News and a few grim notes...

• Texas State mens basketball players J.B. Conley and Emmanuel Bidias a Moute were involved in a fatal accident last Friday night.

• Conley (driving) and Moute (passenger) were traveling on Aquarena Springs Drive at 7:36 pm when they struck and killed a 31-year-old man.

• Conley was cited for not having a driver's license or insurance. He only has a state identification card issued by the state of Texas.

• Conley was also not driving his own car (hence not having a driver's license). He was behind the wheel of a car owned by Raul Segura of San Antonio.

Quotes from Texas State head coach Suzanne Fox

Here's what Texas State head coach Suzanne Fox had to say after her team barely pulled out a 99-94 win against Huston-Tillotson yesterday. Remember, HTU is an NAIA school...

On her overall impressions of the game — “Our kids played tight. They feel the pressure. Again, how many games have we won in the last week and a half? None. They lost that swagger and that’s the thing. Winning gives them confidence. Today we got tight and made bad choices and it snowballed on us.”

On losing a large (22-point) lead — “We got to take care of the basketball. We’re up 18 and had some reserves in and we basically didn’t do the thing we were supposed to do. We went back to the starting group and it went back to the demon that’s been haunting us — turnovers. We turned it over three or four times in a row and they scored every possession on it.”

On her team's horrible play so far this season — “It doesn’t matter who you line up against or what name is on the front of the jersey. You’re looking at a week-and-a-half span where we played Texas Tech to four points and then we go to double overtime against HTU and it comes down to players doing things they’ve been taught to do. When you look at us, we didn’t do the things we were taught to do and that’s where I’ll take the responsibility and admit that I have to do a better job at practice and coaching to get them confident. You do that in practice. We have to go in there and get to work. It comes down to accountability. It’s hard with a young team because that value of a possession and you look at kids in a practice setting that they’ve been on a team where there’s no shot clocks in high school. Have they been on teams where they’ve blown everybody out? There are so many backgrounds where they’re coming from that if they turn it over, it’s just one turnover, but our kids need to understand that every possession is important. Right now, we haven’t done that consistently.”

Texas State men's basketball player-by-player breakdown

Emmanuel Bidias A' Moute (Forward): Davalos expects Bidias A' Moute to have a strong senior season after academic probation cut his 2008-09 season short. Bidias A' Moute played in 16 games for Texas State last season, averaging 6.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. Quotable — "You saw what Emmanuel is capable of. He can give us a 20/10 any night of the week."

Tony Bishop (Guard): Davalos believes Bishop is one of the most athletically gifted players on his team. Bishop was the 2008-09 NJCAA Division III Player of the Year and led Richland College to a national championship. He'll be a two-position player like former Texas State guard/forward Brandon Bush. Quotable — "We're pretty excited about what Tony can do for us."

John Bowman (Guard): Davalos believes Bowman has the ability to be one of the team's leading scorers this season. Bowman was the team's defensive specialist last season and provided several highlight-reel dunks. He's not afraid to shoot the 3-pointer (25 attempts in 2008-09) but will need to attack the basket if he's going to be effective this year. Quotable — "He's one of those guys that can have a big scoring night."

J.B. Conley (Guard): Davalos believes Conley . Conley played is from Richardson and played against Cameron Johnson in high school. Conley played two seasons at Temple College and received offers from both Weber State and Texas State. The 6-foot-5 guard is athletic and can finish above the rim. Quotable — "Once he learns where he needs to go at what point, he's going to be a guy that's going to be tough to guard."

Dylan Hale (Guard): Davalos believes Hale (the only freshman on the team) could have a standout season. Hale received looks from Southern Methodist (SMU) and Fairfield before signing with Texas State. Quotable — "Dylan can be the best shooter in this program right now. He probably is, but we don't expect him to come in as a freshman and do what (former Bobcat) Brent Benson did. I think there are going to be days where he really can have big games."

Roshun Jackson (Guard): Davalos believes Jackson has a chance to be a threat on both ends of the floor. Jackson was in Davalos' doghouse last season and only played eight minutes per game. He did have 10 steals in limited action, so we know the defensive ability is there, but he only shot 28 percent from the field. Quotable — "Roshun really came back this fall in better shape than as a freshman. He was more ready for the first day of workouts and he'll be more ready for this season."

Cameron Johnson (Forward): Davalos believes Johnson will be the leader of the Bobcats. Johnson, a 6-foot-7 junior, will be relied upon to be one of Texas State's main scorers. He proved he could score last season, but it was sporadic. Johnson is one of three third-year juniors on the Bobcats (Jonathan Sloan and Ryan White are the others) and knows what Davalos wants. Quotable — “Those guys who used to be followers are now stepping up. Cameron Johnson is a case and point. He worked his tail off this summer.”

John Rybak (Forward): Davalos has nothing but positive things to say about the 6-foot-5 senior. Rybak spent his sophomore season on the bench (due to NCAA transfer rules) but made a huge impact in 2008-09. He averaged 10 points per game and knocked down 64 3-pointers. Rybak not only got it done on the offensive, but defensive end (34 steals). Rybak should be the team's leading scorer this year as well as its heartbeat. Quotable — "He’s the epitome of a student-athlete. He works hard in the classroom, come to practice and does everything we ask of him and more."

Uriel Segura (Guard): Davalos believes Segura could make an impact in his first season. Segura is the only true point guard for the Bobcats while White is out due to injuries suffered in a September car accident. Segura is a 6-foot-3 guard from McLennan Junior College and has quickly learned Davalos' intricate system. Quotable — "He's very sound. He reminds me a little bit of Corey Jefferson. He puts himself in the right place at the right time."

Jonathan Sloan (Forward) — Davalos believes this is the year Sloan finally realizes his potential. Sloan has yet to show why he deserved a three-star billing coming out of J.J. Pearce High. He averaged 2.9 points per game in 2008-09 and was hampered by injuries. Sloan worked hard in the offseason to improve his conditioning and know what is expected of him. Quotable — "He’s not there yet, but he’s much improved. He’s a night-and-day player from last year. Jonathan has a chance to do anything he wants.”

A.J. Stewart (Forward) — Will not play in 2009-10 due to NCAA transfer requirements.

Ryan White (Guard) — Davalos believes White could be Texas State's leaders this season. White worked hard in the offseason, knowing he'd be the starting point guard. Unfortunately, White was involved in a car accident in September, curtailing his progress. White should be back in late December to early January. Quotable — "Ryan had a great summer and came back in better shape than he's ever been. It's tough now that he's out because it's like the football team losing Bradley George."

Bobcats lose Karrington Bush for the rest of the season

Texas State received some bad news Tuesday afternoon.

The Bobcats learned they'll be without running back Karrington Bush for the rest of the season. Bush tore his ACL, LCL and MCL during Saturday's game against Nicholls State.

"It's a shame," Texas State head coach Brad Wright said. "We didn't know what to expect, but the way it happened, it didn't look good."

Bush had a huge game vs. the Colonels before his injury, rushing for 163 yards on 20 carries. It was his 13th career 100-yard rushing game.

The Bobcats are now left with Alvin Canady and Frank Reddic to carry the load at running back. Canady and Reddic were each serviceable while Bush was out earlier this season for two games due to an MCL strain.

Texas State travels to Northwestern State this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Garelick working through growing pains

Justin Garelick lined up with Texas State down 51-50 in overtime against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Bobcat freshman kicker needed to split the uprights to send the game into a second overtime. He took his steps and took a few deep breaths.

Snap. Hold. Kick.

Clang.

Garelick's attempt bounced off the left upright and Texas State lost to the Lions for the first time in 13 games. He collapsed to the ground, hands on top of his head and waited.

The freshman kicker didn't know how his teammates would respond. Moreover, Garelick had no idea how his coaches, specifically Brad Wright would handle his fourth missed extra-point attempt this season.

"I expected the worst, just because I've never been through a situation like this," Garelick said. "But it felt a lot better after the game knowing the coaches still supported me and every single player came up to talk to me."

Garelick replayed the kick in his mind Saturday night and then all day Sunday. By the time he got to Monday's film study, it began to leave his memory and after a few kicks Tuesday, it was gone.

Kickers are supposed to have short memories. They get so many chances in a season to showcase their talents, but when something goes horribly wrong it gets magnified.

"I always try to forget the past and focus on the future," Garelick said. "If you have a bad streak, you forget about it and move on to the next one. You just try and focus each time when you need to get ready for a game."

Garelick's been the starting kicker ever since Ryan Batchelor strained his hip flexor in fall camp. Wright tabbed Garelick as former Texas State kicker Andrew Ireland's heir apparent once he recruited him out of Pflugerville High.

Garelick still has a lot to learn as a collegiate kicker.

He can't use a tee on field goals or extra-point attempts, which forces him to try to get more power behind his steps. Garelick has buried a 44-yard field goal this season, yet has missed four extra points.

"I need to make sure I hit the ball pure every time," Garelick said. "Sometimes I don't, but I'm working on getting more consistent."

While kicking in larger stadiums might be unnerving for the freshman kicker, Garelick feels at ease when he's on the field. It doesn't matter if he's lined up for a 44-yard field goal or a game-tying extra point.

"I definitely feel like I'm handling the pressure better than I thought I would," Garelick said. "Once I get the feel down and settle in a bit, I should be fine."

Who truly deserves the blame for the Southeastern Louisiana loss?

Everything went right for Texas State through 51 minutes of last Saturday's game against Southeastern Louisiana.

Then, in the blink of an eye and nine minutes of stone-cold silence, the Bobcats collapsed.

Texas State relinquished a 24-point lead in the fourth quarter and eventually lost in overtime to the Lions. The Bobcats' offense, which had been moving the ball efficiently, stalled and their defense struggled to stop the simplest plays.

“It's like everything that could have gone wrong – did go wrong,” Texas State senior offensive lineman Alex Luna said. “We went from being comfortably in the lead to barely holding on. It snowballed on us.”

Why couldn't SLU's onslaught be stopped?

It wasn't like the Lions were doing anything special against the Bobcats. SLU just kept with its game plan of running the ball between the tackles and wearing down the Texas State defense.

Once the Bobcats grew tired, Lion quarterback Brian Babin (who had all day in the pocket) picked apart the secondary. SLU's wide receivers made some great catches, but a bigger and more-experienced defensive backfield could defend those receivers better.

“You keep on believing that your team is going to make a play,” Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil said. “We were 0-for-8 or 0-for-9 on critical plays that they made. That's a big credit to Southeastern Louisiana, but a discredit to us.”

So where does the blame ultimately fall for the loss?

It was in a lack of leadership on the field by the Bobcats' captains and senior class.

Texas State has four captains (Bradley George, Alex Luna, Marcus Clark and Travis Houston) and out of those, only one (Clark) made a vocal plea to the team to stop the madness. Clark got into his teammates' faces on the Lions' last two drives, urging them to make a play.

George, on the other hand, sulked on the sideline between offensive series. Luna didn't command respect on the offensive line and Houston sat on his hands.

“You can try and try to get everybody going,” Houston said, “but when the world seems like it's falling apart around you, it's hard to keep a smile up and stay motivated.”

If the Bobcats ever start to fall apart again, Houston said the captains and team learned from last Saturday's collapse.

“It's all on us as the captains,” Houston said. “People look toward us to lead the team and we didn't. It won't happen again.”

Notes from yesterday's media luncheon with Brad Wright

• A few people have asked me why Texas State runs the punt formation it does. I asked Wright yesterday and he said it's the best way for the Bobcats to get to ball off in under 1.2 seconds. Wright also said it's easier to run the three or four fakes the team does out of this formation.

• When asked about Justin Garelick's job as kicker, he said "No one's job is safe." Expect there to be some movement soon, either with the aforementioned walk-on kicker from the Rio Grande Valley or Ryan Batchelor. Garelick has missed four extra-point attempts this season.

What they were saying at practice (10/8)

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil

On the Bobcats' third down defense: "This season, if you look at where we've been successful and the ups-and-downs of the defense, we have not been successful on the third-down pass defense. One, it's been a few mistakes and two, we need to be more physical."

On why SUU had so much success on third down: "They just out-executed us. I had a few bad calls that I'd like to have back where we should have been in man coverage rather than zone."

On SLU QB Brian Babin: "He only threw seven interceptions last year. He takes good care of the football. At 6-foot-5, he has good vision and he's a heck of a quarterback."

Texas State defensive end Ron Jackson

On the defensive line's struggles this season: "We need to get to the QB faster. If we make them make bad decisions, it makes the job of the DBs and linebackers a lot easier."

On how to improve the D-line's play: "We need to pressure but also make sure we hold our gaps on the run. We need to hold the blockers up front so the linebackers can make plays."

Texas State linebacker Bryan Iwuji

On the team's struggles on third down: "When you get a team in position to get the defense off the field, you need to take advantage of that. It comes a lot during the game and when it does, you need to capitalize."

On disrupting SLU QB Brian Babin: "We need to get pressure on him. The D-line needs to get up field and around those blocks and get to the QB. The DBs and linebackers need to get back to the drops to make sure they can't go underneath."

Bobcat Football Live Chat (transcript)

Excerpt from tomorrow's feature on Frank Reddic

Frank Reddic is tough.

Reddic, a freshman running back at Texas State, once rushed 53 times for 347 yards during a playoff game as a senior at Kilgore High. He raised horses as an adolescent, helped build houses from scratch and moved slabs of sheet rock. Reddic also tried bull riding, but gave it up once he thought better of it.

After one visit to his home in Kilgore, Bobcat running backs coach Charlie Reeve knew he had to recruit Reddic to play for Texas State.

“I knew there was something special about him,” Reeve said. “I made visits to his home in Kilgore and talking with him and learned so much about him. Number one, we knew what type of person we were getting. He's a great character kid. He's mentally and physically tough and we knew we'd get a durable back.”

To read the rest, check out Wednesday's edition of the Daily Record. And don't forget the live chat tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Notes from the SLC conference call...

McNeese State head coach Matt Viator

• On SFA — "They are playing really well on defense. They have most of those kids back. They are playing extremely sound and overall, I think they are a more physical football team."

Nicholls State head coach Jay Thomas

• On Sam Houston State — "They are very productive on offense. You can see their QB growing each and every week. Defensively, you can see their defense starting to grow. It's going to be a challenge for us and it's always a difficult place for us going to play."

• On his QBs — "They've been sporadic. You see some bright spots but it's up and down. They're coming along with the process, but with young guys it takes time. We just have to continue to grow them a little bit."

SFA head coach J.C. Harper

• On McNeese State — "It's going to be a huge challenge for us. I can't say enough about McNeese State, not only lately, but in the last few years. They're a team that knows how to win. This will be the MOST PHYSICAL challenge we will have this season."

• Random quote — "I don't think McNeese is worried about us, but we're worried about them. You don't need to worry about other teams when you win 12 conference championships."

SHSU head coach Todd Whitten

• On Nicholls State — "They present some obvious problems. There's not enough to think you can get good at stopping the option. They are also always tough on defense and they're very balanced at what they do."

SE Louisiana head coach Mike Lucas

• On the school's winless record vs. Texas State — "They were kind enough to play us from the beginning. There were some times that we've had to go there in back-to-back years. We've only won two road games in conference since 2005."

• On Texas State — "They have so many weapons on offense. With Karrington Bush out, it's helped their running backs mature and they've had a lot of production from many different guys. I've been impressed with the amount of guys they've been running in and out on defense. No. 52 (Marcus Clark) is a playmaker."

New date and time for Bobcat football live chat

Be sure to check out the weekly Bobcat football live chat tomorrow (Wednesday) night at 7 p.m. on http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com. We'll be chatting about Texas State's last game vs. Texas Southern and the Bobcats' trip to Southern Utah this Saturday.

The live chat may move permanently to Wednesday night, to not conflict with other Texas State events and coverage issues.

See you tomorrow and thanks for reading the Daily Record.

Texas State vs. Texas Southern (Live Blog - Transcript)

Bradley George is putting it all together

Quarterbacks usually have one trait that stands above the rest.

Warren Moon had a rocket for an arm and Randall Cunningham's athleticism carried the Philadelphia Eagles. Brett Favre's unquenchable desire forces him to stay in the NFL much longer than he should and Tony Romo has a penchant for costly mistakes.

While Texas State quarterback Bradley George (at right, Daily Record File Photo) has size and talent, it's his leadership that guides the Bobcats.

"Maybe it's because he's 10 years older than everyone else on the team, but everybody looks up to him," Texas State co-offensive coordinator Travis Bush said. "He stabilizes this team."

George has been the Bobcats' rock for the last five years. He stuck with the program through two coaching changes and took over as full-time signal caller in 2007.

While his statistics poke you in the chest (2,660 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2008), George's poise wins you over. He's a well-spoken man with a lot of experience and wants the best for his university.

"This is my last year, so I'm trying to make the most of it," George said. "I want to take it game by game, but right now, anything less than another ring is a let-down to me."

Live chat tomorrow night at 8 p.m.

Don't forget we've moved the live chat to tomorrow (Thursday) night at 8 p.m. It will still be held on the Daily Record's Web site, so log on and join in.

We'll be discussing Texas State's last game against TCU and the Bobcats' next test this Saturday vs. Texas Southern.

A lesson in toughness...

If you take a look at the following video, you'll see the difference between an FBS and FCS football team. While the FBS team has more scholarships at its disposal, it is also stronger. Not only does the team impose its will at the line of scrimmage, but also at first contact.



0:35 — TCU running back Ed Wesley runs over Texas State cornerback Will Thompson in the end zone. Wesley is only a freshman.

1:25 — TCU running back Joseph Turner lowers his shoulder and blasts Texas State defensive back Mario Wiggins, Jr. Turner did this all day against the Bobcats, as he rushed for 129 yards on 13 carries.

1:49 — Texas State's defensive line had no resistance as Turner barreled into the end zone. Five Bobcats couldn't keep Turner from pay dirt.

3:44 — Once again, Texas State's defense couldn't bring down Turner, as he shed three tackles on his way to the end zone. Travis Houston, T.P. Miller and Joshua Minde all can't keep him from scoring.

I asked Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil about what it takes to counter strength on the football field. He told me, "It's nearly impossible, but you need to be sound in your fundamentals and have more guys gets to the ball at the point of attack. We're still working on that right now."

Here and there...

College Football

• Texas State had more first downs Saturday against TCU (15) than Virginia did a week earlier (7).
• The Bobcats' special teams defense got a little better Saturday, but still allowed a 21-yard punt return and a 31-yard kickoff return. On the bright side, Ben Follis boomed a 56-yard punt and pinned two inside TCU's 20-yard line.
• Texas State was victimized by the Horned Frogs' quick passing. When the Bobcats did get a hand on Bart Johnson or Jeremy Kerley, they broke free with long gains of 19 and 20 yards, respectively.
• Freshman running back Frank Reddic led Texas State with 111 all-purpose yards, while Alvin Canady had 104. Reddic returned five kicks and had good field vision, finding the lanes of his 21-yard return

College Basketball

• Texas State will hold walk-on tryouts for the men's basketball team Thursday, Oct. 8. Participants must be Bobcat students.
• Former Texas State guard Brandon Bush signed a professional contract with AD Vagos, a pro team in Portugal. Bush averaged 15.9 points per game last season with the Bobcats.
  

Quotes from practice today (9/16)

Texas State senior left tackle Alex Luna

On how to stop a quick defensive end: "Quick feet. Always keep your hands up and never use your body because they'll take advantage of that."

On what goes through his head after a sack and how to conquer it: "I go up to the line and say 'Good job' first. Then, I'm going to make them beat me. I'm not going up to the line thinking 'They're going to beat me.' He has to beat me again if he wants another sack."

Texas State sophomore center Steven Kenney

On getting ready to run block against a great defense: "We're going to try to go in there and roll them out and get our rush yards. We don't like to settle for little rush yards."

Texas State co-offensive coordinator Ben Norton

On TCU's defense: "Everybody on that defense runs to the football. Everybody on that defense knows their assignment. Besides that, they're doing it with some incredibly talented guys. It's going to be a great challenge for us."

Answering the question: How can Texas State beat TCU?

I keep getting asked the same question by fans and friends: How can Texas State beat TCU? The Bobcats travel to Fort Worth Saturday night to play the Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU will be Texas State's toughest FBS opponent the Bobcats have ever faced. The Horned Frogs are currently ranked No. 15 in both major polls, leaving little room for error. If Texas State wants to have a chance against TCU, this is what it will need to do:

• Limit the turnovers. Last year against SMU, the Bobcats turned the ball over twice on their first three possessions. The Mustangs got quick points off those turnovers and Texas State was forced to catch up for the rest of the game. If the Bobcats drop behind by 14 points early, it's going to be nearly impossible to stage a comeback against such a good defense.
• Run the ball. Texas State, even without Karrington Bush, will need to find a way to move the ball on the ground. TCU doesn't allow many rushing yards (47.1 per game in 2008) so if the Bobcats can break one or two big ones, it could open things over the top.
• Control the clock. Texas State needs to keep its offense on the field to neutralize the points its defense will allow. The Bobcats need to be effective in their passes and keep the clock moving when they have the ball. If Texas State's defense is forced on the field for extended periods of time, Bobcat head coach Brad Wright will need to dig deeper into his reserves. Texas State's second and third-string players are young, so Wright will need to keep his older guys on the field as long as possible.

Be sure to check out the live chat this Thursday night at 7 p.m.

Clarifying a few questions from last night's chat...

• Texas State linebacker Joe Bell played a few snaps against Angelo State and should be at full speed next Saturday vs. TCU.
• Bobcat punter Ben Follis should be good to go as well.
• Texas State defensive end Leon Woosley wasn't injured, but since Ron Jackson played so well, Woosley didn't get much playing time.
  

Second live chat on Texas State football tonight

Be sure to check out the second live chat on Texas State football tonight at 7 p.m. If you want to know the updated status of Karrington Bush or who to expect to fill his shoes, come on in.

Wrapping up Texas State's 48-28 win

The Bobcats scored 27 points in the first half and were able to hold off Angelo State. Texas State got big days from quarterback Bradley George and wide receiver Cedric Alexander. You can read the story from the game here.

To wrap up the game, the only true way is to break it down by; the good, bad and ugly.

Good

• Bradley George: He started the season off on the right foot, completing 18-of-27 passes for 328 yards and three touchdowns. George, at one point, completed all but one of his passes (9 of 10). While ASU intercepted George twice, he made good reads and put the ball where it needed to be. His mid-range passes were on ropes, but needs to lead his receivers a bit more on the deep ball.
• Texas State's WRs: The Bobcats' receivers basically reeled in everything George threw their way. Ten different players caught passes from George, led by Da'Marcus Griggs (five). Cedric Alexander ran his routes well, especially the crossing pattern which left him wide open for the 48-yard touchdown. Daren Dillard made big catches which forced the Rams to double him and Alvaro Garcia had good field vision taking a pass 71 yards inside the ASU 20.
• Texas State's defensive line: ASU came into the game ready to run the ball down the Bobcats' throats. Texas State limited the Rams to 29 yards in the first half and 93 in the game. Adley Eshraghipour and Garrett Hood held their ground in the trenches, allowing Marcus Clark and Jopolo Bartu to slide into the backfield.

Bad

• Texas State's rushing attack: Once Karrington Bush went down with an injury in the first quarter, it was nonexistent. The majority of the Bobcats' rushing yards were from Alexander (a wide receiver) and Ben Follis (the punter). Frank Reddic looked good in his first collegiate game, but couldn't bust through the initial contact. Alvin Canady got a bulk of the carries (13), but only rushed for 34 yards.

Ugly

• Texas State's secondary in the second half: The Bobcats couldn't stop ASU quarterback Josh Neiswander. He picked apart Texas State's secondary after halftime, passing for 210 yards and two touchdowns. Neiswander found holes in the Bobcats' weak zone and exploited it. Ram wide receiver K'Veon Lacey caught nine passes for 150 yards (16.7 yards per catch). ASU could have had a lot more than 28 points if it focused on the pass in the first half, instead of the run.
• Texas State's special teams: Where to start? The Bobcats allowed a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown immediately following their first score. Texas State's players didn't cover the running lanes and ASU's Garrett Tidwell broke it open. The Bobcats nearly allowed another touchdown on a punt return, but Tidwell was tripped up near the 50-yard line. Follis' kickoffs were poorly placed and allowed the Rams good field position.

A few volleyball/football notes...

• Texas State set an attendance record for volleyball tonight vs. Texas Tech. The old mark was on 11/1/05 when the Bobcats hosted UT. Texas State drew 2,389 fans tonight.
• The Bobcats swept the Red Raiders, 3-0.
• Texas State head volleyball coach Karen Chisum started four newcomers, including three freshmen tonight.
• Jessica Weynand continues to lead the Bobcats, collecting 14 kills.
• Texas State opens the 2009 football season this Saturday night at 6 p.m. against Angelo State.
• The athletic department will have tours of the new West Side Complex beginning at 2 p.m. There will also be an official naming, as a banner covers that part right now.
• Word is, it's part of the largest donation to the athletic department ever. I've narrowed it down to two sources and heard from one person it's one of the two I thought.

Karrington Bush is ready: Are you?

Went out to Texas State football practice today and the team's in the middle of preparations for Angelo State. The Bobcats host the Rams this Saturday at 6 p.m.

I spoke with Karrington Bush after practice and asked him what the buzz was like around campus. He told me, "Everyone I come across that asks me if I'm ready to go, I tell them 'Oh yeah.' But then, I'm sure to ask 'Are you ready to come out to the game?' We need to get as many people out there as possible. It should be fun"

Replay of the first Bobcat football chat

A few notes on AJ Stewart (Men's BB transfer)

• Texas State was one of several schools pursuing the 6-foot-8 forward.
• The Bobcats, Kent State, Middle Tennessee State and Murray State were all going for Stewart.
• Stewart's original choice was Central Florida, but the school pulled out of the running late, leaving him up for grabs to the others.
• Texas State won out because new assistant coach Rob Flaska recruited Stewart out of high school and knew his old high school coach. Stewart liked what he saw on the official visit and called Bobcat head coach Doug Davalos the next day to accept the offer.
• Davalos on Stewart: "He's a shot blocker and inside-out player who has a nice touch and really attacks the basket. He's an athletic rebounder too, which in our league, he'll be a very versatile forward for us."
• Stewart will sit out a year and be eligible for Texas State in 2010-11.
• Check out Sunday's Daily Record for a deeper look at the recruiting of Stewart.

Inside the Trenches: The Battle for Center (VIDEO)

Texas State has two capable centers battling for the right to start Sept. 5. Jason Hannan (a transfer from Oklahoma) and Steve Kenney (sophomore from Pearland, Texas) have each had a solid fall camp.

Embedding doesn't show up too well on the blog, but visit this link for the video:

http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/multimedia/local_story_238202323.html?keyword=topstory

Texas State holds its second fall scrimmage (VIDEO)

Notes from Texas State's second scrimmage

• Texas State's first-team offense didn't get many reps, as the second and third teams moved the ball well enough to stay on the field against the respective defenses.
• The Bobcats looked good on defense, with bandit Travis Houston and cornerback Will Thompson making big plays. Thompson delivered a huge hit on the far sideline early in the scrimmage.
• The battle for center (Jason Hannan and Stephen Kenney) and cornerback (Derek Lopez and Darryl Morris) continued.
• Hannan looked good with the first-team offense, while Kenney did his job with the second team. Neither were pushed too hard by opposing nose guards, but neither Garrett Hood or Ralston Dews broke into the backfield.
• Morris dropped a sure interception on the near side of the field after Da'Marcus Griggs bobbled a pass.
• Cedric Alexander reeled in a 50-yard touchdown pass late in the scrimmage after a nifty catch-and-run. He caught the ball across the middle and broke free down the right sideline and into the end zone.
• Ryan Batchelor booted three field goals, including a 49-yard rainmaker. Justin Garelick missed the same kick short and put an extra point off the uprights.

1-on-1 line drills highlighted Friday's afternoon practice (VIDEO)

Wright talks candidly about "The Knee"

Four years ago, Texas State was one win away from reaching the Division I-AA (now Football Championship Subdivision) championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Bobcats and Northern Iowa Panthers had battled for 46 minutes, 33 seconds and were tied at 37.

Texas State had the ball at their own 25-yard line with 1:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Bobcats were led by senior quarterback Barrick Nealy and head coach David Bailiff.

Up to that point, Nealy had completed 15-of-24 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns.

Texas State just needed 50 yards or so to get into field goal range for Stan Jones. Yet, the decision came from Bailiff to sit on the ball and run out the clock.

Only one coach disagreed with the decision and went against the grain — Brad Wright. The now Bobcat head coach was running backs and special teams coach at the time, but received no backing from his fellow assistants.

"I was the only one that spoke up and said we had to go for it," Wright said. "It was tough because no one else backed me. I knew why we did it, but we had to at least give our offense a fighting chance to win the game."

Bailiff chose to kneel the ball because he felt Texas State would have a better shot at winning the game in overtime. There was also a deeper reason.

"We ran the two-minute offense against our defense like twice a week for the whole season," Wright said. "Do you know how many times we scored against our defense? None. Never. We weren’t a two-minute offense. Barrick Nealy, for all of his strengths, was not a two-minute offense guy."

Yet, that didn't keep Wright from speaking up and trying to change the direction of the game — and possibly history.

"There were plenty of plays we could have run that don’t involve just handing the ball off to our running backs," Wright said. "We could run a reverse, a simple play that looks different but gets you yardage. A reverse isn’t a trick play to me and if all the sudden it gets seven or eight yards, hey, you’re in much better position.

"If you get stoned, well, then you have to rethink things. I’m not talking about running a triple reverse, double-pass play. You just run something that’s part of your offense that you don’t run all the time and like I said, then you assess after that."

The Bobcats ran out the clock and went to overtime, where they eventually lost 40-37. Bailiff left a season later for Rice University and Wright took over Texas State.

If Wright had been coach in 2005, things might have turned out differently.

"There’s ‘what ifs’ either way," Wright said. "You just have to do what your personality is. I would have gone for it."

Texas State's field goal defense shines Friday morning (VIDEO)

Texas State holds first workout in full pads (VIDEO)

Just a few notes...

• If you want a special video of anything for the video blog updates, don't hesitate to let me know in the comment section here or via e-mail to tmayforth@sanmarcosrecord.com.
• Texas State recently hired Eric Brand as the third and final assistant coach for the upcoming men's basketball season. Brand was an assistant coach at Tyler Junior College prior to the hire.
• The Bobcats don full pads for the first time at fall football practice today.
• Follow us on Twitter to get all your Texas State news immediately!

Old faces, new roles to help Texas State Bobcats (VIDEO)

Texas State prepares for upcoming season (VIDEO)

Texas State men's basketball notes...

• The Bobcats were selected to play in the Preseason National Invitational Tournament (NIT) in Tempe, Ariz.
• Texas State will play Arizona State in the first round.
• The Bobcats will play either Cal-State Northridge or TCU in the second round.
• Should Texas State win all of its games, it will head to Madison Square Garden for the semifinals.

Bobcat defensive back Drenard Williams to have shoulder surgery

There was some bad news to come out of Texas State's media day today.

The Bobcats learned defensive back Drenard Williams will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Aug. 10. Williams started last season at cornerback for Texas State after transferring from Iowa State.

"As the summer wore on, it got looser and looser, and kept slipping out on him," Bobcat head coach Brad Wright said. "He could have maybe played through it, but who knows. He's doing what's best for him in the long run. We fully expect him to recover."

Derek Lopez and Darryl Morris are expected to compete for Williams' position this fall.

Texas State gives season ticket holders a sneak peek

Texas State held its annual season ticket pick-up event Saturday afternoon at the End Zone Complex. Fans were treated to tours of the newly renovated Bobcat Stadium.

Check out our story in the Daily Record today.

Texas State football two-deeps released

The Texas State football team released its two-deeps during the Southland Conference Football Media Days in Lake Charles, La.

There are some major changes on the defensive side of the ball, as the Bobcats graduated three starting defensive linemen. Offensively, not much changes other than a few wide receiver slots.

Here's the list (starter/back-up) and can change between now and the beginning of the season:

Offense

QB: Bradley George/Tim Hawkins

TB: Karrington Bush/Alvin Canady

X-WR: Da'Marcus Griggs/Darren Dillard

H-WR: Mishak Rivas/Unsettled

Z-WR: Darius Bolden/Joe Chaisson

FB: Trey Hampton/Jeff McVaney

LT: Alex Luna/Jonathan Vernon

LG: Winston Ruelas/Michael Schneeweis

C: Steven Kenney/Jason Hannan

RG: D.J. Hall/Taylor Hease

RT: Calvin Gore/Paul Sienkiewich

TE: Andrew Brooks/Kyle Anderson

Defense

Bandit: Travis Houston/Sam Pier

DT: Adley Eshraghipour/Jamil Kazen

NG: Garrett Hood/Ralson Dews

DE: Leon Woolsey/Ron Jackson

Rover: Marcus Clark/Joplo Bartu

MLB: Joe Bell/Patrick Strodtman

WLB: Brian Iwuji/Charles Holmes

CB: Drenard Williams/Derek Lopez

CB: Will Thompson/Darryl Morris

SS: T.P. Miller/Jason McLean

FS: Kenneth Hampton/Mario Wiggins

Special Teams

PK: Ryan Batchelor/Justin Garelick

P: Ben Follis/Ryan Batchelor

DS: Sam Pier/Adley Eshraghipour

Holder: Ben Follis/Alvaro Garcia

PR: Will Thompson/Drenard Williams

KR: Karrington Bush/Alvin Canady; Drenard Williams/Mishak Rivas; Will Thompson/Darius Bolden

LeBlanc leaves Texas State

Texas State lost a wide receiver before two-a-days began, but not to injury.

E.J. LeBlanc informed the coaching staff he will be transferring from the Bobcats to pursue other playing opportunities. LeBlanc reeled in 21 passes for 175 yards last season.

He also rushed four times for 40 yards.

Texas State now has eight receivers, not including incoming recruits. Da'Marcus Griggs, Mishak Rivas and Darius Bolden are listed as the three starters on the two-deep in the media guides.

Observations from the THSCA All-Star Game

• Texas State had five recruits play in Tuesday night's 2009 Texas High School Coaches Association Football All-Star Game.
• The Bobcats' quintet was the second-most to Rice's six.
• Beeville quarterback Eric Soza looked confident and poised in the pocket, as he went 4-for-7 with 63 yards passing. He threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Chris McCallister at the end of the second quarter.
• Soza provided the North defense plenty of looks behind center, as he guided the South offense in traditional I, Pro Set, Split Backs and Spread formations. He looked most comfortable out of the Shotgun, as he could survey the field and dance around the pocket longer.
• Soza also laid out for a touchdown attempt in the first quarter, but was upended and ruled out at the 1-yard line. The South team scored on the next play.
• Kilgore running back Frank Reddic had his moments both as a blocker and rusher.
• Reddic blasted his way through the South defensive line to get extra yards for his running backs, including one "de-cleater" of a South linebacker.
• The 190-pound fullback also rushed 10 times for 32 yards, as most of his carries were out of the Wildcat formation.
• Boerne-Champion running back Josh Wray didn't get much time on offense, but starred on kickoff coverage and even played on the defensive side.
• Wray said after the game that "...Texas State's coaches told me to enjoy my last time playing defense, so that's what I did."
• Texas State had two defensive recruits in the game — Jordan Norfleet and Blake McColloch.
• Norfleet recorded a quarterback hurry and McColloch's size stood out mostly. McColloch is 6-foot-5, 240 pounds.

Thomas signs pro contract with Japanese team

Former Texas State guard Brandon Thomas recently signed a one-year deal with the Kyoto Hannaryz in the Basketball Japan League.

Thomas played for the Bobcats from 2006-08. He averaged 7.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a senior.

The Hannaryz will be an expansion team this season in the 12-team bj-league. For more, read today's edition of the Daily Record.

Bobcat notes from 7-on-7

George on target
Bobcat senior quarterback Bradley George exhibited really good accuracy during Tuesday night’s 7-on-7 drills against a group of players from Texas Lutheran.
Da’Marcus Griggs was the recipient of at least two touchdown passes, while Darren Dillard displayed some nice footwork, making a nice juke move after a catch the helped set free to sprint to the end zone.
Tight end Andrew Brooks also had a touchdown catch, pulling in a pass on a corner route while gracefully dragging a foot inbound for the score.
In all, George fired six touchdown passes.

Sharp secondary
Defensively, the Bobcats looked really sharp, limiting TLU to just two scores. Senior Drenard Williams stood out with three interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
Linebacker Brian Iwuji also had an interception and would have scored had he not stepped out of bounds.
Teammates laughed as they were quick to point out his mistake, but Iwuji kept on running.

Chased from Oklahoma?
A number of new Texas State linemen were at he workout including University of Oklahoma transfer Jason Hannan, who comes to San Marcos with three years of eligibility and a very impressive resume.
The 6-3, 283-pound sophomore from Waxahachie was the nation’s top-rated center and No. 23 overall coming out of high school in 2007 according to Rivals.com.
And you’ll never guess who played a key role in luring Hannan to San Marcos: Former Bobcat quarterback/receiver Chase Wasson, who transferred to Oklahoma two years ago.
“We were roommates for a semester at Oklahoma and he told me about Texas State. I wanted to be a little more close to home, so I decided to come here,” Hannan said.
Hannan is currently enrolled in summer school at Texas State, and is not yet on the “official” roster. His name has been taken off the roster on OU’s official website.
The 7-on-7 workouts are entirely voluntary and no coaches are allowed to assist or watch. Players coordinate the times and places, but the workouts usually take pace on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

• Randy Stevens

By George! He's excited about the tight ends...

Last season, Texas State was forced to scramble with its tight ends last season.

The Bobcats struggled to find a good pass-catching tight end and regulated John Gilley and John Ford to blocking roles. Even though they helped pave the way for a solid trio of running backs (Karrington Bush, Alvin Canady and Stan Zwinggi), they were underutilitzed.

"We also have some athletic tight ends now," Texas State quarterback Bradley George said. "Don't get me wrong, (John) Gilley was a hell of a blocker, but he wasn't the fleetest-of-foot guy. He was about 275 and could run someone over, but we have some athletes now and it helps.”

Texas State promises to use its tight ends in a bigger role this season.

The Bobcats have Andrew Brooks back from injury (ACL) and Kyle Anderson fully comfortable in his role, as opposed to last season. Anderson was heavily recruited as a tight end out of high school. Also, with the addition of Woody McClendon, the position has a log jam, but will be cleared before the season begins Sept. 5.

Texas State football 7-on-7

• The Texas State football team will have a 7-on-7 game tonight at Bobcat Stadium beginning at 7 p.m.
• The game features whatever Bobcat players are around during the summer, taking classes or otherwise.
• The Bobcats routinely hold 7-on-7 games throughout the summer.
• Texas State opens the 2009 season Sept. 5 against Angelo State.

Rencher ready to put his UT days behind him...

We ran a story in today's edition about how new assistant coach Terrence Rencher is ready to start a new chapter in his life. He no longer wants to be known as the standout player with Texas, rather the coach from Texas State.

He seems like a calm, collected man ready to help the Bobcats reach the next level. The hires of Rob Flaska and Rencher should push Texas State over the top.

Here's the story from Sunday's issue about Rencher and we ran another about both Flaska and Rencher today.

Texas State loses another assistant basketball coach...

The Texas State men's basketball team recently hired two new coaches to their staff to fill vacancies within its program. Well, the Bobcats need to hire one more.

Omar Lowery, who was instrumental in landing John Rybak, left Texas State. He accepted an assistant coaching position with Cal-Poly.

Mattox to transfer from Texas State

The Texas State women's basketball team will be without Gabriell Mattox next season. Mattox transferred from the program and will play for Oklahoma Baptist.

She led the Bobcats in scoring last season with 12.1 points per game (15.2 ppg. in conference action). This will be Mattox's third school change. She played for Texas, Texas State and now Oklahoma Baptist.

Harrington talks about the draft...

• Texas State head baseball coach Ty Harrington wasn't surprised about Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Theriot's decision to sign professional contracts.
• "I got the feeling they both wanted to pursue baseball professionally," Harrington said. "I told both of them that if professional baseball is what they chose to do, I was in full support of them."
• Goldschmidt signed a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Theriot inked with the Kansas City Royals.
• Goldschmidt's departure leaves a huge hole in the Texas State lineup and infield, as he takes away 18 home runs and 88 RBIs from the Bobcats. As of right now, Harrington isn't sure who will be able to fill his spot in the lineup.
• "Obviously, you hope one of the players we have right now can pick up where Paul left off, but that's going to be tough," Harrington said. "You can just go out and replace the highest-awarded player in the history of this program. We're out looking across the countryside for a replacement, but players of Paul's caliber just don't fall into your lap over the summer."
• Harrington is high on Kyle Kubitza to be the power bat to fill Goldschmidt's place next season.
• Texas State isn't as hurt as much by Theriot's departure, yet it will be a sizable hole. Theriot was a stalwart behind the plate and posted a .982 fielding percentage. The Bobcats still have Jordan Kopycinski returning next season.
• "To replace two of your best players is obviously difficult," Harrington said of Goldschmidt and Theriot. "You wish you had them for their senior seasons, since it takes seniors to win championships. Yet, it's a great indicator of your coaching staff and program when you have players picked in the draft."

Goldschmidt and Theriot to sign pro contracts

Texas State baseball fans, get used to seeing different faces at first base as well as behind the plate next season.

Paul Goldschmidt and Ben Theriot will both sign professional contracts and forgo their senior seasons. Goldschmidt will ink a deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks, while Theriot will sign with the Kansas City Royals.

Theriot's exact words were, "I'm doing it." When asked if he knew about Goldschmidt, Theriot replied, "We'll both be signing soon."

Players find out about the draft their own separate ways...

If you think it's pretty cut-and-dry how college baseball players know if they've been picked in the MLB First Year Players Draft, you'd be mistaken.

While some may sit in front of a computer screen all day, that's far from how Paul Goldschmidt, Ben Theriot and Kane Holbrooks found out.

Goldschmidt had watched the first three rounds of the draft Tuesday afternoon, but didn't want to watch any more the next day. He locked himself in his room and heard his father's booming voice saying, "Paul, you just got drafted to the Arizona Diamondbacks."

Two minutes later, Goldschmidt was talking with the regional scout from Arizona, congratulating and welcoming him to the organization.

Theriot, like Goldschmidt watched the first three rounds, but couldn't take it any longer. He left his place in San Marcos Wednesday afternoon to drive back to Houston to be with his family. Theriot was an exit away from home on I-10 when his father informed him he had been picked by the Kansas City Royals.

Holbrooks didn't even know he would be drafted. He knew Goldschmidt and Theriot were picked, but wasn't sure of his own selection.

Holbrooks was getting ready for a fishing trip when he got a call from an unknown number. He said he thought, "It was one of those numbers when they offer you a free vacation. I get plenty of those calls."

It's a good thing Holbrooks answered, since it was the Minnesota Twins, offering him a little bit more money than a vacation would be worth.

Holbrooks will sign with the Twins, but Goldschmidt and Theriot are still undecided.

Kane Holbrooks goes to the Minnesota Twins

Kane Holbrooks was selected in the 21st round by the Minnesota Twins in the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft.

Holbrooks went 10-1 with a 3.29 ERA this season for the Bobcats.

Ben Theriot drafted by the Kansas City Royals

Texas State junior catcher Ben Theriot was drafted by the Kansas City Royals with the 272nd pick in the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft.

It comes as a surprise to many that he was drafted that high. Experts, such as Jim Callis of Baseball America, said he would be a late-round pick.

Theriot joins Paul Goldschmidt as the first two members of the Bobcat baseball team to be drafted.

Paul Goldschmidt drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks

Texas State junior first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 246th pick of the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft. Goldschmidt went to Arizona in the 8th round.

According to Baseball America writer Jim Callis, that's right where Goldschmidt was expected to go. He said guys were "high on Goldschmidt's bat" and he was projected to go between the 6th and 10th rounds.

Be on the look out for quotes from Goldschmidt.

Scouting the 2009 MLB First Year Players Draft

I had a chance to trade a few e-mails with Jim Callis of BaseballAmerica. We discussed the possibility of several Texas State players being selected in the 2009 draft.

He said "guys are high on Goldschmidt's bat" and he's expecting him to "fall in somewhere around the 6th-10th round." Goldschmidt led the Bobcats in home runs and RBIs last season with 18 and 88, respectively.

Callis said Theriot's chances aren't as good, even though he came on strong late in the season. Scouts "aren't as high on Theriot" and expect him to be selected in the "very late rounds."

No mention of Kane Holbrooks, Spenser Dennis or Lance Loftin.

A disappointing end to a good season

• It's tough to put Texas State's 7-4 loss to Army on one entity. Sure, you could blame the bullpen for its second consecutive meltdown, but then the Bobcats' poor defense was off the hook. Well, if you want to put Texas State's lack of fielding on the block, you'll need to add how the Bobcats couldn't hit with runners in scoring position. Texas State left 10 runners on base, seven of which were at second or third base. Bobcat first baseman Paul Goldschmidt said it best during the postgame news conference, "We really didn't deserve to win either of these games, because we didn't play how we have the entire season."
• Texas State starting pitcher Brian Borski was effectively wild Saturday afternoon. He only allowed two runs in 6 1/3 innings pitched. Yet, he walked four and hit three batters.
• Bobcat outfielder Bret Atwood made an amazing grab in the fourth inning. He robbed J.P. Polchinki of extra bases with a sprawling catch. The crowd gave him a short standing ovation and it left the press box speechless.
• Kyle Livingstone mis-bunted a suicide squeeze in the fourth inning which left Jason Martinson high-and-dry at third base.
• Paul Goldschmidt finished 2-for-4 with three runs scored. It was Goldschmidt's fifth game with two doubles this season.
• When asked postgame about his future, Goldschmidt said it's still too early to think about and wanted to reflect on this season before making a decision.
• Goldschmidt was the second-biggest player on the field Saturday afternoon. Army's third baseman Joey Henshaw is 6-foot-6, 250 pounds.

Recapping Texas State vs. Boston College

• Here's the situation: Bottom of the ninth inning, down by one run, no outs, runner at first and you have a hitter with a .406 average at the plate. If you're the head coach, what do you do? Well, if you're Texas State head coach Ty Harrington, you give the bunt sign to the .406 hitter.
• Harrington chose to bunt Spenser Dennis, who was 1-for-3 up to that point with a single and a run scored. The Bobcats' head coach said the decision wasn't easy: "I went back and forth on that in the short time that you got to make that decision. You're home. I looked at it, to be honest with you, as wanting to give a junior (Ben Theriot) and a senior (Lance Loftin) a chance to win the game. Was it the safe thing to do to bunt him over? Yeah, it was probably the most conservative thing to do, but again, I thought Ben and Lance were big-time guys for us and I don't mind putting it in their hands."
• Theriot and Loftin were 3-for-8 combined to that point with an RBI (Loftin) and a strikeout (Loftin). The former laced a ball deep to the warning track which was caught at the wall and Loftin struck out.
• Texas State will play Army tomorrow at noon for a chance to stay in the tournament.
• The Bobcats will start Brian Borski.
• Here are the Daily Record's stories from today's game: Late-inning rally bonks Bobcats and My Two Cents: Bobcats display heart in loss to BC.

A few notes before the Austin Regional

• Texas State held their first practice at UFCU Disch-Falk Field today to get ready for the Austin Regional. The Bobcats kick things off tomorrow against Boston College at 1 p.m.
• Texas State's players looked loose and ready to play. The Bobcats joked around and were locked in at the plate during batting practice.
• The players held a contest to see who the first person would be to belt a batting practice home run. Any guesses on who was victorious? If you thought it would be Paul Goldschmidt, you were incorrect. Lance Loftin put one just next to the scoreboard in right-center field with his second-to-last at-bat.
• Kane Holbrooks is relaxed as can be going into tomorrow's start. Holbrooks, who is 10-1 this season, pitched in a big situation before - the Junior College World Series. I talked to him after the press conference today and he told me, "I think I pitch better with a bigger crowd. I don't want to make myself look bad."
• Goldschmidt continues to not want to take any credit for Texas State's success this season. He was humble during the press conference and gave kudos to each of his teammates for the season. It would be hard not to call him or Holbrooks the team Most Valuable Player this season.
• Bobcats head coach Ty Harrington seems confident in his team's abilities, but didn't give the most-resounding endorsement during the press conference. "We are excited about being here. There's no question about that. We're confident in what we can do. That doesn't mean that we're going to win. Will we be prepared to step into the moment tomorrow, yes. That doesn't mean everything's going to go our way. We just don't know that yet."
• If Texas State wins tomorrow, the team will play the winner of Texas-Army on Saturday at 6 p.m. Should the Bobcats lose to Boston College, they will play the loser of Texas-Army on Saturday at high noon.

Texas State earns a spot in the NCAA Tournament

After putting its hands in the fate of the NCAA, Texas State was rewarded with a trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats will play in the Austin Regional, beginning Friday.

Texas State goes up against Boston College, which earned an at-large bid out of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Eagles finished the regular season 31-23 overall and 13-15 in conference.

Along with Boston College, the Austin Regional features the No. 1 overall seed (Texas) and Army.

The Bobcats play Friday at 1 p.m.

Texas State awaits its NCAA Tournament fate

Since Texas State lost in the Southland Conference championship game, the team will need to rely on its record and strong RPI to gain entry into the NCAA Tournament. The Bobcats posted big wins over Rice and Baylor this season and fought Texas hard in the teams' first meeting.

According to Baseball America, the Web site has Texas State playing in the Austin Regional as a No. 2 seed. The Bobcats would play Missouri State in the first game.

The field of 64 is announced tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. EST.

Texas State thumps No. 12 Northwestern

Here's our story from tonight's game. Texas State really looked good against the Wildcats in the first round of the Waco Regional. The Bobcats walked 11 times, as they took advantage of Lauren Delaney's lack of control.

Texas State plays Baylor tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. and if they win, advance to Sunday's final round. Northwestern and Louisiana-Lafayette each have one loss. One, if not both of those teams will be eliminated tomorrow.

http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/sports/local_story_135205943.html?keyword=secondarystory

Texas State softball to play No. 12 Northwestern

The 2009 NCAA Softball Tournament seedings and host sites were announced Sunday night and Texas State learned it will be playing Northwestern in Waco.

The Wildcats are ranked 12th in the nation and are 31-13. 

If the Bobcats win, they will play the winner of Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Baylor. Game time between Texas State and Northwestern is 5 p.m. Friday night.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=4156925

A few notes...

• The Texas State softball team reached the Southland Conference tournament finals after beating McNeese State 1-0.
• Chandler Hall pitched the complete game, striking out seven while walking two.
• Allyce Rother delivered the big hit, a solo home run in the fifth to score the only run of the game.
• Taylor Hall and Jenna Emery both went 2-for-3, while Ryan Kos and Leah Boatright picked up a hit.
• Texas State plays the winner of UTSA/SHSU vs. McNeese State tomorrow at 1:30 p.m.

Bobcats still look for answers in Austin...

Texas State continued its struggles at Disch-Falk Field in Austin with a 12-2 loss Tuesday night to Texas. The Bobcats traded runs with the ninth-ranked Longhorns in the first two innings, but were no match for Texas' bullpen.

• Bret Atwood, Paul Goldschmidt and Spenser Dennis combined to go 1-for-12 with three stirkeouts and six men left on base. Goldschmidt struck out twice and Atwood went 1-for-5.
• The difference between Texas State's weekend and midweek pitching is astonishing.
• Garrett Carruth, who had a spectacular start against Baylor, fell back to Earth Tuesday night. He was pulled after pitching 3 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on eight hits and striking out two.
• Lance Loftin, Aaron Taylor and Jeff McVaney continue to find themselves at the far end of the bullpen bench when crunch time is near. The trio combined to pitch 2/3 of an inning, walking three and allowing two runs.
• Loftin, Taylor and McVaney also combined to throw 22 balls, compared to 15 strikes.
• The Bobcats have lost 27 of the 36 games played in Austin.

No Bobcats selected in NFL draft

The Southland Conference had four players selected in the NFL Draft this weekend.
Four more went the next day as undrafted free agents — but no Texas State Bobcats.
Cameron Luke and Stan Zwinggi, who dazzled scouts at the Texas State pro day, weren’t drafted, nor signed in the first days of undrafted free agency.
While Luke and Zwinggi weren’t picked, the SLC had four go Sunday afternoon, as Ladarius Webb topped the list.
Webb was selected with the 88th overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens. The cornerback from Nicholls State should help out immediately on special teams.
Rhett Bomar, who many thought would be a solid NFL quarterback, went to the New York Giants with the 151st overall pick.
Bomar will be competing with time behind Eli Manning with David Carr and Andre Woodson.
Two SLC wide receivers went in the sixth round, as Quiten Lawrence was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs (151st) and Dominique Edison went to the Tennessee Titans (206th).
Central Arkansas had two players signed by NFL teams once undrafted free agency began.
Nathan Brown, who many scouts clammored about, went to the Washington Redskins and his familiar target, tight end Marquez Branson will join the Denver Broncos.
McNeese State’s Kyle Link, who played offensive lineman, went to the New York Jets, while cornerback Jeremy Haynes fell into Tennessee’s laps.
There’s still hope for Luke and Zwinggi, as teams will be looking to fill roster spots with mini-camps gearing up.

Updates on former Bobcats in minor leagues...

• Thomas Field (who was drafted last season by the Colorado Rockies) is currently playing for the Asheville Tourists in the South Atlantic League. Field has batted .308 through five games for the low-A team.
• Michael Hart (who was drafted last season by the Oakland A's) is currently playing for the Kane County Cougars. Hart was converted into a reliever and has pitched in two games this season. Hart's thrown 2 1/3 innings and has allowed three runs while walking three.
• Justin Fiske (who was drafted in 2006 by the St. Louis Cardinals) is currently playing for the Springfield Cardinals. Fiske was rocked in his only start this season, allowing seven runs in 5 1/3 innings. Last season, Fiske was one of the top pitchers in the Cardinals' system, going 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA.
• Kyle Anson (who was drafted in 2005 by the New York Yankees) has only appeared in one game for the Trenton Thunder.
• Matt Miller (who was drafted in 2004 by the Colorado Rockies) has reached Triple-A. Miller currently plays for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and is batting .250 through five games. He drove in 20 runs last season in limited action with the team.
  

Some more information on Gough's transfer...

• Gough has received interest from several schools, including North Texas and Central Arkansas.
• He said he might transfer to a Division II program in order to get immediate playing time.
• Gough's departure leaves Texas State with Jonathan Sloan as the only post player with experience in the system. Emmanuel Bidias A' Moute played in 16 games, but only averaged 13 minutes per.

Gough to transfer...

Texas State sophomore forward Ty Gough is transferring.

The 6-foot, 10-inch sophomore from Pharr, notified Bobcats head coach Doug Davalos he will be leaving the program. Gough started 43 games in his two seasons at Texas State.

"I feel that I'm not going to be very successful in this system we run here," Gough said. "Personally, as a player, I can do better in a different system."

Gough made 25 starts are a freshman, averaging 6.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. He set career highs with 19 points and 13 rebounds against Kennesaw State.

After a promising start, Gough regressed in 2008-09, with his averages dropping to 4.8 and 3.9, respectively. Gough, who only started 18 games this season, saw his minutes drop as the season progressed.

Gough will be the third player to leave the program since last season. Tre Nichols and Gordon Taylor quit five games into the 2008-09 season.

For more on this story, check out tomorrow's Daily Record.

End of season recap with Doug Davalos...

I wrapped up the 2008-09 season with Texas State head basketball coach Doug Davalos a few days ago and here are some of the excerpts from our conversation.

On losing four players (three starters) to graduation: "We are losing four kids who are going to be tough to replace. We've had some kids now with program experience who don't need to start fresh. The challenge to them is who's going to pick up the slack. We just need to get some better performances. It's going to be a challenge, but it's time for the people in the program to be leaders."

On why forwards Ty Gough and Jonathan Sloan struggled: "I feel that it's our jobs as coaches to get the most out of the players. The next part is those men becoming men as basketball players, because we're limited by the NCAA with how much we can do as far as skill development. You're not going to be ready if you don't get out there and do stuff on your own."

On why his team has led the nation in fouls the past two seasons: "I really don't know. We're not pressing so much and we're picking up people after free throws. I talked to the head of the officials about it. We were pressing when I first came here because we weren't very talented and it was frustrating. We couldn't not press, because we wanted to establish who we are as a team. It's a stigma that's kind of stuck with us and it's really sad. We've definitely changed our philosophy of how we attack. We're trying to adapt."

On the goal for next season: "(This season) our goal was to get to Katy. I wanted our team to experience that and I wanted us there playing well. The disappointing thing and everyone in our locker room thought we could win the thing. We didn't go in, saying 'Let's just go to the tournament.' If you could see the kids' faces after the game, they weren't saying 'We made it.' They were upset they didn't win the thing. This is what this program should be about. We've made baby steps to progress and we've put ourselves in the tournament. Going back is not an option. The next step in this program is to go to Katy and to expect to win."

More from Texas State pro day...

Eight scouts from NFL teams descended on Bobcat Stadium to take a look at Texas State's seniors from the past football season. The Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints all had representatives present.

Cameron Luke, Stan Zwinggi, Blake Burton, Morris Crosby, Courtney Smith, Michael Rutldege and Jamal Williams all audtioned for the scouts. They were put through the gym portion (standing long jump, bench press, vertical leap) first, followed by the field activities (40-yard dash, pro-agility drill and shuttles).

Luke measured in at 6-foot, 211 pounds, while Zwinggi was measured to be 5-foot-11, 201 pounds, 11 pounds heavier than his playing weight.

Burton topped the charts for bench press, with 25 reps of the 225 lb. weight, while Smith (23 reps) and Zwinggi (18) were close behind. Luke was able to do 17.

Zwinggi recorded one of the tallest vertical leaps, measuring in at 35.5", while Smith was 33.5" and Luke topped 32.5".

Luke, whose main knock was his speed, recorded a 4.57 for his 40-yard dash. Zwinggi, on the other hand, clocked a 4.40.

Scouts from the Texans and Raiders paid close attention to Zwinggi, while a representative from the Eagles spoke at length to Luke.

Texas State pro day start time...

Texas State's pro day has been changed to a 11 a.m. start, and not the 1 or 2 p.m. start as earlier mentioned. It will still be held out at Bobcat Stadium.

Check back in for thoughts following the workouts.

Texas State pro day is March 24

I caught up with Stan Zwinggi the other day and he informed me the Texas State pro day will be held March 24th, at either 1 or 2 p.m.

Zwinggi, Cameron Luke and other seniors from last year's team will be showing off their skill sets to scouts from the NFL.

No idea on what scouts will show, but I will try to get an update soon.

Updated RPI for college baseball...

Texas State is currently ranked 93rd in the nation for RPI. The Bobcats are right behind Toledo, but in front of Utah.

Tonight, Texas State plays TCU, the highest ranked RPI team. The Horned Frogs stand on top of the rankings, above Cal State Fullerton and North Carolina.

Should the Bobcats win tonight, not only will it put the team into the semi-national spotlight, they will also get a huge RPI boost, as well as a vote in the Baseball America poll, possibly.

First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

Bobcats ready for the Longhorns

Here are some excerpts from my interviews with the Texas State baseball team yesterday. The Bobcats host the Texas Longhorns tonight at the newly renovated Bobcat Field. UT is ranked second in the nation by Baseball America.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Texas State head coach Ty Harrington

On the bullpen: “There are other guys who have to help us win. We’re trying to create a staff to win championships and it takes other people to do that and we haven’t accomplished that yet. They’ve got to get better. We need to get in a situation where they are successful and if you look at the schedule, it doesn’t get any easier."

On the lack of solid play at shortstop: "My concern right now is shortstop. We don’t have a definitive shortstop. We’ve been so good there for nine years and this is the first year that it’s been a true struggle.”

On Lance Loftin's struggles (seven errors in seven games): "People think it’s great to be a two-way player, but one gives the way to the other. We tried him at short(stop) the first five games and he's also trying to pitch. We just need to get him back to what he's comfortable doing."

Texas State starting pitcher Zach Tritz

On pitching with the lead: “It really helps when you are away to have a few-run lead before you even start pitching. It changes the whole way you throw to hitters and it gives you confidence."

On the team's chances this season: "If, like you said, everything falls into place, we can have a chance at doing some big things this season. We have the starting pitching to hang with anyone in the nation and an offense that's second-to-none. Once the 'pen gets it going, we'll be fine."

On the lack of solid play at shortstop: “I think we really need to find a solid left side of our infield. That’s our biggest weakness right now. Someone needs to step up soon. Knowing how everybody’s capable of playing, this stuff shouldn’t be happening. It needs to change today, in today’s pratice. It needs to happen tomorrow, for sure.”

Texas State outfielder Bret Atwood

On tonight's game vs. UT: “Nobody’s really scared of UT. We played them in the fall and hung in there with them the whole game. We had a chance to beat them, but now we feel we can actually beat this team. Everybody still has the last game against UT on their minds that was on the team last year in their head, getting no-hit. We’re not going to let that happen again.”

Bobcat basketball controls its own destiny...

By virtue of its 98-63 win Saturday afternoon and McNeese State's loss, Texas State is currently in eighth place in the Southland Conference. The Bobcats are one game up on the Cowboys and Southeastern Louisiana.

Texas State hosts Texas-San Antonio tomorrow night for senior night and wrap up the season in Huntsville against Sam Houston State. If the Bobcats win both games, they will walk into the SLC tournament.

The Roadrunners are 8-6 in the SLC and won their last game. SHSU leads the West Division with a 10-4 record.

Texas State can't afford to slip up, knowing McNeese's schedule is far easier than its own. The Cowboys wrap up with SE Louisiana and Central Arkansas.

If McNeese beats the Lions, it should cancel them out, leaving the Cowboys and the Bobcats to battle for the last spot. If Lamar somehow slips, it will leave three teams vying for two spots.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. tomorrow night.

The fight for the last four spots...

Here are the remaining schedules for teams fighting for the final couple spots in the Southland Conference tournament (in order of standing right now)...

Lamar — @UTSA, @TAMUCC, Nicholls State

Combined record: 25-14

McNeese State — @Nicholls State, SELA, @UCA

Combined record: 15-24

Texas State — Northwestern State, UTSA, @SHSU

Combined record: 20-19

Just by looking at it, McNeese has the easiest road into the tournament, playing teams with a combined record of 15-24, yet, two of its games are on the road. Lamar has the toughest schedule and could lose two out of its last three games. 

So, it puts the pressure on Texas State. The Bobcats should be able to handle Northwestern State at home, but then the true test begins. Texas State will play UTSA and then travel to Huntsville.

The Bobcats just might have another meaningful game against Sam Houston State with its playoff life on the line. Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

Texas State basketball vs. SFA

Both Texas State basketball teams have dates with Stephen F. Austin tonight in pivotal Southland Conference match-ups. The Bobcat men and women team need wins to stay alive in the race for the SLC tourney.

Right now, the Texas State men's team is still in ninth place. The Bobcats are a game behind Lamar by virtue of common opponents and would be on the outside-looking in should the conference tournament begin today.

Texas State plays SFA, who is tied atop the SLC with a 9-3 record. The Lumberjacks are 11-0 at home, so the Bobcats will need to play like they did against Nicholls State last Saturday afternoon.

The Texas State women are in seventh place in the SLC, right above Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The Bobcats are 5-7, while SFA is 8-4. 

The Lady Jacks are currently holding down the fourth seed if the SLC tournament started today. SFA is 4-7 away from home, so Texas State should have a good shot tonight.

This will be the 56th meeting between the women's teams. The Lady Jacks hold a 48-8 advantage.

Current SLC standings (top 8*)

Men

------

SFA 9-3

SHSU 9-3

TAMUCC 9-3

UTA 8-4

Nicholls State 8-4

UTSA 7-5

McNeese State 5-7

Lamar 5-7

Texas State 5-7

Women

----------

UTSA 10-2

UTA 10-2

Lamar 9-3

SFA 8-4

Northwestern State 7-5

Southeastern La. 7-5

Texas State 5-7

TAMUCC 5-7

Vanlandingham to leave Texas State...

Texas State assistant men's basketball coach Russell Vanlandingham will be leaving the program. He accepted a position at Our Lady of the Lakes University as head coach. OLLU plays in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

http://www.ollusa.edu/s/346/ollu.aspx?sid=346&gid=1&pgid=4383

Wrapping up Texas State vs. Texas A&M (softball)

• Texas State is now 3-1 against the Big XII this season.
• The Bobcats have beat Oklahoma State, Texas and now Texas A&M. Texas State used late rallies to get by both the Longhorns and Aggies.
• Chandler Hall, Bobcat starting pitcher, allowed two solo home runs. The first was on a 3-2 count, while the other came on the first pitch of the at-bat. Hall recovered to retire the side both times after the homers.
• Leah Boatright went 3-for-4, after going 3-for-10 at the UH-Crowne Plaza Classic.
• Texas State set an attendance record. 1,353 fans watched the Bobcats beat A&M. Fans were lined up along the fence as it was standing room only.

Texas State softball vs. Texas A&M

Don't look now, but college softball is gearing up. Texas State (5-4) is already nine games into its 2009 season.

Tonight, the Bobcats host Texas A&M in their home opener. Texas State also opens the newly renovated Bobcat Field tonight and is expecting a sizable crowd.

The Bobcats have only won nine game in 62 tries against the Aggies (5-5). Texas A&M comes into the game ranked 19th in the nation and went 1-4 in a recent tournament. The Aggies were ranked fifth, but dropped to 19th from their losses.

Texas State has taken down several giants this season (Texas and Houston) and are 2-1 against the Big XII this season. The Bobcats' offense will need to step up as they are only averaging 3.7 runs per game.

Chandler Hall will most likely get the start for Texas State.

Bobcats continue to slide in RPI...

Even after scoring a huge road win the Texas State men's basketball team continues to drop in recent RPI rankings.

The Bobcats were 281st a week ago and despite hanging close with McNeese State and beating Lamar on the road, they slid to 303rd. There are 341 teams ranked in Division I-A.

Texas State is ranked two spots below Houston Baptist and is second-to-last in the Southland Conference (UCA is 319th).

Current SLC men's basketball standings...

A huge win by Texas State on the road against Lamar put the Bobcats into eighth. If the Southland Conference tournament began right now, Texas State would be invited. The Bobcats have a tough stretch coming up with Nicholls State (Feb. 21) and Stephen F. Austin (Feb. 25).

Sam Houston State 8-2
Texas A&M-CC 8-2
Stephen F. Austin 8-3
Nicholls State 8-3
UTSA 6-4
UTA 6-4
McNeese State 4-6
Texas State 4-7
Lamar 3-7
Southeastern Louisiana 3-7

http://www.southland.org/standings/Standings.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18400&SPID=10825