Jafus (Thinker)
Well-Known Member
Football is back at Texas College
Tyler JC 28, Texas College 13
Steers? loss can?t dampen enthusiasm after 40-year absence
By Marjorie Herrera Lewis
Special Contributor
TYLER ? Forty years had passed since the Texas College Steers had gained a first down. So when tailback Johnathan Combs rushed to near midfield on a 21-yard gain, Tyler Rose Stadium erupted Saturday with enthusiasm most often reserved for overtime victories in national championship games.
Seven minutes later, the overflowing crowd in stadium that seat 13, 500 had much higher expectations.
Visions of a possible upset against Tyler Junior College, ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA, started when, during the Steers? second possession, Texas College scored the game?s first touchdown. With 7:11 left in the first quarterback Jerimiah Banks of Carter connected on a 2-yard scoring pass wide receiver John Ross.
Four minutes later, Tyler Junior College claimed the lead and went on to post a 28-13 victory.
But the loss didn?t dampen any spirits.
?It?s been very exciting,? said Texas College senior and fan Clifford Kelly of Fort Worth. Kelly said the changes have been so well received, he?s planning on staying on to pursue a master?s degree in counseling. ?[Having football] is good for all the programs because it?ll get more freshmen coming in.?
The loss cannot diminish what game ultimately signified. After a hiatus that began after the 1963 season, football is back at the Texas College. The Steers are competing as a club team this season, however, so the records won?t count. Its other athletic programs compete in the NAIA.
Still, it?s the first step in the vision brought to Texas College 21/2 years ago when president Bill C. Hawkins was hired.
Hawkins said he believes that in Texas, football belongs on college campuses. Last fall, Hawkins hired former New Mexico State assistant Jay Brown to serve as football coach and athletic director.
?I believe he has what it takes to begin and build our program,? Hawkins said. ?We look forward to many winning seasons under his direction.?
Brown, however, reminds that building the program at the Tyler college will take time.
?To say that this season will be interesting is an understatement,? Brown said. ?Keeping in mind that we are a start-up team, we tried to design a diverse and challenging schedule.?
With a team made up of freshmen, junior college transfers and players who had not recently been playing football, Brown had luxury of having to pare down a squad that at one time was up to 150 players.
Paring down the crowd, however, isn?t part of the plan.
UT-Tyler freshman Shekia Brown of Greenville attended the game with a friend from Texas College, and despite arrived 45 minutes early, she couldn?t find a seat.
?We don?t have football, so this gives us something to do,? Brown said. ?It?s a little different for us because [Texas College] is an all-back school. It?s neat to be around so many African-American a lot.?
The parking lot was full an hour before the 7 p.m. kickoff, and a pregame ceremony honoring former Texas College football players was under way.
Marjoire Herrera Lewis is a Dallas-based freelance writer
Tyler JC 28, Texas College 13
Steers? loss can?t dampen enthusiasm after 40-year absence
By Marjorie Herrera Lewis
Special Contributor
TYLER ? Forty years had passed since the Texas College Steers had gained a first down. So when tailback Johnathan Combs rushed to near midfield on a 21-yard gain, Tyler Rose Stadium erupted Saturday with enthusiasm most often reserved for overtime victories in national championship games.
Seven minutes later, the overflowing crowd in stadium that seat 13, 500 had much higher expectations.
Visions of a possible upset against Tyler Junior College, ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA, started when, during the Steers? second possession, Texas College scored the game?s first touchdown. With 7:11 left in the first quarterback Jerimiah Banks of Carter connected on a 2-yard scoring pass wide receiver John Ross.
Four minutes later, Tyler Junior College claimed the lead and went on to post a 28-13 victory.
But the loss didn?t dampen any spirits.
?It?s been very exciting,? said Texas College senior and fan Clifford Kelly of Fort Worth. Kelly said the changes have been so well received, he?s planning on staying on to pursue a master?s degree in counseling. ?[Having football] is good for all the programs because it?ll get more freshmen coming in.?
The loss cannot diminish what game ultimately signified. After a hiatus that began after the 1963 season, football is back at the Texas College. The Steers are competing as a club team this season, however, so the records won?t count. Its other athletic programs compete in the NAIA.
Still, it?s the first step in the vision brought to Texas College 21/2 years ago when president Bill C. Hawkins was hired.
Hawkins said he believes that in Texas, football belongs on college campuses. Last fall, Hawkins hired former New Mexico State assistant Jay Brown to serve as football coach and athletic director.
?I believe he has what it takes to begin and build our program,? Hawkins said. ?We look forward to many winning seasons under his direction.?
Brown, however, reminds that building the program at the Tyler college will take time.
?To say that this season will be interesting is an understatement,? Brown said. ?Keeping in mind that we are a start-up team, we tried to design a diverse and challenging schedule.?
With a team made up of freshmen, junior college transfers and players who had not recently been playing football, Brown had luxury of having to pare down a squad that at one time was up to 150 players.
Paring down the crowd, however, isn?t part of the plan.
UT-Tyler freshman Shekia Brown of Greenville attended the game with a friend from Texas College, and despite arrived 45 minutes early, she couldn?t find a seat.
?We don?t have football, so this gives us something to do,? Brown said. ?It?s a little different for us because [Texas College] is an all-back school. It?s neat to be around so many African-American a lot.?
The parking lot was full an hour before the 7 p.m. kickoff, and a pregame ceremony honoring former Texas College football players was under way.
Marjoire Herrera Lewis is a Dallas-based freelance writer
