This article was originally published in The University Press, Lamar University’s student newspaper, on April 26, 2018.
Story by Eleanor Skelton
UP contributor
The Night of Champions produced just that — champions.
Several Lamar University football players gathered, Tuesday in Provost-Umphrey Stadium to grab a chance at breaking strength and conditioning records set my previous LU teams.
In total, the 2018-2019 squad broke 10 school records this past week, five of these being on the field, Tuesday as well as multiple personal records
“Our guys have absolutely worked their tails off this year,” LU strength and conditioning coordinator Dan Darcy, who’s been in the football program for two years, said. “They earned the right to be out here tonight. Ten school records don’t fall by accident and we’re very pleased with the numbers that we saw here.”
Night of Champions was started by new LU head coach Mike Schultz following the 2017 spring camp. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Adam Morse broke his record in the squat, originally set last season, with a mark of 480 pounds. Sophomore kicker Elvin Martinez set a record in squat with 500 pounds. Derrion Randle set the running back records for the squat (515) and cling (340).
Other record setters included Zae Giles in the bench press for receivers (305), Dawud Shorts, tightend, in the squat (525) and Garrett Bowery with a three-lift total for offensive linemen (1,313).
Earlier in the week other records were set. Transfer defensive linemen Darien Wilson squatted 600 pounds in the weight room and benched 470 on the field. Sophomore David Crosley set records in the clean (367), squat (525) and three-lift total (1,262) for linebackers.
Every time a player set a new personal record, a bell hanging from the weights was rung.
“Over the course of the past week, I’ve had a constant ringing in my ears but that is a good thing,” Darcy said in a news release following the results. “We’ve had guys this week break a record and then go back and break it again. Some may think it’s an annoying sound but it’s music to my ears.”
Eleanor Skelton 