1981 East Texas State Lions football team

1981 East Texas State Lions football
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Record	7–4 (4–3 LSC)
Head coach	Ernest Hawkins (18th season)
Offensive scheme	Option
Defensive coordinator	Bobby Fox (11th season)
Base defense	5–2
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium

1981 Lone Star Conference football standings

v t e	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

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.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	Cameron*	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 17–13	8,000	[1]
September 19	at Southern Arkansas*	Wilkins Stadium Magnolia, AR	L 37–39		[2]
September 26	Central State (OK)*	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 31–28	8,500	[3]
October 3	at Northwestern State*	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	W 28–21	8,000	[4]
October 10	Sam Houston State	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 37–14	1,200–1,800	[5][6]
October 17	at Howard Payne	Yellowjacket Stadium Brownwood, TX	W 42–0	1,500	[7]
October 24	Abilene Christian	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	L 14–19	2,500	[8]
October 31	at No. 1 Southwest Texas State	Bobcat Stadium San Marcos, TX	L 7–38	10,000–10,899	[9][10]
November 7	No. 6 Texas A&I	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 37–13	9,500	[11]
November 14	Stephen F. Austin	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 30–6	3,500	[12]
November 21	at Angelo State	San Angelo Stadium San Angelo, TX	L 32–44	5,005	[13]
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee Poll released prior to the game

[14][15]

Postseason awards

All-Americans

• Cary Noiel, First Team running back

All-Lone Star Conference

LSC First Team

• Cary Noiel, running back

LSC Second Team

• 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

• Blake Cooper, center
• Randy Jones, punter
• Kyle Mackey, quarterback[16]

References

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.