Tarleton State University Football: A Storied History
Tarleton State University's football program boasts a rich and evolving history, deeply intertwined with the institution's growth. From its humble beginnings in 1904 to its current status as an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) program, the team's journey reflects resilience, adaptation, and a commitment to excellence.
Early Years and Junior College Dominance (1904-1960)
Records indicate that Tarleton fielded a football team as early as 1904, marking the inception of a program that would become an integral part of the university's identity. However, scores of Tarleton’s games are available only starting in 1915. The program's early years were characterized by its status as John Tarleton College, a junior college affiliated with the Texas A&M University System from 1917, then known as John Tarleton Agricultural College (JTAC) until 1949 when it became Tarleton State College.
Tarleton enjoyed great success on the gridiron after World War I, going 52-16-6 over an eight-year span under the direction of W.J. Wisdom, who would later gain greater fame as a basketball coach. Included in the span was an 8-0-1 record in 1925 when Tarleton outscored its opponents 276 to 25 and was tied only by Baylor University’s freshman team. Wisdom also coached the 1935 team to a 9-2 mark, losing the last two games of the season after shutting out eight of the first nine opponents and outscoring opponents 235 to 6. Among the early luminaries of the game were Tarleton Hall of Famers Leslie “Al” Jennings, Max Menzies, Paul “Duck” Marr, Jess “Ironhead” Davis, Hugh Wolfe, Henry Todd, and Clifford Funderburk.
During World War II, Tarleton did not field a team in 1942 or 1943 and played mostly military and academy teams in 1944 and 1945. In 1950, Tarleton posted a 7-3 record with what many consider its best team. Seven players from that team are Hall of Fame members, including quarterback Pence Dacus, rushing champion Marvin Brown, and receiver Jack Jones. Brown would later play professionally for the Detroit Lions. In the mid-50’s, led by stars Webb Bishop, Leon Blakeney and Jerry Flemmons, Tarleton would field strong teams, including a 7-1-1 record in 1956.
Transition to Senior College and Lone Star Conference (1961-1975)
In 1961, Tarleton began four-year competition and in 1973 became Tarleton State University. This transition marked a significant turning point, accompanied by a change in the team nickname from the "Plowboys" to the "Texans" by student vote. Though the team suffered through seven straight losing seasons - that did not keep John Riggs from becoming one of the most heralded defensive players in school history. The linebacker is one of just two players to have had his jersey (No. 63) retired. In 1966, Tarleton posted a 7-3 record behind a team that also boasts Hall of Famers. That squad defeated a team of Mexico All-Stars in the Aztec Bowl. Giant defensive tackle Randy Winkler would later play professional football. Between 1966 and 1968 Tarleton was entertained by magical quarterback, J.D. McMahon, throwing to receivers Pat Ballow, Harlan Wunsch and Jody Worsham.
Read also: The History of Tarleton State Baseball
Between 1968 and 1975, Tarleton competed as a member of the Lone Star Conference. Over that eight-year span, the team recorded just 12 wins while losing 68. One of the few highlights in that span was the opening in 1974 of Memorial Stadium as the football team’s new playing site.
TIAA Dominance and Independent Years (1976-1994)
In 1976, the University left the LSC and helped form the non-scholarship Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Over the next 15 years, Tarleton would win six TIAA titles, with back-to-back crowns in 1977 and 1978, 1986 and 1987, and 1989 and 1990. The 1978 team was the first to go to postseason play, finishing with an 8-0-1 record during the regular season. All-American linebacker and Tarleton Athletics Hall of Famer Tally Neal led that team and his No. 34 jersey would later became retired for just the second time in school history. From 1979 to 1982, Ricky Bush would become Tarleton’s career rushing champion and the only Texan football player ever to be selected to four consecutive all-America teams, as he thrilled Tarleton fans at the turn of the decade.
During a five-year span from 1986 to 1990, Tarleton went 45-11-1, won the Sunflower Bowl in 1986, and advanced to the NAIA quarterfinals in 1987, 1989 and 1990. The 1990 team is the only Tarleton team to have an undefeated and untied regular season, going 10-0, before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual national champion Westminster College. That playoff loss to Westminster is remembered as one of the most thrilling games ever to be played at Memorial Stadium.
Because of its domination of the league, Tarleton was requested to leave the TIAA and played as an independent from 1991 to 1994.
Return to the Lone Star Conference and NCAA Division II (1995-2019)
In 1994 the school was accepted for membership to NCAA Division II, and rejoined the Lone Star Conference, first competing for a league title in 1995. Tarleton’s 10-3 record in 2001 is by far the top single season mark during the scholarship era. In 2002, the Texans finished 9-2 for the second best mark since beginning scholarships. Former head coach Todd Whitten played a key role in Tarleton’s recent success, averaging seven wins per season in his five years at the helm. He and his staff set out to make Texan football a consistent winner, and it appears they are well on their way to doing just that.
Read also: Comprehensive Scholarship Information
In 2001, Tarleton earned a share of both the LSC overall championship and LSC South Division crown for the first time in school history. The Texans, who closed the regular season with six straight wins, made their first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II playoffs and advanced to the national quarterfinals. Tarleton placed 17 players on the All-LSC teams in 2002, including an amazing eight first team selections. The Texans returned to the playoffs for the second time in three years in 2003 and finished the season 8-4 overall. Tarleton won its third straight LSC division title by taking the North trophy after going 4-1 in North Division play. Seventeen Texan players made the All-LSC teams in 2003, including an astounding 11 players as first team selections. The Texans now have totaled 34 first team All-LSC players since 1996.
The 2004 season was another strong year, despite a four-game losing skid in the middle of the season. However, the Texans put together four straight wins to end the season. The Texans missed a share of the Lone Star Conference Championship and the school’s fourth LSC division title with a loss to end the 2005 season. The Texans could have been ranked No. 1 in the South Central Region, but the loss knocked the Texans out of the playoffs for the second straight season. Tarleton finished the 2005 campaign under new head coach Sam McElroy with a 7-3 overall record.
In 2006, the Texans shared the LSC South Division crown with West Texas A&M after losing to the Buffaloes in the final game. The defeat kept Tarleton out of the playoffs for the third consecutive season. The Texans opened the season 0-3 before rattling through the South Division 6-0 before the loss at WTAMU, ending the year 6-4 overall. In 2007, the Texans had a great season, finishing 9-2 overall, including a 27-24 overtime victory at NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision member Stephen F. Austin. However, the Texans were left out of the playoffs once again after dropping two of the last three contests. Senior defensive back Ranardrick Phillips became the first player in the LSC South Division to earn the Defensive Back of the Year Award three consecutive times (2005, 2006 and 2007).
The Texans won the first five games of the 2008 season before dropping a close game at home to resurgent Texas A&M-Kingsville. The Texans finished 8-3 after dropping two of their last three games. Tarleton was featured on national television on CBS College Sports Network on Thursday, Oct. 30 when the Texans hosted Angelo State, winning 31-24. The 2009 season was one for the record books as the season was highlighted by a double-overtime NCAA Division II playoff victory at Texas A&M-Kingsville in the first round. Kicker Garrett Lindholm nailed a division playoff record 64-yard field goal to tie the game as time expired, and Tarleton’s quarterback Scott Grantham scored from 20 yards out before punching in the two-point conversion for the victory. Tarleton finished the season 10-3 and claimed a share of the LSC championship and the LSC South Division title. Tarleton advanced to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in the program’s history.
In 2010, head coach Cary Fowler took over a rebuilding program in his first year at the helm of the Texans. Tarleton struggled through injuries and inexperience, limping to a 3-8 record, but it gave the younger players an opportunity to gain valuable experience. The 2011 season was the most successful under Coach Fowler after finishing the season on a five-game winning streak. Tarleton got off to a rough start, but faced very tough competition. In fact, the Texans’ losses came against ranked opponents, including No. 1 Midwestern State and No. 2 Abilene Christian. Tarleton rebounded though and finished the season as the hottest team in the conference. At 6-5 on the year, the Texans showed they were growing into a force to be reckoned with in the LSC. It showed a change of pace from the past few years and that the Texans were on the rise.
Read also: The History of Tarleton State-UCF Games
The Texans opened the 2012 campaign upsetting nationally ranked Midwestern State, 20-17, and the team looked poised for greatness. After downing the No. 4-ranked team in the nation, Tarleton would hit the road for a neutral contest against Abilene Christian that would be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Tarleton took a three-point lead into the locker room, but the Wildcats came back with a stifling defense and defeated the Texans 34-31. The team would battle back the next week with a win over Eastern New Mexico, but Tarleton would not win back-to-back contests until late October and early November. The Texans managed to go on the road and upset Gulf South Conference super-team North Alabama on the second to final week of the season and then defeat Angelo State in the season finale to earn wins in its final three games. Quarterback Jake Fenske set a school record with a 99-yard touchdown toss against UNA and then set the new school record for yards passing in a game against ASU, collecting 460 yards on the evening. Tarleton finished the season 6-4 overall and 5-3 in the LSC.
Fowler and the Texans continued their upswing in the 2013 campaign as Tarleton secured its third Lone Star Conference Championship in school history with a 7-3 record and 5-1 record in the LSC. The highlight game of the season came at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 12 when the Texans entered their home opener with a perfect 4-0 record but fell behind 27-3 in the opening half of football. Tarleton fought back and, on the strength of several incredible, clutch catches from Le’Nard Meyers, pulled off the incredible upset of the nation’s No. 4 ranked team with a 31-27 victory to beat the Buffs for the first time since 2004. Despite an injury-laden 2014 campaign, Tarleton State battled to five victories and finished third in the first annual Lone Star Conference Football Playoffs that were implemented prior to the campaign. Over his first five seasons, Fowler is the only Tarleton head coach to defeat every member of the Lone Star Conference and since Oct.
The Texans completed their 2014-2015 season with a school record 31 wins and advanced to this year’s NCAA Final Four after winning the Lone Star Conference championship and NCAA South Central Region Tournament championship.
The Texans made five appearances in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Transition to NCAA Division I FCS (2020-Present)
Through the 2019 season, the team competed in NCAA Division II as members of the Lone Star Conference, but moved to the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) beginning in the 2020-21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Texans started WAC regular-season competition during the 2020-21 school year and became eligible for NCAA Division I postseason play beginning with the 2024-25 season.
The WAC and the ASUN Conference entered into a football-only partnership in the 2021 season, renewing it for 2022. The ASUN-WAC Football Partnership formally rebranded as the United Athletic Conference (UAC). In July 2026, the UAC will become a multi-sports conference as a rebranded WAC.
The Texans have made one appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs. No. 13 seed Tarleton State won its inaugural FCS playoff game, beating Drake 43-29. Aidan Bouman and Quaron Adams rally South Dakota past Tarleton State 42-31 in FCS second-round duel.
Brad Larson made a 37-yard field goal on the second possession of double overtime to give Tarleton State a 30-27 victory over Army on Friday night for the Texans' second-ever win over an FBS team. Army falls in Tarleton St.'s 2nd-ever win vs. FBS.
Victor Gabalis threw three touchdown passes, James Paige and Tre Page III combined for 198 yards rushing and two scores and undefeated Tarleton State rolled to a 45-10 victory over West Georgia on Saturday night. Victor Gabalis threw five of Tarleton State's six touchdown passes and the Texans beat Mississippi Valley State 59-3 Saturday night. Peyton Kramer celebrated his birthday with three touchdowns and 190 receiving yards in Tarleton State's 52-24 victory over Chattanooga on Saturday. Tre Page III had two long touchdown runs, Victor Gabalis threw a pair of touchdown passes two minutes apart in the third quarter and Tarleton State rolled to a 42-0 win over Portland State on Saturday.
Memorial Stadium
The team plays its home games at the 24,000-seat Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas. One of the few highlights between 1968 and 1975 was the opening in 1974 of Memorial Stadium as the football team’s new playing site. The highlight game of the 2013 season came at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 12 when the Texans entered their home opener with a perfect 4-0 record but fell behind 27-3 in the opening half of football. Tarleton fought back and, on the strength of several incredible, clutch catches from Le’Nard Meyers, pulled off the incredible upset of the nation’s No. 4 ranked team with a 31-27 victory to beat the Buffs for the first time since 2004.
Notable Former Players
Several Tarleton State football players have gone on to play professionally:
- Richard Bartel, QB: Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Washington Redskins, Sacramento Mountain Lions, Arizona Cardinals. 2007-2012. Offensive coordinator: Atlanta Legends.
- Marv Brown, HB: Detroit Lions.
- Walter Bryan, DB: Baltimore Colts.
- James Dearth, LS: Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots.
- Saalim Hakim, WR: New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs.
- Rufus Johnson, DE: New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, Washington Redskins, Oakland Raiders.
- Garrett Lindholm, K: Atlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts, Milwaukee Mustangs, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Rattlers, San Antonio Talons, New Orleans VooDoo, Orlando Predators, Los Angeles KISS.
- Tywain Myles, DT: Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons.
- Deshaun Phillips, CB: Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Washington Redskins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Renegades.
- Derrick Ross, FB: Kansas City Chiefs, Cologne Centurions, Montreal Alouettes, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, San Angelo Stampede Express, Dallas Vigilantes, Philadelphia Soul, Los Angeles KISS, Las Vegas Outlaws, Jacksonville Sharks.
- E.J. Speed, LB: Indianapolis Colts.
- Nick Stephens, QB: Tennessee Titans, Utah Blaze, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, San Jose SaberCats.
- Camp Wilson, FB: Detroit Lions.
- Randy Winkler, OT: Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers.
Mascots and Nicknames
Before Tarleton became a four-year institution in 1961, its teams were known as the "Plowboys". In 1961, Tarleton began four-year competition and also changed its team nickname from the "Plowboys" to the "Texans" by student vote. The cannon is brought to Tarleton from Fort Sam Houston to be used in ROTC training. Coach W.J. Wisdom held a contest for a new mascot, but ended up coming up with the name himself.
The first TSU women's varsity teams, introduced in 1968-69, played under the "Texans" nickname. However, due to female athletes' wish to play under a distinctive nickname, the school changed it the following school year, though a consistent spelling was not immediately adopted-"Texanns", "Tex-Anns", and "TexAnns" were used interchangeably until 1972-73, when "TexAnns" was officially settled on. During the 2018-19 school year, two players and a student manager in the women's basketball program started a campaign to change the women's nickname back to "Texans". All Tarleton athletic teams united as 'Texans' in the fall. John Tarleton and his legendary companion, Oscar P., came home Monday night, July 27th, 2015, to the university that bears his name, looking younger than ever and larger than life. Fireworks danced across the sky of Tarleton State University’s Stephenville campus as faculty, staff, students and key community leaders.
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