BEAUMONT, Texas – There is no way that Lamar University head coach Mike Schultz could have predicted how turbulent the final week of preparations for the 2017 season would be when he was hired in December. Schultz, and his staff, have spent more time making sure the players and their families are safe than scheming for North Texas.
 
With that said, the Cardinals boarded buses late Thursday afternoon headed to Lafayette, La., to get a workout in at UL Lafayette. Following the workout, the Cardinals will begin the trek north to Denton.
 
"I'm really proud of how our guys have handled adversity," said Schultz. "Most of the players we recruit are from the areas hurt by Harvey, so they not only have been taken care of themselves but trying to make sure their families are safe as well. We've referred to our guys as 'minute men' this week. If there was a 30-minute opening to get a workout in we got on the phone and these guys responded immediately. Not all of our guys could get here and we told those guys not to risk it and stay home. Our guys have been ready to go at a moment's notice all week, and have done a great job through a very trying time.
 
"I've also been really proud of how they have taken care of each other. They have been getting out on their own to help their teammate's families, and others around them. I couldn't be more proud of these guys," said Schultz.
 
When Big Red steps on the field Saturday it will be the official beginning of a new era for Lamar University football. The program's second head coach since its rebirth, and the ninth head coach overall, Schultz enters the season looking to build the program back from a 3-8 (.273) mark a year ago. The Cardinals were 3-3 midway through the 2016 season before dropping the last five games of the year.
 
The Cardinals will be taking on a North Texas squad that advanced to the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl last season. The Mean Green ended the year with a 5-8 (.385) overall record before dropping a heartbreaking 38-31 overtime decision to Army in the bowl game. UNT faced its own share of struggles down the stretch dropping four of its final five heading into its postseason appearance.
 
Saturday's game will be the seventh meeting between the two schools. The Cardinals are 2-4 (.333) all-time against North Texas, and have lost the past two decisions. Saturday will be the first meeting since the 1986 season with UNT recorded a 33-13 victory. The last LU win in the series was a 10-6 decision in 1984. The Cards are 1-2 (.333) all-time against North Texas in Denton, with the lone win coming during the 1974 season.
 
The Cardinals are 25-21 (.543) all-time in season openers. Big Red has won three of its past four season opening games, but had a three-game win streak snapped last season against nationally ranked Coastal Carolina (the Chanticleers were ranked in the FCS top 25 despite being in their first season of the transition to FBS status). Saturday's contest will be the first time since the 2012 season that LU has opened a new year on the road.
 
The Cards are 7-16 (.304) all-time when opening the year on the road, and have dropped their last seven games when opening a new campaign away from Beaumont. Big Red's last season-opening victory on the road came in 1981 when LU traveled to Waco and stunned the Bears, 18-17, on a late field goal.
 
Saturday also marks the seventh game against an NCAA FBS (formerly NCAA Division I-A) program since LU brought back the sport. The Cards enter the contest looking for their first win over an FBS school during that time. Five of those FBS opponents were coming off Bowl game appearances.
 
The Red and White travel to Denton with one of the youngest teams in the country. LU returns just 32 letterwinners and only 13 starters (6-offense, 5-defense and 2-specialists) from a season ago. The 2017 roster has 57 new additions between signees, transfers and walk-ons.
 
Saturday's game is slated to kick off at 6 p.m. from Apogee Stadium. The game can be heard live on Newstalk 560 KLVI. It will also be televised on ESPN3 – the network's online platform.
 
-LU CARDINALS-