Overview: August of 2022 was the start of a new journey for the East Texas A&M football program and indeed, the entire athletic department. However, in Texas, specifically rural Northeast Texas, football comes first, middle, and last in regards to what needs to be a winning program. Anything else is considered a disappointment.

2026 East Texas A&M Lions-

Head Coach-Clint Dolezel Fourth Year (7-27 Overall, 7-14 Southland Conference)

2026 Record-3-9 Overall, 3-5 Southland Conference.

Home Field: Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium (Built 1950)

Last Winning Season-2021, 7-4 2nd Place in Lone Star Conference (Division II)

Last 10 Win Season-2019, 11-3, Division II NCAA Quarterfinalists, # 11 Final Ranking

Last Playoff Apperance-2019 (Quarterfinals)

Last Conference Championship-2016 Lone Star, Division II

Last Top 10 Finish-2018, # 9 (DII)

Last All-Americans-Brandon Tucker, Consensus All-American, 2024

Overall Division I Record-12-33

Outside the Lines-

After last season’s disappointing season which saw the program mocked on ESPN’s Bad Beats for a loss to Lamar, the worst loss in school history to FBS Blueblood Florida State, a loss to a first year program in UT-Rio Grande Valley, the season started and ended in a rough fashion. However, this might have been proven to be the best thing to happen, as it forced the administration to look at what was missing to get the Lions back to success. After the season ended and with rumors swirling around an impatient and sometimes hostile fanbase, Athletic Director Jim Curry stated in no uncertain terms that Clint Dolezel would return for his fourth season and that despite the 3-9 record, there was much more that was being done. Dolezel graduates his players, puts them on honor rolls, by in large keeps them out of trouble, and greatly improved offense that averaged ‘15.9 PPG, 292 YPG Total Offense Average against one FBS team that had a winning record and won a bowl game and 4 ranked FCS Teams. He also had very little if any talent and a revolving door at Quarterback. Last season, In Year Three aftrer his second year as OC and QB coach, the offense averaged 26.64 PPG, 374 Yards Per Game, and did so againt two ranked FBS TEAMS and 5 Ranked FCS Teams. Dolezel and Curry both remained on the same page that the 2-3 games that should have been wins and gotten the Lions to a .500 record were blow opportunities. The biggest area of concern from all this was the lack of football facilities in a Division where there is an arms race for what recruits students and athletes. Curry annoucned that the venerated University Fieldhouse would become an indoor football practice facility once it is vacated at the end of this year and rennovations would start to complete rennovate the building and dedicate it to Lion Football with coaches offices, training rooms, academic support areas, and everything that is needed to be successful at this level.

Recruiting wise, the Lions signed 34 players in the offseason, most of them from winning programs and gave the team some fresh new faces with some serious upside. Whether that upside turns into wins is going to be determined throughout the season.

One point of contention from fans is the lack of movement to either build of rennovate the Lions home stadium. The stadium is in dire need of repair and with feasibility studies being the only thing that has happened, the Lion faithful are getting frustrated by a lack of urgency in repairing the program from the inside out and getting them back to their winning ways. With other Southland Stadiums either superior already or making concrete plans to expand, the cries are getting louder and louder to either rennovate or build a new stadium and not as a want, but as a need.

Coaching Staff-

Clint Dolezel had a tremendously successfull career not only as an Arena Football League Coach, but also was on The Dallas Cowboys Staff as a Scout For the Dallas Cowboys in the AFL offseason. It has taken him a 3 seasons to learn the college game, but this year, he feels that this could be a “breakout year” for the his team and his Alma Mater. The first thing he did was replace the young staff he had last year and the year before and replaced them with more seasoned and experienced coaches. Dolezel has assembled a staff that combines 97 years of Division I coaching experience including several members of the staff have also coached in various professional football leagues. Dolezel will once again be dialing up the offensive plays from the sidelines, but having an entire spring to have worked his new assitants should pay off big when it comes to the close the games the Lions have had a habit of losing in the final seconds. He also has a large offensive staff that can help make personnel decisions, along with having graduate and student assistants that have either played for him before or bring a youthful energy to the staff. Defense deseperately needed a new coach and they got that in Jesse Thompson. Thompson comes from North Carolina Central, a team the Lions lost to last year and was one of the top defensive units in the FCS last season. Special teams also got a boost with Chris Roberts, an East Texas alum, returning after having a successful stint as an assistnt special teams coordinator for a New Mexico Lobos team that won the Mountain West title and went to the Rate Bowl. Roberts graduated from ET in 1996, so he was used to seeing success in the Blue and Gold under then Coach Eddie Vowell.

Offense-

Dolezel has become one of those coaches who has decided to be the man to call the plays and with 2 decades drawing up plays, he now has the bandwidth to focus on managing game decisions. As noted above, he has improved the offense every year. The first question to ask is who will run the offense for the Lions. Eric Rodriguez has been fighting for snaps every since he was a Redshirt Freshman in 2021, he started the year off at 5-2 in 2022, but fell to injuries later in that year, missed all of 2023, fell to injuries 4 games into the season again in 2024, and in 2025 had to battle with Ron Peace for the starting job. Peace was injured but Rodriguez got the start but had to battle another departed Senior in Will Madonna. For this career, Rodriguez has thrown for 3,429 yards with 29 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions with a 60 percent completion percentage to go along with 429 rushing yards and 4 rushing touchdowns. Rodriguez has also been the guy who has been the QB when the Lions have won their biggest games in the Division I era. He has also had to run for his life on many occasions due to the lack of the offensvie line that has gotten better, but was disasterous in the early part of the Division I move. He will do battle for the signal caller spot with R-Soph Jack Jacob. A Fresno State transfer and one of the best Quarterbacks in the State of California during his high school career, he brings a strong arm along with a vertical touch and big body to the spot. The main question will be, how will the offensive line be? If the line is not protecting well, look for Rodriguez to get the start. If they are a lot better, and the spring game showed they were at least somewhat better and certainly bigger, then Jacobs could be the big bodied big armed guy Dolezel has been waiting for. The Lion passing offense was 19th nationally, a huge jump from 2 years ago, and for the first time since the Carthel era, led the conference in passing offense, and if they can get into the top 10, you would think a winning season would be in the future.

The Lions rushing offense was a different story, as they took a lot of sacks and were dropped in the backfield a lot last season, but EJ Oakmon, the best back the Lions have had in a while, returns and looks to be the guy in the backfield for ET. Oakmon has been a consistent contributor, but he will need some younger guys to step in and spell Oakmon when he needs a breather, however don’t count on the running game to be a feature, but an acessory to the entire offense.

Sean Sallis, a promising tight end missed last season due to injury, and he returns rehabbed and the addition of Wideout Micah Simpson and another tight end with enourmous upside Reid Thornberry out of Prestonwood Christian in Plano. Dolezel believes that this recieving trio will be a force to be recokoned with and whoever throws the ball will be throwing to some big time playmakers.

The offensive line has steadily improved from awful in 2023 to not as awful in 2024 to somewhat decent last year, but this year, they have a chance to be solid and its a must if the Lions look to score more points and win the close games they lost last year. Look for Jadin Jones and Trent Savage to be the two guys to anchor an offensive line that has a lot to prove, but if they do, this offense could take off. Could is the key word.

Defense-

Ever since the Lion offense started to struggle in 2022, the legendary Blue Gang defense has carried the Lion offense in the 2021-2024 stretch. Last season was different. The Lion defense was the worst it had been in almost 25 years. Dead last in passing defense, next to last in total defense, and 7th in run defense allowing a whopping 39.8 points per game. The Lion defense was 3rd in fumbles forced, but after Jack Tyler was relieved of his duties, Dolezel hired North Carolina Central defensive coordinator Jesse Thompson. The transfer portal helped them somewhat as they brought JUCO All-American Kai Baugh from Butte College. Baugh could easily be another great Lion D-Lineman, but the issue is the secondary. Orion Kupu and X’Avion Bryce will be the two guys that need to lead the defense and especially the secondary. It must improve if the Lions want to have a shot in all their games and need to retain that Blue Gang attitude. It’s that simple.

Special Teams-

After struggling for 3 seasons with kicking, The Lions finally found a Kicker and a punter, and both are outstanding and return to Commerce after solid seasons. Placekicker Ozlo Rigby was 11/17 and a long of 47 yards and was (usually) a sure thing on extra points. He was also an absolute bomb dropper on kickoffs averaging 64 yards per kickoff and 37 touchbacks. The only thing that needs improvement is kickoff coverage because Rigby’s kicks that didnt go for touchbacks were usually run back and gave the opposing offense great field position. The coverage MUST improve. As far as punting, Ben Mehan replaced 3 year starter Mitch McGarry and delivered in fine form by averaging 40 yards per kick and also proved himself to be an outstanding holder for Rigby’s field goal and extra point attemps. Coverage on punts was a bit better than on kickoffs, but still room for improvement.

Schedule-

@ Mercer-The Lions face 17th ranked Mercer to open the season and do so on the road. Mercer has been up on the mountain of good FCS teams as they finished 9-3 last year, but 2 of their 3 losses were blowouts, though they were to Auburn and South Dakota. On national TV, the Lions need to keep this one close and not have a Florida State style showing.

@ Stephen F. Austin-The schedule doesn’t get any easier as the Lions old friend and former head coach Colby Carthel, fresh off of SFA’s best season in years, has a week 2 date down in the Deep East Texas Piney Woods. SFA went to the FCS second round of the playoffs and gave pernnial power Montana a run for their money. This will be a tough one to start Southland Play.

Vs. Northwestern State-A legion of Demons comes to the Blacklands to face a Lions team they haven’t beaten since 2022, and the wins have been blowouts. ET has to win this one to end the losing streak of opening home games. Even if the Lions start 0-2, they HAVE to win this game.

@ Tulsa-ET Faces their only FBS foe, and it is Power 5 team Tulsa. The Golden Hurricanes play third fiddle to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the Land of The Choctaw, but they have had some good teams in the past. Tulsa was 4-8 last year in one of the weaker American Conference, do the Lions have what it takes to keep it close for a half like they did against San Diego State or give the ‘Canes a scare like they did Old Dominion in 2023? We’ll see.

@ McNeese State-Since their first DI matchup in 2022, the Lions destroyed the Cowboys, scoring almost 90 points over two games against the Cowboys. 2024-25 MSU repaid the favor twice outscoring ET 66-23. The Lions have defeated McNeese on the road, but McNeese has repaired their stadium and football program and become competetive, but the last two seasons, the Pokes have had their way with the Lions. It will be the end of a long road trip. This game will be a test to see if The Lions have improved from their previous 3 seasons.

VS. Texas-Rio Grande Valley-The Vaqueros embarassed the Lions in the final game of the year. A team that had never played a full season of football ran The Lions off their field and sent them into the offseason with the weight of that embarassment. UTRGV has everything necessary to be successful and they visit the Lions for ET’s Homecoming. This will be a game that measures the resolve of the Lions beause they will either be 1-4 coming in or 2-3, or JUST MAYBE 3-2. We’ll see.

@ Houston Christian-The Lions visit a team they have only lost once to and have dominated by in large with a 3-1 Division I record. HCU will be better and continue to improve, but a road trip to H-Town the last time was disasterous for the Lions. This is one you have to win if you are The Lions.

VS. Prairie View A&M-Old ET welcomes the Legendary HBCU program Prairie View A&M, and hopefully their amazing band. After playing Tennesse Tech in 2022, and then Grambling in 24 and 25, playing an HBCU has been a net positive for the program as these schools travel well with their alums making for a great game atmosphere. That said, PVAMU almost won the HBCU national title last season and is VERY VERY GOOD. At this point in the season, the Lions will either be playing for pride, or to keep a good season alive. Lets hope for the latter.

VS. Southeastern-The Other Lions from Southeastern Louisiana has routinely had the Lions from Northeastern Texas for dinner. After a win 2022, ET has gotten devoured in 23, 24, and 25. This game will show how much better ET has gotten or not gotten. They face a tough SE team and a program that is in the top part of the conference.

@ Nicholls-The Lions and the Colonels seem to be evenly matched, and this could be one of those game that will be close and test if the Lions won’t blow a close game. Cajun country is always a strange place for The Lions. Like ET, Nicholls is looking to improve after a difficult 4-8 season. This one will be a good one, or should be.

@ Lamar-East Texas hearts have been broken twice by the Cardinals in the final seconds of the past two games. Last seaon’s disasterous loss was lampooned by ESPN and it was downright depressing to Lion fans. The Lions have shown they can go toe to toe with a good Cardinals program. They just need to learn to defeat them. A road game will be hard, but not impossible.

VS. Incarnate Word-Last season’s Lion win over Incarnate Word was the huge breath of fresh air the Lions so desperately needed. Defeating a team that has been the class of the conference is a huge feather in the cap of Lions, especially after almost upsetting them the previous two seasons. UIW will reload and has reloaded, the question is how good they will be on defense, as the offense is always a given. For Senior day, can ET close out what would be a great way to end a season that is hopefully a turnaround? We’ll see.

Predictions-

Worst-3-9 overall, 3-9 in Conference,

Maybe-5-7 overall, 5-4 in conference

Absolute Best Case Scenario, 7-5 overall, 6-3 Conference

Keys to the season-

Diagnosis-Stay healthy. Your stars and your reserves. It’s a long season, and you need a deep bench.

Discipline-Cannot make foolish mistakes and let emotions get the best of you in tight games.

Defense-Must improve and go back to being aggressive and playmaking.

Dolezel-His name is on the door. He has his guys on the staff and on the field. If he makes the right calls and takes it one game at a time, even if he doesn’t do something radical like win the conference, if he has a 6-6 or 7-5 season, hes up for conference coach of the year and the future looks super bright for DI days for Lion Football.