Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas football

History

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."

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.

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.

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.

Conference history

• 1925–1929: Independent
• 1930-1930: Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1931–1938: Independent
• 1939–1940: Alamo Conference
• 1941–1948: Independent
• 1949–1953: Texas Collegiate Athletic Conference
• 1954–present: Lone Star Conference

List of head coaches

From 1942 to 1945, the Javelinas 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.

• Lewis J. Smith (1925–1928): 16–10–1
• Bud McCallum (1929–1939, 1941): 65–31–9
• Dewey Mayhew (1940, 1946–1953): 46–38–1
• Gil Steinke (1954–1976): 182–61–4
• Fred Jonas (1977–1978): 14–6–1
• Ron Harms (1979–1999): 169–75
• Richard Cundiff (2000–2006): 52–28
• Bo Atterberry (2007–2012): 41–28
• David Calloway (2013–2014): 4–17
• Daren Wilkinson (2015–2019): 19–26
• Mike Salinas (2020–present): 0–0

Championships

National championships

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

Conference championships

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)

Postseason appearances

Bowl games

NAIA playoffs

Texas A&I made eight appearances in the NAIA playoffs, with a combined record of 16–1 and seven national championships.

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

• Johnny Bailey
• Ed Dodds
• Earl Dotson
• Karl Douglas
• Mike Dyal
• Donovan Gans
• Roberto Garza
• Darrell Green (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
• James Guidry
• Al Harris
• Dwight Harrison
• James Jefferson
• Randy Johnson
• John Randle (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
• Heath Sherman
• Gene Upshaw (Pro Football Hall of Famer)
• Karl Williams

References

References

1. Hunter, Cecilia Aros and Leslie Gene. "Texas A&M University-Kingsville." Arcadia Press, 2000. p.63-64
2. "History1930".
3. Hunter, Cecilia Aros and Leslie Gene. "Texas A&M University-Kingsville." Arcadia Press, 2000. p.64
4. "Lone Star Conference".
5. (September 2, 2010). "Texas A&M Kingsville – Javelinas". Javelinaathletics.com.
6. "History Of The Naia – Naia Official Athletic Site". Naia.cstv.com.
7. (2006). "Official Divisions II And III Football Records Book". [[National Collegiate Athletic Association]].
8. (April 25, 1931). "History". Lone Star Conference.