Aug. 4, 2010
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31 DAYS UNTIL KICKOFF - From his early childhood at Beaumont's Pietsch Elementary School in the mid-1950s, to his later ones with the MacArthur Junior High Eagles and then the South Park Greenies, Darrell Johnson was an eager and avid football player.
Although he was recruited by the University of Arkansas, Johnson decided to play his college football just down the street from South Park - at what was then Lamar University. It was a decision Johnson has never once regretted.
As a sophomore in 1964, Johnson played a monumental role in a breakthrough season for the Lamar football program. On Sept. 19 that year, the Cardinals moved on campus for the first time by playing their first game ever in spanking-new, 17,000-seat Cardinal Stadium.
Early in the second quarter that night and much to the delight of the crowd of 13,352, Johnson scored the first touchdown in stadium history on a 30-yard run, propelling the Cardinals to a 21-0 victory over East Central Oklahoma.
"Big Tony (weakside guard Anthony Guillory) threw the block that sprang me," said Johnson, now retired and living on Lake Conroe near Montgomery. "Big Tony later played a few seasons in the NFL with the LA Rams, so he was a pretty good guy to be running behind. Once I skirted the right side, I only had one man to beat to get to the end zone. I side-stepped him and then went in to score.
"I think about that game and those good times of playing for Coach (Vernon) Glass at Lamar. That was A very exciting experience to come down that hill from the field house for the first time and see the stadium pretty much packed. When the band cranked up the Star Spangled Banner, the chills were running down my spine."
Joining Johnson, who was drafted by the New Orleans Saints after his senior season, and Guillory in the Cardinals' starting lineup for that historic game were Phillip Primm at quarterback, Harold LaFitte at tailback, Steve Bailey at wingback, Mike Allman and Gary Casey at the ends, Ed Marcontell and Ken Smith at the tackles, Warren Clark at the other guard and David Haladay at center.
On Sept. 11 this year, Johnson plans on being in Provost Umphrey Stadium when Lamar will play its first home game since the 1989 season against Webber International. When a yet-to-be known Cardinal scores Lamar's first touchdown in the newly renovated stadium, Johnson will know all too well of the excitement and pride the young man will experience.
"I have an uncle in Nederland who has been e-mailing updates on the progress Lamar is making in getting ready for the return to football," said Johnson. "I can certainly relate to the young men on this year's team. I can tell them from experience that being part of something special like this will remain special to them throughout their lives.
"I'm so happy for this year's coaches and players, and I'm happy for Lamar and the Southeast Texas community. College football belongs back in that part of the state."
The Texas State University System Board of Regents approved an athletics fee to help restore the football program in February of 2008, and Lamar named former NFL player Ray Woodard its eighth head football coach on June 19, 2008.
The Cardinals will play an 11-game schedule this season with six games to be played in Provost Umphrey Stadium. The season opener will be at McNeese State on Sept. 4.
Tickets for this historic season are currently on sale and can be purchased by calling the Lamar athletics ticket office at (409) 880-1715 or by visiting the athletics website at www.lamarcardinals.com/tickets/footbl-s-tickets.html.
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