1981 East Texas State Lions football team

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.

1981 East Texas State Lions football
ConferenceLone Star Conference
Record7–4 (4–3 LSC)
Head coach
Home stadiumMemorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1980
1982 →
1981 Lone Star Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 4 Southwest Texas State $^ 6 1 0 13 1 0
No. 9 Texas A&I 5 2 0 9 2 0
Abilene Christian 5 2 0 8 2 0
Angelo State 5 2 0 8 3 0
No. 17 East Texas State 4 3 0 7 4 0
Sam Houston State 2 5 0 3 7 0
Howard Payne 1 6 0 3 7 0
Stephen F. Austin 0 7 0 1 10 0
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll for Southwest Texas State and Texas A&I and NAIA Division I poll for East Texas State

Schedule edit

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12Cameron*W 17–138,000[1]
September 19at Southern Arkansas*
L 37–39[2]
September 26Central State (OK)*
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Commerce, TX
W 31–288,500[3]
October 3at Northwestern State*W 28–218,000[4]
October 10Sam Houston State
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Commerce, TX
W 37–141,200–1,800[5][6]
October 17at Howard Payne
W 42–01,500[7]
October 24Abilene Christian
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Commerce, TX
L 14–192,500[8]
October 31at No. 1 Southwest Texas StateL 7–3810,000–10,899[9][10]
November 7No. 6 Texas A&I
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Commerce, TX
W 37–139,500[11]
November 14Stephen F. Austin
  • Memorial Stadium
  • Commerce, TX
W 30–63,500[12]
November 21at Angelo StateL 32–445,005[13]

[14][15]

Postseason awards edit

All-Americans edit

  • Cary Noiel, First Team running back

All-Lone Star Conference edit

LSC First Team edit

  • Cary Noiel, running back

LSC Second Team edit

  • Anthony Brock, linebacker
  • Frank Moore, tight end
  • Peter Roos, offensive tackle
  • Ted Sample, fullback
  • Darren Smith, defensive back
  • Randy Smith, tight end

LSC Honorable Mention edit

References edit

  1. ^ "QB leads East Texas". San Angelo Standard-Times. September 13, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "S. Arkansas nips ETSU". The Shreveport Times. September 20, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "East Texas edges Central State". The Daily Oklahoman. September 27, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Lions roar as Demons' homecoming is spoiled". The Shreveport Times. October 4, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Noiel, ETSU bomb Bearcats". San Angelo Standard-Times. October 11, 1981. Retrieved February 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Final 1981 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  7. ^ "Unbeaten East Texas State socks Howard Payne 42–0". San Angelo Standard-Times. October 18, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Abilene Christian 19, ETSU 14". The Odessa American. October 25, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "SWT rolls over East Texas, 38–7". Austin American-Statesman. November 1, 1981. Retrieved March 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Final 1981 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Commerce jinx strikes Hoggies". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 8, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "East Texas stops SFA". The Tyler Courier-Times. November 15, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Rams end on high note". San Angelo Standard-Times. November 22, 1981. Retrieved August 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Final 1981 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  15. ^ "Lion Football History" (Press release). Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2019.
  16. ^ "A&M-Commerce Football Award History" (Press release). Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics. December 12, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2019.