Lamar’s football team, set to return for the 2010 season, will play in Provost Umphrey Stadium. Formerly Cardinal Stadium, the facility was renamed in recognition of a $3 million gift from Provost Umphrey Law Firm and an additional $1 million from Walter and Sheila Umphrey.

The gifts will help prepare the school for its return to football, President James Simmons said. Lamar will field a Football Championship Subdivision team of scholarship and nonscholarship student-athletes in 2009, but will not play outside competition until the 2010 season. The Cardinals will join the Southland Conference in 2011.

Simmons said he expects the sport to attract more students to Lamar, calling football a “powerful and important enrollment-management tool.”

The Umphreys have made other contributions to Lamar, including a $5 million donation in December 2005, then the largest single gift in the school’s history. The recreational sports center was named for Sheila Umphrey in recognition of that gift.

Detroit redesigns Web site

Detroit launched a redesigned Web site last week that features an easier navigation system and a more colorful design. The new site design follows on the heels of a new logo released earlier this year.

Internet Consulting Services, designer for a variety of athletics sites nationally, created the new look and will host the site.

The site features a prominent link to Titan Vision, the school’s Web streaming vehicle, as well as prominent links to sign up for the department newsletter, RSS feed and text-message updates.

“Our new Web site is still another step forward for the Detroit Titans athletics program,” said Athletics Director Keri Gaither. “I am excited that we are able to launch a great new site today after all the months of preparation that have gone into the project.”

Miscellaneous

Florida’s $14 million stadium for the new women’s lacrosse team will be complete by July 2009. The facility will hold 1,400 seats, locker rooms, additional parking and concessions. The project is funded by the school’s University Athletic Association and will also serve as a practice field for the soccer team. The Gators will begin practices in the summer of 2009 and competition with the 2010 season … Illinois-Chicago upgraded portions of its Pavilion in anticipation of the 2008-09 basketball season. The school installed a ribbon board between the upper and lower sections and a large video screen that will play in-game video and instant replays.