Texas State Bobcats football
2023 Texas State Bobcats football team
First season1904
Athletic directorDon Coryell
Head coachG. J. Kinne
1st season, 8–5 (.615)
StadiumBobcat Stadium
(capacity: 30,000)
Field surfaceFieldTurf Revolution 360 with CoolPlay
LocationSan Marcos, Texas
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
DivisionWest
Past conferencesWAC (2012)
Independent (2011)
Southland (1987–2010)
Gulf Star (1984–1986)
Lone Star (1932–1983)
TIAA (1922–1931)
Independent (1904–1921)
All-time record533–500–25 (.516)
Bowl record1–0 (1.000)
Claimed national titlesDivision II: 2 (1981, 1982)
Conference titles14
RivalriesUTSA (rivalry)
Nicholls (rivalry)
ColorsMaroon and gold[1]
   
Fight songGo Bobcats!
MascotBoko the Bobcat
Marching bandThe Pride of the Hill Country
OutfitterAdidas
WebsiteTxStateBobcats.com

The Texas State Bobcats football program Texas State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. They play in the Sun Belt Conference. The program began in 1904 and has an overall winning record. The program has a total of 14 conference titles, nine of them being outright conference titles. Home games are played at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas.[2]

Given that the school has grown to become the seventh-largest university in Texas (2021), and one of the 75 largest universities in the United States, it has now taken its football program to the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA football.

The team became a member of the FBS Western Athletic Conference in 2012. After only one season in the WAC, Texas State moved to the Sun Belt Conference. Texas State joined the league in July 2013 and began conference play for the 2013–14 academic year.

Athletic Director Dr. Larry Teis stepped down as athletic director of Texas State Athletics on August 31, 2021, and Mr. Don Coryell, Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Operations, assumed the role of interim Athletic Director Beginning September 1, 2021.[3]

History

Early history (1904–1964)

Southwest Texas State Normal School[4] first fielded a football team in 1904.[5] Oscar W. Strahan, for whom the current basketball arena is named, was hired as the university's first director of athletics, and served as the team's first head football coach from 1919 to 1934.[6] He compiled an impressive 72–52–10 record and won three championships (1921, 1924, 1929). Strahan led Texas State into the T.I.A.A. in 1922 and then as a founding member of the Lone Star Conference in 1932. Joe Bailey Cheaney served as head football coach at Southwest Texas State from 1935 to 1942. The Bobcats went 23–42–6 during Cheaney's tenure. Cheaney was asked to resign following the 1942 season. The university did not field a football team from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II. Head coaches George Vest, Milton Jowers, R. W. Parker, and Jack Henry all had tenures as Texas State's head coach. Vest led the team to a conference championship in 1948, while Parker won co-championships in 1954 and 1955. Jowers, for whom Jowers Center (home of the Department of Health and Human Performance) is named, served as head coach twice (1951–1953 and 1961–1964). He compiled a 48–18–2 record, winning over 72% of his games, including a conference championship 10–0 season in 1963.

Bill Miller era (1965–1978)

Bill Miller was promoted from assistant coach to head coach in 1965.[5] During his tenure, the Bobcats compiled a record of 86–51–3.[7] Miller retired in 1978 as the school's winningest head coach in its history and the second longest tenured head coach.[7]

Jim Wacker era (1979–1982)

Miller was succeeded by Jim Wacker, who led the Bobcats to two consecutive NCAA Division II national championships in his final two seasons (The school had moved to the NCAA a short time earlier).[8] Wacker left Southwest Texas State to accept the position of head coach at TCU after the 1982 season.[8] Wacker left the Bobcats with a 42–8 record, which included a 13–1 mark in 1981 and a 14–0 mark in 1982.

John O'Hara era (1983–1989)

John O'Hara succeeded Wacker, coaching Southwest Texas State for seven seasons.[9] Under O'Hara's leadership, the Bobcats shared the conference title and made the playoffs in 1983, losing in the first round. O'Hara was the driving force behind moving Southwest Texas State out of Division II and into Division I-AA, where the Bobcats faced much tougher competition on the field and on the recruiting trail. After the 1989 season, O'Hara joined the football staff at the University of Iowa, where he remained until his sudden death in 1992 at the age of 48.

Dennis Franchione era (1990–1991)

Dennis Franchione followed O'Hara, and under his tutelage, the Bobcats had a 6–5 record in 1990 and a 7–4 mark in 1991. Franchione left the Bobcats after two seasons to accept the position of head coach at New Mexico.[10]

Jim Bob Helduser era (1992–1996)

To replace Franchione, the Bobcats promoted Jim Bob Helduser from an assistant coach to head coach. Under Helduser's leadership, the Bobcats compiled a record of 20–34–1. Helduser was approached by Franchione to join his staff at Texas Christian University as offensive line coach, an offer Helduser accepted.

Bob DeBesse era (1997–2002)

Minnesota offensive coordinator Bob DeBesse was hired by his alma mater to serve as head coach following Helduser's departure.[11] In 2000, DeBesse's Southwest Texas Bobcats rolled up the school's best record in a decade (7–4) and earned a No. 25 national ranking.[11] However, mediocrity forced DeBesse out after the 2002 season, as the school's administration had grown weary from mediocre recruiting and play.

Manny Matsakis era (2003)

Manny Matsakis left Texas Tech as the Special Teams Coordinator to become the head coach of the Bobcats in 2003, but he only lasted one season. In his lone season, Texas State compiled a 5–7 record. Matsakis left Texas State after the 2003 season due to management issues associated with the football program and a draft investigation report that found violations of NCAA regulations. Additional athletic department officials were sanctioned.[12]

David Bailiff era (2004–2006)

Coach Bailiff

TCU defensive coordinator David Bailiff was hired as Matsakis' replacement on February 5, 2004.[13] In his first season as the Bobcats' head coach, he guided them to a 5–6 record. In 2005, they finished the regular season 9–2 and were Southland Conference Champions. They then won two games in the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, eventually losing to Northern Iowa. In 2006, the Bobcats' were again 5–6. Bailiff left Texas State after three seasons to accept the head coaching position at Rice.[14]

Brad Wright era (2007–2010)

Brad Wright was promoted from running backs coach to head coach of the Bobcats football program after Bailiff's departure.[15] Under Wright's tutelage, the Bobcats compiled a mediocre 23–23 record. Fan support and administration restlessness led the Wright's firing following a 4–7 campaign in 2010.[16]

Franchione's return (2011–2015)

Coach Franchione

Following Brad Wright's dismissal, Texas State University engaged Parker Executive Search to help them find their next head football coach. Finalists included former Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins, Oklahoma co-defensive coordinator Bobby Jack Wright, former Minnesota head coach Tim Brewster, and Dennis Franchione.[17]

On January 7, 2011, Franchione was named head coach of Texas State's football program and signed a five-year contract valued at $350,000 per year.[18] This was Franchione's second tenure with Texas State, having previously coached at what was then Southwest Texas State in 1990 and 1991. His second tenure at Texas State was slightly less successful, as he led Texas State into Football Bowl Subdivision level football in 2012, joining the Western Athletic Conference.[19] Texas State then negotiated membership in the more stable Sun Belt Conference beginning in 2013,[20] after the WAC stopped sponsoring football.[21] Franchione retired from coaching following the 2015 season.[22] His second tenure with the Bobcats produced a 26–34 record.[23]

Everett Withers era (2016–2018)

Coach Withers

Former North Carolina head coach Everett Withers was hired as Texas State's head coach on January 6, 2016.[24] Withers, who was serving as head coach at James Madison in the FCS at the time of his hiring, is the first African American to hold the position of head football coach at Texas State University.[25] In 2016, Withers' first season, the Bobcats compiled a 2–10 record.[26] The Bobcats broke the all-time attendance record at their home opener on September 24, 2016, with 33,133.[27] In 2017, Withers' second season, the Bobcats again recorded a 2–10 record. Withers entered the 2018 season with an overall record of 4–20. Withers was fired as the head coach for football on November 18, 2018, with a 7–28 record as head coach. Defensive Coordinator Chris Woods became the interim head coach for the season finale.

Jake Spavital era (2019–2022)

On November 28, 2018, Jake Spavital was hired to replace Withers as Texas State's head coach.[28] Spavital previously served as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at West Virginia from 2017 to 2018. The Bobcats lost to No. 12 ranked Texas A&M 41-7 in the program's first game under Spavital. Under the direction of Jake Spavital, the Bobcats improved their rushing output by 65 percent, averaging 131.2 yards per game, and averaging 369.7 total yards and 27.7 points per game. These totals were the most yards gained for the Bobcats since 2015 and the most points scored since 2014. The third-youngest head coach in the NCAA Division I FBS in 2021, Spavital took the reins at Texas State on November 30, 2018, after overseeing some of the nation's most prolific offenses. He is Texas State's 20th head coach since the program began. Texas State fired Spavital following the 2022 season. In four years, Spavital's teams went 13–35 overall and did not appear in a bowl game.[29]

G. J. Kinne era (2023–present)

On December 1, 2022, G. J. Kinne was hired to replace Spavital as Texas State's head coach.[30] Kinne previously served as head coach of The University of the Incarnate Word. In his only season as head coach, he led the Cardinals to a 12–2 record and a share of the Southland Conference championship. UIW earned a first round bye and the No. 7 seed in the 2022 FCS playoffs, where they eventually lost in the semifinals to the No. 3 seeded North Dakota State Bison. He previously served as the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for University of Central Florida.

Conference affiliations

Championships

In 2005, Texas State split the Southland Conference title with rival Nicholls State, and advanced to the Division I-AA football playoffs for the first time, losing in the semifinal to eventual national runner-up Northern Iowa, and finishing with an 11–3 record.

In 2008, Texas State overcame a 21–0 deficit to win the Southland Conference championship with a 48–45 overtime victory against Sam Houston State, its first outright league title since 1982.

Texas State joined the WAC effective July 1, 2012.[42] Then, on July 1, 2013, season, Texas State moved to the Sun Belt Conference.[43]

National championships

Year Coach Record Championship
1981Jim Wacker13–1NCAA Division II National Champions
1982Jim Wacker14–0NCAA Division II National Champions

Conference championships

Texas State has won 14 conference titles, with nine outright and five shared.[44]

Year Coach Conference Overall record Conference record
1921Oscar W. StrahanTexas Normal championship7–05–0
1924Oscar W. StrahanTexas Teachers College championship5–35–1
1929Oscar W. StrahanTexas Intercollegiate Athletic Association6–1–24–0–2
1948George VestLone Star Conference (NAIA)8–14–0
1954†R. W. ParkerLone Star Conference (NAIA)6–3–15–0–1
1955†R. W. ParkerLone Star Conference (NAIA)6–1–25–1
1963Milton JowersLone Star Conference (NAIA)10–06–0
1971†Bill MillerLone Star Conference (NAIA)8–1–17–1–1
1980Jim WackerLone Star Conference (Division II)8–35–1
1981Jim WackerLone Star Conference (Division II)13–16–1
1982Jim WackerLone Star Conference (Division II)14–07–0
1983†John O'HaraLone Star Conference (Division II)9–26–1
2005†David BailiffSouthland Conference (Division I FCS)11–34–1
2008Brad WrightSouthland Conference (Division I FCS)8–56–2

† Co-championship

Division I-A/FBS Bowl Game results

The Bobcats have been bowl eligible twice since moving up to Division I-FBS. In 2013, Texas State went 6–6 in the first year the Bobcats were eligible to win a conference title or attend a bowl game after their 2-year FCS to FBS transition. In 2014, Texas State finished the season 7–5, 5–3 in Sun Belt play to finish in a three way tie for fourth place. Although eligible, they were not selected to participate in a bowl game; the Bobcats were the only eligible 7–5 FBS team not to receive a bowl bid.

In November 2023, the Bobcats became bowl eligible after winning 45–24 against Georgia Southern.[45] In December, it was announced that the team would play its first-ever bowl game against the Rice University Owls at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on December 26.[46]

Bowl games

Texas State has participated in one bowl game, and has a record of 1–0.

Season Coach Bowl Opponent Result
2023G.J. KinneFirst Responder BowlRiceW 45–21

Division I-AA/FCS Playoffs results

The Bobcats have appeared in the I-AA/FCS playoffs two times with an overall record of 2–2.

Year Round Opponent Result
2005First Round
Quarterfinals
Semifinals		Georgia Southern
Cal Poly
Northern Iowa		W 50–35
W 14–7
L 37–40
2008First RoundMontanaL 13–31

Division II Playoffs results

The Bobcats have appeared in the Division II playoffs three times with an overall record of 6–1. They are two time National Champions (1981, 1982).

Year Round Opponent Result
1981Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		Jacksonville State
Northern Michigan
North Dakota State		W 38–22
W 62–0
W 42–13
1982Quarterfinals
Semifinals
National Championship Game		Fort Valley State
Jacksonville State
UC Davis		W 27–6
W 19–14
W 34–9
1983QuarterfinalsCentral StateL 16–24

All-time record vs. Sun Belt teams

Official record (including any NCAA imposed vacates and forfeits) against all current Sun Belt opponents:

Opponent Won Lost Percentage Streak First Last
Appalachian State16.143Won 120042022
Arkansas State46.400Won 320132022
Coastal Carolina13.250Lost 320172021
Georgia Southern15.167Lost 520052021
Georgia State44.500Lost 120132021
Louisiana010.000Lost 920132022
Louisiana–Monroe613.316Lost 119862022
South Alabama44.500Lost 120132022
Southern Miss12.333Lost 220132022
Troy112.077Lost 1119962022
Totals 23 65 .261

Head coaching history

Rivalries

Texas State football maintains two rivalries with the UTSA Roadrunners and the Sam Houston State University Bearkats. They also have a number of defunct rivalries caused by conference realignment.

Sam Houston

Beginning in 1915, Texas State and Sam Houston Bearkats football played annually until a major conference realignment caused the rivalry to go defunct in 2011. However, due to another major conference realignment, the rivalry has since been renewed starting in the 2024 season at NRG Stadium. The Bobcats lead the series 50-37-5.

UTSA

Texas State and UTSA faced off for the first time in the football continuation of the I-35 Maroon/Orange Rivalry between the two schools in the Alamodome November 24, 2012. The Bobcats lost the game to the UTSA Roadrunners by a score of 38–31. UTSA leads the series 5–0.[47]

Nicholls

Rivalry with Nicholls. As of the end of the 2021 FBS season, Nicholls leads the series 16–15.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of July 29, 2023.[48]

2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031
at Baylor vs Lamar vs Eastern Michigan at Texas at Texas A&M vs UTSA vs Army at North Texas at UTSA
at UTSA vs UTSA at UTSA vs UTSA at UTSA at UTEP at UTSA vs UTSA vs UTEP
vs Jackson State vs Arizona State at Arizona State vs North Texas at Army
vs Nevada vs Sam Houston (in Houston, TX) vs Nicholls

References

  1. ↑ Texas State University Brand Guide. January 14, 2022. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Texas State Football History Database". Txstatebobcats.cstv.com. Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  3. ↑ "Dr. Larry Teis Stepping Down As Director of Athletics August 31". Texas State Athletics. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  4. ↑ "1905 Pedagogue – Southwest Texas State Normal School". Exhibits.library.txstate.edu. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  5. 1 2 "Former Texas State football coach dies at 74". ESPN. February 21, 2006. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Bobcat History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Former Texas State football coach dies at 74". Espn.com. February 21, 2006. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. 1 2 "Jim Wacker Field at Bobcat Stadium : Pride and Traditions : Texas State University". Archived from the original on June 11, 2010. Retrieved July 16, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Iowa Line Coach Dies On Cruise – tribunedigital-chicagotribune". Chicago Tribune. February 24, 1992. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Texas State coach Dennis Franchione retires". USA Today. Associated Press. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Bob DeBesse Bio – Sam Houston State Bearkats Athletics". Gobearkats.com. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  12. ↑ "Texas State dismisses coach, AD; associate reassigned". www.txstate.edu. June 7, 2016.
  13. ↑ "David Bailiff named coach for Texas State – Midland Reporter-Telegram". Mrt.com. February 3, 2004. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Rice hires Texas State's Bailiff as head coach". ESPN. January 19, 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Texas State fires football coach Brad Wright | NCAA Football". Sporting News. November 23, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  16. ↑ "Texas State fires Wright after 4–7 season". ESPN. Associated Press. November 22, 2010. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  17. ↑ Jerry Briggs (January 5, 2011). "Texas State coach search gains steam". San Antonio Express News. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Texas State Hires Dennis Franchione – Roll 'Bama Roll". Rollbamaroll.com. January 7, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Texas State Athletics – Texas State Officially Reaches FBS Status, Joins WAC". Texas State Bobcats. July 1, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  20. ↑ "Texas State joins the Sun Belt, WAC dwindling | NCAA Football". Sporting News. May 2, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Franchione returns to coaching at Texas State". Washington Times. Associated Press. January 7, 2011. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Franchione retires after five seasons at Texas St". Sports Illustrated. December 22, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Dennis Franchione Coaching Record | College Football at". Sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  24. ↑ "Texas State hires James Madison's Everett Withers as head coach". ESPN. January 6, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  25. ↑ Paul Livengood (January 7, 2016). "Texas State University welcomes its new head coach, Everett Withers". The University Star. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  26. ↑ "2016 Texas State Bobcats Schedule and Results". Sports-reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  27. ↑ Ryder Burke (September 26, 2016). "Texas State drops to the Cougars at home opener". The University Star. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  28. ↑ "WVU offensive coordinator Jake Spavital to coach Texas State". ESPN. November 28, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Jake Spavital - Football Coach". Texas State Athletics. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Source: Kinne, Texas State finalize five-year deal". ESPN.com. December 2, 2022. Retrieved December 6, 2022.
  31. ↑ Rogers, James Lloyd (2002). The Story of North Texas: From Texas Normal College, 1890, to the University of North Texas System, 2001. University of North Texas Press. p. 195. ISBN 1574411284.
  32. ↑ Southwestern Football Historical Review 1908-1950 (PDF). September 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 24, 2015. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  33. ↑ "Outstandings T. I. A. A. Players Lauded By Football Dopesters". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Fort Worth, Texas. December 3, 1923. p. 10. Retrieved November 30, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  34. ↑ "The Winners". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. November 29, 1926. p. 5. Retrieved April 26, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  35. ↑ "Football Calendar". Austin American-Statesman. Austin, Texas. November 14, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved April 27, 2019 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  36. ↑ "Daniel Baker TIAA Champion; Wildcats, Indians Second". The Abilene Daily Reporter. Abilene, Texas. November 30, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved July 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  37. ↑ "1930 Pedagog - Southwest Texas State Teachers College".
  38. ↑ "W. T. Captures Second Place In T.I.A.A. Lead". Canyon News. Canyon, Texas. December 4, 1930. p. 11. Retrieved June 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com Open access icon.
  39. 1 2 3 "Year-by-Year Records". www.TXStateBobcats.CSTV.Com. Texas State. Archived from the original on October 31, 2006. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  40. 1 2 "Championships & History". TXST.com. Texas State. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  41. ↑ Katz, Andy (November 10, 2010). "Sources: Three teams to join WAC". www.ESPN.com. ESPN. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Texas State University Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  43. ↑ Kim Shugart (May 2, 2012). "Texas State University to join Sun Belt Conference in 2013". The Birmingham News. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  44. ↑ "Texas State University Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on December 30, 2008. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  45. ↑ Shen, Angela (November 6, 2023). "Texas State Bobcats bowl eligible for first time since 2014". FOX 7 Austin. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  46. ↑ "Texas State Bobcats to make bowl debut against Rice Owls in First Responder Bowl". FOX 7 Austin. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  47. ↑ "UTSA stays perfect vs. Texas State in two-overtime thriller". UTSA Athletics. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  48. ↑ "Texas State Bobcats Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
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