Lions announce football schedule

Texas A&M University-Commerce announced its 2008 football schedule that features 10 games, including nine against rigorous Lone Star Conference members and a season opener against Southland Conference, NCAA Championship Bowl Sub-Division member Northwestern State.The Lions will return 46 letterwinners from a 2007 squad that shared the program’s first-ever Lone Star Conference North Division title. Among the returnees are all-region performers, Nabil El-Amin, Elliot Jones and Darron Sheppard as well as six all-LSC North Division selections including El-Amin, Jones and Sheppard. Head Coach Scotty Conley returns for his fifth year as the head coach.The Lions will begin the season against Northwestern State on Saturday, August 30th at 6 p.m. in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Last year, NSU posted a 4-7 record with all four wins coming at home. The Demons and the Lions will resume a series that dates back to 1926 and with 27 previous meetings on the ledger. The two teams played annually from 1988 to 1996.After the contest in Natchitoches, Louisiana, A&M-Commerce will host Angelo State in its home opener on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. Last year, the Lions defeated Angelo State, 20-17 for its annual homecoming game. To coincide with the home opener, the athletic department will begin one of its newest traditions with a letterwinners reunion.Following the Angelo State contest, the Lions will travel across the state to take on Abilene Christian. The former LSC South Division rivals will meet up at 6 p.m. on Sept. 13, and for the first time since 2005. The two teams had played annually since 1950 and the 65 meetings between the two schools are the most in A&M-Commerce history. ?After the ACU match up, the Lions return home to host Eastern New Mexico on Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. The Greyhounds hold a four-game winning streak in the active series, matching Central Oklahoma for the longest winning streak by a NCAA Division II A&M-Commerce opponent.The Bronchos will be the next contest for the Lions in Edmond on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. and the start of three-straight road games for A&M-Commerce. During that stretch, A&M-Commerce will face Northeastern State on Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. and Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.After three road games, the Lions will close out the season with three LSC North Division home games. On Oct. 18 at 2 p.m., A&M-Commerce will face East Central.Following a bye week, A&M-Commerce will return to action against Southeastern Oklahoma State for homecoming on Nov. 1 at 2 p.m. The Lions maintain a 43-26-1 record all-time on homecoming and it will mark the first time that the Lions have played the Savage Storm for the annual encounter.The Lions will close out the regular season on Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. with a Veteran’s Day contest against Southwestern Oklahoma State.