D.J. Hall (61) is a preseason All-America candidate for Texas State this season. The Bobcats were enthusiastic as they held their first official summer workouts under new head coach Dennis Franchione. Texas State opens its 2011 season at Texas Tech on September 3. (Photo Courtesy of Texas State University)
STAFF REPORTS
New head coach Dennis Franchione welcomed back 105 players to fall camp with a 2½-hour practice in shorts and helmets on Friday night that began on the Bobcat Practice Fields and concluded under the lights of Bobcat Stadium on Friday night.
The workout was Texas State’s first preseason workout this fall under Franchione, who returns to the school in 2011 after serving as the head coach for the Bobcats in 1990 and 1991 when he compiled a 13-9 record and led Texas State to back-to-back winning seasons for the first time as a NCAA Division I-AA member.
“For a first day, there was some good carryover from the spring by our returning players,” said Franchione. “They had a good attitude and tried to do things well. This is a hungry football team who tries hard to do what we ask them to do. They don’t always do things as well as we would like, but they do it as well as they can. From a coaching standpoint, that has been a huge pleasure. It isn’t always that way when a new coach comes in.”
Texas State opens its 2011 season at Texas Tech on September 3 and travels to Wyoming on September 10. The Bobcats play their first home game on September 17 when Texas State plays host to Tarleton State at Bobcat Stadium. It is the first of six home games for the Bobcats this year, who also play host to Nicholls on Oct. 1, Lamar on Oct. 15, Northwestern State on Oct. 29, Prairie View A&M on Nov. 5 and Sam Houston State on Nov. 19.
“The expectations we have are great this year especially with the coaches we have and the players’ attitude,” Texas State wide receiver Darius Bolden said. “The all-around atmosphere is going to help us do good things this season.”
