ARLINGTON - For the second year in a row, Texas A&M University-Commerce will play Midwestern State in the Lone Star Football Festival at Cowboys Stadium. This year, it’ll air on the CBS Sports Network.
The Lone Star Conference made the announcement Thursday.
The Lions and Mustangs play at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 13. The LSC match-up was selected as one of the six games to be broadcast as part of the NCAA Division II and CBS Sports Network’s regular-season football television schedule.
"We are incredibly excited to have this opportunity to showcase A&M-Commerce," Athletic Director Carlton Cooper told the team's official website. "This is something we have been looking forward to for a long time to be able to push our brand nationally, and having the opportunity to do so as part of the Lone Star Football Festival and Harvey Martin Classic is something that will be a highlight of this athletic department and the university. We are looking forward to our fans, alumni and supporters to come out in their Lion gear and show the nation the Lion pride at A&M-Commerce."
The site reports A&M-Commerce's last nationally televised game was a 28-14 defeat at Pittsburg (Kan.) State in the 2007 season opener.
The Lions are coming off a 1-9 season in 2011 and will look to avenge last year’s 63-17 defeat to MSU at the inaugural Lone Star Football Festival. MSU (10-1) advanced to the second round of the Division II NCAA tournament. Their only loss was in the playoffs.
Since 2008, A&M-Commerce has had the opportunity to participate in three games at the Cotton Bowl and one at Cowboys Stadium as part of the Harvey Martin Classic, a dedication to the former Lion Hall of Famer and Dallas Cowboy.
Thursday's announcement stretches the festival from a two-day event to a three-day affair including all nine LSC football teams. Friday’s lineup now includes one LSC game and a high school contest, with Incarnate Word versus Eastern New Mexico at 3:30 p.m., followed by defending 5A state champion Southlake Carroll against Temple at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the action starts at Noon with Angelo State in opposition to two-time NCAA Division II national champion Valdosta State from the Gulf South Conference, followed by a pair of conference clashes with Tarleton State against Abilene Christian at 4 p.m. and Texas A&M-Kingsville versus West Texas A&M at 8 p.m.
Admission to the event will be offered in daily tickets for Thursday, Friday or Saturday’s games along with an option for a three-day festival pass, with tickets to go on sale in early July.
A daily ticket for Thursday or Friday is $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets for Saturday are $25 for adults and $10 for students. The festival pass, which is good for admission all three days, is $35 for adults and $15 for students. Seating will be general admission with children 1-year and older requiring a ticket. To be admitted with a student ticket, bearer must be between 1 and 18 years old or present valid college ID.
The 2011 Lone Star Football Festival drew an LSC attendance record 24,837 fans to a tripleheader of games.
2012 NCAA Division II Football Game of the Week TV Schedule
Sept. 6 Bowie State at Benedict
Sept. 13 Texas A&M-Commerce vs. Midwestern State
Sept. 20 Truman State at Central Missouri
Sept. 27 Wingate at Carson-Newman
Oct. 11 Wayne State (Mich.) at Saginaw Valley State
Oct. 18 New Haven at Stonehill