BEAUMONT, Texas — It's almost time for the Red Kingdom of Provost Umphrey Stadium to be full yet again.
After an eye-opening first season with Coach Pete Rossomando, Lamar football looks to push the boundaries in 2024.
A rocky beginning to the 2023 season had a lot of the community and fanbase probably thinking they were in for another disappointing season with Lamar.
Especially since over the last nine seasons, only the 2018 season produced a winning record.
Once Southland Conference play began, Big Red picked up the pace in wins.
Lamar started 3-0 in SLC play before dropping their first conference game to the UIW Cardinals.
LU finished their season with a conference record of 5-2.
This year the Cards are prepared to come out of the gate swinging when they visit Texas State on August 31.
"{At this time last year], we were in a lot of trouble. We didn't do a real good job of overcoming adversity," Coach Rossomando said in a presser, "Overall what I see is different is the coaches aren't the ones that are talking about 'hey we got to get this going, we got to get this right', its the players doing it (...) teams where players lead, you win championships."
Khalan Griffin, the starting running back for the Cards, is one of those leadership role players Rossomando is talking about.
With transfers and new recruits joining the squad, opening practice can define the areas a team might be lacking.
However for Griffin, from his perspective things are going exactly as planned.
"These last two weeks have really been setting the foundation [for] the stuff we're going to do during the season. Now these last two weeks leading up to the first game is going to be more like fine tuning some things," Griffin said in an interview.
Being on the same page as your quarterback is on the checklist for Lamar before the beginning of the season.
Big Red brings back Robert Coleman who started in each of the 11 games for them in 2023.
Coleman threw for 1,954 yards and had 16 passing touchdowns last season.
With this being Rossomando's second season with the program, Coleman and his teammates are beginning to unveil the vision Coach Rossomando had when he first signed.
"I mean he's preparing us extremely well. Everyone has a better understanding of what's going on, we know what they [the coaches] expect of us, and that's to win (...) it's going to be a really good year," Coleman said in an interview with 12News.
Lamar football hits the road and will play the Bobcats of Texas State on August 31 to begin their non-conference schedule.
Southland play will then take place once Big Red hosts SFA in their first season back in the Southland for homecoming on October 12.