College Football: Filling out the FCS All-American Ballot

It was surprising not to see either Texas State WR Da'Marcus Griggs or RG DJ Hall on the list but other than that, these lists are stacked.

As of right now, I am finding it tough to vote for several positions but have narrowed down a few.

Running Back — Nate Eachus (Colgate) and Henry Harris (SE Missouri State)

Wide Receiver — Tysson Poots (Southern Utah), Lito Senatus (Western Illinois) and Chris Summers (Liberty)

Place Kicker — Matt Bevins (Liberty)

More as it gets clearer.

OT: Vacation

Just wanted to let everyone know I'll be on vacation today until next Monday. That will explain the lack of updates on this blog during that span. Thanks for reading.

College Football: How Mayforth voted in TSN's final Top 25 ballot (Nov. 21)

Have at it, folks.

1. Eastern Washington

2. Appalachian State

3. Montana State

4. Wofford

5. Delaware

6. William & Mary

7. SE Missouri State

8. Penn

9. Stephen F. Austin

10. South Carolina State

11. Jacksonville State

12. Liberty

13. Bethune-Cookman

14. Jacksonville

15. Dayton

16. Lehigh

17. Western Illinois

18. New Hampshire

19. Cal Poly

20. Montana

21. Georgia Southern

22. Northern Iowa

23. Florida A&M

24. Jackson State

25. Old Dominion

College Football: Scouting the Bearkats

About the School

Official Name: Sam Houston State University
Mascot: Bearkats
Location: Huntsville, Texas
Enrollment: 16,795

About the Team

Head Coach: Willie Fritz
Record: 5-5
Last Game: W, 20-13 at Central Arkansas
Leading Passer: Brian Bell (101-188-4, 1,287, 7 TDs)
Leading Rusher: Tim Flanders (146-824, 11 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Seth Patterson (32-329, 3 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Darnell Taylor (61 tackles)
Upcoming Schedule: Texas State

Let's Go to the Video

College Athletics: Thoughts on Hawaii going to the MWC, Big West

It looks like the WAC is back to Square One.

After adding Texas State and Texas-San Antonio last Thursday, the WAC lost Hawaii to the Mountain West and Big West. The Warriors announced they will leave the WAC to accept an invitation to the MWC (football) and Big West (all other sports).

It was first reported by the Honolulu Star Advertiser. You can read their story by clicking here.

So what does this mean for the WAC and more importantly, Texas State?

The WAC added Texas State and UTSA because it needed a pair of football-playing members and few more major media markets.

Before Hawaii left, the WAC had Idaho, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State, San Jose State, Utah State and the Warriors as its members. Adding the Bobcats and Roadrunners brought that total to eight, two over the minimum.

With Hawaii leaving, the WAC still has seven football-playing members, but for how long? WAC Commissioner Karl Benson can't think Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State or Utah State are going to stick around for too much longer without some kind of appeasement.

Benson already saw the WAC's longest-standing member leave (Hawaii), so what does that have to say about the overall feeling about the WAC staying intact?

If Benson can't find another school and one of the remaining programs gets happy feet, the Bobcats are going to be left out to dry.

College Athletics: Benson visits Texas State

Here is the audio from the press conference WAC Commissioner Karl Benson held today with members of the media.

Click to download

College Football: My ballot

Have at it.

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

College Football: Polling, polling, polling

Here's a preview of my ballot for the TSN Top 25:

1. Delaware
2. Appalachian State
3. Eastern Washington
4. Jacksonville State
5. Bethune-Cookman
6. Montana State
7. SE Missouri State
8. South Carolina State
9. Wofford
10. Penn

Check back in tomorrow for the rest.

Random Musings: My appearance on Bobcat Update

College Basketball: First impressions

Texas State scored a sweep Friday night as the women knocked off East Texas Baptist University while the men dropped Sul Ross State.

Both games weren't very competitive, as the Bobcats won handily.

For the women, turnovers continue to be a problem as they coughed it up 26 times. Sophomore guard Diamond Ford had seven turnovers, but that is bound to happen to a leading scorer.

For the men, J.B. Conley and Tony Bishop led the way. Conley, who put on 15 pounds of muscle in the offseason, scored 19 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Bishop posted a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds).

College Football: Scouting the Cowboys

About the School

Official Name: McNeese State University
Mascot: Cowboys
Location: Lake Charles, La.
Enrollment: 8,246

About the Team

Head Coach: Matt Viator
Record: 5-4
Last Game: W, 32-28 at Sam Houston State
Leading Passer: Jacob Bower (89-152, 1216, 5)
Leading Rusher: Andre Anderson (130-625, 4)
Leading Receiver: Corday Clark (27-221, 1)
Leading Tackler: Deron Minor (83 tackles)
Upcoming Schedule: Texas State, @UCA

Let's Go to the Video

College Football: Today is the day things get WAC-ky

Folks, the time has finally come for Texas State to take its place in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Today, the Bobcats will announce they will accept the Western Athletic Conference's invitation to join the conference as a full-fledged member in 2012.

This page will be updated throughout the day with quotes and tidbits.

• Montana says 'no thanks' to WAC — CFT
• WAC set to invite Texas State — SMDR
• The Southland Conference will issue a statement later this afternoon. SLC Commissioner Tom Burnett has been in meetings all day. UPDATE: Here is the statement.
• Texas State Director of Athletics Dr. Larry Teis said the feeling around the athletic department is "...unbelievable. I met with all the head coaches this morning. It’s funny, Karen Chisum [head volleyball coach] was crying. She’s been here so long and to see the transition. Ricci Woodard [head softball coach] was kind of the same way. They and Ty Harrington [head baseball coach] were here when we talked about it last time. The coaches were all emotional."
  

College Football: Rounding up the weekly press conferences (McNeese State week)

McNeese State head coach Matt Viator

• Said Texas State is going to be a challenge to his team because the Bobcats have won the last two times the teams have met in Lake Charles, La.
• Said, "Any time you beat Southern Utah, Cal Poly and Stephen F. Austin in the same season, you have a talented football team."
• Said he is proud of the way his defense has worked to improve third-down efficiency.
• Said while his team is down to one running back (Andre Anderson), he is proud of how Anderson has stepped up during the last few games.

Texas State head coach Brad Wright

• Said it doesn't matter much that they beat McNeese State on the road in 2008 because that was 2008. This is a brand new season.
• Not much to report from Wright's press conference today.

Texas State defensive coordinator Fred Bleil

• Said he never witnessed a game where a team scored on its first six possessions.
• Said it all comes down to him because his defense couldn't tackle last Saturday.
• Said in order to win these last two games, his defense will need to tackle and get back to the basics to force turnovers, something they've done in the past
  

College Football: How Mayforth voted in this week's TSN Top 25 Poll (Week 10)

Have at it.

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

College Football: A preview of how Mayforth voted

There was a lot of movement in the Top 25 this week as Appalachian State and Jacksonville State lost. I'm not sure how many people saw that coming.

Here's a look at my Top 10 that I included on my weekly TSN Top 25 ballot.

1. William & Mary
2. Delaware
3. Eastern Washington
4. Wofford
5. SE Missouri State
6. Liberty
7. Jacksonville State
8. Appalachian State
9. Montana State
10. Bethune-Cookman

College Football: Recapping Texas State's 49-17 loss to UCA

Well, the Bobcats fell to 1-5 this season in Southland Conference play. Texas State looked out of sorts in the first, second and fourth quarters against Central Arkansas and never stood a chance in a 49-17 loss.

The Bobcats went into halftime down 42-3 and the Bears had several opportunities to add points in the second half but didn't capitalize. In other words, it could have been a lot worse.

Here are some quotes from the post-game press conference with Texas State head coach Brad Wright, senior linebacker Marcus Clark and senior running back Karrington Bush.

Wright

His opening statement: "As a coach, after a game like we just played last week, you can hardly wait to get out and practice to keep it going. I don’t have and I don’t think these guys have an answer as to why today’s first half happened. We had a good week of practice and a good plan. We just didn’t execute or make plays."

On how UCA was able to move the ball so well: "A lot of it had to be us. I remember seeing and I’m not going to name names, but one of our linebackers fall off an 150-pound wide receiver like he was Earl Campbell. It’s tough to play defense if you can’t tackle."

Clark

On what the difference was between the first and second half for the defense: "Just because you take up a block doesn’t mean anything. We were fighting off blocks better in the second half. We just played better in the second half."

Bush

On what it feels like to lose his final home game: "We’re pretty upset. Losing that bad especially in our last home game. There’s no feeling that can get it all better."

College Football: Scouting the Bears

About the School

Official Name: University of Central Arkansas
Nickname: Bears/Sugar Bears
Location: Conway, Ark.
Enrollment: 11,758

About the Team

Head Coach: Clint Conque
Record: 5-3
Last Game: W, 30-23 vs. SE Louisiana
Leading Passer: Nathan Dick (176-270-5, 1171, 5 TDs)
Leading Rusher: Terence Bobo (60-272, 5 TDs)
Leading Receiver: Kenneth Robey (54-653, 5 TDs)
Leading Tackler: Frank Newsome (69 tackles)
Upcoming Schedule: @Texas State, Sam Houston State

Let's Go to the Video

College Football: Talking with Marcus Clark

Marcus Clark UCA by smdrtyler

College Football: There's still a way

Whether you can believe it or not, there is still a chance for Texas State to win at least a share of the Southland Conference championship. Sure it's a little bit smaller than a grain of salt, but it's possible.

Here's how:

These are the current standings

Stephen F. Austin — 3-1
McNeese State — 3-1
Northwestern State — 3-1
Sam Houston State — 2-2
Central Arkansas — 2-2
SE Louisiana — 1-3
Nicholls State — 1-3
Texas State — 1-3

Here are this week's games:

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

In order to get the ball rolling, the Bobcats need every underdog to win. If that happens, here would be the standings:

Stephen F. Austin — 3-2
McNeese State — 3-2
Northwestern State — 3-2
Sam Houston State — 3-2
SE Louisiana — 2-3
Nicholls State — 2-3
Texas State — 2-3
Central Arkansas — 2-3

Then here are the following week's games:

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

Suppose again all of the underdogs — and Texas State — win.

Stephen F. Austin — 3-3
McNeese State — 3-3
Northwestern State — 3-3
Sam Houston State — 3-3
SE Louisiana — 3-3
Nicholls State — 3-3
Texas State — 3-3
Central Arkansas — 3-3

Then here are the final games of the regular season:

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

Suppose everything keeps falling Texas State's way but Stephen F. Austin beats Northwestern State.

Nicholls State — 4-3
Stephen F. Austin — 4-3
Texas State — 4-3
Central Arkansas — 4-3
Sam Houston State — 3-4
McNeese State — 3-4
Northwestern State — 3-4
SE Louisiana — 3-4

Texas State would earn a share of the title but couldn't advance to the playoffs. It would be a coin flip between Central Arkansas and Nicholls State but I'd venture to say Central Arkansas would advance because they are the furthest removed from making the playoffs.

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 — 3-1
McNeese State — 3-1
Northwestern State — 3-1
Sam Houston State — 2-2
Central Arkansas — 2-2
SE Louisiana — 1-3
Nicholls State — 1-3
Texas State — 1-3

Here are this week's games:

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

College Football: Rounding up the weekly press conferences

Central Arkansas head coach Clint Conque

• Said his team just got done with a physical game with Southeastern Louisiana and will need to heal up heading into Saturday against Texas State
• Had nothing but positive things to say about Bobcats quarterback Tim Hawkins
• Said Hawkins, "...is a good-looking young man that you're not going to be able to knock down without gang tackling him."

Texas State head coach Brad Wright

• Said he was pleased with how his team weathered the storm against Stephen F. Austin and fought back when it mattered
• Said the defense kept them in the game while the offense finally learned how to get into the end zone
• Mentioned that the Tim Hawkins people saw at Stephen F. Austin was the Tim Hawkins the coaches saw during spring practice
• Said the kicking game is a sore spot and joked that they'll be holding open tryouts Tuesday afternoon at practice
  

College Football: How Mayforth voted in the most recent TSN Top 25 (Week 8)

Sorry I didn't post this earlier, but have at it.

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