TXST FOOTBALL
Head Coach G.J. Kinne, senior defensive lineman Kalil Alexander and senior offensive lineman Dorion Strawn represented Texas State in their final Sun Belt Media Days before the university’s move to the Pac-12 Conference next year.
Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill spoke highly of Texas State and what they have meant to the conference.
“Texas State has been a great partner — both to the conference and me personally,” Gill said. “When I first got here, I thought about [Denise] Trauth, who was the president, and Larry Teis, who was the athletic director. Now it’s Don Coryell and Kelly Damphousse. I’ve had wonderful relationships with them. They have been great partners and good people to work with. It’s a personal loss, and I’m losing friends.
“For the conference, [Texas State] has been great. They have won two bowls over the last two years. It’s been amazing to see the crowds at the First Responder Bowl. Softball has been elite over the last three years, and baseball has been solid as well. We are losing a great partner and contributor to our success.”
With all the off-season noise surrounding Texas State, Kinne is just focused on everything on the football field.
“With everything going on with conference realignment, we are focused on the Sun Belt,” Kinne said. “We will let President Damphousse and Don Coryell worry about all of that. … We are super excited to finish this season right away in the Sun Belt, and I’m excited about this team we have going into our third season.”
Kinne also addressed the Sun Belt preseason allconference teams not featuring a single player from Texas State.
“I know we have a bunch of really good players,” Kinne said. “We don’t control that. That’s the other coaches in the league. We’ve had some really good players the last two years on our team. I look to continue that and win games.”
The Bobcats are looking to build off the past two seasons of success, winning eight games and a pair of bowl victories.
With Texas State looking to replace several key starters from last year following graduation and the transfer portal, the center of attention for the offseason has been team chemistry.
“During this off season, the main focus was just to really bring the team back together,” Alexander said. “Everybody’s always working as individuals and together. The work we put in is not really the biggest part. It’s about bonding with each other and making sure we have each other’s backs when we’re out there.”
Strawn echoed Alexander’s point and stressed the importance of team chemistry.
“This offseason, we’ve really been trying to work as a team and grow as a team,” Strawn said. “We’re really trying to build a brotherhood, hang out with each other, talk to each other and just become a real family.”
As Texas State looks to continue their momentum from the last two seasons, Kinne stressed that everyday is critical for the Bobcats success.
“We have so many new faces,” Kinne said. “Every day’s going to be important for us. A year ago, we wouldn’t have to have fall camp, to be honest with you. We could have rolled out there and played that week one game and been just fine. This year, we need every single fall camp practice, every single meeting, every single walk through to be able to accomplish what we need to accomplish.
“These guys have a chip on their shoulder, and our focus right now is OTA’s tomorrow, finishing up a great Sun Belt Media Day and then getting into fall camp.”
For Alexander, in order for the Bobcats to continue their success, the team must continue to show up for every single practice.
“Just working every day and showing up,” Alexander said. “That’s the hardest part is just showing up. After that, leaders lead, followers follow and coaches coach. I feel like we’re going in the right direction.”
Strawn agreed. “We have to continue to work on the things that we did well and continue to try to fix all the things that we did badly during the season,” Strawn said. “It’s that simple.”
Texas State opens the season Saturday Aug. 30 against Eastern Michigan at UFCU Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
