In a unanimous decision, the Texas State University System Board of Regents approved the athletics fee Lamar students voted to assess themselves in a January campus wide vote. Regent Michael Truncale, a Beaumont native and Lamar University alumnus, introduced the motion to approve the fee of $8.75 per semester credit hour for long semesters and $4.50 per semester hour for summer sessions to be used toward the reinstatement of football at the university.
“Lamar University has overwhelming support from the alumni association, the student body and there seems to be great excitement and anticipation in the community for the return of collegiate football to Lamar,” Truncale said in his motion. “Bringing football back to Lamar will enhance their recruitment efforts and provide an even greater incentive to attend the institution.”
The board of regents approval was one more hurdle in making football at Lamar a reality. From here, the university will hire an architect to provide a cost assessment for construction of an athletic complex to include the renovation of Cardinal Stadium. Once that analysis is complete, Lamar must gain approval from the Higher Education Coordinating Board to proceed with the renovation. That would be the final approval needed before approaching the community to support the venture.
With strong community support, Lamar could have a coach on board by August. The coach would then begin recruiting athletes, who would all be red-shirted the first year. A realistic timetable for beginning Southland Conference play is fall 2011.
