Note: Multiple sources have corroborated this account.

There were some tense moments when the clock hit 0:00, and players and coaches from UTPB and Texas A&M-Kingsville shook hands at midfield. Both athletic directors and security observed the proceedings to ensure no scuffle between the players. Fortunately, their efforts were successful.

But why was security needed for a game between two teams with no notable history of bad blood?

It stems from last season when the Javelinas met East Central in the RV Fun Town Heritage Bowl. Everything was friendly during the events leading up to the contest; however, that changed the morning of the game.

When the Javelina players woke up in their hotel the morning of the game, a purported text message from then-East Central coach Kris McCullough was shown to the team. The nonexistent text was allegedly from McCullough to a Texas A&M-Kingsville coaching staff member about how the Lone Star Conference was weak, and ECU would win the bowl game easily.

An attempt to motivate the Javelinas the day of the game backfired during pregame when multiple defensive players approached McCullough with language filled with expletives about the message. Texas A&M-Kingsville coach Michael Salinas quickly intervened and apologized to McCullough for the actions of his players.

The bowl game was reportedly chippy.

However, the box score from the game showed only two unsportsmanlike penalties following an ECU touchdown late in the first half. One unsportsmanlike penalty was assessed to each team, resulting in offsetting penalties.

McCullough became the second head coach in UTPB program history 21 days after the bowl game and quickly moved to complete his coaching staff with the Falcons. One of the coaches added was Alex Wierzbicki, who had spent the previous two seasons as defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator with the Javelinas. 

Wierzbicki was hired to the same two positions with the Falcons and added run game coordinator to his duties. The fact that McCullough had added Wierzbicki to his staff in what was viewed as more of a lateral move added to the dislike between McCullough and the Javelina staff.

Tensions escalated during the summer when an offensive lineman on scholarship with the Falcons was cut from the roster. The lineman entered the transfer portal and was immediately recruited by most teams in the LSC, including Texas A&M-Kingsville.

According to sources, the player mentioned evidence of minor NCAA violations at UTPB to the Javelinas coaching staff, who then shared the allegations with other coaches within the conference.

It is important to note that allegations of NCAA violations among teams and coaching staffs in the LSC are frequent. One former coach in the LSC once entered the press box following a game against Tarleton, questioning how a player on the Texans roster was eligible because his staff could not get the player eligible to compete in Division II.

As one coach said recently, “We all have skeletons in our closet, and I don’t think any of us wants the LSC or NCAA digging into our closets.”

Regarding this recent allegation against UTPB, a report was made to the LSC but not by a member of the Javelinas coaching staff. When asked for comment on the alleged misconduct, the conference said, “The Lone Star Conference does not comment on rumors, allegations, or investigations.”

At 10:34 a.m. on the Sunday morning of UTPB’s game week against Texas A&M-Kingsville, McCullough posted a tweet referencing the current hostile relations between the two teams. The tweet read ‘IT’S PERSONAL’ with all caps and two exclamation marks on each side.

A member from one of the coaching staffs reportedly sent an email to the LSC office requesting permission to forego the traditional handshake line following the game. That request was denied with a caveat that the school’s athletic directors would be on site and would make the determination to cancel the handshake line if necessary.

As for the game, multiple UTPB players said it was the most physical game they had ever played in their careers. A horrific injury to Javelinas quarterback Jacob Cavazos in the first half showed the physical nature of the contest. Two UTPB defenders sandwiched Cavazos as he was making a pass. The force from the clean hit resulted in Cavazos’s helmet flying off and the quarterback lying unconscious on the turf.

Medical staff from both teams quickly rushed to the field and secured Cavazos to a backboard before he was transported to the hospital with movement in all his extremities. Cavazos was diagnosed with a concussion.

The game was completed without anyone flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which is a testament to the officials on the field who ensured the action was limited to when the ball was snapped until the whistle sounded. 

McCullough and Salinas spoke after the game and have quashed any remaining hostilities, hopefully lowering the temperature between the programs moving forward.