Texas A&M–Kingsville Javelinas

Football

The Javelinas football team in action against the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions in 2014

Since the school was established 1925, football has been the most popular sport on campus.

In early (1929), the school joined the original Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association (T.I.A.A.). By the time that T.I.A.A. folded, the "Fighting Javelinas" had won two football championships.^[7] Following this, the school competed independently for several years. They moved from competing with junior colleges and teachers colleges to competing against larger schools throughout the state. One highlight of this period included a football game that pitted the Javelinas against the Aggies of Texas A&M at Kyle Field in College Station. The Javelinas led the game until the Aggies tied the game at 14 with three minutes left to play. The game ended in a tie. However, the Javelinas demonstrated that they could hold their own with a large football powerhouse. This further substantiated the team's nickname as "the toughest little team in the nation."^[8][9]

In 1934, the school participated in the Lone Star Conference on a probationary period. In 1935, the school joined the Alamo Conference. By 1937, the Javelinas captured their first Alamo Conference co-championship (with St. Mary's). The next year, the Javelinas won their first outright Alamo Conference football championship. This led to a string of football championships and the school's recognition as a football powerhouse.^[10]

For the 1954 season, A&I was finally inducted into the Lone Star Conference (LSC). By 1959, the Javelinas won the first in a long string of LSC championships. Since then, the school has remained a perennial conference powerhouse, winning 27 championships. During the years that the Lone Star Conference was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), the Javelinas also picked up seven national championships. During the decade of the 1970s, the Javelinas won five NAIA national championships and went undefeated from the last game of 1973 through third game of 1977.^{[11][12][13][14]}

After the Lone Star Conference joined the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II in 1980, the Javelinas continued their conference, regional and national success. Just a year after the university changed its name to Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the Javelinas played in the 1994 NCAA Division II National Football Championship, only to lose to the University of North Alabama by a score of 16–10. While a NCAA D2 National Championship remains allusive, the Javelinas continuously remained nationally ranked football team poised to challenge for an elusive title.^{[11][12][13][15][16]}

The storied success of the Javelina Football team has led many writers and recruiters to dub the school a "football factory."^[17][18] More than 150 athletes from Javelina football teams have gone on to play professional football, and more than 50 of these were draft picks in the NFL Draft – more than any other school in either the NAIA or NCAA Division II. As a result, many athletes choose to play for Texas A&M University-Kingsville simply for the opportunity to shine on a national stage.^{[17][19][20][21]}

Baseball and softball

The Javelinas softball team in action against Texas A&M–Commerce in 2018

Baseball began as a competitive team sport at the school in 1926. As the national pastime, it was immediately popular amongst the students, faculty and administration. Unfortunately, the vast distance between schools and the limited number of teams with baseball programs made it difficult to justify the enormous cost to the new school. To much chagrin, the school discontinued the program in 1930.^[4]

In 1990, Athletic Director and Javelina Football Coach Ron Harms announced that the university would reestablish a baseball team after more than 60 years. In 1992, baseball pitcher Nolan Ryan and a local rancher named Frank Horlock established a fund to build a baseball stadium on the campus. A year later, Ryan and Horlock, along with NFL coaching legend Bum Phillips, actor Larry Hagman, and other celebrities attended a gala event with approximately 350 guests that established the funds necessary to build the stadium.^[22]

In 1993, the Javelinas of the newly renamed "Texas A&M University-Kingsville" began competing with other Lone Star Conference teams in NCAA Division II baseball. A year later, the school christened the 4,000 seat stadium as "Nolan Ryan Field" in honor of the Texas pitching legend's efforts to build the stadium.^[23][24]

In addition, Texas A&M University-Kingsville established a competitive softball team in 1993. Within a four years, the popular sport was able to build a stadium of its own. In 1997, the Lady Javelinas softball team opened the stadium with a win against Incarnate Word. By 2001, the team set NCAA Division II records in softball attendance.^[25]

Since the establishment of softball and the reestablishment of baseball at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, the programs have experienced fantastic success. Both teams have enjoyed great success and have made deep runs in the NCAA Division II tournaments while gaining regional and national exposure.^[25][26][27]

National

The Javelina Football team has won seven National Championships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA): 1979, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1970, 1969, 1959. They were the runner up in the NCAA Division II National Football Championship in 1994. They have made numerous deep playoff runs in both NAIA and NCAA Division II playoffs.

Conference

Division

Since the creation of the Lone Star Conference South Division in 1997, the Javelina Football team has won seven LSC South Division Championships: 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2009.

Tournaments

Men's basketball

The Javelinas men's basketball team in action against Texas A&M–Commerce in 2015

The Javelina men's basketball team has made deep runs in four NCAA Division II Championship Tournaments: 2009, 2004, 1996, 1992.

Women's basketball

The Lady Javelinas in action against the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions in 2015

The Lady Javelinas Basketball team has participated in three NCAA Division II Championship Tournaments: 2001, 2000, 1983. In 2001, the Lady Javelinas advanced to the NCAA Elite 8 game.

Current

Homecoming Bonfire at Texas A&M University-Kingsville

Tailgate party before Javelina football game

• School colors: The school’s official colors are Blue and Gold. These colors are reflected around the campus. They are seen in the uniforms of athletes, coaches and band members. They are also found on flags, school apparel and are proudly worn during sporting events.^[28]
• Alma Mater: The official song of the university is Hail AMK. It is sung following each football game.
• School songs: The official fighting song for TAMUK is Jalisco and is played by the band following every touchdown. In addition, the Javelina Victory March is played after every field goal or extra point. Other songs are played during the games, often followed by a chant of "Go Hogs Go!"^[29]
• Pride of South Texas Marching Band: This is the award-winning marching band of the school. The band has participated in competitions throughout Texas and the United States. They routinely perform during half-time of home football games. In addition, the band plays the school's alma mater, Hail AMK, at the end of football games.
• Bonfire: During homecoming week, a large bonfire is held in a field located adjacent to the soccer field and softball stadium. The bonfire is sponsored by the Aggie Club and is open to the student body, faculty, staff and alumni of the university.
• Homecoming King and Queen: In the weeks preceding the homecoming, members of various student organizations campaign for King and Queen. Students vote for the candidates of their choice, and the results are announced during half-time at the Homecoming Game.
• Tailgate party: A tailgate party is hosted in the northeastern parking lot of Javelina Stadium before each home football game. These gatherings have become a normal part of Javelina football games and attract thousands of fans.^[30] The tailgate party is open to the public and many student organizations, clubs, and surrounding businesses around the area choose to participate with lots of food, drinks and music.
• Army ROTC: The cadets of Javelina Battalion present colors during official school functions. Javelina Battalion upholds several internal traditions, including the firing of "Old Smokey" (prior to 1965, cadets fired a cannon known as "Little Jav") during home football games as well as sponsoring the Military Ball each year since 1975.^[31][32]
• Pep rallies: Enthusiastic rallies are held before each game.
• Tailgate Party: The tailgate party is held before each home game in the northeastern parking lot of Javelina Stadium.
• Blue Out: During home games, students are encouraged to participate in a "Blue Out" – where students wear their school colors in a sign of school spirit.
• Porky's Pack & Train: Children who become members of Porky’s Pack accompany Porky the Javelina mascot on a train ride around the stadium throughout the game.^[33]
• Blue Thunder: Prior to kickoff, students sitting on the west side of the stadium repeatedly kick the metal rails beneath their seat in a sign of school solidarity, resulting in a very loud and thunderous clamor.
• Flag Run: Following each touchdown scored by the Javelinas, two separate school flags are run around the stadium by members of the Aggie Club.
• "Old Smokey:" In addition, cadets of the TAMUK Army ROTC the "Old Smokey" cannon during every home game.^[32]
• Tortilla toss: During the 1980s, students began to throw tortillas following every touchdown as a show of support for the football team. This tradition has halted in 1999 after some students complained of possible racial undertones. School officials subsequently banned tortillas from the stadium; however, tortillas continue to be thrown during the game.
• College Hall black lights: Following each football victory, the bell tower atop College Hall is lit up with black lights. These lights provide an ethereal reminder to the campus community of each victory.

Athletes

• Rally Entry: The Javelina athletic teams choose to make a scenic entry to football, basketball, baseball and softball games.
• Prayer in the End Zone: An unofficial football tradition, many of the players from various religious backgrounds will immediately head to the North Endzone (near the scoreboard) following entrance into the stadium. These players will kneel in silent prayer. Following the game, many players (from both the Javelinas and visiting teams) choose to meet at the 50-yard line and pray.
• Alma Mater: The Javelina football team joins the students on the western bleachers in the singing of the school's Alma Mater, Hail AML.
• Children's Hospital: At various times throughout the year, members of the various Javelina teams accompany Porky the Javelina costumed mascot and visit local hospitals, including the Driscoll Children's Hospital.

Mascots

• Mascot: The Javelina is the official mascot of Texas A&M University–Kingsville. The mascot is paraded during official school events and games. Over the years, various mascots named Henry, Henrietta, Little Henry, Scrappy and Porky have held the honor as official mascot. The current mascot is named Porky III.^[34]
• Porky and Baby: The university has two costumed mascots who represent the university at public functions and encourage crowd involvement during athletic events. "Porky" is the original and male Javelina mascot. Several years ago, he was joined by "Baby," a female Javelina mascot.

Rivalries

The Javelinas volleyball team in action against the Texas A&M–Commerce Lions in 2014

As a perennial champ in the Lone Star Conference and a regional and national powerhouse in football and other sports, the Javelinas of Texas A&M University-Kingsville have fostered several conference, regional and national rivalries.

• Texas A&M University-Commerce
• Tarleton State University
• University of Central Oklahoma
• Abilene Christian University
• West Texas A&M University
• University of North Alabama
• University of California, Davis
• Northwest Missouri State University
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

Personnel

• Autumn Williams, Head Women's Tennis Coach
• Aaron Ames, Sports Information Director
• Bo Atterberry, Head Football Coach
• Jason Gonzales, Head Baseball Coach
• Erika Rothbauer, Head Softball Coach
• The Players, Head Men's Basketball Coach
• Mike Trujillo, Head Women's Basketball Coach
• Tanya Allen, Head Volleyball Coach
• Noel Allen, Head Golf Coach
• Ryan Dahl, Head Track and Field/Cross Country Coach

Notable alumni

Robert Garza

• Juan Castillo NFL Coach, Defensive Cooridinator Philadelphia Eagles
• Roberto Garza, NFL lineman for the Chicago Bears
• Darrell Green, Pro Football Hall of Famer, retired cornerback
• Al Harris, NFL Cornerback for the Green Bay Packers
• Jim Hill, former NFL player for the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers, Sports anchor at KCBS-TV in Los Angeles
• Jermane Mayberry, NFL Guard for the New Orleans Saints
• John Randle, retired NFL Hall of fame defensive tackle
• Gil Steinke, NFL defensive back Philadelphia Eagles. Longtime coach of the Javelinas. Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
• Gene Upshaw, Pro Football Hall of Famer, former Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association
• Johnny Bailey, former NFL running back
• Randy Johnson, Inaugural NFL quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons.
• Martin Patton, former CFL running back
• Eva Longoria, (Miss Corpus Christi USA in 1998), (American Actress) Desperate Housewives, (born in) Corpus Christi, Texas
• Giles Cole, NFL Tight End, Minnesota Vikings 2000 draft selection, and NFLPA Certified Sports Agent.