It has been a busy and interesting past 3 years if you are a Texas A&M-Commerce or East Texas State Lion. As I was preparing to write this newest diatribe, I had to think carefully about how I could express some thoughts and ideas in a positive way, while at the same time not trying to gloss over some certain things. The past few years have revealed some old wounds and hard feelings that never really did die, and have also opened some new wounds and broken some new bones. In this diatribe, it is my hope that this calls people together, but before I do that, let’s go over some things, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Honestly, and with no varnish.
In 1996, East Texas State joined the Texas A&M University system. You could say it was a bit of an arranged marriage, but it caused a major rift among Lion nation. The idea of becoming “just another A&M school” was not appealing to many people, and there was a fear of loss of identity. The student body was given a choice that they took seriously. They were given two choices to rename the school, East Texas A&M University, or Texas A&M University-Commerce. The student body voted to rename the school East Texas A&M University, along with major support from graduates. However, they were overridden by the administration, who felt keeping East Texas in the name of the school was not “geographically sound” and decided to rename the school “Texas A&M University-Commerce.” Adding insult to injury, a year later the A&M University system contacted ETSU graduates from years past offering them new diplomas that would read TEXAS A&M-UNIVERSITY-COMMERCE. I know this because I remember my Dad receiving his letter in the mail in 1997. Alumni backlash was fierce and heated. Endowment plummeted, as did enrollment, dropping to a total enrollment of just over 6,000 two years later. Many felt it was enough that the name East Texas State was gone, but now they felt there was a desire to wipe all vestiges of Old ET, while others countered that a move to the A&M system, name change and all, would add value to their degree and also be of use to the future of the school. While it has been over 25 years, and while most alums have gotten over the name change and in many cases accepted and even embraced it, there is still a sore spot over the way it was done and many alums disengaged in both person and with their checkbooks.
In 2020, our University administration made another decision that was controversial. They decided to remove the name of Dr. James Gillam Gee, ETSU President from 1947-1966, from the campus library and campus lake, and replace them with the names of the first Black student our University enrolled, Velma Waters, and the first Black graduate of our institution, Charles Garvin. The decision came in the wake of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of rogue law enforcement in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the events of 2020 saw some heavy conversations about race, justice, equality, and proper policing all across the state, nation, and the world. This decision was much more divisive. The camps in this issue were firm and prepared to fight. One camp was comprised of mostly students and recent graduates that saw this as a good thing, and felt that the school was doing right at the right time in the wake of the events of 2020, and it was a step in the right direction that was necessary to move on from any and all vestiges of the era of Jim Crow, forced segregation, and all of the other wrongs American society had perpetrated upon it’s Black citizens. However, many others saw this needless virtue signaling that would do more harm than good to the University community. Perhaps the biggest example of this was when a former member of the alumni board wrote on their social media page; “Our administration is willing to dishonestly and ignorantly smear the name of perhaps our greatest President in school history, who, in addition to overseeing and instituting the desegregation of our University, built up the institution and saw unprecedented growth, academic distinction, and athletic success. Our University community celebrated the Dr Gee’s 1964 speech that announced the integration of East Texas State. Read the text of his speech held to the ideals of goodness, kindness, grace, morality, equality, and the fact that only under a fair-and colorblind-society could allow God to bless and keep our alma mater dear! There is no evidence that Dr Gee was ever a racist! Shame on the people who perpetrated this!” Many people got behind these sentiments and suggested renaming other buildings, such as the new Health Science Center or a residence hall after Gee. However, the Administration replied that Gee’s name was gone and not coming back under the accusation that Gee had been a lifelong racist and his refusal to integrate the school in the earlier years was proof of that. Along with dividing up the student and alumni base, this led to a massive decrease in giving and endowment and some very angry people on both sides. One University benefactor, whose name I will withhold (unless He wishes Me to disclose it) had been a faithful giver to one of our sports programs for years, declared loudly He “loves the student athletes and the coaches, but I will not give another dime to the school over this.”
A year later in 2021, the administration announced that the University was leaving NCAA Division II athletics and was making the move to NCAA Division I as a member of the Southland Conference. This action, was supported by most with great fanfare, but questioned by many about how wise it was at that time. The school did not have the money in the budget, nor the facilities to compete right away, in addition to the 4 year probationary rule that keeps Lion sports teams from competing for national championships and the evolving nature of “show me the money” college athletics due to the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) ruling by the Supreme Court, along with the transfer portal, The school went straight in with no thought as to the consequence of this move or without a reasonable transition period. When most Universities move to another level or even conference, there is at least a one and a half year period between announcement and actual move so that the school can be ready to compete, and that does not include the time before where a school starts raising money for improved facilities and an overall higher quality product. There was also a question of why would an athletic department doing so well in one level in every sport, decide, during Football season and 5 days before facing the # 1 team in the country at home, no less, would make this announcement. The results were the resignation of a very successful athletic director, an athletic department that was running on the tightest of both personnel and budgets, and the resignation of several head coaches, though to be fair, many did go to greener pastures. It also led to the lowest football attendance since 2012 in just about every sport, and a feeling that the fan base was divided in so many ways.
At this point in the article, you are surely wondering; “Isn’t this just rehashing of old events that we can’t go back to or fix?” No, it is an acknowledgement of a few things, mistakes that were made, and how we can move forward without making the same mistakes, both alums and administration.
We Lion fans, alums, and friends have learned a few hard lessons, sometimes the school or its administration does things we don’t like. However, with that said, it is incumbent on both groups, fans and administrations to come to the table over these things. Fighting an administration is almost impossible and gets nothing done, trust me, I know first hand. Also, angering your fan base is just as foolish too. I asked an assistant Basketball coach at Tarleton State how they have been able to secure so many massive renovations in such a short amount of time, and he said “We have a great President and administration who loves the alums, and makes them feel they are a part of the great things going on. It’s not about one person’s agenda, it’s about everyone getting on the same page, working together, not against each other, to achieve common goals that we all can get behind, and people want to give gifts to be a part of that.”
Well, that’s why Tarleton is ahead of us right now.
But let’s clear some things up.
This is how it is. We are Texas A&M University-Commerce. We have been that since the Fall of 1996, and we are not changing names and we need to accept that. However, trees have roots. There is no reason to remove vestiges of East Texas State, it simply robs our institution of it’s rich history. Who decided to change the fight song over 2 decades again to a song WITH NO LYRICS? Why change the alma mater to “Hail to Thee” when “Hail ET” is so much better? Joining the A&M system is certainly a help, but sometimes can be something I wish we could have more power in. Is there any harm in wearing East Texas throwback jerseys for Homecoming games or special events?
We have been throwing out too many babies out with a lot of bathwater, and it needs to stop.
To the administration, remember who writes the checks. It is the people who mainly graduated from Old ET who still remember. East Texas State is in the hearts of thousands of alums across Texas and the entire world. They would like to see it’s traditions honored and the school progress at the same time. These two can happen and coexist. When honoring alums who made tremendous impacts on the school, such as Ms. Waters and Mr. Garvin, it does not require dishonoring other people (especially if there is no tangible proof of wrong doing) in some kind of zero sum game that has to have a winner and a loser. That is not what an equitable society looks like. Before you make decisions, whether it is regarding names, landmarks, or whatever the case may be, in the immortal words of Dr. Ian Malcolm of Jurassic Park fame, “Before you get concerned about whether or not you could, you need to stop and think if you should.” Remember that your decisions affect our school, for better and for worse, for many years to come, and those actions echo throughout the years. I guess what I am asking is please do not insult a fan base and an group of alumni that has been insulted enough by previous administrations that used to be here and expect them to write checks. I can say, the fan base loves many of the new hires you have made lately, as it shows you have made an attempt to unite, not divide us. Keep that up, In your attempt to progress our school and make it better, do not throw the babies out with the bathwater.
To the alums that are in the “I am not giving any money or supporting the school” camp, I kindly and heartily ask you to reconsider. I know what it is like to be upset with decisions that have been made, and it is hard to be generous with some people who seem to thumb their nose at you. However, your money, which you can appropriate in any fashion you desire, does not go to them. It goes to the Lions. The East Texas State Lions, or The Texas A&M-Commerce Lions. Your pick, and it doesn’t matter, because they are one in the same. Your money and gifts, and most importantly your support, can do wonderful things for our school. The lack of money hurts those we need to help the most, our students and our student athletes, the latter of who sacrifice their time, energy, and bodies to represent the alma mater dear. With extra money you could see the return of King Pride, the Victory Bell, and wrapping Leonidas the Lion on campus the Thursday night before game days. Please do not throw the babies out with the bathwater.
Finally, we have to accept the facts. Texas A&M-Commerce is the name of the school, though it’s roots are East Texas State. We have had some names changed that rightfully honored history making alums, and some that fell short of that. We are now a NCAA Division I institution. We win in Commerce, in every sport. Divisions change, but we don’t. We are winners, because we are Lions. There was an ill fated letter that was written by someone that is thankfully no longer in with the school last season that said; “We will honor our roots as East Texas State, but go forward together as A&M-Commerce.”
I have a better idea Let’s CELEBRATE and NEVER forget our roots and our legacy as East Texas State, while progressing as Texas A&M-Commerce and going forward together as LIONS. As a new season starts, there is a spirit in the air, a sense of hope through every door that every student opens that one day they will achieve greatness. Let’s toss personal agendas aside and remember, In the words of the dearly departed former President Dr. Dan Jones; “Wherever We Go, and Whatever We Do, We Are ALL Lions.”
The Lion Wire 
Most institutions have undergone a change in name at some point in their history. Changing an institutions name is neither unusual nor divisive in and of itself. East Texas State University transitioned through five name changes from its origin as East Texas Normal College in the late nineteenth century with each change ushering in a new era of institutional advancement. Changing the name from East Texas State University to Texas A&M University-Commerce was based upon the belief that incorporating the full A&M name into the University’s identity projected a more abiding association with the A&M System.
Changing the name of the University has been a periodic recurring element since its earliest origins and that history has maintained, to some degree, a forward impetus that has not been sustained in recent years to the extent it did in years past. A case in point, the Carnegie Institutional Research ranking system elevated TAMUC to level two status a few years ago, bringing TAMUC into line with other institutions such as SMU, TCU, UNT, Texas State, etc. and other Texas schools’ both public and private. Level one is the highest rating and level three is the lowest. Since being elevated to the Carnegie research ranking level two, TAMUC has regressed back to level three largely because of inadequate research funding while all of the other schools’ mentioned have since advanced to level one. That is not forward progress and inadequate funding should be front and center to an institution that is older than any of those mentioned above.
But there is a deeper issue for TAMUC and that is its failure to define itself as an institution that places a high priority on academic/research excellence. The University talks about excellence but there is no follow through to achieve that excellence. And, when something significant on campus happens, few people know other than perhaps those who live in the immediate campus vicinity. One only has to access the websites of other similarly situated institutions to recognize that their focus is completely different than TAMUC.
The University can continue down a path of relative obscurity or it can embrace a comprehensive effort to define itself in a way that understands that academic distinction is at the core of any noted institution of higher education and to structure its priorities to reach and maintain a position of scholastic ranking second to none. Until that happens, the University will continue to exist but little more. In the words of the singular former First Lady of the United States, Eleanor Roosevelt, “no one can make you feel inferior without your permission.” I, as but one alum of TAMUC am not granting that permission.