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Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football

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Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football
First season1929
Head coachMike Salinas
4th season, 19–15 (.559)
StadiumJavelina Stadium
(capacity: 15,000)
LocationKingsville, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision II
ConferenceLone Star Conference
DivisionSouth
Bowl record9–3 (.750)
Claimed national titlesNAIA: 7 (1959, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1979)
Conference titles33 (27 LSC, 4 Alamo, 2 TCAA)
Division titles7
ColorsBlue and gold[1]
   
Websitejavelinaathletics.com

The Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football program is the intercollegiate American football team for the Texas A&M University–Kingsville located in the U.S. state of Texas. The team competes in the Division II and is a member of the Lone Star Conference. The school's first football team was fielded in 1929. The team plays its home games at the 15,000-seat Javelina Stadium.

History

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In 1929, the school joined the original Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. By the time that TIAA folded, the "Fighting Javelinas" had won two football championships. Following this, the school competed independently for several years. They moved from competing with junior colleges and teachers colleges to competing against larger schools throughout the state. One highlight of this period included a football game that pitted the Javelinas against the Aggies of Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station. The Javelinas led the game until the Aggies tied the game at 14 with three minutes left to play. The game ended in a tie. However, the Javelinas demonstrated that they could hold their own with a large football powerhouse. This further substantiated the team's nickname as "the toughest little team in the nation."[2][3]

In 1934, the school participated in the Lone Star Conference on a probationary period. In 1935, the school joined the Alamo Conference. By 1937, the Javelinas captured their first Alamo Conference co-championship (with St. Mary's). The next year, the Javelinas won their first outright Alamo Conference football championship. This led to a string of football championships and the school's recognition as a football powerhouse.[4]

For the 1954 season, A&I was finally inducted into the Lone Star Conference (LSC). By 1959, the Javelinas won the first in a long string of LSC championships. Since then, the school has remained a perennial conference powerhouse, winning 27 championships. During the years that the Lone Star Conference was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Javelinas also picked up seven national championships. During the decade of the 1970s, the Javelinas won five NAIA national championships and went undefeated from the last game of 1973 through third game of 1977.[5][6][7]

After the Lone Star Conference joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II in 1980, the Javelinas continued their conference, regional, and national success. The school changed its name from Texas A&I to Texas A&M-Kingsville in 1993. One year later, the Javelinas played in the 1994 NCAA Division II National Football Championship, only to lose to the University of North Alabama 16–10. The school has been in NCAA Division II since 1980, after being in the NAIA from 1955–1980.[5][6][8][9]

Notable former players

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Notable alumni include:

Championships

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While known as Texas A&I, the Javelinas won seven NAIA national championship titles.

Year Coach
1959 Gil Steinke
1969 Gil Steinke
1970 Gil Steinke
1974 Gil Steinke
1975 Gil Steinke
1976 Gil Steinke
1979 Ron Harms

Bowl games

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Year Bowl Name Coach Record Opponent Result
November 28, 1952 International Bowl Dewey Mayhew 3–8 Herico Military Academy (Mexico) W 49–0
December 12, 1959 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 12–1 Lenoir-Rhyne Bears W 20–7
December 31, 1960 Great Southwest Bowl Gil Steinke 8–1–1 Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys W 45–14
December 14, 1968 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 10–2 Troy Trojans L 35–43
December 13, 1969 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 11–1 Concordia-Moorhead Golden Bears W 32–7
December 12, 1970 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 11–1 Wofford Terriers W 38–7
December 14, 1974 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 13–3 Henderson State Reddies W 34–23
December 13, 1975 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 12–3 Salem Spirits W 37–0
December 11, 1976 NAIA Championship Game Gil Steinke 13–3 Central Arkansas Bears W 26–0
December 15, 1979 NAIA Championship Game Ron Harms 12–1 Central Oklahoma Bronchos W 20–14
November 25, 2012 Kanza Bowl Bo Atterberry 6–5 Emporia State Hornets L 38–45
December 3, 2016 Live United Texarkana Bowl Daren Wilkinson 9–3 Southern Arkansas Muleriders W 24–17
December 3, 2022 Heritage Bowl Mike Salinas 7–5 East Central Tigers L 21–38

Conference championships

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The Javelinas have won 33 conference titles since 1936. They have also won seven Lone Star South Division titles (1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009).

  • 1936: Alamo Conference Co-champions (1–1–0)
  • 1937: Alamo Conference Co-champions (Unknown record)
  • 1938: Alamo Conference Champions (2-0)
  • 1939: Alamo Conference Co-champions (1–0–1)
  • 1951: Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-champions (3–0–1)
  • 1953: Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference Co-champions (3–0–1)
  • 1959: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (5–2–0)
  • 1960: Lone Star Conference Champions (6–0–1)
  • 1962: Lone Star Conference Champions (6–0–1)
  • 1967: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–0–0)
  • 1968: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–1–0)
  • 1969: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (7–1–0)
  • 1970: Lone Star Conference Champions (8–1–0)
  • 1974: Lone Star Conference Champions (9–0–0)
  • 1975: Lone Star Conference Champions (9–0–0)
  • 1976: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–0–0)
  • 1977: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (5–1–1)
  • 1979: Lone Star Conference Champions (6–1–0)
  • 1985: Lone Star Conference Champions (5–0–0)
  • 1987: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (4–1–1)
  • 1988: Lone Star Conference Champions (6–1–0)
  • 1989: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–0–0)
  • 1992: Lone Star Conference Champions (6–0–0)
  • 1993: Lone Star Conference Champions (5–0–0)
  • 1994: Lone Star Conference Champions (5–0–0)
  • 1995: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–0–0)
  • 1996: Lone Star Conference Champions (7–0)
  • 1997: Lone Star Conference Champions (9–0)
  • 2001: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (5–1)
  • 2002: Lone Star Conference Champions (5–1)
  • 2003: Lone Star Conference Champions (8–0)
  • 2004: Lone Star Conference Champions (8–1)
  • 2009: Lone Star Conference Co-champions (7–2)

List of head coaches

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From 1942 to 1945, the Javelina had no team due to World War II. Gil Steinke has the most victories coached as a Javelina. Steinke and Ron Harms are both in the College Football Hall of Fame.

Conference history

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References

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  1. ^ TAMUK Quick Reference Guide Graphic Standards (PDF). Retrieved May 3, 2017.
  2. ^ Hunter, Cecilia Aros and Leslie Gene. "Texas A&M University-Kingsville." Arcadia Press, 2000. p.63-64
  3. ^ "History1930". archives.tamuk.edu. Archived from the original on March 26, 2010.
  4. ^ Hunter, Cecilia Aros and Leslie Gene. "Texas A&M University-Kingsville." Arcadia Press, 2000. p.64
  5. ^ a b "Lone Star Conference" (PDF).
  6. ^ a b "Texas A&M Kingsville – Javelinas". Javelinaathletics.com. September 2, 2010. Archived from the original on October 27, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  7. ^ "History Of The Naia – Naia Official Athletic Site". Naia.cstv.com. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
  8. ^ "Official Divisions II And III Football Records Book" (PDF). www.ncaa.org. National Collegiate Athletic Association. 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 25, 2008.
  9. ^ "History". Lone Star Conference. April 25, 1931. Retrieved November 28, 2010.
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