Stephen F. Austin

On November 3, 1793, Stephen Fuller Austin was born in the mining region of southwestern Virginia. At the age of 24, he moved into the Mexican province of Texas.  Over the next 19 years, he played a central role in the revolution that eventually led to Texas independence.  He became known as the "Father of Texas," and died of pneumonia in December 1836.  He was only 43 years old.

Since that time, the people of Texas have named almost everything they can think of after Stephen F. Austin.  In 1923, a teachers' college in Nacogdoches, Tex. was added to that list.  These days, Stephen F. Austin State University has an enrollment of almost 13,000 students, and competes in the Southland Conference, one of my favorite college sports conferences.  Their football team, known as the Lumberjacks (the forestry business is huge in the East Texas area around Nacogdoches) competes in Division I-AA.  (Yes, I know it's now called the Football Championship Subdivision -- I don't care.)

The Lumberjacks have reached the I-AA playoffs seven times, with their first appearance taking place in 1988.  Their best performance was in 1989, when they beat Grambling, Southwest Missouri State, and Furman before losing 37-34 to Georgia Southern in the national championship game.  The only other time they've reached the semi-finals was in 1995.

Last year, the Lumberjacks went 5-3 in the Southland Conference and 8-4 overall.  This was good enough for them to receive a big to the I-AA playoffs, where they lost 44-10 in the first round to Northern Iowa.

On Saturday, the Lumberjacks will travel to Fort Worth to play Texas Christian for the Unofficial College Football Championship.  This will be the Lumberjacks' first ever try for the UCFC.