Into the Desert We Go

The first time I ever traveled to San Antonio to cover the I-35 rivalry series, I got kicked out for cheering in the press box.

Coincidentally, it was also my first game. I had just taken over as Sports Editor at The University Star in my junior year. I had no idea what I was doing, getting into or what was to come all these years later.

The escort from out of the box and onto the field was unceremonious and unfortunate. But I explained my greenness to the UTSA folk, who reminded me of the rules in a working press room.

The night before the game, I was at a huge house party on Old Ranch Road 12. I woke up on my buddy’s couch, choked down some IHOP entree and eventually drove down I-35 to cover the game.

It was 2018 and I had taken the sports gig as a favor to one of my best friends, Carrington Tatum. To this day, he is one of the best journalists I know. Things had not been going well for the sports section back then. I think the team had ongoing access issues for the better part of three years and, as a result, resorted to covering intramural games and Quidditch.

I had loosely been covering the team from the sidelines for years. I loved football and I was very much frustrated with our coverage, so I told Carrington I would change things and the first thing would be to cover the game in San Antonio. I told him then that it was one of the biggest games in college football.

He laughed then, but the 21 - 25 final score gave that claim some legs. And that was in the Everett Withers years.

The piece became my first real sports write-up after having solely done hard news and investigative reporting to that point in my collegiate career.

Nearly seven years later, staring at a crowd of more than 45,000 on a similar rainy day, the Bobcats would make history and serve the Roadrunners their first L at The Alamodome.

It was surreal to see that game play out in real-time in front of me. I had gone back to see the first trip to The Alamodome in 2023. That Kole Wilson near touchdown that almost sealed the game for the Bobcats is still seared into my head, so is the group of misplays and penalties that ultimately put that out of the reach for the team.

Just like 2018, I was fairly new to the professional aspect of sports writing. I was also just in such a different place than I am now, personally and professionally. I was on the verge of an engagement, I was peddling my wares again as a sports writer and the podcast had just taken off the ground.

So, walking back into that arena in 2025 was just another reminder of how much had changed just two years later.

While UTSA has owned the series and leads the Bobcats 5-2 all-time, the Bobcats are coming into their own. The last two matchups between the two teams have meant so much more than in years past.

Craven and Colton wrote about that this weekend:

I literally could not write it better than my two friends did.

This series has evolved into what it always should have been, something explosive for fans and something fiery for the region.

This is one of the biggest cities in Texas versus a hill country community. A lot of these guys grew up playing against one another. The storylines will forever write themselves even as Texas State heads to the PAC-12. This game should be one of the state’s marquee matchups.

Looking ahead, the Bobcats now turn their attention to the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils and Cam Skattebo got the best of the Bobcats last year at UFCU Stadium. This time, though, momentum appears to be on the ‘Cats side.

The Sun Devils beat Northern Arizona University in their opener and then fell to Mississippi State over the weekend.

The Bobcats have continued to hurdle bugaboos in G.J. Kinne’s third year. I tweeted this weekend that I thought sometimes this team fails quizzes, but aces tests.

On the horizon is a big test for the team, Kinne and his coordinators. For the team, I think it’s more of a matter of riding the wave of momentum in front of you and continuing to play at a level consistent with your potential.

In my experience, I have not seen a Texas State, even under Kinne, do that well. We’re all looking toward that maturation in year three.

If this team comes back after beating a Big 12 team on the road, watch out, cause Andrew and I are going to have to eat major crow on a few of our takes from earlier in the year. I blame that mostly on the lack of access, though. What can I say about a team I know nothing about?

Much more on the game ahead this week on the show.

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