LIONS' GAME WITH MUSTANGS AT COWBOYS STADIUM MOVED TO PRIMETIME
COMMERCE, Texas – A&M-Commerce today announced a change to the Lions' 2012 football schedule as the game against Midwestern State at Cowboys Stadium has been moved to primetime, kicking off at 7 p.m. Thursday, September 13 and serving as the opening act of the 2012 Lone Star Football Festival. The game was originally scheduled for 4 p.m. Friday, September 14.
"We feel this move will benefit everyone involved," said Athletic Director Carlton Cooper. "Once again, we will kick off the Lone Star Football Festival and this also allows us to have the sole attention of not just the conference but Division II football on that night. It provides better opportunities for our alumni and fans to enjoy the experience and should be a highlight of the upcoming season for A&M-Commerce."
Once again, A&M-Commerce's game at Cowboys Stadium will also serve as the annual Harvey Martin Classic, now entering its fifth season. The game honors former Lion All-American and Super Bowl MVP Harvey Martin, who helped lead East Texas State to the 1972 NAIA national title before earning a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys in 1978.
The first three games of the Harvey Martin Classic were played in the historic Cotton Bowl at the Texas State Fairgrounds before moving to Cowboys Stadium in 2011. A number of events are in the planning stages for this year's festivities with details being announced as they become available.
With the A&M-Commerce/Midwestern State game being moved to Thursday evening, the scheduling for the second day of the Lone Star Football Festival has also been adjusted. Eastern New Mexico and Incarnate Word will now play at 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon while the high school showdown between Southlake Carroll and Temple getting underway at 7:30 p.m. Friday evening.
The Saturday slate remains the same as Angelo State takes on Gulf South Conference foe Valdosta State at noon, Tarleton State and Abilene Christian playing at 4 p.m. and Texas A&M-Kingsville and West Texas A&M closing out the three-day event at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Festival will go on sale later this summer through the A&M-Commerce Athletic Department.
Season ticket information for the 2012 A&M-Commerce football season will be released early next week as the Lions move toward a challenging upcoming slate. A&M-Commerce will have five home dates in 2012, with two of those teams (Abilene Christian and West Texas A&M) having qualified for the postseason in 2011. Rivals Texas A&M-Kingsville and Tarleton State both make the trek to Memorial Stadium this fall as well.