KINGSVILLE, Texas – One year, three months, two weeks and four days was the last time the Texas A&M-Kingsville football program took to the field in Lone Star Conference action. Since that time, the Javelinas hired Mike Salinas as the 12th head coach in program history and he went on to sign a combined 63 newcomers over the past two National Signing Days.
The Hogs have been busy practicing the past few months in preparation for their abbreviated spring schedule. The Lone Star Conference originally announced the start of fall competition would first be delayed until September 21, but that was soon nixed after the NCAA revealed fall sports championships for the 2020-21 academic year would be cancelled on August 5, prompting a response from the league office two days later to postpone competition until the spring of 2021.
Since then, TAMUK had its schedule adjust twice, first on October 22 with a four-game schedule where the Blue and Gold would face Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico, UT Permian Basin and Midwestern State. Those plans, too, were wiped away not long after the two programs in New Mexico were forced to withdraw following mandates from their state government.
The final schedule was inked on February 5, with the Javelinas facing two opponents in March. The first contest takes place on the road against Midwestern State this Saturday, March 6, with kickoff at 1 p.m. CT, followed by the lone home game on March 20 against UT Permian Basin.
This will be the first official contest for Salinas and Co. following his appointment at the head coach in December 2019, with 113 Hogs on the 2021 spring roster ready to take to the gridiron. The last time TAMUK was on the field was a 70-14 loss to UT Permian Basin to end the 2019 campaign. The Blue and Gold finished the year with a 2-9 overall record and 1-7 mark in league games.
Midwestern State closed out 2019 with a 5-6 record and a 3-5 tally in LSC contests. That year saw the Mustangs defeat Division I fore Northwestern State to open the season and 33-7 and they defeated the Javelinas in Wichita Falls, Texas, on October 19 at 70-35.
This is the second time MSU Texas will compete in the spring after the team defeated Southeastern Oklahoma State on February 27 in a scrimmage.
Kickoff for Saturday's contest is slated for 1 p.m. CT and attendance is limited to 6,000 ticket sold online only. Those unable to attend the game can watch on the LSC Digital Network and can follow live stats. All links can be found on the Javelina football schedule page at JavelinaAthletics.com.
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