West Texas A&M Buffaloes football

Notable former players

Notable alumni include:

• Ralph Anderson
• Anthony Armstrong
• John Ayres
• Grady Benton
• Carl Birdsong
• Tully Blanchard
• Cloyce Box
• Bryan Braman
• Stephen Burton
• Eric Collins
• Ted DiBiase
• Bobby Duncum Sr.
• Dory Funk Jr.
• Terry Funk
• Frank Goodish
• Stan Hansen
• Kareem Larrimore
• Jerry Logan
• Ron Mayo
• Reggie McElroy
• Mercury Morris
• Jesse Powell
• Bo Robinson
• Khiry Robinson
• Virgil Runnels
• Eugene Sims
• Merced Solis
• Duane Thomas
• Chaun Thompson
• Rocky Thompson
• J'Marcus Webb
• Ethan Westbrooks

Conference championships

Classification history

• 1910–1955 – NCAA
• 1956–1972 – NCAA University Division (Major College)
• 1973–1977 – NCAA Division I
• 1978–1981 – NCAA Division I-A
• 1982–1985 – NCAA Division I-AA
• 1986–1990 – NCAA Division II
• 1991 – No team
• 1992–present – NCAA Division II

Conference history

• 1910–1924 – Independent
• 1925–1930 – Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association
• 1931–1938 – Independent
• 1939–1940 – Alamo Conference
• 1941–1961 – Border Conference
• 1962–1971 – Independent
• 1972–1985 – Missouri Valley Conference
• 1986–1990 – Lone Star Conference
• 1992–1994 – Division II Independent
• 1995–present – Lone Star Conference

Postseason

Bowl appearances

West Texas A&M participated in four bowl games, all while during known as West Texas State. They went 4–0.

They have also competed in three Division II bowls. The Kanza Bowl was a bowl game between the Lone Star Conference and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association from 2009–2012, with the Buffs going 2–0. The Buffs have also played in the Heritage Bowl against the Great American Conference.

NCAA Division II playoffs

Rivalries

Eastern New Mexico: Wagon Wheel

The Wagon Wheel is a traveling trophy that is given to the winner of the Eastern New Mexico–West Texas A&M football game. The trophy was introduced in 1986 by Dallan Sanders, the Housing Director at ENMU. The wheel is placed on the stadium hill of the host team with the winning team running up the hill to take possession of the wheel. Following the 2023 meeting, ENMU leads the overall series 23–19 and the trophy series 18–17.

Texas A&M–Commerce: East Texas vs. West Texas

East Texas vs. West Texas is the name given to the Texas A&M–Commerce–West Texas A&M football rivalry game. The intensity of the rivalry grew during 2013 through 2018 as the head coach for TAMUC at the time was Colby Carthel, who previously served as the defensive coordinator at WT under head coach Don Carthel, Colby's father. A&M–Commerce leads the all-time series 21–14. The rivalry has become largely defunct as A&M–Commerce moved to the Southland Conference, which competes at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision level, beginning with the 2022 season.

Head coaches

Don Carthel has the most all-time wins for the Buffaloes, who have gone 541–536–21 through the 2023 season.

References

References

1. Robinson, Rylee. (November 4, 2023). "Greyhounds keep the wagon wheel in Portales after 35-27 win over West Texas A&M".
2. Steed, Kale. (October 1, 2016). "Hounds stun Buffs to reclaim Wagon Wheel". [[Amarillo Globe-News]].
3. (August 10, 2017). "Wagon Wheel History - West Texas A&M University".
4. "Football History vs West Texas A&M University". Eastern New Mexico University Athletics.
5. "Colby Carthel Named A&M-Commerce's 19th Head Football Coach".
6. "Football History vs West Texas A&M University".
7. (September 28, 2021). "Texas A&M-Commerce taking leap to Southland Conference, NCAA Division I". Houston Chronicle.
8. Brady Renard. (September 28, 2021). "Southland Conference adds Texas A&M-Commerce to membership". KPLC.
9. "2019 West Texas A&M Football Media Guide by West Texas A&M Athletics – Issuu".