Friday, September 25, 2009

Texas Southern Tigers at Texas State Bobcats

Texas State wary of Texas Southern

On paper, Texas State, ranked 23rd in FCS, seems to have a clear advantage over Texas Southern, winless in eight games against the Bobcats. The Tigers lost their first two games this season against Southwestern Athletic Conference rivals by a combined 75-7 tally before beating Texas College, an NAIA school, 75-6. The injury bug – which has bitten the Bobcats' offensive playmakers hard – could even things out a bit for the Tigers. The Bobcats will miss running back Karrington Bush (knee), who has been out after missing all but the first quarter of the opener. Also out is speedy slot receiver Cedric Alexander (pulled quadricep), while starting receiver Mishak Rivas has been nursing a foot injury. However, Wright said he expects Rivas and linebacker Joe Bell, who also hasn't played a down this season, to return tonight Wright said Texas Southern is a team to be reckoned with.

"They're scary," Wright said. "They're extremely athletic. Coach (Johnnie) Cole has done a great job in all three phases of the game. More than anything, they're a throwing team." Wright said the offense, run by the quarterback tandem of Arvell Nelson and Gino Simoni, runs out of a spread formation, similar to the Bobcats', and will throw the ball 40-50 times, at least. Defensively, the linemen and linebackers are the strength, Wright said, using a variety of line twists and blitzes to stay unpredictable.

TSU second year Coach Johnnie Cole.

College Football: Bobcat Record Breaker

San Marcos — Bradley George was ready to sign with Louisiana Tech. He already planned to sleep on a graduate assistant’s couch while trying to find a place of his own. George had signed up for classes and prepared to begin classes in early January. Then he got a phone call from former Texas State head coach David Bailiff. “I was packed up and ready to go,” George said. “Bailiff called me and said ‘Hey, I hear you’re coming back to football. Why don’t you give me a call?’ I didn’t want to, because I had a Division I mindset and wanted to try that.” Something beyond George’s control pulled him to the Bobcats.

Maybe it was because his parents are alums. Or, it could have been that his hometown is 15 minutes down I-35 in New Braunfels. His brother Reagan (a former quarterback with the Bobcats) might have talked to him or heck, maybe he’d miss his grandmother’s homemade cookies Whatever the reason, George signed with Texas State and was ready to begin his collegiate career – at 22-years old. George spent five years after high school in the Cincinnati Reds’ minor league system. He felt his best chance at stardom was on the diamond, but his arm wouldn’t allow it.

CONTINUE READING, CLICK EACH BLOG TITLE.

No comments: