CI: Is Texas State looking into improving game day experience and the game day atmosphere?

DC: We were UTSA’s Texas Tech this year. We were the game on their schedule that everybody wanted to see, that everyone turned out for. They had good crowds all year long and you have to give them credit. Their game day atmosphere was terrific, but I also think our Texas Tech game atmosphere was unbelievable and terrific. You put 33,000 people in a stadium somewhere and you are going to walk away with a great experience. It’s when you have 15,000 people in a 30,000-seat stadium, that’s when you can do a lot of promotions and you can do a lot of in-game stuff. It’s hard to get past the atmosphere when a quarter of the seats are empty.

The Texas State volleyball team experienced some growing pains in their first season in the WAC, but transitioned with overall success into a larger conference.

Alexandra Simms, team leader in kills, is a sophomore and will no doubt be a big contributor for the next two years in the program. Texas State will, however, lose a staple in the program—senior setter Caleigh McCorquodale, who led the team in assists the past two seasons.

Junior right side hitter Amari Deardorff and junior middle blocker Ashlee Hilbun were named to the All-WAC Second Team by the league’s coaches, and will both return to the program after standout seasons. No Bobcat was named to the All-WAC First Team.

Texas State football celebrates after its first FBS win Sept. 1 against the University of Houston. The Bobcats finished 4-8 this season.

Texas State football ended its first FBS season with a 66-28 rout of the New Mexico State University Aggies, a victory that ended the team’s five game losing streak.

“We don’t have very many seniors to replace,” said Coach Dennis Franchione. “I think it’s going to turn out fine. I think that the last eight to 10 spots are the hardest to fill. We will continue to upgrade our talent level, the size and strength. We will continue to recruit the junior college players—not a lot, but some.”

The Bobcat defense, ranked 122nd in the nation coming into the season finale against New Mexico State, forced three second quarter turnovers on their way to a 66-28 beat down of the Aggies in front of 15,108 spectators at Bobcat Stadium.

Tied at 21, following six straight possessions that went for touchdowns to start the game, Bobcat senior linebacker Joplo Bartu’s career night gave Texas State’s defense, last in the nation in sacks, a huge boost. Bartu forced a fumble on New Mexico State’s quarterback Andrew Manley, which was recovered by junior defensive lineman Blake McColloch and returned for a touchdown.

Bartu finished with 17 total tackles, 12 unassisted, eight tackles for loss and four sacks. The Bobcats as a team recorded six sacks, matching their total sack number from the last eleven games.

Junior middle blocker Ashlee Hilbun and junior right side hitter Amari Deardorff spearheaded the effort this weekend for the Bobcats as the team collected two wins in as many tries to remain in fifth place in the WAC.

Against Louisiana Tech University, Texas State took the first set 25-23, the second 25-13 and the finale for the sweep 25-19. Coupled with their victory over University of Texas-Arlington, the Bobcats have won seven out of their last 10 and look to get a win in their last three games of the season.

Coach Karen Chisum said these wins were that much more important with the season winding down because they were on the road.

“Got two wins and it was very good,” Chisum said. “There’s no doubt about it. We needed those two wins desperately. Anytime you get two wins on the road, it’s great.”

Chisum recognized Hilbun’s dominating performance in both matches.

The Texas State football team will face off against the 7-1 Louisiana Tech University Bulldogs Nov. 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Bobcat Stadium. It will be the next and fifth home game for the team this year. The game will be televised on the Longhorn Network and will be the last evening game Texas State plays. The final home game for the Bobcats is slated for 3:00 p.m. against New Mexico State University.

Floor seat prices for men and women’s basketball games for the 2012-2013 season were announced on Monday. For women’s basketball contests, floor seats will cost $100 for the season. For men’s games, the season price is $350. New floor seats were introduced last year at $350 for men’s games and $200 for women’s games. Both teams’ home schedules begin Friday Nov. 9.

Utah State (6-2, 2-0) @ UTSA (5-2, 1-1)

Oct. 27, 1:00 p.m., ESPN3

Utah State is trying to win eight straight conference games for the first time in program history. The UTSA Roadrunners are tied for second in the nation in sacks allowed, but have lost two straight games despite beginning the season 5-0. The Aggies have gone 11-3 in their last 14 games, their best stretch of 14 games since 1972.

Texas State (3-3, 1-0) @ San Jose State (5-2, 1-1)

Oct. 27, 3:00 p.m.

This will be the first game between the Bobcats and the Spartans. The game marks Texas State’s first of four road games in their next five contests. San Jose State is looking to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. Special teams will be key: the Bobcats are ninth in punt returns while the Spartans have three special teams touchdowns for the first time since 1970.

Louisiana Tech (6-1, 1-0) @ New Mexico State (1-6, 0-3)

Texas State baseball will face the University of Texas 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin. It will be the first opportunity for Bobcat fans to check out the new baseball lineup in action and Texas State’s only fall 2012 game. The team’s schedule is expected to be released in November.

Alissa Scott was named soccer’s WAC Defender of the Week Monday by the conference. The Bobcats’ defense as a whole allowed one goal last weekend. The defensive effort was followed by getting outscored 6-0 the last two games. Scott has started 12 of the 15 games for Texas State this year and played all 180 minutes last weekend.