Depleted Bobcats ready for test
Depth will be key vs. Sun Belt rival South Alabama.
Before the season began, Dennis Franchione opined that a difference in this year’s team from previous years was Texas State’s ability to develop a real two-deep lineup to rest his starters and fill holes when injuries happen.
That depth has been put to the test over the Bobcats’ past two games as injuries hit the team, first to the defensive line and at linebacker, then at running back and the offensive line.
Now, after losses to Houston and Louisiana-Lafayette, Sun Belt rival South Alabama represents gut-check time on Saturday.
“We’ve had eight season-ending type injuries. In 40 years of coaching, I think I’ve seen injuries this bad twice,” Franchione said. “But you close ranks and march on with what you have. We’ll get some guys back that we didn’t have against Houston and Lafayette; they may not be at 100 percent, but they’ll play.
“Our depth is being taxed more than we expected, but everyone deals with injuries. We still have to coach better and play better.”
Texas State and South Alabama have split their meetings the past two seasons, with both games decided on the final snap.
In 2013, Jason Dann’s 41-yard field goal seconds after the Bobcats converted on fourth-and-24 handed Texas State a 33-31 win. Last year, the Bobcats drove to South Alabama’s 4-yard line in the final seconds before Tyler Jones’ pass into the end zone on the final play fell incomplete and allowed the Jaguars a 24-21 victory.
“We’ve had almost 400 plays between us in the last two games, includ- ing the kicking game, and the two at the end made the difference,” Franchione said.
“We prepare for our games to end that way, and obviously every game is a little different. You take the script as it’s laid out to you.”
South Alabama has been bolstered by the transfer of players, and an influx of coaches, from the football program at Alabama-Birmingham, which shut down after the 2014 season but then reversed field and will resume play in 2016.
“There’s no doubt that getting those guys from UAB, which went 6-6 last season, has been a good thing for South Alabama, but not necessarily good for us that play them,” Franchione said.
The coach said this week’s game is important to get the Bobcats on a roll.
With four of their next five games at home, they still have plenty of time to get back in the chase for a bowl game.
“We are looking at this week as a new start, a second half to our season,” Franchione said.
“It’s time to show that this team can win and live up to all our expectations.”