Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football

Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football
First season 1915
Head coach Colby Carthel
2013 year, 24–12 (.667)
Stadium Memorial Stadium (Texas A&M–Commerce)
Seating capacity 13,500
Field surface Safeplay
Location Commerce, Texas
Conference Lone Star Conference
All-time record 515–426–31 (.546)
Bowl record 4–1–2 (.714)
Claimed nat'l titles 1
Conference titles 22
Division titles 3
Colors Blue and Gold[1]
         
Mascot Lucky the Lion
Marching band Pride Marching Band
Rivals Tarleton State Texans
Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas
West Texas A&M Buffaloes
Website LionAthletics.com
For information on all Texas A&M University–Commerce sports, see Texas A&M–Commerce Lions
The 2014 team before playing the Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas at AT&T Stadium
The 2015 team before playing the Adams State Grizzlies
The 2014 team with the Chennault Cup after defeating rival Texas A&M–Kingsville
Vernon Johnson catching a pass against the Angelo State Rams
The 2014 team in action against the McMurry War Hawks
The 2014 team in action against the Tarleton State Texans

The Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team (formerly the East Texas Lions and East Texas State Lions) is the college football program representing Texas A&M University–Commerce. The school competes in the Lone Star Conference (LSC) in Division II of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The A&M–Commerce football team plays its home games at Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Commerce, Texas. The Lions recorded a perfect record in 1934, won the NAIA National Championship in 1972, and have amassed a total of 24 LSC conference championships since joining as a charter member in 1931. The school, which has fielded football teams since 1915, has produced numerous National Football League players, including Autry Beamon, Dee Mackey, Harvey Martin, Alan Veingrad, Dwight White, and Wade Wilson. Since 2013, the team has been coached by Colby Carthel.

History

Formative years (1915–1919)

1919 football team

Founding East Texas Normal College president William Leonidas Mayo was initially hostile to football, objecting largely on the grounds that the sport was too violent and dangerous; he threatened that he would "kick the first football that is brought on this campus off, and the man who brings it".[2] Nonetheless, the president's son, Marion Mayo, quietly organized a team that practiced off campus with the support of his mother.[2]

The East Texas team played three games in its inaugural season in 1915, the highlight of which was a tie against a hapless Southern Methodist team that lost a game 147–0 to Rice that year.[3] For the 1916 season, the school employed its first head coach, former Texas A&M player Johnny Garrity, and recruited De Loss Parsons and Frank Rubarth to play for the football team; the result was a winning season, with a record of 4–3.[4] The football team also received President Mayo's formal approval during the 1916 season, and became officially accepted as an on-campus extracurricular activity.[5]

The 1917 team, the first to represent the newly renamed East Texas State Normal College, played only two games; both were shutout losses to schools from Greenville, Texas, Burleson College and Wesley College, respectively. In 1918, the school did not play any games at all due to President Randolph B. Binnion's decision to suspend the football program during American participation in World War I.[6] In 1919, the first year that the team competed as the "Lions",[7] it returned to the gridiron with a winning record of 4–1–1.[8]

TIAA and early LSC years (1920–1942)

1922 football team in action

After competing largely without success in the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (TIAA) in the 1920s, East Texas State and its football program became a charter member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) in 1931.[9] The team competed against conference opponents that included North Texas State, Southwest Texas State, Sam Houston State, and Stephen F. Austin under the direction of head coach John Wesley Rollins, who had played an instrumental role in organizing the LSC.[9]

During the ten seasons between 1933 and 1942, the Lions football team dominated the LSC, winning the conference title outright five times, finishing as co-champions another year, ending three seasons as runners-up, and finishing third the other year during that span.[9] East Texas State won three consecutive LSC titles from 1933 to 1935, the first of its 20 total conference titles.[10] The 1934 team, which achieved a perfect record and only allowed six points all season, is generally regarded as one of the greatest in the school's history.[9] In 1936, the year the team moved into a new stadium,[11] halfback Johnny Garrison became the first East Texas State athlete in any sport to claim a national honor when he was named an honorable mention Little All-American selection.[9] In 1937 and 1938, the Lions won back-to-back LSC championships.[10] Also in 1938, fullback Darrell Tully was named to the Little All-American team while end Gene Hodge was given honorable mention.[9] Before LSC football competition went on hiatus for three years during American participation in World War II, the Lions won another conference title in 1942.[10]

Postwar years and the "Golden Fifties" (1946–1963)

During the 1940s and 1950s, university president James G. Gee displayed a particular affection for the school's football team, even to the point of "occasionally suggesting plays to the coaches"; he had previously been a part-time assistant coach at Sam Houston State as well as the University of Florida.[12] In 1946, the football team finished the season with a 5–2–2 record under the direction of head coach Bob Berry, good enough for second place in the LSC, although it was mired in mediocrity until 1949.[12] That year, which ended with an LSC championship,[10] East Texas State moved its homecoming celebration from the spring, where it had been traditionally celebrated as "May Fete", to the fall so that it would coincide with a football game.[13]

In 1951, new coach Milburn "Catfish" Smith began a sudden resurgence of the program that was aided by the outbreak of the Korean War and two related factors: the fact that the school was the only LSC member with an ROTC program and a rule that allowed junior college transfers who were enrolled in ROTC programs to play intercollegiate athletics for three additional years instead of the usual two.[12] From 1951 to 1953, the team compiled an overall record of 30–2–1, and in both 1952 and 1953 won invitations to the Tangerine Bowl.[12] In 1954, Jules V. Sikes took over as head coach following Smith's departure, and continued the successful ways of his predecessor; the Lions won (either outright or a share of) five straight conference championships from 1951 to 1955,[12] and again in 1958 and 1959.[10] During the "Golden Fifties", three Lions were named to the Little All-America first team (guard Bruno Ashley, quarterback Sam McCord, and end Norman Roberts), while numerous others received national second-team or honorable mention honors, or were named to all-LSC or all-Texas teams.[14]

Hawkins era (1964–1985)

In 1964, Ernest Hawkins succeeded Sikes as head coach, and would be in charge of the program until his retirement in 1985; in their 22 years under Hawkins, the Lions won the LSC or finished as runners-up eight times.[15] After the university integrated in 1964, African American athletes quickly became prominent players on East Texas State teams, with star running backs Curtis Guyton and "King" Arthur James leading the way in the mid to late 1960s.[16] By the time he completed his college career in 1969, James had won National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American honors twice and compiled 4,285 yards rushing, more than any other running back in the history of Texas college football to that point; he would later become the first Lion football player to have his number retired.[17] The 1960s concluded with two more conference championships, one won outright in 1966 and the other shared with Texas A&I in 1969.[10]

In 1972, the team won arguably its greatest achievement in its last season competing in the NAIA, when it captured the NAIA National Championship with a win over Carson–Newman College.[18][18] The 1972 team, a two-loss LSC champion[10][19] considered by some to be the greatest in the program's history, was led by star defensive end Harvey Martin, who would later win a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.[18] Other Lions who would later play in the National Football League included Autry Beamon (Minnesota Vikings), Dee Mackey (Baltimore Colts), Alan Veingrad (Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys), Dwight White (Pittsburgh Steelers), and Wade Wilson (Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons).[20] In 1983, the Lions won their 20th LSC championship, which they shared with Southwest Texas State.[10]

Vowell years (1986–1998)

Eddie Vowell took over as the team's head coach after Hawkins' retirement in 1985. Vowell, who was only 38 at the time, had been the Lions Defensive Coordinator previous to becoming head coach. Vowell's first two seasons were tough as the Lions finished 2–9 and 3–8, respectively, but the Lions quickly got back to winning by posting an 8–3 record in his third year. From 1988–1996, The Lions posted a 63–38 record and were consistently ranked in the Division II scene. Vowell led the Lions for 13 seasons, amassing a total of 75 wins, second most in program history. Vowell's Lions won one LSC Championship in 1990 and finished second 4 times, posted 6 winning seasons and went to the NCAA Division II playoffs.[10][18] three times, finishing in the national quarterfinal in 1990 and 1991 and in the first round in 1995. Vowell retired at the end of 1998 season.[19]

Brister years (1999–2003)

In 1999 former Stephen F. Austin State University Offensive coordinator Eddie Brister was hired to succeed Vowell. Brister coached for five years, until 2003, finishing with a record of 19–35. Brister posted a 7–4 record in 2001, the Lion's best record since 1996, but the program would continue to regress. In Brister's final season, the Lions posted a 1–10 record, the worst in school history, and went winless in conference play for the first time in program history. Brister resigned at the end of the 2003 season. [19]

Conley years (2004–2008)

Scotty Conley, an East Texas State alumnus, returned to Commerce to coach the Lions from 2004 to 2008. Conley posted a 4–6 record his first season, followed by 4 straight 5–5 seasons. Conley's defenses were among the best in the conference and the nation, but his offensive units struggled every season. The Lions won a share of the 2007 Lone Star Conference North Division Championship. After another 5–5 season in 2008, Conley was dismissed by new A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper. Conley compiled a record of 24–27.[19]

Morriss years (2009–2012)

In early 2009, former Baylor University and Kentucky head coach Guy Morriss was hired to replace Conley. Morriss's father was an ETSU graduate and he immediately looked to restore the traditions of the old name to the program. Morriss guided the Lions to a 5–5 record, but a perfect 5–0 record in Division play, giving the Lions their second conference north division title in 3 years, and first outright championship of any kind since 1990. The 2010 season saw Memorial Stadium undergo a massive renovation that added new locker rooms, 3,500 new seats on the stadium's east side, and a new video jumbo-tron that at the time was second largest in all of Division II athletics. The Lions opened the 2010 season by routing Upper Iowa 33–10, but stumbled to finish the season 3–8. Morriss's last two seasons saw the Lions drop to records of 1–9 in both 2011 and 2012. Morris resigned on November 12, 2012, immediately after a loss to West Texas A&M. He announced he would be staying in Commerce to serve as an assistant to the new athletic director and would focus on projects and fund raising for the athletic department.

Carthel years (2013–present)

On January 22, 2013 after a nationwide search for a new coach, University President Dr. Daniel Jones and new Athletic Director Ryan Ivey hired former West Texas A&M defensive coordinator Colby Carthel.[21] Carthel knew the dynamic of the Lone Star conference well as he had played for Angelo State University, was an assistant coach at Abilene Christian University, and had been the defensive coordinator for WTAMU for 7 seasons. Carthel stressed the need for a culture change, and started his tenure by throwing a boot camp style practice. The Lions had 85 players on the roster and by the time the annual Blue and Gold Spring game, the roster had shrunk to 36 players. Carthel started his tenure with a 7–5 season that included wins over two ranked Division II teams, a win over Division I Houston Baptist, and an appearance in the Live United Texarkana Bowl, the first post season appearance since 1995 for the Lion program.[22]The next season, the Lions posted a 9–3 record winning the LSC Championship for the first time in 23 years, and winning 9 games, including a season opening win over East Texas Baptist University by the score of 98–20.[23] The win gained the Lions national exposure at it was reported on ESPN's SportsCenter that same night. The next day, Carthel was interviewed by ESPN's Linda Cohn in regards to the win. In that win the Lions set national and conference records for points scored, yards gained, and total offense in a game. The Lions were once again invited to the post season by routing former LSC foe East Central University 72–21 in the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.[24] The 2015 Lions repeated as conference champions and returned to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time in 20 years where they bowed out in the first round to the Ferris State Bulldogs.[25] Since Carthel took over, the Lions are 24–12 as of the end of the 2015 season with two conference championships and three post season appearances.

Postseason appearances

Year Event Opponent Result
1953 Tangerine Bowl Tennessee Tech W 33–0
1954 Tangerine Bowl Arkansas Tech T 7–7
1957 Tangerine Bowl Southern Miss W 10–9
1958 Tangerine Bowl Missouri Valley W 26–7
1972 NAIA National Semifinal Central Oklahoma W 54–0
1972 NAIA National Championship Carson-Newman W 21–18
1974 Florida Central Classic Bowl Bethune-Cookman T 7–7
1980 NAIA National Quarterfinals Central Arkansas W 27–21
1980 NAIA National Semi-Finals Elon College L 14–6
1990 NCAA National Playoffs
First Round 		Grand Valley State W 20–14
1990 NCAA National Playoffs
Quarter-Finals 		Pittsburg State L 60–28
1991 NCAA National Playoffs
First Round 		Grand Valley State W 36–15
1991 NCAA National Playoffs
Quarter-Finals 		Pittsburg State L 38–28
1995 NCAA National Playoffs
First Round 		Portland State L 56–35
2013 Live United Texarkana Bowl Harding L 44–3
2014 C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl East Central W 72–21
2015 NCAA National Playoffs
First Round 		Ferris State L 48–30
2016 NCAA National Playoffs
First Round 		Colorado Mesa W 34–23
2016 NCAA National Playoffs
Second Round 		Grand Valley State L 55-32

10–7–2 All Time Postseason Record.[19]

Rivalries

The Chennault Cup

The Chennault Cup is a traveling trophy that is given to the winner of the annual Football game between A&M-Commerce and the A&M–Kingsville Javelinas. The trophy is named in honor of famous World War I and World War II pilot Claire Chennault, who was born in Commerce, but spent time training and teaching at the Naval Air Station Kingsville during his distinguished military career. Currently, A&M-Commerce has the Chennault Cup after defeating the A&M-Kingsville Javelinas 37–17 during the 2015 season. Texas A&M-Kingsville leads the series between the Lions and Javelinas with an overall record of 35–27–1, and 13–6 in the Chennault Cup series.[26]

The President's Cup

The President's Cup is a traveling trophy that is awarded to the winner of the annual Football game between A&M-Commerce and the Tarleton State Texans. The Cup is sponsored by the Texas A&M University System and the Presidents of the respective institutions as TAMUC and TSU are the two largest schools in the A&M System behind Texas A&M University, the flagship institution. Currently, A&M-Commerce holds the lead in the series between these two schools with an overall record of 13–11 against Tarleton State. Also A&M-Commerce currently holds the President's Cup after defeating Tarleton by a score of 63–0 during the 2015 season.[27]

East Texas vs. West Texas

Though not a trophy game, the annual match-up between the Lions and the Buffaloes of West Texas A&M University has developed into a fierce cross state rivalry. The rivalry's name is derived from both schools former names, East Texas State University (A&M-Commerce) and West Texas State University (West Texas A&M) and their respective eastern and western location in the northern half of Texas. Adding to the competitive nature of the game is that A&M-Commerce head coach Colby Carthel was the defensive coordinator for the West Texas A&M Buffaloes from 2006–2012 and his father Don Carthel was the head coach of West Texas A&M's football team during that same time period. The elder Carthel was fired by the University in a very controversial manner and now resides in Northeast Texas with his son and helps with the football program on an unpaid basis. Both environments are hostile to the visiting teams. When the Lions, led by Carthel walk onto Kimbrough Memorial Stadium they are showered and welcomed with chants of booing from the West Texas A&M fans, while Commerce fans, particularly the students on Greek row who are fraternity members and other student sections chant and heckle the Buffs when the game is played in Commerce. Currently A&M-Commerce leads the series 16–15 all time against the West Texas A&M Buffaloes.[28]

Coaches

Updated as of November 24, 2015[10][19]
# Name Term GC OW OL OT O% CW CL CT C% PW PL CCs NCs
1 Garrity, JohnnyJohnny Garrity 1916–1917 12 5 6 1 .458 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
2 Tipton, E.M.E.M. Tipton 1919 6 4 1 1 .750 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
3 Cushman, CecilCecil Cushman 1920 8 2 5 1 .313 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
4 Jernigan, RussellRussell Jernigan 1921–1923 25 9 15 1 .380 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
5 Murphy, JoeJoe Murphy 1924–1928 42 8 31 3 .226 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
6 Acker, Will HillWill Hill Acker 1927–1930 16 2 13 1 .156 0 0 0 – 0 0 0 0
7 Rollins, J.W.J.W. Rollins 1931–1934 33 19 12 2 .606 12 2 1 .833 0 0 2 0
8 Berry, BobBob Berry 1935–1941, 1946–1950 114 72 34 8 .667 32 17 3 .644 0 0 4 0
9 Vinzant, DennisDennis Vinzant 1942 8 4 3 1 .563 2 0 1 .833 0 0 1 0
10 Smith, M.A.M.A. Smith 1951–1953 33 30 2 1 .924 15 0 0 1.000 1 0 3 0
11 Sikes, J.V.J.V. Sikes 1954–1963 101 63 34 4 .644 44 20 2 .682 2 0 4 0
12 Hawkins, ErnestErnest Hawkins 1964–1985 230 132 92 6 .587 90 64 4 .582 3 1 4 1
13 Vowell, EddieEddie Vowell 1986–1998 146 72 73 1 .497 42 40 1 .512 2 3 1 0
14 Brister, EddieEddie Brister 1999–2003 162 19 35 0 .352 15 28 0 .349 0 0 0 0
15 Conley, ScottyScotty Conley 2004–2008 51 24 27 0 .471 16 14 0 .533 0 1 0 0
16 Morriss, GuyGuy Morriss 2009–2012 41 10 31 0 .244 9 19 0 .321 0 0 0 0
17 Carthel, ColbyColby Carthel 2013–present 36 24 12 0 .600 14 5 0 .737 1 2 2 0

Professional players

Current players

Former NFL players

Former professional players from other leagues

Stadium

Memorial Stadium in November 2013

Memorial Stadium has been home to the A&M–Commerce football team since its opening in 1950. The Lions dedicated the stadium on September 23, 1950, during a game against then-rival North Texas State. The stadium cost $300,000 to build, part of which was raised by the school's Ex-Students Association after it had initiated the project in fall 1945; construction of the stadium began in fall 1949.[34]

As originally built, Memorial Stadium's capacity was 12,000; in 1980, the 2,000-capacity visiting stand on the east side of the field was torn down, reducing its capacity to 10,000. Other modifications and renovations made to the stadium since its construction have included the addition of five suites (including one for the university president) to the press box in 1973, a new ticket booth in 1987, a new scoreboard in 2006, new locker rooms in 2009, and a new east-side stand that (along with renovations to the main west-side stand) increased seating capacity to 13,500. In 2006, Memorial Stadium's natural grass surface was replaced with FieldTurf, which in summer 2013 was adorned with an oversized lion's head logo, measuring 50 yards (46 m) by 50 yards (46 m).[34]

Notes

  1. ↑ TAMUC Branding Standards Guide (PDF). Retrieved 2016-04-19.
  2. 1 2 Reynolds 1993, pp. 23–24
  3. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 24
  4. ↑ Reynolds 1993, pp. 24–25
  5. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 25
  6. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 51
  7. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 49
  8. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 50
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reynolds 1993, p. 89
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Lone Star Conference Champions". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  11. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 77
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Reynolds 1993, p. 136
  13. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 134
  14. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 137
  15. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 159
  16. ↑ Reynolds 1993, p. 174
  17. ↑ Reynolds 1993, pp. 174–75
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Reynolds 1993, p. 157
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "All-Time Results". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. Retrieved October 18, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Reynolds 1993, p. 175
  21. ↑ Carthel named Head Coach
  22. ↑ Lions Accept bid to participate in Live United Texarkana Bowl
  23. ↑ Lions defeat ETBU 98–20
  24. ↑ 2014 HOT Bowl
  25. ↑ "No. 2 Seed/No. 2 Bulldogs Ends No. 7 seed/No. 20 Lions Season, 48–30". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. November 21, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  26. ↑ Chennault Cup
  27. ↑ President's Cup
  28. ↑ East Texas vs. West Texas
  29. ↑ Collins signs with Bombers
  30. ↑ Vernon Johnson NFL Profile
  31. ↑ "Bears Sign 9 Players To Futures Contracts". Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  32. ↑ "Shores Signs Two-Two CFL Deal With BC Lions". Texas A&M-Commerce. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  33. ↑ Tuaau signs futures contract with Dolphins
  34. 1 2 "Memorial Stadium". LionAthletics.com. Texas A&M University–Commerce. Retrieved October 18, 2015.

References

Reynolds, Donald E. (1993). Professor Mayo's College: A History of East Texas State University. Commerce, Texas: East Texas State University Press. ISBN 0963709208. 

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