Friday, December 31, 2010

College Football: Coaching Search Update (Part 6) — Finalists Announced

How about some finalists?

Spoke to a few sources and Texas State narrowed down its list of potential replacements for former head coach Brad Wright. The list includes former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster, Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright, former Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione and San Diego State defensive coordinator Rocky Long.

It looks as if Parker Executive Search gave Texas State one potential candidate other than the ones the Bobcats already had (Long).

All of the other names have been thrown around and shouldn't come as a surprise. More on this as it develops.

Thursday, December 30, 2010

College Football: Coaching Search Update (Part 6) — Decision Day is Near

Talked to a well-placed source tonight and this is what was relayed to me:
  • Texas State and Parker Executive Search will narrow down its list by tomorrow to include finalists. Names of candidates or finalists were not given.
  • Finalists aren't expected to come to San Marcos for an on-campus visit.
  • As of right now, Texas' search for assistant coaches will not affect the Bobcats' search for a head coach.
  • Players at Texas State will hold a players' only meeting Sunday to discuss what is happening with the coaching search as well as the future of the program.

College Athletics: Ballot for Daily Record Bobcat Athletes of the Year

Here are the nominations for the Daily Record's Bobcat Athletes of the Year. Winners to be announced Sunday.

Daily Record Male Athlete of the Year
  • Da'Marcus Griggs — Football
  • Cameron Johnson — Basketball
  • Kyle Livingstone — Baseball
  • Carson Smith — Baseball
Daily Record Female Athlete of the Year
  • Britney Curry — Soccer
  • Diamond Ford — Basketball
  • Chandler Hall — Softball
  • Krista Puisite — Golf
Daily Record Newcomer of the Year
  • Preslie Alexander — Volleyball
  • Tyler Arndt — Football
  • Diamond Ford — Basketball
  • Anna Hernandez — Softball
Who do you think should win?

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

College Football: Coaching Search Update (Part 5) — Special B.O.R. Meeting

It's been 36 days since Texas State fired Brad Wright as head coach of the football team. Until this point, little has been known other than the hiring of a search firm (Parker Executive Search) to lead the quest.

Well, it seems as if there is a little bit more going on behind the scenes.

Several sources have confirmed that the Texas State University System Board of Regents called a special meeting for Jan. 3. This is big for several reasons:
  • It's the first Monday of the new year and Texas State Director of Athletics Dr. Larry Teis said he wouldn't have a head coach on the ground until the first week of 2011.
  • Parker Executive Search's office is closed until Jan. 3.
  • The Board of Regents meets on special occasions when it pertains to athletics to approve potential hirings as well as salaries, among other things.
More news as it becomes available.

College Basketball: AJ Stewart dismissed from team

Texas State head coach Doug Davalos confirmed Tuesday afternoon that former Kentucky transfer AJ Stewart has been dismissed from the team.

In nine games with the Bobcats, Stewart averaged 9.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Stewart leads Texas State with 13 blocks.

Rumors circulated for a while about the status of Stewart but Davalos said the 6-foot, 8-inch forward didn't travel with the team to North Texas or CancĂșn.

For more, check out Wednesday's print edition of the Daily Record.

You can read more about Stewart by clicking here: Stewart no longer with Bobcats

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas

From the Daily Record to our readers, Merry Christmas.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

College Football: Coaching Search Update (Part 4)

  • Sorry for the lack of updates, we've been quite busy at the office with the holidays approaching.
  • Texas State did hire a search firm — Parker Executive Search — to help spearhead the search for a new head football coach.
  • Parker Executive Search is based out of Atlanta, Georgia, and has been used by several big-time universities in finding head basketball and football coaches as well as athletic directors.
  • Calls to Parker Executive Search have gone unanswered.
  • Otherwise, there isn't much news to report but it should heat up soon.

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Friday, December 17, 2010

College Football: More about the search firm

Here is part of our story in today's Daily Record:

Parker Executive Search is executive search firm based in Atlanta, Ga. The company began offering its services in 1984.

Along with helping Texas State locate a new head coach, Parker Executive Search has aided several other searches. Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee State and the University of Nebraska have all used Parker’s services in naming a new head football coach.

Parker Executive Search isn’t limited to football as its also worked its magic for colleges in their searches for athletic directors and head basketball coaches.

“The University’s goal is to find the right coach for Texas State and to name that coach as soon as possible after the first of the year to maximize that coach’s opportunity for successfully completing the recruiting process,” the release said.


You can read the rest if you click here.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

College Football: Another statement from Texas State about coaching search

Here is an update on the coaching search from the Texas State athletic department:

Texas State University has engaged the services of Parker Executive Search to lead the search for a new Head Football Coach. The University is sharing the names of any candidates already identified with the search firm for consideration along with others identified by the firm. Several members of the President’s Cabinet and a faculty representative are serving as a search committee to follow-up on recommendation provided by the search firm.

Texas State continues football recruiting activities, and assistant coaches, including the Recruiting Coordinator, are actively working with high school coaches and potential recruits as permitted in NCAA regulations. Under these regulations, December 20th-January 3rd is a “dead period” where communication between coaches and prospects must be limited to phone calls. The University’s goal is to find the right coach for Texas State and to name that coach as soon as possible after the first of the year to maximize that coach’s opportunity for successfully completing the recruiting process. Several people are prepared to work over the holidays as necessary to move this process forward.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

College Football: DJ Hall named FCS All American

The Associated Press recently released its FCS All Americans and Texas State offensive lineman DJ Hall found his way on the list. Hall was named to the third team.

"It means a lot to me," Hall said of being named an All American. "I worked hard this year to stay sound in my technique."

Hall was the only Bobcat on the list while Stephen F. Austin landed four, including quarterback Jeremy Moses and wide receiver/returner Grayln Crawford on the first team.

For more check out Thursday's print edition of the Daily Record.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

College Football: Coaching Search Update (Part 3)

  • Heard grumblings of a few names from a source. Wouldn't give me absolute specifics, but said these coaches are coordinators at several high-profile BCS programs.
  • Texas State president Dr. Denise M. Trauth and Dr. Larry Teis will meet tomorrow afternoon to discuss the coaching search.
  • Those coaches still at Texas State are out recruiting for the 2011 season and beyond.

College Football: Coaching Poll (No. 4)

Here is the fourth poll about the Texas State coaching search...



Sunday, December 12, 2010

College Football: 2011 schedule beginning to take shape

Sept. 3 — at Texas Tech
Sept. 10 — at Wyoming
Sept. 17 —
Sept. 24 — Stephen F. Austin
Oct. 1 —
Oct. 8 —
Oct. 15 — Lamar
Oct. 22 — Southeastern Louisiana
Oct. 29 —
Nov. 5 —
Nov. 12 — at Central Arkansas
Nov. 19 — Sam Houston State

Texas State will most likely have an off week after the Wyoming game to rest up for the extended Southland Conference schedule OR the Bobcats could schedule the FCS game for Sept. 17 (possibly Montana State?) and take off Oct. 1.

Games to still go in the schedule: at Nicholls State, McNeese State, at Northwestern State.

Game still in the works: FCS team to bring total to 11.

Here is a list of open dates in the FCS updated periodically but the last update was in February — Click here

Update: Texas State will most likely play at Central Arkansas next year since the Bears traveled to San Marcos in 2010 ... The Bobcats will most likely play McNeese State on Nov. 5 with the game at Northwestern State the previous week.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

College Football: Coaching Poll (No. 3)

Time for the third installment in the future Texas State head football coach poll...


Thursday, December 9, 2010

College Football: Some numbers for your perusal

  • $450,000 — Largest remaining salary in WAC (La. Tech)
  • $352,400 — Smallest remaining salary in WAC (Utah St.)
  • $200,000 — Brad Wright's salary with compensations
  • 55 — Days until National Signing Day
  • 17 — Days since Wright was fired
  • 3 — Serious candidates mentioned for the job

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

College Football: Coaching Poll (No. 2)

Here is the second poll in the series of polls about the new head coach for the Texas State football team.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

College Football: Statement from Teis

In Teis' own words: "The job is still posted and a search firm will not be hired until next week. I have made some phone calls to see who is really interested. Yes, we have some strong candidates who have all asked not to be identified, and I will honor their request. We will not have someone on the ground in San Marcos until the first week in January."

College Football: Texas State inks home-and-home with Navy, Wyoming

From Texas State...

Texas State athletic director Larry Teis announced that Texas State has agreed to play a home and home football series with the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Wyoming from the Mountain West Conference.

The Bobcats will face the Midshipmen on Nov. 17, 2012 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., and on Sept. 19, 2015 at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos.

In addition, Texas State will play a pair of games against the Cowboys. The first game will be Sept. 10, 2011 in War Memorial Stadium at Laramie and Sept. 28, 2013 at Bobcat Stadium.

“We are excited to have two teams with such a rich history and tradition coming to play in San Marcos,” said Texas State athletic director Larry Teis. “These are great games for us to play both at home and on the road. When we began our move to the FBS, these were two of the teams that we wanted to reach out to and schedule.”

Navy enters its final regular season game against Army this Saturday with and 8-3 record and will be appearing in the San Diego Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl against San Diego State on Dec. 23 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. This marks the eighth straight season that the Midshipmen have won at least eight games.

Wyoming is a member of the Mountain West Conference and just completed its second season under head coach Dave Christensen with a 3-9 campaign that included three losses by less than a touchdown in 2010 after winning the 2009 New Mexico Bowl.



ADDENDUM: Texas State will also keep its game with Texas Tech in 2011.

Monday, December 6, 2010

College Football: Coaching Poll (No. 1)

This will likely turn into a series of polls throughout Texas State's search for a new head coach, so here is No. 1.

Feel free to leave other answers in the comment section.


Saturday, December 4, 2010

College Athletics: Will Texas State hit the lottery in its search for a new head coach?

It's safe to say Jerry and Linda Fields have invested quite a bit of money into the future of the Texas State athletic department, mostly on behalf of the football program. After all, their names grace the West Side Complex (for which they donated $6 million of the $17 million needed to finance the project).

Could the Fields have another blank check up their sleeves when it comes to ensuring the future of the program? Maybe for a new head coach? As Jerry D. Fields said in this e-mail chain, "The nice thing I like is speculation."

Here is my recent e-mail correspondence with Jerry D. Fields in its entirety.

From: Tyler Mayforth
To: Jerry D. Fields

Jerry,

This is Tyler Mayforth from the San Marcos Daily Record. We've met several times on the way up the elevator inside Bobcat Stadium on game days. I'd like to talk with you about your take on the future of the [football] program with all that's happened recently. If that's possible, just let me know. Thanks.

Regards,

Tyler Mayforth


From: Jerry D. Fields
To: Tyler Mayforth

Hello Tyler,

Actually, I am out of the country and will not return until March 1st. I am in Mexico and then to Argentina, Paris, Tokyo, London, Helsinki and then South Africa.

As the first President George Bush said, "I have an opinion on everything, but it does not mean that I am right."


From: Tyler Mayforth
To: Jerry D. Fields

Sounds like you're going to have quite the tour. A few friends of mine went to the World Cup this summer in South Africa and then hit Tokyo. They had only good things to say about both places.

Your opinion is exactly the reason I wanted to contact you. When you invest as much money into Texas State and the athletic department as you do, people tend to listen.

Have you been contacted by Dr. [Larry] Teis or anybody about potential candidates? If you had a choice, who would you want to see as head coach of the football team?

This can only help get word out about Texas State and the future of the program. Thanks in advance.

- Tyler


From: Jerry D. Fields
To: Tyler Mayforth

I read your article in the Record about what will Texas State do for a head coach. Interesting to say the least. The nice thing that I like is speculation. I remember those that said, no new stadium, where would the money come from? I remember those who said no FBS, where would the money come from? I think that you are now asking, Big Time Head Coach, where will the money come from? Who knows, maybe someone will win the Lotto.

Too many small time thinkers, in a small town, that does not realize that some people pay $1000 per bottle for a bottle of wine. Going to drink one tonight. Can hardly wait to see. I like your idea about all of those that signed the petition donate the money. What fun would that be? Maybe Tommy Foote will lead the pac.

Have a nice weekend.

Friday, December 3, 2010

College Football: Coaching search (Part 2)

A new name just popped up on the radar — Gary Crowton.

Crowton is the offensive coordinator at Louisiana State University. He currently makes $450K, so in order to get him, Texas State would need to throw some money bags in his direction.

While LSU's offense is ranked 11th in the SEC this season, a lot has to do with the Tigers' inability to pass. The Tigers use a carousel of quarterbacks because they can't get anything going with Jordan Jefferson under center. Jefferson is currently ranked last in the SEC in passer efficiency and has thrown nine interceptions and only four touchdowns.

LSU also like to pound the ball on the ground so with a healthy stable of running backs, Crowton could do wonders. Texas State will have Marcus Curry, Terrence Franks, Dexter Imade and Frank Reddic next season.

Crowton has head coaching experience at Louisiana Tech and most recently, BYU.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

College Football: Coaching search (Part 1)

As of right now, there isn't much news to report on the head coaching search at Texas State other than what we already know.

Former Texas A&M head coach Dennis Franchione and Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright and both very interested in the position and have been in contact with the Texas State Athletic Department.

Football Scoop reported yesterday that TCU special teams/tight ends coach Don Sharp is among the candidates for the job as well. We haven't been able to confirm or deny that yet.

Stay tuned for any new developments.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

College Football: My FCS All-American ballot

Offense

QB: De'Andre Presley (Appalachian State)
RB: Nate Eachus (Colgate)
RB: Henry Harris (SE Missouri State)
FB: Eric Breitenstein (Wofford)
WR: Chris Summers (Liberty)
WR: Lito Senatus (Western Illinois)
WR: Tysson Poots (Southern Utah)
TE: Andrew Kennedy (Columbia)
OT: Keith Hill, Jr. (William & Mary)
OT: Mike Pearson (Montana State)
OG: Michael Booker (Norhwestern State)
OG: Pat Illig (Wofford)
C: Chris Powers (Eastern Washington)
PK: Matt Bevins (Liberty)
KR: Gralyn Crawford (Stephen F. Austin)

Defense

DE: Dain Taylor (Drake)
DE: Mario Kurn (San Diego)
DT: Andre Carroll (Delaware State)
DT: Matthew Gratzek (North Dakota State)
LB: Kyle Glazier (Western Illinois)
LB: Tyler Holmes (Massachusetts)
LB: J.C. Sheritt (Eastern Washington)
LB: Jer-ryan Harris (Arkansas Pine-Bluff)
CB: Jarrad Cribbs (Lehigh)
CB: Charles James (Charleston Southern)
S: Eugene Clifford (Tennessee State)
S: Ricardo Silva (Hampton)
P: John Prelvitz (North Dakota State)
PR: Shawn Abuhoff (Dartmouth)