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read more: https://www.bcsnn.com/football/556-texas-state-football-transfer-portal-makes-2021-wide-open-for-the-bobcats

Texas State has huge OT win over Ohio - Everett Withers is for real people. Aaron Jones, the senior RB for UTEP, rattled off 249 yards and 2 TDs. UTSA QB Dalton Sturm had three touchdown passes in their win over Alabama State.

So while I'm twiddling my thumbs waiting for the Superbowl to start, I was reading through the threads about increasing interest through regional opponents in a regional conference. I think another way of doing this are rivalries and the lack thereof at UNT. We have SMU for however long that will last, and UTSA is slowly emerging as a conference rival but I think another option could be Texas State. TS and UTSA are reviving their "I-35" rivalry in 2017 and I was thinking why not hop on board. With the amount of alumni the schools are pumping out I think it could work. The 3 teams could play each other each year and hell, let's go all out and throw in a trophy naming the King (or prince. UT, Baylor, and TCU would attest) of 35. I think that would spark more interest than our FCS games and the drives would make nice weekend trips for the alumni. I've done it once for UTSA and also for the UT game, which I was pleasantly surprised at the mean green turnout, and enjoyed it both times.

SAN MARCOS — When Everett Withers was introduced Thursday as the new head football coach at Texas State, his first official appearance on campus was more like a pep rally than press conference. There were more cheerleaders, players, assistants from the former regime and well-heeled boosters than members of the media in attendance, with some of the fans even taking the microphone to query Withers about his plans to jump-start the Bobcats’ program after a dismal 3-9 season. “I’ve got a plan, and it’s infallible,” Withers said. “I’m not a patient man, and I won’t ask for patience from (our fans). Fan stands for ‘fanatic.’ Fanatics want something right now. I get it. I understand it. I’m ready to go to work.” Dennis Franchione retired on Dec. 22. Withers comes to San Marcos after compiling a 19-7 record and leading James Madison to back-to-back NCAA Division I FCS playoff appearances and a conference championship. James Madison also set a school record with a 14-game regular-season winning streak after the Dukes won the final seven games of the 2014 season and began 2015 with a 7-0 record. read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/sports/college-football/withers-calls-texas-state-gold-mine-is-ready-to-go/npzYD/

A handful of potential candidates have surfaced, most notably K.C. Keeler of Sam Houston State, an FCS school that’s won 11 games each of the past two years and went four rounds deep into the playoffs this fall. Keeler also coached at Delaware from 2002-12 going 86-52 there. One report said Keeler has already interviewed for the Texas State opening, though Teis would not confirm or deny that. Current Texas State offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, who has in the past been a finalist for head coaching jobs at TCU and New Mexico State, also will get a chance to interview. For continuity’s sake, Schultz is an easy choice — if school officials believe that Texas State’s program was heading in the right direction until this year’s 3-9 derailment. Schultz helped bring most of the players on this year’s team to San Marcos and has his hands deep into the Bobcats’ current recruiting class for 2016. He also has the backing of most of the players, team insiders say. Neither Keeler nor Schultz has head coaching experience at the FBS level. It’s unlikely that a coach with a FBS head job on his résumé would be interested in Texas State because of the salary that’s being offered; Franchione made $427,000 in 2015, which ranked No. 111 nationally among publicly available contracts. read more: http://www.mystatesman.com/news/sports/college-football/texas-state-continues-its-search-for-franchiones-r/nptbw/

So there's that. But is Texas State still in better shape than UNT?

After flipping Munday defensive end L.J. Collier from Texas Tech a couple of days ago, TCU convinced another defensive lineman to make a switch on Tuesday night. Evangel Christian (LA) defensive end Chris Bradley committed to Texas State in September. But after making a visit to Fort Worth last weekend, Bradley decided TCU was the place for him. Read more: http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/01/3-str-de-chris-bradley-flips-from-texas-state-to-tcu.html/

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

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/05/30/texas-state-bobcats-college-football-countdown-2013-preview/2370699/ — Dream season: The Bobcats go 2-2 in September, start 3-1 in the Sun Belt and hold on in November to reach a bowl game. — Nightmare season: The three wins come against Prairie View A&M, Georgia State and South Alabama. IN CASE YOU WERE WONDERING — Where Texas State fans hang out: I think the best option is Bobcat Fans, which houses a very active message board. — Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense) — 2012 record: 4-8 (2-4) — 2013 schedule: Aug. 31 at Southern Mississippi Sept. 7 Prairie View A&M Sept. 21 at Texas Tech Sept. 28 Wyoming Oct. 5 at Louisiana-Lafayette Oct. 12 Louisiana-Monroe Oct. 19 Georgia State Oct. 26 South Alabama Nov. 2 at Idaho Nov. 16 at Arkansas State Nov. 23 Western Kentucky Nov. 29 at Troy

San Marcos, Texas – Texas State University president Denise M. Trauth and athletic director Larry Teis announced Thursday that head football coach Dennis Franchione has agreed to a new five-year contract with the university. Under terms of his new agreement, Franchione remains at his current salary until Feb. 2014, when it increases to $400,000 for the remaining years. “Coach Franchione has been a strong leader for our program, increased visibility, generated a high level of enthusiasm and instilled a strong work ethic for student-athletes on and off the field, ” said Dr. Trauth. “He also has helped guide the program into the coveted ranks of the Football Bowl Subdivision. There has been great buzz about being elevated to the top level of college football, and we expect more good things as our program grows.” Franchione has guided the football program through its transition to the NCAA Division I FBS level and the Bobcats join the Sun Belt Conference in 2014 after playing one season in the WAC and one year as an independent in the first two years since he returned to Texas State in Jan. 2011. During the last two seasons, he built a solid foundation for the school’s transition by signing a pair of recruiting classes rated as the best in the WAC in 2012 and tied for best among Sun Belt Conference teams in 2013. On the field, he led Texas State to a 6-6 record as an independent in 2011. Last season, Texas State gained national attention with its first FBS victory since 2000 and posted one of the top five upsets in college football history with a 30-13 victory at Houston after entering the game as a 34-point underdog. The Bobcats also played in front of the largest crowd to attend a football game at Bobcat Stadium and battled five bowl-eligible teams in 2012 when Texas State’s strength of schedule ranked among the top 16 teams in non-BCS automatic qualifying conferences. The Bobcats also won their first Western Athletic Conference game against Idaho, and closed the season with a victory over New Mexico State in the final WAC regular season football game in conference history. Franchione enters his 28th season as a collegiate head coach in 2013. He owns a career record of 197-115-2 and an overall 23-23 mark in four seasons at Texas State. He enters next season as one of the top six active winningest NCAA Division I FBS coaches in terms of total victories. Throughout his career, Franchione’s teams have garnered nine conference championships, one divisional title, and played in nine bowl games, four NAIA playoff games and one NCAA Division II playoff contest. His record also includes four 11-win seasons, six 10-win campaigns, eight 9-win seasons and a 45-game regular season winning streak. He is a two-time National Coach of the Year, a two-time finalist for the Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award in 2000 and 2002, and been named a conference or regional Coach of the Year 10 times. He is a two-time National Coach of the Year, a two-time finalist for Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year Award in 2000 and 2002, and been named a conference or regional Coach of the Year 10 times. Read more: http://austin.ynn.com/content/top_stories/291765/texas-state-gives-franchione-new--5-year-deal

The Bobcats have no rival, hype or energy for the football program. These qualities were lost, repeatedly, in 2012 after every close game. At least the University of Texas-San Antonio has the University of North Texas, University of Texas-El Paso and Rice University joining them in Conference-USA. There will not be another Texas football team in the Sun Belt. Texas State has not even released an official 2013 schedule because its conference is getting picked apart again. UTSA has an unfinished schedule, but the school enticed Oklahoma State University, a team that was in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl just last season, to travel to the Alamodome. The Roadrunners additionally have the University of Houston in 2013 at home. UTSA, sadly, can draw bigger programs than Texas State because of the larger venue and city and stronger backing. Fixing the scheduling issues, which is at times out of Texas States hands, is only a portion of the solution. The game day atmosphere could be a whole lot better. When UTSA hosted Texas State, its stadium was filled with excitement. It felt like a true rivalry game. The hosting university held contests for fans so spectators could win prizes during timeouts and between quarters. H-E-B even sponsored UTSAs tailgating parking lot. The stadium was like an ocean of orange and blue. Throwing shirts and passing out pizza boxes in the stands just is not enough anymore, if it ever was, to keep fans engaged through all the lulls in college football games. On that day, I realized Texas State could use an upgrade. The games can be dull. This is not necessarily from the game play, but because there is little excitement for the fans outside of the competition itself. The Texas Tech game was a tease of what a Texas State football game could be. Read more: http://star.txstate.edu/node/6517

What do you guys think of adding Texas State to the C-USA?

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

Texas State will be having an "Athletics Special Announcement" at 10 am tomorrow May 2. Attached is the link to the athletic website. http://www.txstatebobcats.com/splash.aspx?id=splash_95

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

Read more: http://bobcatfans.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=22108

Even before Texas State played its debut season in the Western Athletic Conference, the Bobcats have agreed to join the Sun Belt in 2013, industry sources told CBSSports.com. The Bobcats will be one of two new Sun Belt members in 2013 along with Georgia State, which is leaving the Colonial Athletic Association. The addition of Texas State and Georgia State is to offset the losses of North Texas and Florida International, which CBSSports.com reported are moving to Conference USA in 2013. The Sun Belt also is expected to add Texas-Arlington, which will compete in the WAC in 2012, as an Olympic sports member, giving the Sun Belt 10 football schools in 2013 and 12 overall members, including Arkansas-Little Rock and Texas-Arlington. Other schools that could join the Sun Belt in the coming years include Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Old Domininon. However, ODU and Charlotte could be headed to Conference USA. Read More: http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/brett-mcmurphy/18911274/texas-state-utarlington-to-sun-belt-in-2013