Texas State
student
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| Photo by Felisha Bull |
As another fall semester comes to an end so does another Texas State
football season. Saturday was the last
home game of the season and student attendance was crucial.
The Texas State football program is bowl-eligible for the first time in
school history. This means the team
could receive an invitation to participate in a Football Bowl Subdivision conference
game, according to the athletics website.
This opportunity would not only add to Texas State’s reputation, but
would also allow for the school to follow in the footsteps of larger Texas
universities like University of Texas and Texas A&M.
The Sunbelt website outlines the qualifications needed to receive an
invitation. Although the team has
achieved the necessary six wins, student attendance is one of the major factors
in whether or not a team actually gets invited.
Currently, student attendance has not been adequate enough, even for a second
year FBS team. Consequently, the lacking student presence
and support may hinder the team’s chances of being selected.
In an attempt to increase game attendance, the Associated Student
Government implemented many social media tactics on Twitter and Facebook to
raise awareness about bowl-eligibility and the effect attendance could have on
the team. Although
#TXST2K13PackBobcatStadium was trending on most social media outlets, it seemed
students did not take the hashtag seriously.
“I believe the attendance could have been better this game,” said
Umreen Imam, a nineteen-year-old sophomore ASG representative from
Houston. “It’s our last home game and we
need to support the team.”
Imam was not the only student annoyed with her peer’s lack of support.
“I try and make every game I can!” said Katelyn Angelino, a
nineteen-year-old Chi Omega sorority member.
“We’ve worked really hard and being eligible this early after we joined
our new conference is great, but I think more students should have stayed after
halftime. Our guys are out there for
four quarters and we should support them for four quarters.”
Although attendance was the main topic for Saturday’s game, not all
thought was focused on student turnout. As
the game came to a close and the Bobcats fell to Western Kentucky in a 7 – 38
loss, a few senior students reminisced on their time at Texas State.
“This is my last game as an undergrad and I can’t believe it’s here,”
said Roman Peterson, a psychology senior from Lake Jackson. “I am so proud to see my Bobcats become so
much more than when I first got here.”
Peterson’s positive thoughts were shared by others in his group who
were also attending their last game as students.
“I actually feel a sense of pride seeing as how the weather hasn’t
deterred me tonight,” said Myisha Bradham, a communication design senior, who
was not enjoying the below-forty temperatures.
“I’m proud to be a Bobcat even through rain, hail or snow.”
The Bobcat football team has one chance left to increase their chances
of receiving a bowl invitation this season when they play the Troy Trojans on
Nov. 29 in Alabama. Students can keep up
with Texas State’s bowl chances on the athletics website www. txstatebobcats.com
and social media outlets using #txst.
