Cardinals are back: Lamar returns to Southland Conference a year early

The Battle of the Boot is back sooner than expected.

In the latest twist of “as the Southland Conference turns” Lamar has done a complete about face.

Cardinal officials ended a weekend of rumors Monday by announcing they are back in the SLC a year earlier than expected. The news broke as the conference was putting the finishing touches on it revised and now revised again football schedules.

“We are fired up at the enthusiasm Lamar University is showing in their accelerated return to competition in the Southland,” said SLC Commissioner Chris Grant. “It’s another sign of the impact of our conference’s focus on the student-athlete experience and our truly collaborative approach to leadership that recognizes the unique value of each school.”

For McNeese State it is the return of a neighborhood rival.

“It is great to have them back in the league right away,” said MSU Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “This is huge for our league and great for us to bring back a rival into the fold.”

Lamar is expected to return to its traditional spot on the McNeese schedule this fall, ending the season on Nov. 19 inside Cowboy Stadium.

“We are very excited to take advantage of this opportunity to make the move to the Southland Conference for the 2022-23 season for all sports,” said Cardinal A.D. Jeff O’Malley. “This is the best fit for the future of Lamar University Athletics, our fans and our student-athletes. I would like to thank Commissioner Grant and the leadership of the conference for working with us and providing a chance to join the league immediately.”  

Just three weeks after Incarnate Word left the Western Athletic Conference at the alter, Lamar got final divorce papers from the suddenly struggling league.

Three months ago Lamar announced it would be leaving the WAC at the end of the upcoming sports season, in June of 2023. But with all the shifting being done by Incarnate Word’s last-minute flip-flop, now seemed like as good a time as any for the Cardinals to join their old league.

On July 1 Texas A&M-Commerce joined the Southland, beginning its four-year transition up from Division II to I. Meanwhile, Lamar will be the first Division I team joining the league since the Cardinals came back the first time in 1999. This will be the third time Lamar will join the Southland. The Cardinals were in it from 1963-1987 and then again from 1999-2021.

Oral Roberts did join the league for two seasons back in 2012 but did not play football.

This is a huge victory for Grant.

“This move shows the leadership and vision of Chris and how pro-active he has been,” said Schroyer. 

It is also a victory for Schroyer, who gambled to stay with the Southland last fall instead of jumping to the WAC. 

With Lamar’s move back, the SLC, which just a year ago lost five teams including the Cardinals and was considered on the brink of extinction, is alive and well. The Southland will enter the new season with eight football-playing schools and 10 overall. 

Five of the schools will be in Texas and the other five from Louisiana. 

Last summer Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Abilene Christian all joined Lamar is moving to the WAC. Central Arkansas left the SLC as well, moving to the Atlantic Sun.

Only SFA and Abilene remain in the WAC from that group as Sam Houston is moving up to Conference USA. Central Arkansas is rumored to be interested in heading back to the SLC as well. 

It was a rough one year for Lamar in the WAC. The Cardinals football team finished just 2-9 overall and 0-7 in the conference, losing its last seven games. 

The men’s basketball team was just 2-27 overall and 0-18 in the WAC. It lost its last 20 games.