But tough road lies ahead for State

By Tyler Mayforth

LAKE CHARLES, La. — No matter what the polls said at the 2009 Southland Conference Football Media Days, Texas State’s path to a repeat won’t be easy.

While the Bobcats earned 43 and 45 points in the Coaches and Sports Information Directors polls, respectively, they also received something else Wednesday afternoon — a target on their backs.

“We’re the big dogs right now,” Texas State defensive specialist Travis Houston said. “There’s no doubt about it. When you’re returning conference champions, everyone wants to be where you are.”

Houston’s sentiments were echoed by many of the coaches and players in attendance at the L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort.

Blake Delcambre, linebacker for Northwestern State, knew his team had what it took to beat the Bobcats last season. The Demons marched into San Marcos and walked out with a 34-31 victory.

Northwestern State finished 4-3 in the SLC and went into the last two weeks of the season with a chance to win the conference championship.

“We were one game away from going to the playoffs last year and that hurt,” Delcambre said. “The place we want to be is in the playoffs and we kind of have a chip on our shoulders. We know the road goes through Texas State and luckily we conquered that road last season.”

The Demons have a new coach, as Bradley Dale Peveto takes over the reigns. Peveto was the offensive coordinator at Louisiana State University last season and brings a new flavor, but same tradition to Northwestern State.

Peveto spent three years with the Demons before venturing further into the Bayou to coach the Tigers.

“One thing Northwestern State always had, even when I coached a while ago was a good defense,” Peveto said. “I want to solidify that side of the ball and make us a force there, but also give opposing defenses a few new looks as well.”

Aside from Peveto, all head coaching positions in the SLC are the same, with exception of Lamar and Texas-San Antonio.

Both the Cardinals and Roadrunners introduced their new coaches to the media Wednesday morning. Ray Woodard will lead Lamar, while former Miami Hurricane head coach Larry Coker guides UTSA

The Cardinals (who last fielded a team in 1989) will begin Football Championship Subdivision play in 2010. On the other hand, the Roadrunners must wait until 2011.

Lamar will practice three times per week this fall in an abbreviated spring football schedule. Woodard hopes to have his team scrimmage once every three weeks.

“The buzz around campus is great,” Woodard said. “They’re finishing up the stadium and the offices are newly renovated. I really believe our biggest selling point to the kids was them knowing they’ll be part of the first win, first year and first graduating class.”

Woodard already recorded his first signing class, but Coker must wait until February. If UTSA’s football camp was any indication, the Roadrunners will have their pick of the litter.

More than 500 high school juniors and seniors attended the camp.

While Lamar and UTSA are trying to establish traditions, McNeese State will look to re-cement itself at the top of the SLC.

“Last year was different for us to finish in the middle,” Cowboys tight end Wes Mangan said. “It was a wake-up call for us.”

McNeese won four of seven conference games in 2008, but were a meager 3-2 overall at home. The Cowboys must protect their home turf better, but also find an identity — especially on the offensive line.

“We’re talented there but we are young,” McNeese head coach Matt Viator said. “The last thing that we’re looking at is to develop an identity on defense. We played some good games on defense last year and some games not so good.”

Another team looking to get better on the defensive side of the ball is Stephen F. Austin.

The Lumberjacks finished dead last in 2008 with a 4-8 overall record and let up 475 points. Texas State took SFA behind the woodshed in Nacogdoches, putting up 62 points.

“We’re going to need to improve our run defense if we expect to have different results,” Lumberjacks defensive end Tim Knicky said. “It was hard to watch, especially for us on the defensive line.”

While SFA needs to improve the defensive line, Nicholls State head coach Jay Thomas feels the strength of his team is located in the other side of the trenches — the offensive line.

The Colonels return an upperclassmen-laden line, led by Aric Flowers. It can only help Nicholls run the triple option.

“It is nice to hear coach say that the strength of the offense this season will be the offensive line, but we know that we win and lose as a team,” Flowers said. “I believe our strength is in our unity.”

Southeastern Louisiana’s strength, on the other hand, is in its quarterback and wide receivers.

The Lions return Brian Babin, who passed for 2,802 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2008. Southeastern will have a plethora of receivers from which Babin can pick.

“We return every one of our wide receivers and even get Luis Sobalvarro back from injury,” Babin said. “It’s great for a quarterback to have the type of depth at receiver that we do. I can pick and choose in the pocket and not worry about who’s going out for a route.”

Quarterback play also was the staple of Central Arkansas and Sam Houston State the past few seasons.

This year though, both teams are without their stars. 

Nathan Brown and Rhett Bomar (UCA and SHSU, respectively) graduated last season and left major voids under center. The Bears will use Robbie Park, a fifth-year senior, while the Bearkats tabbed Bryan Richmond to call the signals.

UCA’s offense wasn’t the toast of the media days, rather its defense. The Bears had six defensive players recognized on the preseason first team.

“The offenses in this league are extremely prolific and productive, so if you’re going to compete for championships, you have to play defense,” Conque said. “It’s going to be very important that we compete at a high level on the defensive side, create short fields, more scoring opportunities, while our offense can get some continuity and confidence.”

UCA did finish with the best record in the SLC last season (7-1), but couldn’t be deemed conference champions due to NCAA regulations. The Bears enter their fourth and final year of their transition period from Division II to Division I.

Since UCA wasn’t regarded as the conference champion, the rings fell into Texas State’s laps by default. The Bobcats know it’s going to be a sore spot for many in the SLC, but are ready to take them off, along with the gloves.

“By the time the last few weeks of conference roll around, it’s all about who has the most heart,” Houston said. “You can’t pull out the conference championship rings and win automatically.”

Texas State 2009 Schedule

Sept. 9 Angelo State 6 p.m

Sept. 19 at TCU 6 p.m.

Sept. 26 Texas Southern (TV) 6 p.m.

Oct. 3 at Southern Utah noon

Oct. 10 *SE Louisiana 2 p.m.

Oct. 17 *at Nicholls St. 1 p.m.

Oct. 24 *at Northwestern St. 7 p.m.

Oct. 31 *Stephen F. Austin 2 p.m.

Nov. 7 *at Cen. Arkansas (TV) 6 p.m.

Nov. 14 *McNeese State (TV) 6 p.m.

Nov. 21 *Sam Houston State 2 p.m.

* - denotes Southland Conference Game

Home games in bold