1996 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football team

1996 Texas A&M–Commerce Lions football
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Record	7–4 (4–3 LSC)
Head coach	Eddie Vowell (11th season)
Defensive coordinator	Mark Copeland
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium

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—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1996 NCAA Division II football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Eddie Vowell, the Lions compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, placing in a three-way tied for third in the LSC. The team played its home games at Memorial Stadium in Commerce, Texas. Texas A&M University–Commerce was renamed from East Texas State University after joining the Texas A&M University System in 1996.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7	Harding*	No. 11	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 43–28	7,325
September 14	Henderson State*	No. 4	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 19–14	2,011
September 21	at Northwestern State*	No. 4	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA	L 7–33	11,256
September 28	at Arkansas–Pine Bluff*	No. 8	Golden Lion Stadium Pine Bluff, AR	W 20–7	6,500
October 5	at No. 3 Central Oklahoma	No. 6	Wantland Stadium Edmond, OK	L 21–38	1,700
October 12	No. 8 Texas A&M–Kingsville		Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX (Chennault Cup)	L 28–41	8,036
October 19	at West Texas A&M		Kimbrough Memorial Stadium Canyon, TX	W 31–0	3,150
October 26	Eastern New Mexico		Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 42–10	4,674
November 2	Abilene Christian		Shotwell Stadium Abilene, TX	W 17–0	2,000
November 9	Angelo State*	No. 16	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	L 32–35	3,450
November 16	at Tarleton State		Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX	W 56–17	1,500
*Non-conference game Rankings from NCAA Division II Football Committee 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