FOOTBALL: Lamar kicks off with banquet

Published 10:38 pm Sunday, August 26, 2018

BEAUMONT — Sunday’s Lamar football kickoff banquet drew nearly 500 attendees to the Montagne Center.

The crowd got to hear a keynote address from Lincoln High graduate and NFL great Joe Washington Jr. Washington recalled looking forward to playing in Lamar’s stadium, now known as Provost Umphrey Stadium, while in high school because the UIL bi-district round game was played there annually. Although Lincoln won its district championship his senior season (1971), he did not get to play in the playoff game because he sustained a broken leg in Lincoln’s victory over Thomas Jefferson the week before.

Lamar will begin its ninth season since rebooting the football program at 6 p.m. Saturday taking on NAIA Kentucky Christian.

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**CORRECTS Kentucky Christian’s athletic affiliation.** 

Lamar band at football kickoff banquet

Lamar's band begins the football team's kickoff banquet on Sunday, August 26, at the Montagne Center. / I.C. Murrell, The News

Posted by Port Arthur News Sports on Sunday, August 26, 2018

Joe Washington keynote

NFL great and Lincoln High grad Joe Washington Jr. imitates one of his former NFL coaches during his keynote address at Lamar football's kickoff banquet on Sunday, August 26. Washington pointed that those who attended the banquet gave the team enough support to be successful. / I.C. Murrell, The News

Posted by Port Arthur News Sports on Sunday, August 26, 2018

About I.C. Murrell

I.C. Murrell was promoted to editor of The News, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He previously served as sports editor since August 2015 and has won or shared eight first-place awards from state newspaper associations and corporations. He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, grew up mostly in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

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