Texas A&M University-Commerce, the 2014 Lone Star Conference Champions in football, will not participate in the 2015 Lone Star Football Festival at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
The day-long event, now in its fifth year, will kick off on Sept. 19. The 2015 schedule includes two Lone Star Conference tilts and one non-conference game. Midwestern State faces Eastern New Mexico, and Tarleton State goes against West Texas A&M in LSC action, while Angelo State plays Bacone in a non-conference contest.
"We are certainly disappointed that we are not participating in the football festival this year, but we also understand the importance of being a team player for the betterment of our conference," A&M-Commerce Director of Athletics Ryan Ivey said. "I certainly understand how hard football scheduling is, and will continue to be, and how important being able to play in front of your fans is. While we don’t have the opportunity to play in AT&T Stadium this season, it didn’t take away from our ability to have a conference home game, so are home contests were able to be maximized through conference and non-conference scheduling. We feel as if we have a tremendous schedule with 10 Division II games and one non-conference regional FCS opponent. It is a schedule in which we feel should energize our fan base and provide a great test for our football team."
"The decision to allow Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-Kingsville to play their 2015 game in Kingsville, versus as part of the Lone Star Football Festival was mutually agreed upon by the Conference Office and both Athletic Directors during the summer of 2014, " Lone Star Conference Interim Commissioner Jay Poerner said when asked for comment on the matter. A&M-Kingsville is also not participating in the event.
The Lions were the only team from the conference's top six finishers in 2014 not to be scheduled for the 2015 Lone Star Football Festival. In 2014, A&M-Commerce defeated Texas A&M University-Kingsville 55-20 in a successful defense of the Chennault Cup, awarded annually to the winner of the game between the two longtime rivals.
This fall, the Lions will host two nonconference opponents: Adams State in another Thursday-night season opener on Sept. 3. Nine days later, Delta State rolls into Commerce on Sept. 12.
Adams State went 4-7 overall and 3-6 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in 2014, while Delta State will enter 2015 campaign after a 9-2 overall record and a 6-1 record in the Gulf South Conference.
The Lions will open their defense of the Lone Star Conference Championship at home with Eastern New Mexico (7-4, 3-4) on Sept. 26, before ushering in Angelo State (9-3, 5-2) on Oct. 10. Midwestern State (6-4, 5-2) will be the third scheduled home game before the Lone Star Conference Playoffs start. The Lions will entertain the Mustangs on Oct. 24.
Much like the 2014 season, the LSC Playoffs offer at least one more home game and the possibility of two more home games. The LSC Playoffs will be held on Nov. 7 and 14.
A&M-Commerce will release its road schedule at a later date.
The Lions will enter 2015 after claiming the program's 21st Lone Star Conference Championship after going 9-3 on the season and 6-1 in LSC conference play.
