50 years ago this evening, the East Texas State Football team did something that no team before them had done. They walked off the grass at Memorial Stadium in Commerce with the title of the best football team in the country in NAIA Division I. There had been undefeated teams before them and conference championships…
For Clarification, the following article is an opinion piece by the staff of the Lion Wire writers. It is not associated with Texas A&M University-Commerce, Lion Athletics, or anyone associated with the University in any official capacity. This is 100% opinion. What do all great Universities have in common? They have traditions. Great ones. They…
It started out as a simple conversation on a Sunday afternoon about 6 years ago while standing at a Torchy’s Taco Stand, waiting to order my typical plate of 3 avacado tacos. A Man notices my class ring, asks where it was from. He had graduated from Baylor, but got his MBA at East Texas…
Greetings Lion fans, and with being in the middle of the dog days of summer, and current heat wave in Northeast Texas bringing up memories of the crucible of the summer of 1980, we realize that on the surface, there may not be much to get excited about outside of the promise of rain, or…
They’re so familiar that, when you hear them, you know exactly what is happening. There are sports radio broadcast individuals or teams scattered all across the state. Dave South at Texas A&M. The legendary Frank Fallon at Baylor. Brian Jensen at Texas Tech, and Craig Way at Texas. Add to that list names like Brad…
“May your hands always be busy May your feet always be swift May you have a strong foundation When the winds of changes shift May your heart always be joyful May your song always be sung And may you stay May you stay forever young” Bob Dylan On a hot summer’s night in June, they…
Sometimes older does not necessarily mean worse. Sometimes older is better. We are a society obsessed with youth and the newest things. We all want new. New cars, new houses, new music, new platforms, new technology, new this and new that. However sometimes there is a great value in cherished traditions and institutions. There is…
Greetings, Lion fans, and to say the past few weeks have been hectic and eventful is a definite understatement. Certain events have taken place recently that Brian and I must address and make some changes going forward here. Brian and I have tried our best operate a fair and honest blog that is entertaining, informative,…
Russell has already said his final words to Tim as our AD, so I am taking this chance to do the same thing, but with a different twist. Tim, Well, I hate to say I knew this day would come, but I have to say I am thrilled for you to find what you found…
Greetings, Lion fans, and welcome to the football off season, but the beginning of the men’s and women’s basketball season. Brian will have more of that on the Morning Wire tomorrow, but there are some very exciting things going on inside the Field House. Jason Burton has the women undefeated and ranked #7 in the…
I think it is fair to say that everyone associated with Lion football, from the coaches, players, fans, and students are all disappointed in how this season has gone. Last Saturday’s loss….the worst in the Bailiff era, erased any doubt about the Lions making the playoffs. They had been hanging by a thread for weeks,…
One of the most unnoticed, but most vital assistants to a successful not only in football, but an overall athletic program, is the strength and conditioning coach. They are vital to the preparation and success of every phase of the teams they are involved with. Quite often, they are the difference in a team’s ability…
Greetings, Lion fans, and in today’s installment of 100 Days, 100 Reasons: Why We Love College Football, we’ll be discussing mascots. This could easily be divided into two different styles: Live mascots and costumed. Each style has its place and storied lore at every school. At the University of Miami, it’s Sebastian the Ibis. The…
Greetings, Lion fans, and in today’s installment of 100 Days, 100 Reasons; Why We Love College Football, we examine reason number 97: Tragedy and Triumph. College football is unique in that it has experienced more than it’s share of tragedy and heartbreak. More than just the loss of a game or disappointing season. Some programs…
Greetings, Lion fans, today we’re back with reason #99 of what makes College Football so great, and why we love it so……rivalries. The Game, The one on the schedule that everyone points to as soon as it comes out. Oh my goodness, rivalries. There’s nothing else like them. Again, unlike the pro game, where players…
Greetings, Lion fans. The thing that we all thought would never happen, has. For the first time since the end of World War II, the Lions will not be taking the field this fall. Today’s announcement from AD Tim McMurray, in essence, stated, that with no Lone Star Conference or Division II championship to play…
Greetings, Lion fans, I wish we had more to write about for the upcoming season, but for now, it’s the Great Unknown. If you’ve been under a rock (given the events of the past 24 hours, it’s not a bad idea), or otherwise out of contact, the Beaumont/Port Arthur area, and southwest Louisiana are just…
Greetings, Lion fans! Today on The Wire, we have a chance to have a virtual sit down with AD Tim McMurray, Associate AD Taylor Phelps, and Lion senior defensive back Alex Shillow on the recent announcement of the Lion Varsity L Club, and what we can look forward to. Let’s dive right in. The Wire:…
Texas A&M-Commerce kicker Jake Viquez is one of the last people off the field after a spring practice. He looks around as he sets up his place holder and boots through a 45 yarder into the gentle but ever-present Commerce breeze. No problem, it would have been good from 55 yards. He kicks a few…
November 18, 1995. The scoreboard at Providence Park in Portland, Oregon read PORTLAND STATE-56, EAST TEXAS-35. The clock had hit all zeros, and for the final time, the gridiron warriors of the blue and gold of ET had worn their jerseys with the name EAST TEXAS strapped across their jerseys. It was the final year…
The Lion Wire 