Morale still high after Texas State’s loss against ULM

Another week, another extremely close loss for Jake Spavital and the Texas State Bobcats.

This loss was harder to take, however, as the Bobcats saw their 21-0 lead slip away as ULM won 31-30 following a missed field goal kick from Seth Keller.

The defeat also marked the third straight game that Texas State has lost a one-possession game with the Bobcats losing to Troy 17-10 and Southern Miss 20-14.

“It was another heartbreaking loss,” Spavital said during Tuesday’s weekly press conference. “You sit out there after the game and the kids are at a loss for words like we all are. Ten points have separated us from the last three games.”

But despite the third consecutive loss and the prospect of being eliminated from bowl eligibility, the Bobcats are still fighting to prove the doubters wrong as Spavital recalled the speech that junior outside linebacker Jordan Revels gave after the game.

“The one thing I’ll give credit to those guys is their fight,” Spavital said. “They go all the way till the very last second. Eventually the ball is going to bounce our way. Jordan Revels was talking after the game about you having to keep swinging and that we are swinging that ax at the tree right now but it’s not budging. But eventually if you keep swinging, it’s going to fall down.”

Along with the speech, the locker rooms vibes were still positive during practice following the game rather than negative which some teams can fall under as the Bobcats continue to look at ways to get over the hump amidst the three game skid.

“That says a lot about our kids in the program,” Spavital said. “Many teams can get in their feelings, point the finger, and make excuses. This team looks in the mirror and points to themselves on how they can better themselves. I thought our energy was phenomenal. They responded well and we had a great day of preparation so no doubt these kids are going to show up on Saturday.”

In fact, the was not so dissimilar to another game two years ago that still haunts Texas State fans to this day.

In one of the most memorable games in the rivalry’s history, Texas State stormed back from a 13 point deficit to tie the game against UTSA in less than two minutes in the game but failed to take the lead when the Bobcats missed the extra point.

A missed field goal in double overtime cost the Bobcats a 51-48 loss to their archrivals.

When comparing the two losses together, the differences in the locker rooms are night and day for Spavital who views it as how far his program has come.

“When you look at us from a culture perspective, we had a similar situation against UTSA in 2020,” Spavital said. “There was a lot of division and opinions in the locker room after the game. This was a game where Seth Keller is one of our most consistent players in school history. We were already confident in him seeing he scored nine times and then he kicked one wide right. He was devastated by that but our players understood that there was a lot more to that game. They picked him up and encouraged him. The locker room showed a lot of transparency of we have to be better individually and it starts with me putting our players in better positions.”

As the Bobcats look to finish off the season strong, Spavital is faced with not only avoid to be bowl ineligible for the seventh straight year but also entering the final year of his contract.

But the Spavital isn’t too worried about the stress in a brief statement

“None,” Spavital said. “I don’t feel any pressure.”

Texas State returns to play Saturday against South Alabama.