By Moses Leos III
The Texas State Bobcat football team has an axe to grind in 2015.
Despite finishing the last two seasons with a bowl eligible record, Texas State has received zero bowl invitations.
It’s that feeling of being slighted that motivates Texas State as it approaches its third full year in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“We just have to do better. We have to win a game or two (more) and catch people’s attention,” Texas State head coach Dennis Franchione said during Texas State media day on Aug. 16. “And to find a way to put ourselves in a better position to where they can’t leave us out. We’ve got to leave no doubt.”
Texas State returns after posting a 7-5 overall record in 2014. It marked the Bobcat’s ninth winning season in the past 30 years. It also marked the sixth time the team posted more than seven wins since 1985.
But all of the accolades were pushed aside after the Bowl Selection Committee snubbed Texas State for Georgia State as a Sun Belt Conference representative. Texas State defeated Georgia State 54-31 last year.
“I can’t explain it,” Franchione said on not being invited to a bowl game. “It ticks me off. If it doesn’t tick (the players) off, they shouldn’t be here.”
Missing out on a bowl game was a motivating factor for senior running back Rob Lowe. He said that Texas State “left a lot on the table last year” in terms of dropping close games.
“We don’t want to leave no doubt this year,” Lowe said. “We want to show the committee that we deserve a bowl game and we can win a couple more games to not make it hard decision.”
Lowe represents an offense that returns nine starters from a year previous. Joining him in the backfield will be junior quarterback Tyler Jones, who threw for over 2,600 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The offense, which was one of the four most improved offenses in the nation, amassed 464 total yards per game last year. Texas State ranked 18th nationally in rush offense and was 31st in scoring offense.
Franchione lauded Jones’ progression over the summer, saying he was throwing “strikes and bullets” in preseason practices. He also said he “felt good” about his running backs, along with a plethora of experience at wide receiver.
In the trenches, Franchione said his offensive line is “starting to look like an FBS offensive line” and that they “look like they belong.”
But solidifying the center position will be focus for Texas State in 2015. Several candidates will vie to take the position.
On the defensive end, Texas State aims to replace six starters from last year.
It will include replacing the talent of Craig Mager and David Mayo, who was an All-Sun Belt Conference selection and the school’s first All-American. Both were selected in the 2015 NFL draft.
Franchione said the defense starts with defensive back David Mims II, who was named to the preseason All-Sun Belt Conference first team over the summer. Trey McGowan, Dallas McClarty and Mershad Dillon also return for Texas State.
For Franchione, defensive tackle is where the team must improve this season. Texas State’s defense ranked sixth in rushing and seventh in total defense in the Sun Belt Conference.
“We still think we can do better than where we were last year,” Franchione said.
That improvement will be done against a schedule that is “tougher” according to Franchione.
Texas State opens 2015 by traveling to play at nationally ranked Florida State on Sept. 5.
For Franchione, the prospect of starting against the Seminoles has helped up the ante of practice.
“It’s been a great boost to our workouts this summer,” he said. “It serves a purpose. We’ll be on national TV and we get to play Bobcat football and represent our school in a proud way.”
