought to LU in 1987.

I'm not saying that I believe Matt Cross should be the next coach, but has anyone been to downtown PA lately.  And he is recruiting talent to play there?  And they have beaten San Jac, a perinnial  national JUCO power in each of the last two years and are going to the JUCO Nationals!  I would say he has done a job at LSC-PA akin to what Billy Tubbs did when he showed up in 1976 as head coach at LU.  Given the right opportunity, I think this kid will do amazing things at the D1 level in the future.  Maybe Roc should have hired him as an assistant last year.

[quote name="Cat79" post="981214" timestamp="1299866680"] [quote author=bigred360 link=topic=81226.msg980309#msg980309 date=1299722283] I support a move to a FBS conference if we have the money and resources to be competitive in all the sports in which we compete. I'll reframe for any other comments because I'm sure a lot of people will disagree and I honestly don't have the time for a debate. [/quote] I hope you guys are in the WAC. Here is what the Texas State 2012 schedule will look like: @Houston 9/2012 Rumored to be our home opener-Texas Tech  or Missouri 9/2012 Nevada in San Marcos 9/2012 UTSA La Tech San Jose State UTAH St Idaho New Mexico State @Navy  11/2012 Still have 2 dates to fill-Lamar could be one of them [/quote] I'd say that is a pretty strong schedule!

Really nice guy, he seemed like a guy I could have been real friends with.  Just wasn't cut out for D1 NCAA tournament style programs.  Doesn't make him a bad coach.  If the goal was to have a 1st class guy as coach, running a clean and respectable program with really good kids (come on, have we had any kid that was more admirable than Matt Sunblad in the last 30 years), and maybe make the tournament once every ten years or so, then Grey is the man.  Once again, he wasn't a bad coach, and maybe his way is the best way for most college kids (except those with NBA aspirations) at the end of the day.  I think LU's fan base opts for someone who can get you to the tournament pretty consistent and make some noise there. JMHO!

Who would have thought it?

There's a UTSA guy named BigRunner2012 on the WAC board and he is generally the starter of all the threads that speculate on WAC expansion.  He seems to like to stir the pot and get discussions going on "potential" expansion candidates.  Not sure he is someone in the know.

As a LU Alum and fan, I have always supported a move to FBS only if Lamar will do it right and fund it right.  I also absolutely have no problem with SHSU moving up in the same conference or another FBS conference with one caveat; can you leave TT behind!!! ;)

What a draft!!!!

[quote name="Cat79" post="979956" timestamp="1299680578"] This message is clear to me.  The invites will go to Lamar and either Seattle or Cal St-B.  This is what the WAC needs to get to 8 football playing universities and one non-football team for each division.  This is the path to add western football universities to the west division at the next expansion time.   There has been interest by ULL but their UNT and Ark St brethern seem to be trying to persuade them not to leave the SBC for the WAC.  ULL fans have stated on one of their fan sites that the WAC is a better basketball conference than the SBC.  WAC baseball is even with the SBC but note that Fresno won the CWS a few years back which did not ever happen in the SBC. ULL fans see football as a push between the WAC and SBC. [/quote] I think ULL has better rivalries with LU and La Tech than UNT & Ark State.

Never will forget a well known local sports broadcaster telling me that Tommy Sewell had only a few changes of clothes to his name while at Lamar and when LU would pull up to the Thomas Center in Ruston to play La Tech there would be Karl Malone's brand new Nissan 300Zx parked in front with "Mailman" on the license plates.

[quote name="oldollie" post="979084" timestamp="1299523769"] I just saw a UT ad that states only 15% of UT grads give money back to the University. The ad also says that 50% of A&M grads give back to their University. Again this is an ad put out by UT. But then again, when a UT grad watches ESPN they are giving back to the Universities owner so maybe that should count as well. ;D ;) [/quote] That is undoubtably the thing that TAMU has done the best in getting more fervant "former student" support in donations and attendance.  It is admirable to all Universities.  But I am confident that UT grads are on point in taking care of their own with the best of them when it comes to hiring graduates.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="979010" timestamp="1299516214"] [quote author=NorthoftheBorder link=topic=81232.msg979005#msg979005 date=1299515941] [quote author=AggiesAreWe link=topic=81232.msg978952#msg978952 date=1299511234] [quote author=becktobigs link=topic=81232.msg978945#msg978945 date=1299510759] [quote author=mffl link=topic=81232.msg978895#msg978895 date=1299483770] BR 360, I haven't heard anything about a new coach, and I don't believe the players have either. It seems like Woodard has taken over the play calling duties for this next season. [/quote]Does anyone know that Hindshaw is gone or are you just jumping to that conclusion because he wasn't on the field during the Red-White game?  There could be a lot of other reasons for him not being out there.  [/quote] He is gone. [/quote] So does LU plan to hire another assistant? [/quote] Not sure. All I know is that in the practices that I attended, Ray was working with the secondary and making the defensive play calls. [/quote] I can't imagine that they wouldn't hire another coach.

[quote name="AggiesAreWe" post="978952" timestamp="1299511234"] [quote author=becktobigs link=topic=81232.msg978945#msg978945 date=1299510759] [quote author=mffl link=topic=81232.msg978895#msg978895 date=1299483770] BR 360, I haven't heard anything about a new coach, and I don't believe the players have either. It seems like Woodard has taken over the play calling duties for this next season. [/quote]Does anyone know that Hindshaw is gone or are you just jumping to that conclusion because he wasn't on the field during the Red-White game?  There could be a lot of other reasons for him not being out there.  [/quote] He is gone. [/quote] So does LU plan to hire another assistant?

[quote name="adminbaberuth" post="978769" timestamp="1299454146"] [quote author=1696dogs link=topic=81312.msg978766#msg978766 date=1299453393] As the parent of a select/high school player I take a little offence to the remark about wanting a player to go select for the money.  My son has dreamed of playing at the next level since he was 5 so as parents we took whatever means necessary to help him get there. I don't know any parent who wouldn't do the same given the opportunity. It has nothing to do with wanting him to make big money but to fulfill his dreams.   [/quote] good point 1696, most kids i know just want the the opportunity for next level. no one i know of is getting rich on select ball in this area, we have some of the best baseball people. [/quote] The kids are not making any money at select, it is all the "private coaches" that are making the money while the kids are at that level.  It's the hope of parents that their child will get a college scholarship and even move to the pros that opens up paying jobs for private coaches.  I am not against kids participating and developing and pursuing a dream, to the contrary I support kids pursuing noble goals and dreams.  But if it destroy's high school athletics, then we have lost something special about communities and schools (especially the small towns) that most of us have enjoyed in our lives.  I don't think that is a good thing.

[quote name="Lefty99" post="977170" timestamp="1299211663"] The network through A&M is mch stronger than the other 2 schools as far as getting jobs if something were to happen and he gets his degree.  Though, I wouldn't be surprised to see him land at TCU. [/quote] I don't think the "network" is "much stronger" at A&M than UT.  Both by far have the "better networks" than the other Texas Universities, but A&M is not much better.  Probably equal at best.

Once again, it is the dollar that is driving this.  There is money to be made in "select" ball as well as the hope of developing into a professional athelete drives kids (really the parents, agents and the proverbial hanger's oner's) to chase the select route as they see it as a better path of development and future cash.

[quote name="77" post="978541" timestamp="1299384160"] Congrats to the Cowboys men and women conf. champs. [/quote] Yep congrads to the Cowboys from a Cardinal fan.  Been awhile since they have done this but "cowboy hats" off to them.

[quote name="NorthoftheBorder" post="977437" timestamp="1299257317"] What I am most interested in knowing is not how the QB's performed but how did the O-line and D-line look as well as the Linebackers, DB's etc.  Does the team look like they are getting stronger, bigger, quicker and in better shape?  Do the players look like they are understanding the offensive and defensive schemes better?  These are the things that will make the real difference next year. [/quote] I wish someone who saw the game would give their opinion on this!

[quote name="KHSAlum400" post="977469" timestamp="1299261293"] :o :o :o Wow! What a comeback by Tenaha! [/quote] I got blood kin in that tiny East Texas hamlet.  God's country my dad used to say.  Had to sing the famous Tex Ritter classic "Tenaha Timpson Bobo & Blair" when whe saw the water tower as we drove into town.  Of course, none of my blood contributes to the hardwood success!  Go Tigers!

[quote name="Sgt Rey" post="977347" timestamp="1299250783"] I attended the game too...I saw Prewitt as the better all around QB, then a close one with Bevil and JJ...Lamar's weakest part on defense is the safety position...Garrett played the 4th qtr at safety(made it better), but appears he has been moved up to "joker".... Jr was invited to the scrimmage and after, was invited as a preferred walk on...he will be attending Lamar in the summer. [/quote] Will Jr have access to the weight and training room and working out with team this spring and summer.  I would think that woud be a huge benefit to him.

[quote name="ForeverADog" post="977456" timestamp="1299260252"] What mffl is saying is that Coach Hinshaw may be getting the boot and Coach Woodard will take over play calling duties. [/quote] Hinshaw is the D-coordinator.  I would think that LU would have to bring in another D-coordinator as they would need another top quality coach on staff.

What I am most interested in knowing is not how the QB's performed but how did the O-line and D-line look as well as the Linebackers, DB's etc.  Does the team look like they are getting stronger, bigger, quicker and in better shape?  Do the players look like they are understanding the offensive and defensive schemes better?  These are the things that will make the real difference next year.

[quote name="mffl" post="977410" timestamp="1299255224"] Anybody notice a missing coach? I'll give you a hint: There wasn't as much yellow on the sidelines as there was during the season. [/quote] I am clueless?  Wasn't at the game but don't understand your riddle either.  Maybe you can spell it out for me.

Somebody make something up so we will have something to talk about!!!! :D

[quote name="jdcurran235" post="972884" timestamp="1298696792"] Does anyone know the exact circumstances when we left the SBC orignally.  Where we asked to leave, or did we ask to leave?  Money? etc. [/quote] LU was not asked to leave.  They made the decision for financial reasons but is has always been my opinion that it was also done to try to save then Head Basketball coach Grey Giovanni's job as he was not very successful in the Sun Belt.  They also used the carrot to appease the fan base that Lu would be in a better position to bring football back as at the time the Sun Belt didn't have football much football as I remember.  And 12+ years later they did.  But we were not kicked out as some buffon on the WAC board suggested.