HOUSTON — Not that he needed it, but Lamar’s Mike Schultz was reminded he’s a first-time head coach in the Southland Conference. Or anywhere.

While the mood during the Southland’s annual media day Thursday in the Hilton Americas was cordial as usual, a couple of other head coaches were hesitant to publicly give any advice to Schultz on leading a college football team when asked, but agreed the 59-year-old Houston native has what it takes to win.

“I don’t know that I really want to give him any advice,” second-year McNeese State coach Lance Guidry said with a laugh.

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So far, Schultz has relied on the experiences of his 37-year career, which he’s resuming after a year off following five seasons as Texas State’s offensive coordinator.

“Coming up through the ranks, I worked with some really good head coaches, Gary Patterson at TCU, Dennis Franchione at New Mexico and TCU, Rick Stockstill at Middle Tennessee State University,” Schultz said, having also assisted Franchione at Texas State. “They really laid the blueprint for our foundation. What we’ve found is, coming from the things they’ve taught me, I feel comfortable working with those guys and using some of the things they taught me and putting them in place at Lamar.”

Schultz was hired as Lamar’s coach just before Christmas to replace the fired Ray Woodard, and the Cardinals — who went 3-8 and 3-6 in the Southland last year — have been receptive to change.

“Just getting coach Schultz in and a whole new staff in, it’s been great,” fifth-year senior Matthew Oubre said. “We’re trying to change culture at Lamar, and he has. It’s still changing.”

 

New staff

Among the changes has been a completely new coaching staff.

Schultz did not retain any coaches from Woodard’s last staff, but he did bring back a familiar name in Craig McGallion as a director of football operations.

McGallion was first hired at Lamar as a defensive coordinator when the program was relaunched in 2010, but resigned toward the end of a 5-6 campaign in 2015 as the defense endured some struggles.

“He’s been absolutely great, knowing who to talk to and stuff like that,” Schultz said of McGallion. “Craig McGallion has been great. I love him, he does a great job and knows this area, knows this Triangle area. He’s been irreplaceable now.”

Junior cornerback Rodney Randle, who recently was named preseason All-Southland second team, took note of the pace of the Cardinals’ offense under new coordinator Dan Dodd in what he called “the toughest practice in my life” during spring drills.

“The offense going really fast,” he said. “And it’s great going into an offense like that.”

Said Oubre: “Once we become a finely tuned machine, we’re going to be a really good offensive unit.”

 

QB race

The big question on that side of the ball is: Who will be starting quarterback?

The Cardinals bring back senior Andrew Allen and sophomore Adam Morse, both of whom started under center, along with senior Blake McKenzie — who has missed each of the past two seasons with injuries before the season opener — and welcome freshman Jack Dallas of West Orange-Stark. Freshman Case Robinson, who played in three games before he went down with a hand injury against Houston Baptist, is now a tight end.

But another name can be added to the QB race.

Schultz announced Thursday that Darrel Colbert is transferring to Lamar from SMU as a graduate. Colbert graduated in three years (redshirting one) from the Dallas university but played sparingly, throwing for 241 yards and a touchdown, according to the Dallas Morning News.

“This decision on who’s the starting quarterback may not be made until Friday night before we play North Texas,” Schultz said.

 

Anybody home?

Those who want to watch Lamar play the early part of the season will need to be ready to gas up the tank — often.

The Cardinals will play their home opener Sept. 9 against UT Permian Basin, but two road games will follow before a Sept. 30 home contest against Nicholls State. Provost Umphrey Stadium will not welcome the Cards back for a game again until Oct. 28, when Stephen F. Austin takes on Lamar for the first time since 2013 due to the conference scheduling cycle.

“It’s tough,” Schultz said. “When you play on the road, it’s tough. And the thing is, we’re going to play on the road with a young football team. I mean, we’ve got kids who haven’t started shaving yet. Matt can shave and needs to shave, but has elected not to.

“We’ve got a young football team and when you go on the road, you’ve got to carry a little more on the road. You’ve got to be a little more focused. You’ve really got to be tuned in to compete. It’s not ever easy winning a college football game, but it’s especially different to win a college football game in someone else’s backyard.”

 

Quotable

Oubre on changes under Schultz: “Very first workout, a 6 a.m. workout. Everyone had different color socks. I’m the type of guy I have different color socks on every day. Coach Schultz looked at us and said, ‘OK, we’ll have white socks on from now on; I promise.’”

Friday online and Saturday in print: Randle talks Lamar defense and a Southland notebook

I.C. Murrell: 721-2435. Twitter: @ICMurrellPANews