Sports Shorts: December 30, 2021

Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott was recently seen during an interview wearing a Nederland Lady Bulldogs’ basketball sweatshirt. Prescott, who was born in nearby Sulphur, Louisiana, has an aunt, Valrie Guilbeaux, who is the freshman girls’ basketball coach at Nederland High School.

Guilbeaux represented Prescott and received his NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Nomination Award from Cowboys’ legend Roger Staubach on Dec. 26 during the Cowboys-Washington Football Team game at AT&T Stadium.

Lamar Cardinals

Following a vote of athletic directors, the Western Athletic Conference has adjusted its game cancelation policy to balance the health and safety of coaches, student-athletes, staff and officials as well as protect the integrity of the conference schedule.

The minimum number of participants for conference play has been set at seven COVID-eligible student-athletes and one COVID-eligible coach. If a team meets the requirement, they will be expected to compete in the contest.

In addition, the WAC has determined that if a game is canceled for COVID-related reasons, administrators from the impacted institutions will work collaboratively to find a mutually agreeable date to reschedule. If they are unable to find a date, the game will be considered a no-contest.

In addition, the previously announced change to the WAC women’s basketball schedule impacting Sam Houston at Lamar on Dec. 30 and Stephen F. Austin at Lamar on Jan. 1 will no longer be considered forfeits in the conference standings and the three impacted teams will have the opportunity to reschedule.

“Ultimately, we wanted to maintain some flexibility as the COVID landscape continues to change,” said WAC commissioner Brian Thornton. “Our biggest goals are to protect the health and safety of our student-athletes and coaches as well as put our programs in the best position to compete in our conference tournament.”

The LU athletics department will induct five new members into the Cardinals Hall of Honor during Hall of Fame weekend, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. in McDonald Gym. The inductees will also be recognized at halftime of the men’s basketball game against SFA which tips off at 3 p.m.

The class of 2021 includes Jesse Dickson (football, 2010-13), Kade Harrington (football, 2013-16), Kurt Phoenix (football, 1976-79 and track and field, 1980-81), Sandra Thomas (women’s basketball, 1974-78) and Larry Tidwell (women’s basketball coach, 2007-13).

“We’re extremely excited to announcing the 2021 Cardinal Hall of Honor class,” said Director of Athletics Marco Born. “Due to the pandemic, this group has had to wait a little longer to be recognized but we’re looking forward to having each of them back on campus.”

The incoming 2021 class consists of four former student-athletes and a head coach. The group covers four decades of Lamar University athletics, and three different sports.

A member of the original signing class that brought football back to the Golden Triangle, Dickson was a stalwart on the Cardinals’ defensive line for four seasons. Dickson closed his career by earning third-team All-America honors and was named the 2013 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year by CollegeSportsMadness.com. A two-time All-Southland Conference selection, Dickson graduated with more than 200 tackles, including 40 for losses and 29 sacks.

One of the most decorated athletes in school history, Harrington re-wrote the LU record books while landing the program in the national spotlight. A consensus First-Team All-American in 2015, Harrington was runner-up for the FCS Offensive Player of the Year Award. The 2015 SLC Offensive Player of the Year, Harrington became the school’s all-time leader in career 100-yard rushing performances, consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, career all-purpose yards, career rushing yards and scoring and was fourth all-time in yards of total offense.

He also became just the seventh back in NCAA Division I history to rush for 2,000 yards in just 10 games – joining a list that includes Marcus Allen and Barry Sanders.

A two-sport athlete for the Cardinals during the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, Phoenix was a four-year letterwinner on the gridiron and a two-year letterman on the track. A 1979 All-Southland Conference selection in football, Phoenix was a two-way threat for the Cards.

Owner of the longest kickoff return in program history (98 yards), Phoenix also holds one of the longest punts returns in school history as well (82 yards). He was named the team’s Outstanding Defensive Linemen following a senior season that saw him rack up 166 tackles. Following his football career, Phoenix turned to the track where he became an elite hurdler.

Tidwell spent six seasons in Beaumont as the head coach of the women’s basketball team and made an immediate impact on LU turning the Cardinals into a Southland power. He set a school record with 128 wins and posted six consecutive winnings seasons for a program that had 12-straight sub-.500 seasons prior to his arrival.

Tidwell guided the Cardinals to two conference divisional titles and the 2010 SLC regular-season title and a trip to the NCAA Championships. He coached 10 players who would go on to play professionally, including one Olympian in Tamara Abalde. His impact on the game also reached international levels as he was asked to coach the Bahamian National Team as it attempted to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.

A trailblazer in LU women’s athletics, Thomas broke the color barrier for the women’s basketball team in 1974. The first African-American female basketball player in school history, Thomas would go on to be a four-year letterwinner, and would graduate as the school’s second all-time leading scorer (1,268 points) – a mark which still ranks among the program’s all-time top 10. Thomas also left LU second all-time in career field goals (508) and free throws (252).

Considered a program workhorse during the late ‘70s, Thomas set a school record for games played (104) and guided the Cardinals to three 20-win seasons, 79 combined wins, two AIAW Regionals tournaments and the 1975 TAIAW Zone Championship.