1968 Texas A&I Javelinas football team

The 1968 Texas A&I Javelinas football team represented the Texas College of Arts and Industries—now known as Texas A&M University–Kingsville—as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1968 NAIA football season. Led by 15th-year head coach Gil Steinke, the Javelinas compiled an overall record of 10–2 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the LSC title for the second consecutive season. Texas A&I advanced to the NAIA football national championship playoffs, where the Javelinas defeated Northern State in the semifinal before losing to Troy State championship game.

1968 Texas A&I Javelinas football
LSC champion
NAIA National Championship Game, L 35–43 vs. Troy State
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Record	10–2 (6–1 LSC)
Head coach	Gil Steinke (15th season)
Captains	Dwayne Nix Carlos Saldana
Home stadium	Javelina Stadium
Seasons ← 1967 1969 →

1968 Lone Star Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 2/6 Texas A&I $^	6	–	1	–	0			10	–	2	–	0
East Texas State	5	–	1	–	1			7	–	2	–	1
McMurry	5	–	2	–	0			8	–	2	–	0
Sam Houston State	3	–	3	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Southwest Texas State	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	5	–	0
Sul Ross	2	–	4	–	1			5	–	4	–	1
Howard Payne	1	–	5	–	1			2	–	7	–	1
Stephen F. Austin	1	–	6	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Tarleton State *	0	–	0	–	0			2	–	7	–	0
Angelo State *	0	–	0	–	0			2	–	9	–	0
$ – Conference champion ^ – NAIA playoff participant * – did not complete for conference title Rankings from NAIA poll and AP small college poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 21	7:30 p.m.	Trinity (TX)*		Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX	W 6–0	10,000	[1][2]
September 27		at Long Beach State*	No. 10	Veterans Memorial Stadium Long Beach, CA	W 35–7	3,763	[3]
October 5	8:00 p.m.	at Angelo State*	No. 7	San Angelo, TX	W 44–0		[4][5]
October 12	7:30 p.m.	Stephen F. Austin	No. 6	Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX	W 34–0	14,000	[6][7]
October 19	7:30 p.m.	at East Texas State	No. 5	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	L 27–35		[8][9]
October 26	7:30 p.m.	McMurry	No. 10	Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX	W 14–9	13,000	[10][11]
November 2	7:30 p.m.	Sul Ross	No. 11	Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX	W 43–0		[12][13]
November 9	2:00 p.m.	at Howard Payne	No. 8	Brownwood, TX	W 20–14		[14][15]
November 16	7:30 p.m.	Sam Houston State	No. 7	Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX	W 54–21		[16][17]
November 23	7:30 p.m.	at Southwest Texas State	No. 6	Evans Field San Marcos, TX	W 39–0	13,500	[18][19]
November 30	2:00 p.m.	Northern State*	No. 6	Javelina Stadium Kingsville, TX (NAIA Semifinal)	W 20–0	8,500	[20][21]
December 14	1:30 p.m.	vs. No. 11 Troy State*	No. 6	Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL (NAIA Championship)	L 35–43	15,000	[22][23]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[24]

References

1. "Javs, Trinity Clash Tonight". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. September 21, 1968. p. 1C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
2. "4th-period pass gives Texas A&I 6–0 victory". The Corpus Christi Caller-Times. September 22, 1968. Retrieved February 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. McCormack, Jim (September 28, 1968). "Tough Texans Send 49ers Reeling, 35-7". Independent Press-Telegram. Long Beach, California. p. C1. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
4. "Texas A&I To Seek 12th Straight Victory". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. October 5, 1968. p. 4C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
5. "Texas A&I Races Past Angelo State". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. October 6, 1968. p. 1C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
6. "Javs, Lumberjacks To Open LSC Play". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. October 12, 1968. p. 4C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
7. Tagliabue, Emil (October 13, 1968). "A&I Rolls to 34-0 Win Over Lumberjacks in LSC Opener". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 2C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
8. "Top Offense Clubs Due Defense Test". Tyler Morning Telegraph. Tyler, Texas. October 19, 1968. p. 3, section 2. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
9. "East Texas upends A&I, 35–27". The Paris News. October 20, 1968. Retrieved August 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Texas A&I, McMurry Vie". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. October 26, 1968. p. 4C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
11. Francis, Buck (October 27, 1968). "Hogs Record 14-9 Homecoming Win on Pullin's Punt Return". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 1C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
12. Tagliabue, Emil (November 2, 1968). "Javelinas Risk Revived Title Hopes Against Lobos". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 5C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
13. Tagliabue, Emil (November 3, 1968). "A&I Rolls To 43-0 Win Over Lobos". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 1C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
14. "A&I Due Stern Test From Howard Payne". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. November 9, 1968. p. 3C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
15. "Harrison, Kardow Pace Javs Past Howard Payne, 20-14". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. November 10, 1968. p. 2D. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
16. Tagliabue, Emil (November 16, 1968). "A&I To Go Against Bearkats Tonight". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. p. 5C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
17. "Javelinas romp past Sam Houston, 54–21". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 17, 1968. Retrieved January 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Javelinas Face Crucial Finale". Valley Morning Star. Harlingen, Texas. November 23, 1968. p. 11. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
19. "Javelinas romp over Bobcats to cinch NAIA playoff bid". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. November 24, 1968. Retrieved March 19, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
20. Tagliabue, Emil (November 30, 1968). "Texas A&I, Northern State To Collide Today in Champion Bowl Semifinals". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. pp. 1C–2C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
21. Tagliabue, Emil (December 1, 1968). "Texas A&I 'Wade' Past Northern State". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. pp. 1C, 5C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
22. Benton, Lamar (December 14, 1968). "Troy Vs. Texas A&I Equals TNT". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. p. 9. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
23. Tagliabue, Emil (December 15, 1968). "Troy Uses Bryd's Passing To Defeat Javelinas, 43-35". Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. pp. 1C, 4C. Retrieved January 16, 2025 – via Newspapers.com .
24. "2021 Javelina Football Media Guide" (PDF). Texas A&M University–Kingsville. 2021. p. 101. Retrieved January 16, 2025.