Ushering in the 2021 Football Season with Coach Morgan

With nearly 20 years of experience, Blane Morgan was named Lamar University head coach on December 12, 2019, becoming just the third coach since Lamar re-established the program in 2010.  A direct disciple of legendary coaches Rocky Long, Fisher DeBerry and Troy Calhoun, Morgan comes to Beaumont after spending five seasons at San Diego State. During his time with the Aztecs, Morgan produced some of the most talented signal-callers in program history while helping guide the Aztecs to five consecutive bowl game appearances.

In his first LU season, Morgan was tasked with guiding one of the youngest teams in the nation– 57 freshman– through the rigors of the conference schedule. Despite a depth chart that consisted of 35 underclassmen, including 21 freshmen, the Cardinals stunned the Southland Conference by finishing sixth in the league (after being picked last in preseason polls). 

Morgan’s first victory as head coach had a storybook ending. Facing rival McNeese, the Cardinals overcame a first-half double-digit deficit to rally for a victory in overtime. Morgan produced two all-conference selections during his first season with sophomore defensive back Anthony Ruffin and junior defensive linemen Tylo Phillips named to the All-Southland Conference at the end of the season.

Speaker will be introduced by Uliana Trylowsky.