Former ULM president Dr. James Cofer and his wife Deborah were caught tailgating in the Grove at ULM’s final home football game.

Dr. Cofer said, “We missed it, there’s a very good emotional connection we have here. It’s great to be back in this atmosphere.”

He said, “It actually feels like we never left.” Cofer resigned as ULM president in May of  2010 to take over leadership at Missouri State University.

“We are really glad to be here, and I appreciate Dr. Bruno for inviting us back to the game. It’s good to see people and how great the campus looks.”

In July, Cofer shocked many when he resigned from Missouri State, despite a four-year contract.

Now Cofer has gone back to the faculty and is doing research at the University of Texas at Austin.

“I missed direct contact with students,” he said.

“When I didn’t have it at Missouri, I decided it was best to get back in real contact with students.”

Cofer said he will be back in the classrooms teaching students hands-on in the fall of 2012.

“We’re having a great time, it’s good tobe back doing the research because I really

love it.”

He said, “But most importantly, it’s good to back in real direct contact with the

students because I really loved that here.”