1972 East Texas State Lions football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1972 East Texas State Lions football Lone Star Conference LSC 10–2 7–1 Ernest Hawkins 9th Option Bobby Fox 2nd 5–2 Memorial Stadium NAIA Division I championLSC champion NAIA Division I Football Championship W 21–18 vs. 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman 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. Heading into the 1972 season, the Lions were picked to finish fourth in the conference,July 2019 and started out the season with 14–12 loss to rival Abilene Christian, but then racked up six straight wins to climb into the national polls. Then The Lions were upset by 1972 Sul Ross Lobos Sul Ross, dropping them out of the top five in the rankings. The Lions finished the season with wins over 1972 Angelo State Rams Angelo State and 1972 Tarleton State Texans Tarleton State. When the final national rankings came out, the Lions were ranked fourth in the nation and invited to the NAIA Division I playoffs. In the semifinal round the Lions faced the top-ranked team in the nation, the 1972 Central State Bronchos Central State Bronchos of Oklahoma. The Lions routed Central State, 54–0 in the earning them a spot in Champion Bowl against the second-ranked 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman. The title game was determined to be played in Commerce. On a bitterly cold December day in front of a packed Memorial Stadium, Hawkins's Lions defeated Carson–Newman, 21–18, to claim the national title. Among the players on the team were future National Football League (NFL) players Will Cureton, Harvey Martin, Autry Beamon, Aundra Thompson, and Tim Collier. The Lions were named the National Team of the Year and Hawkins was named both Lone Star Conference Coach of the Year and National Coach of the Year. Schedule 1972 NAIA Division I NAIA Division I Central September 9 2:00 p.m. l y y Abilene Christian Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX 12–14 6,325 https://www.newspapers.com/article/lubbock-avalanche-journal-acc-holds-off/129875886/ ACC holds off East Texas Lubbock Avalanche-Journal September 10, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Abilene Christian) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/2/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association May 29, 2025 September 16 6:00 p.m. w y y 1972 East Central Tigers East Central Norris Field Ada, OK 37–14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-east-central-tumbles-3714/129875938/ East Central tumbles, 37–14 Tulsa World September 17, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 23 6:00 p.m. w y Sam Houston State Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX 23–0 7,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/118178134/ets-blue-gang-overwhelms-sh/ The Herald Banner ET's 'Blue Gang' overwhelms SH September 24, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com September 30 6:00 p.m. w 1972 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets Howard Payne Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 35–15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/brownwood-bulletin-east-texas-second-ha/129876039/ Brownwood Bulletin East Texas' second half surge sinks HPC, 35–15 October 1, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 7 2:00 p.m. w y 1972 Texas A&I Javelinas Texas A&I 12 Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX rivalry 29–17 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-east-texas-dumps-ai/129876094/ Victoria Advocate East Texas dumps A&I October 8, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 21 2:00 pm w y 1972 Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Stephen F. Austin Memorial Stadium Nacogdoches, TX 21–9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-etsu-tops-sfa-by-219/129876217/ The Shreveport Times ETSU tops SFA by 21–9 October 22, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com October 28 2:00 pm w 7 Southwest Texas State 1 Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 32–29 E. Texas clips Cats https://www.newspapers.com/clip/98170871/e-texas-clips-cats/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram October 29, 1972 March 22, 2022 Newspapers.com November 4 2:00 p.m. l y 4 1972 Sul Ross Lobos Sul Ross Jackson Field Alpine, TX 14–15 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-loboes-upset-etsu-1/129876438/ Loboes upset ETSU, 15–14 The Odessa American November 5, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 11 6:00 p.m. w 6 1972 Angelo State Rams Angelo State 14 Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 24–14 https://www.newspapers.com/article/del-rio-news-herald-east-texas-beats-ang/129876518/ East Texas beats Angelo Del Rio News Herald November 12, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 18 2:00 p.m. w y 5 1972 Tarleton State Texans Tarleton State Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX rivalry 27–6 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-east-texas-rol/129876583/ East Texas rolls past Tarleton San Angelo Standard-Times November 19, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com November 25 2:00 p.m. w y 6 1972 Central State Bronchos Central State (OK) 1 NAIA Division I Semifinal Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 54–0 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-texans-torpedo-bronc/129876637/ Texans torpedo Bronchos, 54–0 The Daily Oklahoman November 26, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com December 9 4:00 p.m. w y 6 1972 Carson–Newman Eagles Carson–Newman 2 Champion Bowl Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX 21–18 4,539 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel-naia-title-e/129876725/ NAIA title escapes C–N The Knoxville News-Sentinel December 10, 1972 August 12, 2023 Newspapers.com https://lionathletics.com/sports/2015/8/31/FB_0831154147.aspx Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics December 12, 2016 July 17, 2019 Lion Football History Awards NAIA Coach of the Year: Ernest Hawkins All-Americans Harvey Martin, First Team Defensive Line Kenneth Parks, First Team, Running Back Curtis Wester, First Team, Offensive Line Autry Beamon, Second Team, Defensive Back Denver Crawley, Honorable Mention, Offensive Tackle Dudley Slice, Honorable Mention, Receiver Ricky Earle, Honorable Mention, Safety All-Lone Star Conference LSC Superlatives Coach of The Year: Ernest Hawkins Outstanding Lineman: Curts Wester Outstanding Back: Kenneth Parks LSC First Team Autry Beamon, Safety Denver Crowley, Offensive Line Will Cureton, Quarterback Ricky Earle, Safety Harvey Martin, Defensive End Kenneth Parks, Running Back Dudley Slice, Receiver Doug Walker, Linebacker Curtis Wester, Offensive Line LSC Second Team Calvin Harris, Tight End LeRoy Johnson, Linebacker LSC Honorable Mention Kenneth Brown, Offensive tackle Nelson Robinson, Fullback James Talbot, Linebacker Jim Talley, Center Jackie Woods, Offensive Guard https://lionathletics.com/sports/2017/7/12/a-m-commerce-football-award-history.aspx Texas A&M University Commerce Department of Athletics December 12, 2016 July 17, 2019 A&M-Commerce Football Award History References East Texas State Category:East Texas A&M Lions football seasons Category:NAIA football national champions Category:Lone Star Conference football champion seasons East Texas State Lions football