COMMERCE, Texas – A&M-Commerce's memorable 2013 football season isn't over just yet. The Lions have accepted an invitation to play in the inaugural Live United Texarkana Bowl on Saturday, December 7th at Razorback Stadium in Texarkana, Ark. A&M-Commerce will take on Harding from the Great American Conference, kicking off at 12 noon.
"It is an incredible opportunity to be invited to the Live United Bowl and continue our memorable season," said head coach Colby Carthel. "It's fantastic for these seniors, letting them put the pads on one last time and giving them an opportunity to play in the postseason. It also pays dividends for our program, as it lets us practice for three more weeks. For a young team like this one, it will be a huge boost for the Lions teams of the future. "
The bowl berth gives the program its first postseason appearance under the banner of Texas A&M University-Commerce. It is the first trip to the postseason for the Lions since qualifying for the 1995 NCAA Division II playoffs when then-East Texas State fell to Portland State in the first round.
The Texarkana Live United Bowl also signifies the first bowl appearance for the Lions since a 26-7 victory over Missouri Valley in 1958. The program has compiled a 3-0-1 record in bowl games and is 8-4-1 all-time in postseason games.
A&M-Commerce's foe will be quite a challenge as the Lions will go head-to-head with Harding, the runners-up in the Great American Conference with an 8-2 record. The Bison run the triple option, similar to Eastern New Mexico, and are extremely efficient in doing so, averaging 366 rushing yards and 43 points per game. Harding has 10 different players that have rushed for at least 100 yards this season, led by Romo Westbrook's 1,025 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The bowl invite is a fitting cap to what has been one of the most memorable Lion football seasons in quite a while. A&M-Commerce finished the regular season 7-4, its first winning season since 2001, knocking off a pair of ranked opponents in the process (Delta State and Tarleton State). The Lions set a program record for offensive production with 417 points, averaging 37.3 points per game, while holding both the Chennault Cup and President's Trophy for the first time in program history.
Tickets for the Live United Texarkana are $6 for adults and $4 for children. Sponsored by the United Way, all proceeds from the event will benefit the United Way of Greater Texarkana. A free community pep rally will be held Friday, December 6th, at 8 p.m. at Crossroads Business Park in Texarkana as well, leading up to kickoff Saturday at noon.
Stay tuned to LionAthletics.com for all the information you need heading up to kickoff against the Bison on December 7th.
A&M-Commerce Lion Postseason History
1953 Tangerine Bowl (Jan. 1, 1953) - East Texas State 33, Tennessee Tech 0
1954 Tangerine Bowl (Jan. 1, 1954) - East Texas State 7, Arkansas Tech 7
1958 Tangerine Bowl (Jan. 1, 1958) - East Texas State 10, Southern Mississippi 9
1958 Tangerine Bowl (Dec. 27, 1958) - East Texas State 26, Missouri Valley 7 *
1972 NAIA Semifinal (Nov. 25, 1972) - East Texas State 54, Central Oklahoma 0
1972 NAIA National Championship (Dec. 9, 1972) - East Texas State 21, Carson-Newman 18
1980 NAIA Quarterfinal (Dec. 6, 1980) - East Texas State 27, Central Arkansas 21
1980 NAIA Semifinal (Dec. 13, 1980) - Elon College 14, East Texas State 6
1990 NCAA Division II First Round (Nov. 17, 1990) - East Texas State 20, Grand Valley State 14
1990 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal (Nov. 24, 1990) - Pittsburg State 60, East Texas State 28
1991 NCAA Division II First Round (Nov. 23, 1991) - East Texas State 36, Grand Valley State 15
1991 NCAA Division II Quarterfinal (Nov. 30, 1991) - Pittsburg State 38, East Texas State 28
1995 NCAA Division II First Round (Nov. 18, 1995) - Portland State 56, East Texas State 35
* - Two Tangerine Bowls were played in 1958. The first was played on Jan. 1, 1958 at the conclusion of the 1957 season while the second was played on Dec. 27, 1958 at the conclusion of the 1958 season.
