Recapping the Weekend

• Texas State scored 27 unanswered points to knock off No. 3 Stephen F. Austin on the road. The Bobcats were led by quarterback Tim Hawkins, who accounted for 315 yards of total offense and three touchdowns.
• Texas State hosted its first men's basketball scrimmage of the 2010-11 season as it defeat St. Edward's 84-66. Four Bobcats scored 10 or more points, led by Cameron Johnson's 15. Jonathan Sloan scored 13 points and grabbed nine rebounds.
  

College Football: Scouting SFA

About the School

Official Name: Stephen F. Austin University
Nickname: Lumberjacks
Location: Nacogdoches, TX
Enrollment: 12,845

About the Team

Head Coach: J.C. Harper
Record: 6-1
Last Game: W, 31-28 vs. Sam Houston State
Leading Passer: QB Jeremy Moses (194-316, 2,283, 20 TDs)
Leading Rusher: RB Romont Hamilton (77-328, 4 TD)
Leading Receiver: WR Graly Crawford (46-553, 3 TD)
Leading Tackler: LB Jabara Williams (71 tackles, 30 solo)
Upcoming Schedule: Texas State, @Nicholls State

Let's Go to the Video

College Football: Talking with Texas State LBs Joplo Bartu and Marcus Clark

Bartu and Clark by smdrtyler

College Football: A weekly look at the SLC standings

Here are the current standings in the Southland Conference through three conference games...

*Stephen F. Austin — 3-0
#Sam Houston State — 2-1
#McNeese State — 2-1
#Northwestern State — 2-1
()SE Louisiana — 1-2
()Central Arkansas — 1-2
()Nicholls State — 1-2
^Texas State — 0-3

Here are this week's games:

Texas State at Stephen F. Austin
SE Louisiana at Central Arkansas (SLC TV)
Sam Houston State at Northwestern State
Nicholls State at McNeese State

Key:

* — In the driver's seat
# — Still in the hunt
() — Need a lot of help
^ — All but eliminated from title picture

College Football: Talking with Texas State head coach Brad Wright (10-26-10)

Listen to what Texas State head coach Brad Wright had to say about true freshman quarterback Tyler Arndt's injury and what redshirt sophomore Tim Hawkins will bring to the offense.

Brad Wright Tyler Arndt by smdrtyler

College Football: Arndt done for season

Texas State's disappointing season took another turn for the worse Sunday afternoon.

The Bobcats learned true freshman quarterback Tyler Arndt, who limped off the field after Saturday's game with Northwestern State, tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and will be out for the season. Arndt sustained the injury when he planted his right foot to turn the corner against the Demons on a run late in the fourth quarter.

Texas State will now turn to redshirt sophomore Tim Hawkins to lead the offense. In five games this season, Hawkins has completed 9.1 percent of his passes for 11 yards and two interceptions.

The Bobcats travel to No. 4 Stephen F. Austin this Saturday.

For more, be sure to check out tomorrow's print edition of the Daily Record.

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the Oct. 25th version of TSN's Top 25

1. Jacksonville State
2. Appalachian State
3. William & Mary
4. Delaware
5. Stephen F. Austin
6. Villanova
7. Eastern Washington
8. Wofford
9. New Hampshire
10. Liberty
11. SE Missouri State
12. Montana
13. Montana State
14. Richmond
15. Bethune-Cookman
16. South Carolina State
17. Penn
18. Northern Iowa
19. James Madison
20. Massachusetts
21. Jacksonville
22. Robert Morris
23. Cal Poly
24. Chattanooga
25. Grambling State

College Football: A lot of movement in my TSN Top 25 ballot this week

There was a new No. 1 team on my ballot this week after Delaware fell to William & Mary by a point.

It's not Appalachian State. Nor is it William & Mary.

Ladies and gentlemen, say 'Hello,' to the new No. 1 team, Jacksonville State.

Appalachian State stays at No. 2 with William & Mary creeping its way up to No. 3. The Blue Hens, who have one of the toughest schedules in the FCS, dropped to No. 4 while Stephen F. Austin rounds out the Top 5.

To see the rest of the poll, check back in tomorrow.

College Football: Recapping the Bobcats' 16-3 loss Saturday against Northwestern State

Not much to say about Texas State falling at home Saturday afternoon to Northwestern State. In short...

• The Bobcats' offense looked awful
• Texas State's defense came to play
• Homecoming brought out the largest crowd of the season (14,008)
  

Let's go to the audio from the post-game press conference...

NSU post game by smdrtyler

College Football: Scouting the Demons

About the School

Official Name: Northwestern State University
Nickname: Demons
Location: Natchitoches, La.
Enrollment: 9,111

About the Team

Head Coach: Bradley Dale Peveto
Record: 2-4
Last Game: W, 24-19 at No. 22 UCA
Leading Passer: QB Paul Harris (80-140-5, 928 yards, 5 TDs)
Leading Rusher: RB Sterling Endsley (64-218, 1 TD)
Leading Receiver: WR Bradley Brown (29-302, 1 TD)
Leading Tackler: LB Derek Rose (75 tackles, 51 solo)
Upcoming Schedule: @Texas State, Sam Houston State

Let's Go to the Video

Downfall: NSU Football Parody from Jeff Hanel on Vimeo.

College Football: Check out what you missed during an abbreviated Bobcat Live Chat

College Football: Current standings the SLC

Here are the current standings in the Southland Conference:

Stephen F. Austin — 2-0
Sam Houston State — 2-0
McNeese State — 1-1
Nicholls State – 1-1
Northwestern State — 1-1
SE Louisiana — 1-1
Central Arkansas — 0-2
Texas State — 0-2

Here are this week's games:

Northwestern State at Texas State
Stephen F. Austin vs. Sam Houston State
Central Arkansas at Nicholls State
McNeese State at SE Louisiana

College Football: Rounding up the weekly press conferences (color coded)

Northwestern State head coach Bradley Dale Peveto

• Peveto expressed concern about slowing down Karrington Bush and Dexter Imade. Since both didn't play the last time the Demons and Texas State met, Peveto said he is doing extra leg work in compiling game film.
• Peveto said his team desperately needed its recent bye week to recover from bumps and bruises suffered in its win against Central Arkansas and to get some extra time in the classroom because of midterm exams.
• Peveto had nothing but positive things to say about Texas State true freshman QB Tyler Arndt, redshirt freshman NG Prestin Brown and the Bobcats' return game.

Texas State head coach Brad Wright

• Wright said his team needs to get back to the basics and focus on playing disciplined football once again.
• Wright said special teams are the biggest concern right now but there haven't been any discussions as to replacing sophomore kicker Justin Garelick. Said Wright, "He's the best one we've got."
• Wright and Garelick are split on why he has struggled but both believe it's something to do with his mechanics.

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil

• Bleil said his defense played well last Saturday minus the final two minutes of regulation and all four overtimes.
• Bleil said he doesn't know what's gone wrong with the goal-line defense but there will be some changes to the defensive front this week. Texas State has allowed opponents to score 81 percent of their possessions inside the red zone.
• Bleil said he was a bit timid to call blitzes last Saturday because of how bad the Bobcats were burned against Southeastern Louisiana.
  

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the Oct. 18th version of the TSN Top 25 Poll

1. Delaware
2. Appalachian St.
3. Jacksonville St.
4. William & Mary
5. Stephen F. Austin
6. Villanova
7. Eastern Washington
8. Liberty
9. Wofford
10. New Hampshire
11. James Madison
12. Massachusetts
13. SE Missouri St.
14. Montana St.
15. Richmond
16. Montana
17. South Carolina St.
18. Bethune-Cookman
19. Penn
20. Robert Morris
21. Dayton
22. Western Illinois
23. Jacksonville
24. Furman
25. Northern Arizona

College Football: A preview of how Mayforth voted in the newest TSN Top 25 Poll

For the second consecutive week, there hasn't been a change in the Top 5 as Delaware (No. 1), Appalachian State (No. 2), Jacksonville State (No. 3), William & Mary (No. 4) and Stephen F. Austin (No. 5) hold their spots.

With James Madison, Massachusetts, Montana State and South Carolina State all losing Saturday, it shook up the rest of the Top 10.

Villanova (N0. 6) climbed four spots while Eastern Washington (No. 7), Liberty (No. 8), Wofford (No. 9) and New Hampshire (No. 10) all claimed spots among the nation's best.

To see the rest of the ballot, check back in tomorrow.

College Football: Recapping the Bobcats' 47-45 loss to Nicholls State (10-16-10)

• Texas State lost in the "Battle for the Paddle" series for the first time in three seasons. The Bobcats only held three leads in the course of the game that spanned four quarters and four overtime periods.
• After struggling to run the ball against Southeastern Louisiana last week, Texas State couldn't get any traction Saturday night. The Bobcats rushed for 17 yards on 14 carries in the first half and finished with 89 on 38.
• Texas State couldn't get any push off the line because of the ineffectiveness of its tackles. Both Michael Chambers and Jason Hannan were abused by the Nicholls State defensive ends and linebackers. Chambers and Hannan also each allowed a sack in the first half.
• Not all was bad for the Bobcats as true freshman quarterback Tyler Arndt sliced apart the Colonels' secondary for 348 yards and four touchdowns. Arndt hooked up with Da'Marcus Griggs 11 times for 205 yards and a pair of scores.
• Darryl Morris led Texas State with seven tackles while three different Bobcats (Prestin Brown, Jeff Clermond and Sam Pier) recorded two or more tackles behind the line of scrimmage.
  

College Football: Talking paddles with Texas State senior linebacker Marcus Clark

Click below to listen to what Texas State senior linebacker Marcus Clark had to say about the "Battle for the Paddle" and other assorted topics. It was a bit windy out at practice Wednesday afternoon.

Marcus Clark Nicholls by smdrtyler

College Football: See what you missed during the Bobcat Live Chat (10-14-10)

College Football: Scouting Nicholls State

About the School

Official Name: Nicholls State University
Nickname: Colonels
Location: Thibodaux, Louisiana
Enrollment: 7,181

About the Team

Head Coach: Charlie Stubbs
Record: 1-4
Last Game: L, 7-26 to Sam Houston State
Leading Passer: LaQuint Caston (46-98, 667, 4:6)
Leading Rusher: Jesse Turner (60-449, 6 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Jesse Turner (10-211, 1 TD)
Leading Tackler: Tabarri Hicks (41 tackles, 22 solo)
Upcoming Schedule: @Texas State, vs. UCA, @McNeese

Let's Go to the Video

College Football: Talking with Texas State CB Drenard Williams

Everyone knows Texas State didn't have its best game defensively last Saturday against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Bobcats allowed 49 points and Lions QB Tyler Beatty threw for 368 yards and five touchdowns. Three of Beatty's touchdowns went to Simmie Yarborough while two others settled in the hands of Brandon Collins and Zeke Jones.

In speaking with coaches and players, the common theme revolved around neither being mentally ready for the task at hand.

Here is what Texas State senior defensive back Drenard Williams had to say about the loss...

Drenard Williams SLU by smdrtyler

College Football: Notes from conversations with Texas State's Fred Bleil and Slade Nagle

Spoke with Texas State Defensive Coordinator Fred Bleil and Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Slade Nagle following the weekly media luncheon with Head Coach Brad Wright.

Here is a bit of what Bleil and Nagle had to say...

• Bleil on the game — "There were six or seven critical breakdowns that allowed [Southeastern Louisiana] to make some big plays."
• Bleil on what happened from the week of practice to Saturday — "We didn't carry over what we learned in practice and as a coach, I need to do a better job of helping that transition."
• Bleil on the play of the secondary — "It wasn't where we expect it or needed it to be."
• Nagle on why the offense struggled to move the ball in the second half — "We got a bit predictable in our play-calling. When you fall behind you want to get back into it and Southeastern Louisiana keyed on it and made us pay."

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the Oct. 11th version of TSN's Top 25 Poll

1. Delaware
2. Appalachian State
3. Jacksonville State
4. William & Mary
5. Stephen F. Austin
6. James Madison
7. Massachusetts
8. South Carolina State
9. Montana State
10. Villanova
11. Eastern Washington
12. Cal Poly
13. Liberty
14. North Dakota State
15. Wofford
16. Southern Illinois
17. Montana
18. SE Missouri State
19. Penn
20. New Hampshire
21. Robert Morris
22. Dayton
23. Jacksonville
24. Furman
25. Western Illinois

College Football: A preview of how Mayforth voted in the most-recent TSN Top 25 Poll...

No changes in the Top 5 this week...

1. Delaware
2. Appalachian State
3. Jacksonville State
4. William & Mary
5. Stephen F. Austin

A bit of a shake up in the 10-15 range though...

10. Villanova
11. Eastern Washington
12. Cal Poly
13. Liberty
14. North Dakota State
15. Wofford

To see the rest, check back in tomorrow.

College Football: Does Texas State deserve to be ranked following its 49-24 loss to SLU?

College Football: The last time the Bobcats and Lions squared off (10-10-09)

Box Score — Southeastern Louisiana 51, Texas State 50 (OT)

Fan reactions (via Twitter)...

@aamcneil48MOH — "My girlfriend's folks were with us at the game. I believe [Justin Garelick] had already missed an extra point earlier in the game and when Texas State lined up to kick that fateful extra point, he says 'They should just go for two. He's gonna miss it again.' And then he did. I have never disliked my girlfriend's dad more than at that moment."

@JohnMcElfresh — "NO!"

@broncohighway — "Not sure you can print any of [mine]."

College Football: A few interviews with members of the Texas State football team

Texas State Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Slade Nagle talks about true freshman QB Tyler Arndt's progression...

Nagle by Tyler Mayforth


Texas State redshirt freshman Dexter Imade on going up against Southeastern Louisiana's tough run defense...

Imade by Tyler Mayforth

College Football: Garelick wants retribution from last season's game against Southeastern

Chances are — if you're a Texas State football fan — you remember last year's game against Southeastern Louisiana.

The Bobcats took a 24-point lead with 11 minutes, 44 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter but soon collapsed. Texas State squandered the advantage and allowed the Lions to send the game into overtime. Click here for the box score.

Once in the extra frame Southeastern Louisiana struck first, leaving the game in the hands of the Bobcats' offense. Texas State scored the soon-to-be game-tying touchdown but then-freshman kicker Justin Garelick bounced the ensuing extra point off the upright.

While fans were in shock for the next week, Garelick didn't take too long to rebound. Garelick got it out of his system the next Tuesday at practice (converted 30 extra-point attempts) and then went on to earn Southland Conference Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Don't think Garelick forgot last year's game though. He's ready for retribution.

Garelick SLU by Tyler Mayforth

College Football: Quotes and such from Tuesday's press conferences

Southeastern Louisiana head coach Mike Lucas

• On how many times he watched the game tape from the Lions' 51-50 win last year — "We definitely showed it a lot during recruiting."
• On how pre-existing injuries might hurt his team this Saturday — "We need to get some key guys back or it won't be very competitive."
• In his opening statement — "When we held our meetings on Sunday, we showed our guys the tape of [Justin Garelick's] extra point hitting the upright last year and us running on their field. We told them, 'You can bet [Texas State head coach] Brad Wright is showing his team the same thing to get them fired up.'"

Texas State head coach Brad Wright

• On the use of last year's game tape to fire up his team — "I haven't showed them yet and probably won't for a while. There's no sense in getting them fired up to have their best performance of the week on Tuesday or Thursday."
• On what his team learned from last year's collapse — "After that loss we had the second-best record in the Southland Conference. We learned that we needed to play hard for all four quarters in order to be successful in this league."
• On what he expects out of Southeastern Louisiana — "What we're going to see is a very disciplined football team. Coach Lucas and his staff do a great job down there getting their young men ready to play. They like to run a lot of different sets on both offense and defense and have talent on both sides of the ball."

Texas State Assistant Head Coach/Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Ben Norton

• On Southeastern Louisiana head coach Mike Lucas — "I worked with him for four years at Sam Houston State and believe me, he's a defensive mastermind. He's like the guy from 'A Beautiful Mind.' He'll draw up 10,000 plays for us and try to work them all in the game somehow."
  

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the Oct. 4th TSN Top 25 Poll

1. Delaware
2. Appalachian State
3. Jacksonville State
4. William & Mary
5. Stephen F. Austin
6. James Madison
7. Massachusetts
8. South Carolina State
9. Montana State
10. Villanova
11. Richmond
12. Northern Iowa
13. Eastern Washington
14. Cal Poly
15. Texas State
16. Georgia Southern
17. South Dakota
18. Liberty
19. Southern Illinois
20. Montana
21. Central Arkansas
22. Elon
23. North Dakota State
24. SE Missouri State
25. Western Illinois

College Football: A preview of how Mayforth voted in the Oct. 4th TSN Top 25

Pretty simple to rearrange the Top 5 this week.

1. Delaware -- Undefeated, beat JMU without Pat Devlin
2. App. St. -- Couldn't move the Mountaineers up or down
3. Jacksonville St. -- Thwarting upset bids left and right
4. William & Mary -- Second-best team in a tough conference
5. Stephen F. Austin -- Can't move them up any further

What are you doing during the off-week?