Athletics

Texas State Bobcats are champions on and off the field. Now our teams are poised to take on a new athletics challenge — a move to the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2012. That move will advance the university’s football program to the highest level of collegiate competition, the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). By supporting the Athletics Pillar, you can be part of history and help make this move a smooth one.

Texas State students overwhelmingly supported “The Drive” to FBS. In 2008, they voted to double their student athletics fee over a six-year period. Thanks to that commitment on the part of the students and the support of many generous donors, we have already made substantial progress. The new baseball and softball complex, the new track stadium and the Jerry D. and Linda Gregg Fields West Side Stadium Complex are shining examples of that progress.

In addition to an investment in facilities, the university must add an additional 44 full athletics scholarships to be divided equally between men’s and women’s sports. With your support of the Athletics Pillar, Texas State will be able to attract athletes who will contribute to a strong winning tradition in all sports. Contributions to the Bobcat Club go directly to fund these scholarships and help the Bobcats be more competitive and make you a part of our team.

The conference and divisional realignment will mean greater visibility, increased media attention, more fans, and stiffer competition. A $32 million expansion of Bobcat Stadium will be completed in time to open against Texas Tech on September 8, 2012. This project will bring the seating capacity of the stadium to 30,000 and will bowl-in the north end zone.

The expansion will also make space for locker rooms for visitors and referees, a Strutters Gallery, a fan shop and improvements to the concourse. These renovations will make it possible for Texas State to accommodate a growing fan base while making it easier for coaches to attract top student-athletes. An $800,000 renovation of Strahan Coliseum is under way and a master plan for further work at Strahan is being developed.

At the end of the gradual phase-in of the athletics fee increase the students approved in 2008, Texas State students will contribute $13 million a year to Bobcat athletics. But for Texas State to become a truly competitive FBS program, funding balanced between student fees and other sources of revenue is essential.

Your support of the Athletics Pillar, in addition to revenue raised through sponsorships and other initiatives, will combine to form the investments that must be made for Texas State Athletics to move to the next level of competition — a move that will bring more national recognition and school pride to Texas State and have a dramatic and lasting impact on the whole university.