Back in 2016, something happened that really showed me some of us Lions have a lot to learn when it comes to “fansmanship.”

After a 5-0 start, the Lions faced the always tough Bill Maskill coached Midwestern State Mustangs. It was a game in Commerce on a beautiful fall evening and it was another big test to see if we could win three LSC titles in a row. It was also the weekend of the Texas/Oklahoma football game, the Red River Shootout.

A few Lions I had wanted to meet and who were really encouraging my early writing. The Lion Wire was taking off and getting a lot of followers and I really wanted to meet these folks. About an hour into the game, I get a text that says “Hey Brian, sorry for the late notice. We are not going to make it to Commerce. We had the Texas/OU game today and we are really tired from that. We’ll see you next time in Commerce!” I thought nothing of it other than what a great game they were missing. However, that was another game where we snatched defeat from the Jaws of victory.

We wouldn’t have a home game until the end of October, and I finally got to meet those folks. It was a couple that both went to ET, one had played here in the mid-1990’s and his wife had gone to school here as well. They apologized for last time and the husband of the duo was still lamenting about how Texas had lost to Oklahoma. His wife said “Babe, the Lions lost a big game here too, and you are still upset. Why? You are a ET Lion first. I’m a ET Lion first. We didn’t graduate from Texas, our friends are just casual fans of Texas that went elsewhere, except they don’t have a great program to cheer on like we do right now. We should be happy that we are as good as we were when were here.”

That wife absolutely nailed it. Why on earth were people who had diplomas from East Texas State and/or Texas A&M-Commerce, had played football here, had made memories here, more upset about some school they never went to, made time for and did not attend their own school’s biggest game of the season, but went to some other school and didn’t bother to make our biggest game of the year, but made the other. Spent hundreds of dollars, wore themselves out (gamedays always are like that) but the objection of their affection writ large was the Texas Longhorns and not the Lions of East Texas State.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you can’t be a fan of a another football or basketball program. I love Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Hawaii, Houston, and always love watching “The Game” between Yale and Harvard every year. That said, I am a Lion first, and anyone who graduated from our hallowed institution should be also. We need fan support right now, and the one thing that I have preached from day one is that if you are going to be a Division I school, you need Division I quality fans, and truth be told, we need to step it up. I have been doing “State of the Program” podcasts where I look at each sport and give my take on how it is doing. Our fanbase might need that look. If the LIons are out of town or not playing than by all means binge watch college football all day, thats what I do. That, and it’s your money, spend it accordingly, but why spend it on a school that has stacks of cash under their stadium to which you have no allegiance towards, when your own school needs it, especially in this day and age of “show me the NIL money or I’ll transfer.”

However, when a big game is being played in Commerce and Texas, or Texas A&M, or Texas Tech are playing in Dallas or close by. Remember what you are first. You are a Lion, and your fansmanship is needed now more than ever. You may wish you went to UT, or A&M, or Tech, or Oklahoma, but you didn’t. You went to East Texas State and/or Texas A&M-Commerce and are a Lion. Be proud of that. Lions first. Aggies, Longhorns, Sooners, Red Raiders, and Bears are second.

So go to the game. Support your alma mater. You are needed there, get there and support your alma mater.

(Unless your wife is an alum of one of the above mentioned schools and says you are headed to Austin, College Station, Waco, or Lubbock…..or else. Happy Wife, Happy Life.)