The 2000 Lion football team started the season at 2-2. The Lions defeated Abilene Christian 34-10 in the non-conference game at North Richland Hills, before falling to Division I-AA Stephen F. Austin 48-21.

The Lion dropped a 24-7 decision to Central Oklahoma, then defeated Midwestern State 27-10 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Memorial Stadium. Senior quarterback Will Shaw and senior running back Jason Coffey have battered opposing defenses, while junior Bryan Smith has provided a spark defensively.

The Lions have big games coming up at Memorial Stadium with Texas A&M-Kingsville (Oct. 7), Eastern New Mexico on Athletic Association Weekend (Oct. 21) and the Homecoming contest with Angelo State (Nov. 4). Come out to see the Lions this season.

A reunion of the 1990 Lions, the Lone Star Conference Champions (unbeaten in LSC play) and the first Lion football team to play in the NCAA playoffs, will be held at Homecoming.

For more information, contact the athletic department at (903) 886-5558.

Homecoming will be exciting for one added attraction this year, as well. The 2000 NCAA Division II South Central Regional Cross Country Championships will be held on the morning of Nov. 4.

Runners from New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri will compete to determine who will represent the region at the NCAA National Championship. The course begins and ends on Smith Field, the intramural field behind Smith and Hubbell Halls. The men’s 8,000 meter race begins at 9 a.m., with the women’s 6,000 meter contest starting at 10 a.m.

Lion Alumnus Buttar Plays Canadian Open Lion alumnus and graduate assistant golf coach Blair Buttar played in the Bell Canadian Open Sept. 7-8 at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontairo. Buttar, who qualified as the top Canadian amateur, shot an 81-76—157 for 36 holes. While he missed the weekend cut, Buttar matched the score of PGA pro Wayne Levi and was a stroke better than former U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne of Dallas who carded at 158. The Lion All-American assists Paul Peak with the Lion golf program.

Lion alumnus and graduate assistant golf coach Blair Buttar played in the Bell Canadian Open Sept. 7-8 at Glen Abbey in Oakville, Ontairo.

Buttar, who qualified as the top Canadian amateur, shot an 81-76—157 for 36 holes. While he missed the weekend cut, Buttar matched the score of PGA pro Wayne Levi and was a stroke better than former U.S. Amateur champion Hank Kuehne of Dallas who carded at 158. The Lion All-American assists Paul Peak with the Lion golf program.

The Lion Soccer team is off to a 5-1-1 start, ranked fifth in the Great Plains region.

The defending LSC regular season and tournament champion, the Lions are also looking to defend their NCAA Division II Midwest Region championship. Freshman Emily Brueggemann from Wichita, Kan., leads the team in scoring as it has worked through a non-conference schedule.

The Lions new soccer facility, opened last season, was improved with the addition of a scoreboard provided by A&M-Commerce alumna Dixie Turman Stachowiak. The Lions conclude the regular season Oct. 27 and 28 at home against Central Oklahoma and Southwestern Oklahoma. The regular season champion hosts the conference tournament that will be held the weekend of Nov 3-5.

The Lions are near the .500 mark in volleyball, but hold a 2-1 LSC North Division record with an early season upset of Central Oklahoma at A&M-Commerce Field House.

Newcomers Cindy Gunn and Christy Alvillar paced the Lion attack, setup by senior Melissa Staiger who has already been named a Setter of the Week for the conference. The Lions will wrap up their regular season on Homecoming weekend against Midwestern State on Nov. 3 and Texas Woman’s Nov. 4.