Once a fast rising football stock, UTSA invests for the long term

Harry · August 20, 2015

SAN ANTONIO — The “Original 18,” as they’re called, still get discussed with reverence around here.

They were the ones who signed on to play for the University of Texas at San Antonio before there were even uniforms or facilities or a schedule. They were the ones who did nothing but practice for an entire year before playing the program’s first game in 2011. And they were the ones who guided UTSA from unlikely start-up to a team that was beating the likes of Houston in last fall’s season opener and nearly upsetting Arizona.

But they were also, in reality, overachievers who largely wouldn’t have projected to be Football Bowl Subdivision players under normal circumstances. And now, they are gone, which is both the good news and bad news at UTSA.

The departure of 36 seniors — the Original 18 and the class that came in behind them to field UTSA’s inaugural team — has given way to a new group that signed on to be part of a real Division I program, not a start-up. They are bigger, faster and more talented. They are also completely unproven, leaving UTSA as one of the nation’s youngest teams just a year after they were the most experienced team in FBS.

“We moved up with guys that were recruited to play Division II and Division III,” senior cornerback Bennett Okotcha said. “They were great guys and they played well for us, but now we’re recruiting D-1 athletes to come play D-1 football and they’re doing a great job. Our talent keeps getting better. Sometimes it’s good especially for young guys to come in and play with no expectations. I feel like we’re really talented and we’re going to shock a lot of people.”

Since UTSA football came into existence, almost everything has been a new experience, including the high expectations going into last season and the disappointment of going 4-8 after such a promising start.

But this, in many ways, is a familiar spot for coach Larry Coker, who certainly wasn’t oblivious to the notion that he would essentially have to start over for a second time once his first group of recruits cycled out of the program. Just like back then, when UTSA announced its presence with an 8-4 record in its first year as an FBS member, there’s pretty much a clean slate and a big-time underdog vibe.

Read more: http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/08/utsa-football-original-18-coach-larry-coker