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OE: UTSA has gotten some press for the opponents that they will have coming to the Alamodome in the future (Oklahoma State, Houston, Arizona, Kansas State, Arizona State, Baylor). Is Texas State trying to follow the model of bringing big names in like Texas Tech, and why have UTSA's negotiations happened quicker than Texas State's? LT: They have a dome and are located in a big city with major TV stations. As we try to get better home football games, visiting teams also want to know they can play in front of fans. I have said this many times before and will say it again. We can't just show up when we play Texas Tech. UTSA averaged 35,000 fans playing Division 2 and 3 schools and went 4-8 in their first year. Last year, in their early games, they still played these teams and their fans supported them. We have to do the same. All I hear is we needed to win and play good quality opponents. Other schools are getting good support and do not necessarily live by this rule. We have to stop making excuses for why we cant attend Bobcat sporting events. They have done 2-for-1 contracts where they will go on the road for two games and get one home game. This year UTSA averaged more fans per game for their WAC opponents than we did. We just need to show up and support our team. You also have to be impressed with what they did on Thanksgiving weekend against us. Many of our fans and students went home for Thanksgiving with their families. Their fans made their football team their family and went to the dome during this weekend. We had better learn if we want to be successful, Bobcat football needs to be your holiday family. OE: UTSA is not on the football schedule for 2013 and is not listed a non-conference opponent for UTSA in 2014 or 2015. Do Texas State and UTSA have a realistic shot of playing each other in the next ten years? LT: We actually talked to them recently. We have told them we will play them every year. Unfortunately, they said it looks like they cant start playing us until 2020. Part of this is they have done so many 2-for-1 games. They are scheduled way out in advance and don't have many dates open. We want to play them in all of our sports. OE: What, if any, are the plans being made to ramp up the tailgating scene again after the noticeable drop off in participation following the Texas Tech loss? LT: As I said before, fans create their own excitement. Other schools students and fans show up to their games, set up all over town and all over campus and tailgate. Unfortunately for us, I hear we need to play Texas Tech each week and we want to tailgate 100 paces from the gate or we aren't coming. We played a great WAC schedule this year and the WAC was rated the toughest non-BCS conference. We had great home games this past year. The athletic department should not have to create a tailgate atmosphere for people to show up. At other schools, fans create their own tailgating and it is not in the parking lot just outside the stadium, it is all over campus, town and any other location near the stadium. They tailgate, have a good time responsibly, then walk into the game and don't go home before kickoff. Our fans need to learn how to come to San Marcos, park anywhere within walking distance of the stadium, bring their own food and beverages, create a tailgate on their own and then come into the stadium. I get frustrated since I hear this too many times: I wont come to the stadium and support our team unless we are playing a big 12 opponent each week, we win every game, we can tailgate within 50 yards of the stadium, and it is 80 degrees and sunny at kickoff. We need to be football fans first and to support the Bobcats. Read more: http://star.txstate.edu/node/7071

Is it just me or did the Texas State AD seem on the defensive? I hate to see that and the easy way around it is to say look the WAC was the best we could do at the time and now in hindsight it turns out it wasn't. Why can't people just be honest and not always be trying to cover their ass? I think he may have oversold the WAC and now is having to spin the Belt which is a shame because the Belt is a good league and will be both tough and good long term for Texas State. I understand the circumstances with UTSA getting the CUSA invite made it complicated but they are trying to have their cake and eat it too. I hate that the Sun Belt has to deal with a team that isn't excited about joining. http://www.txstatebobcats.com/podcasts.aspx?podcast=70

SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Sun Belt Conference announced today that Texas State will join the league on July 1, 2013 and will begin conference competition for the 2013-14 academic year. "Texas State University has worked very hard to be ready for FBS competition and joining the Sun Belt Conference represents a new opportunity for our future," said Texas State University President Denise M. Trauth. "The Sun Belt's record of competitive success over more than 35 years provides a tradition of excellence that we are happy to join. Our students and alumni will bring a very strong fan base that will welcome these new opportunities. Just as Texas State is the rising star of Texas, we believe that the Sun Belt is also on the rise and we are happy to be a part of its future." "On behalf of the presidents and chancellors of the Sun Belt Conference, it is my honor to welcome Texas State University as the newest member of our league family," said Sun Belt Conference Executive Committee President and Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. "We are not the same conference we were 10 years ago. The Sun Belt is strong athletically as demonstrated by the fact that our bowl record over the last eight years is better than five other BCS conferences. We are stronger academically, as 90 percent of our teams have achieved an Academic Progress Rates of 925 or higher. Texas State is an excellent addition to our strong, growing conference." Texas State, located in San Marcos between Austin and San Antonio, is home to over 34,000 students and officially opened its doors in 1903. Notably, Texas State is the only university in Texas to have graduated a U.S. president: Lyndon B. Johnson, class of 1930. Read more: http://www.sunbeltsp...TCLID=205422758

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