THE HOME FOR LU SPORTS TALK

Don't forget to check out Fred Davis tonight. Hey he is even posting on our board now so lets support him.

They didn't do much research either. Link: http://sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfoot2/news/news.aspx?id=4429539

From a source at Lamar: "Anthony Oden is in Beaumont. He has taken his physical and will be practicing in shorts tomorrow morning." Me: "Will he be available for the next scrimmage?" "Next weekend, yes."

Aug. 19, 2011 BEAUMONT - As the third week of Lamar University's football training camp comes to an end, defensive line coach Will Richard sees a profound difference in the amount of depth and experience along the front that the Cardinals will take onto the field this season as opposed to 2010. Richard, who was one of head coach Ray Woodard's first hires at Lamar, has seen the progression of the defense over his three years. While last year's defensive front could ill-afford an injury, Richard believes the 12 young men currently under his charge can all get the job done. "This time last year we didn't have the depth we now have," Richard said. "We can go three de…

LINK: 8/13 Scrimmage Pics

Lamar signed a TE that played at the same HS as Coach Woodard. He was a freshman at a junior college here in Texas (Kilgore). It was our first year of recruits and he decided to go back to the junior college he came from and ended up signing with Miami. Can you imagine the O-line with him here. Here is his bio from Miami. hurricanesports.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ford_chase00.html Chase Ford TE 6-6, 240 Corrigan, Texas Corrigan-Camden HS/Kilgore College Eligibility: 4 years to play 3; can play for Lamar in 2010, 2011 & 2012 Junior College: Played his freshman season for coach J.J. Eckert at Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas ... Helped the Rangers…

BEAUMONT - As Allen Johnson, the newest addition to Lamar University's football coaching staff enters his third week of preseason camp with the team, he envisions the Cardinals as having a splendid secondary this season. Johnson, who joined coach Ray Woodard's Lamar staff after spending the past three seasons as the cornerbacks coach at the University of Texas-El Paso, is sharing co-defensive coordinator duties with linebackers coach Craig McGallion and is excited about the back end of the Cardinals' defense having a standout season this fall. "As a unit, it's been a really good first couple of weeks - a very pleasant surprise," said the 38-year-old Johnson, a Texas…

BEAUMONT - Lamar University Athletics and State Farm Insurance will host a football chalk talk for women only Aug. 29 at noon at the LU Athletic Complex. The two-hour event will cost $10 per person, including lunch, and will give ladies an inside peek into the world of college football. Coaches, athletic trainers and other special guest speakers will discuss the fundamentals of the game of football. Full Article: http://www.lamarcardinals.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/081711aab.html

College Football Performance Awards - Preseason Watchlist Lamar • Jacody Coleman, Lamar (DE) Apparently they don't know that Coleman moved positions. • Justin Stout, Lamar (K) Source: http://collegefootballperformance.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/2011-CFPA-D-I-FCS-Watch-List.pdf

The odds are getting better by the moment. May be on campus visiting in the coming days and he may not leave. I would peg the percent chance at 80% right now. I was also told that getting this guy will TOTALLY change the spectrum of things. They are REALLY excited at the thought of having this kid!!!! LINK: Anthony Oden Fox4 Link: Oden has signed with Lamar

Woodard complimented Dionte Forney (Nederland), Caleb Shelly (Coldspring) and Payden McVey (Deer Park) for their understanding of the offense less than two weeks into preseason practices. They’ve stepped in for West Brook graduate Billy Chavis (right knee) and junior Kevin Davis (shoulder) as they recover from injuries. “They’re further along than most freshmen,” Woodard said. “They know the playbook. They don’t make a lot of mistakes. Dionte, I thought he could catch the ball but he’s a little better blocker than I thought he was going to be. Payden McVey is just an all-around solid player. Caleb Shelly has really grown into it and is really doing it. http://bl…

I am itching for opening weekend. I am going to be setting my tailgate up EARLY that morning. Have not been this excited about a football season in a while!!!!

BEAUMONT - Lamar University's passing game posted some impressive performances in 2010 as the Cardinals returned to the football field for the first time since 1989. Unfortunately, when the Cardinals weren't throwing it well, the offense struggled to move the ball. This year, with added depth, talent and experience in the running back position, the Cardinals are looking for much better balance on offense. Running backs coach James Brown is confident the group he has carrying the ball this season will supply that balance. "We're a big part of the offense," said Brown about his group of five tailbacks. "We have to protect the quarterback when we throw, but when we hav…

KSET AM 1300, Southeast Texas's newest talk radio station, will host running backs coach and former University of Texas quarter back James Brown this Saturday. Host Fred Davis has also invite Mike Melancon on to the show. Melancon a graduate of Lamar University is the owner and operator of this very site, BigRedInsider.com. Coach Brown will be on the program starting at 6:10 p.m. and BRI owner Mike Melancon will call in at 6:35. Out-of-town fans can listen in using the link provided. LINK: KSET Internet Radio Feed As a great guy I know always says: Think Red Think Lamar! _

Buoyed by an encouraging 5-6 showing during which 15 individual or team records were set in its return to the field after a 21-year absence, Lamar will enter this season with greater expectations. Coach Ray Woodard's second Cardinal outfit will certainly be more experienced than last season's youthful team. Sixty lettermen return while only eight were lost. Also back are 21 of last year's 22 position starters, although some will be contested by a talented bunch of newcomers from the junior college and high school ranks along with a couple of major college transfers. Senior Andre Bevil, who set a school record with 429 passing yards against McNeese State in the 2010 se…

Chris Dabe at the Beaumont Enterprise is tweeting from the scrimmage. Here's what he's said so far: Link: http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/inthecards/

We were able to catch up with Coach Woodard after tonights scrimmage. Here's the video:

Beaumont, Texas-- Lamar University's small running backs made an immediate impression Saturday night. For a team that averaged a measly 60.3 rushing yards per game last season, the 102 rushing yards on nine carries with the first-team offense on the field was a welcome sight at the team's first preseason scrimmage. DePauldrick Garrett's 34-yard touchdown near the left sideline brought to life the small Provost Umphrey Stadium crowd. Garrett, a junior transfer from Navarro College and West Orange-Stark product, took a toss to the left, high-stepped away from a defender and then slipped a tackle before reaching the end zone. "It kind of shocked me that I was still up and…

Woodard: Chavis recovering from scoped knee. Hope he is back in two weeks.

BEAUMONT - The numbers show that Lamar University's receiving game should be in good hands during the 2011 football season. Those numbers reveal that the Cardinal wide receivers accounted for 76.0 percent of the team's 217 receptions and 89.6 percent of their 2,738 receiving yards. Further good news is that all of the Cardinals' starting wideouts from the 2010 season and their backups are returnees to the squad that is earnestly working toward their Sept. 3 season opener against Texas College. Split end J.J. Hayes' 745 receiving yards last season were the fifth most in school history, and flanker Marucs Jackson's 727 yards were the seventh-highest figure. Hayes' 52 …

With all the latest conference realignment talk starting again with Texas A&M looking to bolt the Big 12 and rumors of "Super Conferences" forming heating up again it has me thinking about where it leaves the smaller conferences. It's always the big schools that alter the landscape of college football and the little guys are scrambling to take on the left overs. Why doesn't a conference like the Sun Belt not wait until the end and set the standard for a mini-mega-16 team conference? If that is what college footballs ultimate destiny then make an attempt at a legitimate 16-team conference that would be beneficial to all its members? I know they'll not pull a top tie…

“That will probably be the biggest difference in our defense from last year,” Woodard said. “We’ll try to match up. We’ll see different packages based on the offensive personnel. We won’t be in just a 4-3 or a 4-2-5. When they’re in four wides you’ll see more DBs on the field. When they’re in two tight ends and two backs, you’ll see more D-linemen and linebackers.” http://blog.beaumontenterprise.com/inthecards/2011/08/12/lamar-defense-to-have-a-few-new-looks/

http://www.kfdm.com/video/c/1622640545/lu-sports/1102983723001/kfdm-lamar-kfdm There are several good videos from media day on Kfdm.com

I can hardly wait to keep up with Lamar football and the men's and women's hoops teams as well!!!!!!! It is going to be a fun year for the football and both the basketball teams. And I really like the way that Coach Woodard and his staff are going after these big-time transfers from the big conferences to help build our program up!!!!!!!! Go Cards!!!!!! Knightman

From his twitter it appears he has been ruled ineligible to play by the NCAA. Here is his twitter name if you would like to read for yourself: yung_tripp9 Gain one LB (Coleman) and then lose one.