Spring 2003

Michael Lambert

When Michael Lambert, ‘89, returned to UL Lafayette last fall, he was looking for a sense of belonging and stability that he had experienced as a student.

He found it.

“USL was my home away from home,’ the New Orleans native explained. “So it was like going hack and getting that feeling one more time.”

A former teacher, Lambert lives in Atlanta, where he is a financial software trainer for ALLTEL Information Services, a division of ALLTEL telecommunications company.

After looking up the UL Lafayette Alumni Association’s website, he became reacquainted with Associate Director Dan Hare via e-mail. Hare had worked in the University’s Office of Student Affairs when Lambert was a residence hall staff member.

“Michael said he wanted to attend the first home football game. He also wanted to serve on the Homecoming Committee and travel here for the Homecoming game,” Hare said. “He flew in from Atlanta for both games and the thing that impressed everyone so much was that he worked alongside us, and in some cases harder, for both weekends.”

Lambert said he volunteered to help the Alumni Association staff as soon as he arrived on campus. “I realized there were people who were running ragged. I asked Dan, “Can I do something?”

At first, Hare was reluctant to give Lambert an assignment, since he wanted his friend to have a relaxing, fun visit. But Lambert persisted.

I said, “Dan, please let me do something to help,” Lambert recalls. So, Hare asked him to help set up tailgating at Cajun Field.

Lambert felt right at home again and returned for Homecoming Weekend. This time, Hare put him to work right away. “Basically, I pitched in wherever someone needed help, needed an extra pair of hands,” Lambert said.

Renewing old friendships and making new ones, he added, “was really a cool thing. Homecoming brings back so many people from so many different eras. Despite geographical differences, there was a camaraderie there that was just amazing.”

An avid Ragin’ Cajuns football fan, Lambert said he was pleased when Rickey Bustle was named head coach. Hiring the former offensive coordinator for Virginia Tech sparked renewed community interest in the University’s football program.

“It was a nice little plus. I could sense it when I was there this fall,” he said.

Lambert knows what it’s like to support a winning team. When he was attending USL, the Ragin’ Cajuns’ quarterback was Brian Mitchell, the University’s all-time leader in rushing, scoring and total offense. Mitchell led the Cajuns to four straight winning seasons before turning pro. He’s now a running back for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Lambert plans to become an active member of the Atlanta Ragin’ Cajun Club and to return to his alma mater for as many football games and other university events as possible.

“If I had known, after I graduated, that such friendship and camaraderie was there the whole time, I would have done this years ago,” he said.