New Team, Who Dis?

Yes, we're talking women's hoops in July

Author

Jakob Rodriguez
August 02, 2024

Senior Day for the Bobcats, November 24, 2018.

Arkansas State was in town and beating the dog shit out of us.

Seriously, the final score was 33 - 7 for the Red Wolves in the end. I was on the sidelines, back then no one was really there besides me, a handful of Star people and Gerald the San Marcos Daily Record’s trusty sports photographer.

The fire Teis movement had been huge all season long.

There was also a lot of momentum for change. Rumours were swirling and the crowds had blood on their minds.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw an unmistakeable figure in a suit, it was Texas State’s former Athletic Director Larry Teis pretty much jogging into the visitor tunnel.

I looked around, I saw The Record’s Nick Castillo and at the time The Austin American-Statesman’s Keff Ciardello on the sideline. We all looked each other in the eye. I started to run, Keff followed, Nick stayed behind.

I was in great shape back then, but I looked like even more of a baby face, catching up wasn’t the issue. Potentially being arrested was. What did some kid get on the sideline?

But, like I said, back in those days, not really a huge deal to be on the field, soon enough I had cleared the 50-yard line.

Keff and I ended up catching Teis in the tunnel where, to his credit, he gave us an interview. Albeit out of breath, out of sorts and probably very surprised to see two reporters waiting for him.

I don’t really remember what came from that to be honest. I don’t even really remember going to the press conference afterward. But I remember finally feeling noticed.

Why the hell am I telling this story?

To explain that things for a long time were not peaches and cream. That same crazy 20-something University Star Sports Editor would end up becoming one of the top TV producers in San Antonio and Texas. Then a couple years later he would hatch this idea for a lil show named Squarin’ Around with his buddy and now, shoutout to DCTF, we get a world of difference from the Athletic Department, coupled with a lot of new faces and a lot of change from the administration.

Change is good. What we needed back then was a whole lot of access and transparency. Now we have that.

This week, we used it to talk to Coach Z about her recruiting class and last season, one that was filled with obstacles and disappointment. I can’t remember doing such a raw and fun interview with a coach before, maybe this sort of style of interview is overdue, but I think it’s a healthy way to process for all parties.

We typically have questions without answers after any season finishes. Consider this week a big proof of concept for what may come. And shoutout to Coach Z for being so ready and willing to share insights into her program.

Thanks, Texas State. Sorry for chasing the AD through a tunnel that one time, but it all brought us here and that’s the important part right?

Thanks for Squarin’!