POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING
CARDINALS COACH SCHULTZ INSTILLS BELIEF HIS SQUAD CAN EARN RESPECT
Following its worst season since its 2010 reboot, the Lamar Cardinals knew their standing within the Southland Conference took a hit.
In response, the program hired first-time head coach Mike Schultz to turn it around after winning a programbest eight games in 2014 — then following it up with consecutive losing seasons.
Schultz quickly focused his attention on instilling the belief Lamar — picked to finish fourth in the Southland last season, but just seventh this season — can be one of the conference’s best teams again.
“I know we’re going to be picked towards the bottom of the conference,” Schultz, who replaced Ray Woodard after he was fired in December, said. “I also know we’ve got a motivated football team that wants to earn respect back and that’s what we’re going to do this season.”
A different look
One guarantee is Schultz’s first team will look significantly different to the one that finished 3-8 last season and dropped its last five games.
The Cardinals lost former Southland Player of the Year Kade Harrington, third-round NFL draft pick Brendan Langley and starting quarterback Carson Earp, among others, to graduation.
In total, just 11 starters — including five from the defense — return.
Schultz singled out players like junior cornerback Rodney Randle, Texas A&M transfer running back James White and senior quarterback Andrew Allen, who is expected to take over as starting quarterback, as players who could step up in the departed seniors’ absence.
“One of the biggest things we’re working on is leadership,” Randle, the team’s only preseason All-Southland selection, said. “We know if we want to win, we’ve got to have guys step up and be leaders.”
Pushing the pace
Schultz plans for his 2017 team to play differently as well.
He installed an up-tempo offense in the offseason to try and jump start an offense that ranked last in the Southland in total offense (323 yards per game) and 10th in points per game (20.9).
“I think we like playing fast,” senior offensive lineman Matt Oubre said. “We’ve had a small sample size so far, but I feel like we’re moving the ball well and are in better shape.”
Defensively, Schultz has emphasized stopping the run to co-coordinators Troy Douglas and Melvin Smith.
Lamar’s rush defense (230 yards per game) ranked 110th of 122 FCS teams last season.
“Stopping the run is the top priority for a lot of defensive coordinators,” Schultz said. “We’re no different in that aspect.”
The Cardinals will find out quickly if they’ve improved.
Lamar plays four of its first five conference games on the road, including against defending conference champion Sam Houston State.
“We’ve got a tough schedule for sure but I like where we’re at,” Schultz said. “I feel like our guys quickly got a sense of the direction I want to take the program in and they’ve responded well to it.”