BEAUMONT, Texas – Lamar University posted a historic season in 2023-24 across its entire athletics department which was evident in the university's first Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup, but the Cardinals were even more successful in the classroom. Lamar posted a 3.16 spring semester grade-point average – a number that saw 15 (of 17 varsity sports) post at least a 3.0. Lamar currently boasts a 3.10 cumulative GPA.
 
Among the highlights for LU during the spring semester saw the LU football team set a program record GPA during the Spring 2024 semester. Football posted a 2.92 grade-point average just missing a 3.0. The Cardinals graduated 19 players this past season, including 10 during Spring Commencement. 
 
Sixty-four football players garnered a 3.0 during the spring to go along with 23 student-athletes with a 3.5 and four with a perfect 4.0. Three Cardinals received Academic All-Southland Conference following the 2023 campaign, and senior Devon King wrapped up his collegiate career by receiving the SLC's Steve McCarty Award which honors student-athletes who excel in the competition arena, classroom and community.
 
The Lamar women's tennis team set the standard for LU with a 3.79 and six different squads recorded at least a 3.6 GPA while nine had at least a 3.2. In addition to women's tennis, men's golf posted a 3.63 to record the highest GPA for an LU men's "small" team (10 or fewer student-athletes). The highest GPAs for "large" teams (11 or more athletes) were recorded by soccer (3.56) and baseball (3.20).
 
"In the framework of athletics, we know that the wins will take the majority of the headlines, but helping student-athletes graduate is the reason we are in this industry," said LU Director of Athletics Jeff O'Malley. "Not only did our student-athletes make history by bringing home the first Commissioner's Cup but they did so all while setting records in the classroom. I could not be prouder of our athletes, coaches and staff for their hard work in making this happen."
 
Fifty-one student-athletes recorded a 4.0 GPA during the spring, which is an improvement of two from the spring 2023 semester. Lamar had 104 student-athletes record a 4.0 semester GPA during the 2023-24 academic year. Nearly 40 percent of LU student-athletes (141) recorded at least a 3.5 semester GPA, while 248 athletes (68 percent) finished the spring with a 3.0. The Cardinals finished the academic year with 277 total GPAs of at least a 3.5 with 487 recording at least a 3.0.