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Ernest Ray Hawkins was an American football coach, basketball coach, and athletic director. He served as head football coach at East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—from 1964 to 1985, compiling a 132–92–6 record. He is the winningest head coach in Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football history and led the program to the NAIA Football National Championship in 1972.
The East Texas A&M Lions are the athletic teams that represent East Texas A&M University, located in Commerce, Texas, in NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports. The Lions compete as members of the Southland Conference for all 12 varsity sports. East Texas A&M previously played in the Lone Star Conference from 1931 to 2022.
William Joe Cureton is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Cleveland Browns for two seasons He played college football for Texas A&M-Commerce, where he was the starting quarterback for the Lions 1972 National Championship team.
The East Texas A&M Lions football team is the college football program representing East Texas A&M University. The school competes in the Southland Conference (SLC) in Division I FCS of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Prior to joining the Southland, they competed in the Lone Star Conference of Division II. The East Texas A&M football team plays its home games at Ernest Hawkins Field at Memorial Stadium on the university campus in Commerce, Texas. On December 16, 2017, East Texas A&M won its first NCAA Division II national championship, by defeating West Florida, 37–27, in Kansas City. 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. On September 28, 2021, the university accepted an invitation from the Southland Conference, moving the university's athletics programs up to the NCAA Division I level. This ended a 90-year affiliation with the Lone Star Conference, as East Texas A&M was the last founding member remaining. The football team began competing at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level starting with the 2022 season.
The 1972 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1972 NAIA Division I football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his ninth season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions won the Lone Star Conference, the NAIA District IV, and the NAIA Division I National Championship.
The 1980 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1980 NAIA Division I football season. Led by 17th-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 8–3–1 with a mark of 4–2–1 in conference play, placing fourth in the LSC. Two of the conference's members competed at the NCAA Division II level, while the rest remained in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Despite Southwest Texas State, an NCAA Division II member, winning the conference title, the NAIA division title was shared by East Texas State and Angelo State. The Lions advanced to the NAIA Division I Football National Championship playoffs, where they beat Central Arkansas in the quarterfinals before falling to Elon, the eventual national champion, in the semifinals.
The 1966 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1966 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his third season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. With a 5–3–2 record, the Lions won the Lone Star Conference championship, the first of four under Hawkins. Tailback Curtis Guyton was named All-American, the first black player in program history to be named All-American.
The 1983 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1983 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 19th-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, sharing the LSC title with Southwest Texas State. It was the team's final LSC title under Hawkins, who retired at the end of the 1985 season. East Texas State played home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas
The 1989 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1989 NCAA Division II football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Eddie Vowell, the Lions compiled an overall record of 4–6 with a mark of 2–5 in conference play, placing in a three-way tied for fifth in the LSC. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1988 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1988 NCAA Division II football season. Led by third-year head coach Eddie Vowell, the Lions compiled an overall record of 8–3 with a mark of 5–2 in conference play, trying for second place in the LSC. East Texas State began the season at 8–1 and reached as high as No. 2 in the NCAA Division II rankings before losing their final two games. It was Vowell's first winning season as head coach and the program's the first winning season since 1983. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1981 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1981 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 18th-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, placing fifth in the LSC. East Texas State played home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1982 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1982 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 19th-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, placing in a four-way tie for second in the LSC. East Texas State played home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1986 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1986 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Eddie Vowell, the Lions compiled an overall record of 2–9 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the LSC. 1986 was only the second losing season for the program in 20 years. East Texas State played home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1984 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1984 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 21st-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 1–3 in conference play, placing fourth in the LSC. East Texas State played home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1969 Texas A&I Javelinas football team was an American football team that represented the Texas College of Arts and Industries as a member of the Lone Star Conference during the 1969 NAIA football season. In its 16th year under head coach Gil Steinke, the team compiled an 11–1 record, tied for the Lone Star Conference championship, and defeated Concordia–Moorhead in the Champion Bowl to win the NAIA national championship. The team's only setback was a loss to Sul Ross.
The 1964 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State College—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1964 NAIA football season. Led by first-year head coach Ernest Hawkins, the Lions compiled an overall record of 2–7 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play, placing sixth in the LSC. Hawkins had taken over the program after the sudden death of Jules V. Sikes in the spring of 1964. The team played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas.
The 1965 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1965 NAIA football season. They were led by Ernest Hawkins, who was in his second season. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions finished the season with a 4–5 record.
The 1967 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1967 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his fourth season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions finished the season with a 4–6 record.
The 1968 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1968 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his fifth season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions finished second in the conference standings the season with a 7–2–1 record overall and a 5–1–1 record in LSC play. The season highlight was a 35–27 win over the NAIA's # 1 team, Texas A&I Javelinas on October 19, 1968.
The 1970 East Texas State Lions football team represented East Texas State University in the 1970 NAIA football season. They were led by head coach Ernest Hawkins, who was in his seventh season at East Texas State. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference. The Lions finished 5–6 overall and 4–5 in conference play.
References
- ↑ "ACC defeats East Texas". The El Paso Times. September 21, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "ETSU cops 24–13 victory". The Shreveport Times. September 28, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Rebs' passes thump Lions". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 5, 1969. p. 2B. Retrieved March 21, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "ETSU clouts McMurry, 23–10". San Angelo Standard-Times. October 12, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "A&I whips East Texas". The Galveston Daily News. October 19, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Lions drop Sul Ross in Lone Star". The Odessa American. October 26, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Lion spurt jars Payne". Brownwood Bulletin. November 2, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "James stars in ETSU win". The Shreveport Times. November 9, 1969. Retrieved January 20, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Bobcats clawed, 26–6, by high-steppin' Lions". Austin American-Statesman. November 16, 1969. Retrieved March 21, 2022– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Deskalakes' point after catch spells doom for Axmen, 36–35". The Shreveport Times. November 23, 1969. Retrieved August 6, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ "Lion Football History" (Press release). Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
- ↑ "A&M-Commerce Football Award History" (Press release). Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
