Lamar University will open its 2011 football schedule on Sept. 3 with a home game against Langston University, who the Cardinals defeated in their 2010 Homecoming.

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For the second-straight season, the Cardinals, who are coming off an encouraging 5-6 startup campaign, will play six home games and five road contests.

Their other non-conference home game will be on Sept. 17 against Incarnate Word College, a team coached by Mike Santiago. who was once a member of Larry Kennan’s Lamar staff.

The Cardinals’ non-conference road games will be Sept. 10 at South Alabama, who defeated them in Beaumont last season, and on Oct.15 at Texas State, who is leaving the Southland Conference for the Western Athletic Conference in 2012.

Lamar will open the SLC portion of its schedule with an Oct. 1 game at Southeastern Louisiana, who the Cardinals upset last year, also in Hammond, La.

The Cardinals’ first conference game in Provost Umphrey Stadium is set for 6 p.m. on Oct. 8 against Northwestern State.

Central Arkansas will be the Cardinals’ Homecoming opponent on Oct. 22, and their other two home games will be against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 5 and versus longtime rival McNeese State on Nov. 19.
The Cardinals also have road league games at Sam Houston State on Oct. 29 and Nicholls on Nov. 12.

“We’re excited about the upcoming season,” said Ray Woodard, Lamar’s head coach. “We were glad that we were able to work out a sixth home game for a second-straight year.

“We’re looking forward to being eligible for the Southland Conference championship this year, although we realize the conference schedule is going to be very tough. With our last two home games being against SFA and McNeese State, it ought to make for an exciting closing stretch.

“The only thing is we’re hoping the McNeese game won’t be our last one. One of our team goals is to make the playoffs in our first year of eligibility.”

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