June 21, 2010

BEAUMONT, Texas - June 21 - For the first time in over two decades, Lamar University will field a football team as the Cardinals will kick off the 2010 season Sept. 4 at rival McNeese State.

Count former player, and longtime Beaumont businessman, Frank Messina among those very much looking forward to the return of Big Red football. Messina, who is co-owner of Debb's Liquor and Messina's Liquor, played at Lamar from 1967-70 and was here when the program was discontinued after the 1989 season.

"It is special to see the program brought back and brought back in the right way," said Messina. "This will be a first-class football program, with first-class facilities, that the university and the Golden Triangle can be proud of."

Messina, who is active in the Cardinal Club and the Lamar Alumni Association, knows the importance of having football on campus. Having grown up watching the Cardinals play as a child, and then playing for his hometown team, Messina also recognizes how much this means to the local community.

"My father took me to watch the Cardinals play in South Park Stadium and then Cardinal Stadium when I was young," noted Messina. "I was here when the program was dropped and to see it brought back means a lot to me."

The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved an athletic fee to restore the program in February of 2008 and Lamar named former NFL player Ray Woodard its eighth head coach on June 19, 2008.

Lamar will play an 11 game schedule this season with six games being played in the newly renovated Provost Umphrey Stadium. The first Cardinal home game will be against Webber International on Sept. 11.

Tickets for this historic season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Lamar Ticket Office at (409) 880-1715 or by visiting the athletics website at www.lamarcardinals.com/tickets/footbl-s-tickets.html.