BEAUMONT, Texas – One of most recognizable names in college football during his time as a head coach, Dennis Franchione, will serve as the guest speaker at the 2017 Lamar University Football Kickoff Banquet. The banquet is scheduled to take place Saturday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. in Montagne Center. Prior to the start of the banquet, there will be a special VIP reception with Coach Franchione in the Cardinal Club room. The VIP reception will begin at 5 p.m.
 
Tickets still remain at various price levels. Individual tickets are on sale for $130 per person and tables can be purchased at gold, red and white levels. A 10-seat gold level table is $5,000, while 10-seat red level tables are $2,500. Eight-seat tables can also be purchased for $1,000.
 
The banquet will also feature a question and answer time with LU head coach Mike Schultz, as well as comments from the offense and defensive coordinators.
 
"The philosophy of our football program is based around four concepts:  trust, honesty, integrity, and accountability," said Schultz. "These concepts are the foundation upon which we build our program.  I want every player who chooses Lamar University to be able to internalize those concepts and be accountable not only to each other as teammates, but also to the university. We as coaches are in the business of winning, but the primary goal for our student-athletes is for them to leave Lamar University with a degree so they will be well prepared for the future."  
 
Franchione won more than 200 games during his illustrious coaching career which saw stops at Southwest Texas State (now Texas State), New Mexico, TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M before returning to Texas State. During his career, he has recorded eight conference titles and a conference divisional title.
 
A two-time NAIA National Coach of the Year, Franchione was named the AFCA Regional Coach of the Year following the 1989 and 1990 seasons. He is also a member of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame.
 
After guiding his alma mater, Pittsburg State, to a 53-6 (.898) overall record and a 37-1 (.974) conference mark in five seasons – a stretch that included five conference titles – he made the jump to the NCAA Division I level landing at Southwest Texas State. He was hired as the head coach at New Mexico in 1992, where he guided the Lobos to a divisional crown and a berth in the Insight.com Bowl. It was the program's first bowl appearance since the 1961 season.
 
Franchione returned to the Lone Star State in 1998 when he was named head coach at TCU and promptly went about the task of rebuilding the program. After going 1-10 during his first season, the Horned Frogs recorded one of the nation's largest turnarounds the following year with a 7-5 mark and a spot in the Sun Bowl. Just two years later, Franchione guided TCU to a Western Athletic Conference title.
 
Franchione also made a stop at the University of Alabama, before returning to Texas to take over the Aggies where he spent the next five seasons. Franchione also spent five seasons at Texas State helping guide the Bobcats through the transition from NCAA FCS status up to the FBS level.
 
The Cardinals officially report back for preseason camp Sunday July 30. Big Red kicks off its first season under new head coach Mike Schultz Saturday, Sept. 2, at North Texas.
 
The banquet will once again consist of a live and silent auction, and fans will be entertained by the LU Spirit squads. Tickets for the banquet can be purchased by clicking here. For more information contact Angel Dauphine at (409) 880-7157.
 
-LU CARDINALS-