An early first quarter 88-yard interception return for a touchdown by Red Raider Cody Davis was just part of spoiling the first home game for Texas State, a 58-10 loss for the Bobcats in front of a Bobcat Stadium record 33,006.

After junior linebacker David Mayo recovered a Texas Tech fumble on the first series of the game, Texas State starting quarterback Shaun Rutherford threw the interception resulting in the long touchdown. Rutherford was engineering a drive inside Texas Tech territory before the turnover.

Offensively, Texas State struggled to move the ball consistently all night. Rutherford went 0-7 passing in the first quarter and did not complete his first pass until the start of the fourth quarter.

Texas State football defeated the Houston Cougars in their first ever FBS game 30-13 in front of 32,207 fans at Robertson Stadium, the second biggest crowd in the venue’s history, which dates back to 1942.

“I’m just really proud of our players and happy and proud for our university, fans students and administration that’s had such great vision for us to make a move like this [to the FBS],” Coach Dennis Franchione said. “The coaches put together a wonderful game plan on both sides of the football.”

The Bobcats used a balanced attack (248 rushing yards, 196 passing yards) and held the nation’s No. 1 offense from last year to 326 total yards of offense and just one touchdown — a 64-yard pass to wide receiver Larry McDuffey.

The last few years have been rough on San Marcos Rattlers football. Pitted against some of the toughest competition in the state, the Rattlers have been unable to match top-tier 5-A talent.

The last two years, San Marcos was paired with state champions, Steele High School. But with Steele out of the district and usual power- house Judson under a brand new coaching staff for the first time in over 30 years, the Rattlers see the opportunity to strike.

“We have an explosive offense,” Cameron Kenney, offensive lineman, said. “Running backs are hitting the holes really well and wide receivers are catching all the balls. We are looking really good.”

A trio of sisters is continuing to make their mark on Texas State soccer.

Britney Curry, the first of the sisters, came to Texas State in 2007 and went on the shatter the Bobcat record books with 37 career goals. Three years later, sister Sydney Curry joined the program and played with Britney in 2010, starting in six games her freshman year. This year, the final Curry sister, Lynsey, decided to come add to the Curry chapters at Texas State.

Last season, Bobcat soccer expectations were at an all-time high: win the Southland title and come away victorious in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The first was earned. The second was not, as the Bobcats fell 2-0 in the first round game to Baylor. Following that loss, the WAC Coaches Poll in July ranked Texas State sixth out of nine teams.

How quickly life changes on the diamond.

Basketball may be able to turn a late deficit into a victory within minutes. Football can turn momentum with one big play. But baseball standings can change within days, and make a fan do a double-take after one big series sweep.

This exact scenario happened for the Bobcats this past weekend. Texas State had lost six-straight games, vexing fans and causing media personalities to say harsh things about the offensive production. Then the Bobcats rallied the season with a three-game sweep, the team’s first of a Southland Conference opponent this year. Not only was it a sweep, but one against the Central Arkansas Bears, who the Bobcats trailed in the standings by two games. With the sweep, the Bobcats leapfrogged not only the Bears, but also McNeese State and Northwestern State to climb to fourth place in conference.

In the past, criticizing Texas State athletic advertising has almost been a monthly ritual. Now, Texas State’s marketing seems to be catching on to ways to make the university an upper-tier member in Division One football, or at least Football Bowl Subdivision caliber.

For those who watch ESPN on a regular basis, Texas State has paid for commercial spots recently, most notably on shows like “Around the Horn” and “Pardon the Interruption.” The ad features a photo snapshot gallery of Bobcat fans and the stands packed full. Bobcat radio personalities Brant Freeman and Bill Culhane recorded audio bites of how exciting the atmosphere could be at Bobcat Stadium for the opening game against Texas Tech.

It appeared that Texas State was on the verge of pulling out another weekday win over a ranked opponent — through four and a half innings. However, early third inning mistakes cost the Bobcats offensively and Texas’ bats eventually got to Taylor Black, freshman pitcher.

Tyler Sibley, senior second basemen, fails to steal second base April 17 against the Texas Longhorns at the UFCU Disch-Falk Field.

The Longhorns pulled away 2-0 in front of a near-capacity crowd of 6,917 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin. The loss marks the sixth in a row for the Bobcats.

Anything should be considered a possibility to get Texas State national television exposure, and all options should be weighed for the Western Athletic Conference as its image drifts away from the mainstream college football landscape.

Even though the 2012 football schedule has Texas State playing on just Saturdays this year it doesn’t mean that can’t change. Bobcat fans, how does weeknight football sound?

Tuesday and Wednesday night football might sound silly to some, but if it means getting on ESPN or any other national network, it should really be considered. What else are Bobcat fans going to do on a weeknight? Study?

For as big of a commuter school as Texas State is, the Bobcats should be clamoring to get one of their primetime spots on ESPN’s weeknight broadcasts. In the past, ESPN has aired a number of games on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, including Northern Illinois vs. Ball State last year and Boise State vs. Louisiana Tech, a WAC game, in 2010.

Spring football came to a close with last Saturday’s Spring Game, which provided coaches a chance to evaluate players in game situations while the fans got a first glimpse at the Bobcats’ new look.

Last week’s Marroon Vs. Gold Spring football game gave coaches a chance to evaluate players’ positions, conditioning, and skills.

The faces of potential impact players emerged, according to Coach Dennis Franchione, including Joshua Robinson, redshirt freshman linebacker, and Chase Harper, senior tight end, who will also be playing on the defensive line.

Now, Texas State moves on to other key areas that include strength, conditioning and making sure the players finish in good standing with academics.