1953 East Texas State Lions football team

The 1953 East Texas State Lions football team was an American football team that represented East Texas State Teachers College—now known as Texas A&M University–Commerce–as a member of the Lone Star Conference (LSC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by Milburn Smith in his third and final season as head coach, the Lions compiled an overall record of 10–0–1 with a mark of 5–0 in conference play, winning the LSC title. East Texas State was invited to the Tangerine Bowl, where the Lions tied Arkansas State.^[1]

1953 East Texas State Lions football
LSC champion
Tangerine Bowl, T 7–7 vs. Arkansas State
Conference	Lone Star Conference
Record	10–0–1 (5–0 LSC)
Head coach	Milburn Smith (3rd season)
Home stadium	Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1952 1954 →

1953 Lone Star Conference football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
East Texas State $	5	–	0	–	0			10	–	0	–	1
Sam Houston State	4	–	1	–	0			9	–	1	–	0
Southwest Texas State	3	–	2	–	0			5	–	4	–	0
Lamar Tech	2	–	3	–	0			3	–	7	–	0
Sul Ross	1	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Stephen F. Austin	0	–	5	–	0			1	–	8	–	0
$ – Conference champion

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 19	8:00 p.m.	Abilene Christian*	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 28–27	7,500	^[2]^[3]
September 26		at Trinity (TX)*	Alamo Stadium San Antonio, TX	W 20–19	5,000	^[4]^[5]
October 3		at Southwestern Louisiana*	McNaspy Stadium Lafayette, LA	W 41–7	7,500	^[6]^[7]
October 10		Lamar Tech	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 32–13		^[8]
October 16		at Chattanooga*	Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN	W 19–7		^[9]
October 24		at Sam Houston State	Pritchett Field Huntsville, TX	W 32–6	4,000	^[10]
October 31		Northwestern Oklahoma State*	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 80–0		^[11]
November 7		Stephen F. Austin	Memorial Stadium Commerce, TX	W 39–0		^[12]
November 14	8:00 p.m.	at Southwest Texas State	Evans Field San Marcos, TX	W 40–19		^[13]^[14]
November 21		at Sul Ross	Alpine, TX	W 27–7		^[15]
January 1		vs. Arkansas State*	Tangerine Bowl Orlando, FL (Tangerine Bowl)	T 7–7	12,976	^[16]^[17]
*Non-conference game All times are in Central time

References

1. "Lion Football History; Statistics Summary for 1953". Commerce, Texas: Texas A&M University–Commerce Athletics. Retrieved February 6, 2022.
2. Wade, Harless (September 19, 1953). "Lions 2 TD Favorites Over Wildcats Tonight". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, Texas. p. 6A. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
3. Wade, Harless (September 20, 1953). "ACC Scares Lions, Loses 28-27 in Final Period". Abilene Reporter-News. Abilene, Texas. p. 1D. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
4. "East Texas Edges Past Trinity U." Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Corpus Christi, Texas. Associated Press. September 27, 1953. p. 4D. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
5. "East Texas Wins". The Times. Shreveport, Louisiana. International News Service. September 27, 1953. p. 1C. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
6. Meade, Lee (October 4, 1953). "East Texas State Rolls Over Bulldogs, 41-7". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. p. 9. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
7. Meade, Lee (October 4, 1953). "East Texas State (continued)". The Daily Advertiser. Lafayette, Louisiana. p. 10. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
8. Bell, Jack (October 12, 1953). "East Texas Drops Lamar Tech 32-13". The Chattanooga Times. Chattanooga, Tennessee. p. 13. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
9. "Texans run string to 24 with 19–7 victory over Mocs". The Chattanooga Times. October 17, 1951. Retrieved August 21, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "East Texas Captures 25th Straight by 32-6". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. October 25, 1953. p. 27. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
11. "East Texas Win Streak Extended to 26 Straight". Times Record News. Wichita Falls, Texas. Associated Press. November 2, 1953. p. 10. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
12. "East Texas Lions Win 27th In Row Over SFA". Longview News-Journal. Longview, Texas. Associated Press. November 8, 1953. p. 10A. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
13. Westerholm, Kermit (November 14, 1953). "Bobcats Try Eastex Lion Tonight At 8". The Austin Statesman. Austin, Texas. p. 8. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
14. Westerholm, Kermit (November 15, 1953). "Lions Whip 'Cats 40-19". The Austin Statesman. Austin, Texas. p. C10. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
15. "ETS Wins Number 29 For Tangerine Spot". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press. November 22, 1953. p. 25. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
16. Howard, Bob (January 2, 1954). "Arkansas State Ties East Texas 7-7 In Tangerine Bowl Thriller". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 1. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .
17. Howard, Bob (January 2, 1954). "Arkansas State, East Texas Play 7-7 Deadlock (continued)". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, Florida. p. 5. Retrieved February 6, 2022 – via Newspapers.com  .