Texas State’s FBS existence might be in its infancy – the Bobcats, like four others, joined the FBS in 2012 – but the program will remain the answer to one meaningful college football trivia question:
Which team won the final Western Athletic Conference game in league history?
TCU: Frogs one of the trendy picks to make waves in the Big 12[1]
That would be the Bobcats, who trounced New Mexico State 66-28 on Dec. 1. That win capped the WAC’s long and often storied history as a football conference; sad, obviously, and perhaps not befitting the WAC’s legacy that a first-year member closed its doors for good.
For Texas State, however, the win provided a blueprint for how the team hopes to win games under coach Dennis Franchione. The Bobcats allowed 5.9 yards per play, giving them a 4-1 mark when allowing less than six yards per play in 2012. They had 40 carries for 446 yards, giving them a 4-1 mark when running ball 35 or more times.
Texas State did not throw an interception; it did not throw a pick in each of its four wins in 2012. The Bobcats were plus-four in turnover margin – an easy recipe for success.
Moving forward in 2013, Texas State will look to duplicate this blueprint in making a move into bowl eligibility as a member of its new league, the Sun Belt. Run the football, slow down the opposition’s running game, control interceptions and win the turnover battle. Texas State’s not the only team to identify these factors as crucial to its overall success.
SPRING CENTRAL: News, notes and analysis throughout spring football’s season[2]
Spring dates: Texas State begins spring ball on Mar. 1 and plays its spring game on Apr. 6.
2012 record: 4-8 (2-4).
Returning starters: 13 (6 offense, 7 defense).
Five players to watch: RB Tim Gay, WR Andy Erickson, OG Charlie Will Tuttle, DT D.J. Yendrey, S Xavier Daniels.
TEXAS: Is experience under center enough to take the Big 12?[3]
Spring questions:
1. How to win close games? The Bobcats were a disappointingly weak second-half team in 2012, though the team was strong over the first 30 minutes – which reflects well on the coaching staff, which clearly did its homework in preparation. That the team faltered late in games contributed to its 1-5 mark in games decided by 13 points or less. What was the cause? A simple lack of depth played a huge role, and that’s an issue Franchione will address on the recruiting trail. For now, however, Texas State needs to figure out a way to avoid the sort of bottoming-out moments that defined its second-half play last fall.
2. Who should be the focus? The offense will have a slightly different look without quarterback Shaun Rutherford and running back Marcus Curry, last season’s two leading rushers. Without last year’s leaders, Texas State will turn the offense over to weapons like running back Tim Gay and wide receivers Andy Erickson, Isaiah Battle and Brandon Smith. Gay showed a burst in 2012, averaging 10.3 yards per carry, but he’ll share touches with junior back Terrence Franks and incoming transfer C.J. Best, should Best grasp the system.
Position battles:
1. Quarterback. In alphabetical order, the candidates to replace Rutherford as Texas State’s starting quarterback: Tyler Arndt, Duke DeLancelotti, Jordan Moore and Fred Nixon. In an early guess as to Texas State’s order on its depth chart: DeLancelotti, Arndt, Moore and Nixon. Arndt’s the only returning quarterback with any game experience, but Franchione admires the work DeLancelotti has put in over the offseason; in addition, he’s very high on Moore’s potential in this offense. Arndt’s experience ensures some sort of reserve role (at the very least), but is his ceiling high enough to earn the starting nod?
SPRING DATES: Start dates, dates for spring games for the entire FBS[4]
2. Defensive line. Texas State’s defensive front was abysmal in 2012 – a strong word, but deserving. The Bobcats hope to address their inability to stop the run and rush the quarterback by adding transfers D.J. Yendrey (TCU), Kingsley Ike (Purdue) and Donald Hopkins (Houston). Yendrey, who was dismissed from TCU after being arrested on drug charges, is a potential game-changer inside. Another transfer, former Colorado State linebacker Mike Orakpo, could be one of the best at his position in the Sun Belt.
References
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/02/27/2013-spring-ncaa-football-texas-christian-tcu/1951953/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/topic/13842f43-997a-4d92-9d3a-81cf4f44c9da/2013-ncaa-spring-football/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2013/02/20/2013-ncaa-spring-football-texas/1932753/ (www.usatoday.com)
- ^ http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/02/15/fbs-college-football-2013-spring-football-dates/1922431/ (www.usatoday.com)
