1996 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team

1996 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Ranking
Coaches	No. 20
Record	7–4 (4–3 LSC)
Head coach	Eddie Vowell (11th season)
Defensive coordinator	Mark Copeland
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium (Capacity: 13,500)

1996 Lone Star Conference football standings

	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 1 Texas A&M–Kingsville $^		7	–	0					8	–	3
No. 9 Central Oklahoma ^		5	–	2					9	–	3
Texas A&M–Commerce		4	–	3					7	–	3
Angelo State		4	–	3					6	–	4
Abilene Christian		4	–	3					6	–	4
Tarleton State		2	–	5					5	–	5
Eastern New Mexico		2	–	5					3	–	8
West Texas A&M		0	–	7					1	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee poll

The 1996 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team represented Texas A&M University-Commerce in the 1996 NCAA Division II football season. They were led by head coach Eddie Vowell, who was in his 11th season at A&M-Commerce. The Lions played their home games at Memorial Stadium and were members of the Lone Star Conference (LSC). The Lions finished third in the LSC, and it was their first season to participate as Texas A&M-Commerce after the former East Texas State joined the A&M University System in the Fall of 1996.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result
September 7	Harding*	No. 11	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 43-28
September 14	No. 20 Henderson State*	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 19-14
September 21	at Northwestern State (Louisiana)*	No. 4	Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 33-7
September 28	at Arkansas-Pine Bluff*	No. 8	Golden Lion Stadium Pine Bluff, AR	W 24–30
October 5	at No. 3 Central Oklahoma	No. 6	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	L 38-21
October 12	No. 8 Texas A&M-Kingsville		Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX (Chennault Cup)	L 41–28
October 19	at West Texas A&M		Kimbrough Memorial Stadium Canyon, TX	W 31-0
October 26	Eastern New Mexico		Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 42-10
November 2	Abilene Christian		Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	W 17-0
November 9	Angelo State*	No. 16	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	L 35-32
November 16	at Tarleton State	No. 20	Tarleton Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX	W 56-17
*Non-conference game Rankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the game

Postseason awards

All-Americans

• Kevin Mathis, First Team
• James Epps, Third Team
• Brett Bertrand, Honorable Mention

LSC Superlatives

• Defensive Back of the Year: Kevin Mathis

LSC First Team

• Ralph Bennett, Offensive Tackle
• Brett Bertrand, Defensive End
• Cole Cayce, Quarterback
• David Dell, Kicker
• James Epps, Receiver
• Kevin Mathis, Cornerback
• Jim Suiter, Offensive Tackle

LSC Second Team

• Travis Marshall, Defensive End

LSC Honorable Mention

• Trey Burk, Offensive Guard
• Casey Cowan, Wide Receiver
• Jason Hoffman, Center
• Jermaine McDowell, Running Back
• Neal Searcy, Defensive Back
• Carl Wheeler, Defensive Back