The 1954 Howard Payne Yellow Jackets was an American football team that represented Howard Payne CollegeâÂÂnow known as Howard Payne UniversityâÂÂas a member of the Texas Conference during the 1954 college football season. Led by second-year head coach Guy B. Gardner, the Yellow Jackets compiled an overall record of 9âÂÂ1 with a mark of 2âÂÂ0 in conference play, winning the Texas Conference title.