A look into the new era of Tarleton Football

BY JAXON HANSARD / Sports Editor

The upcoming semester starts a new school year for Tarleton State University, but there will bring a whole new set of standards and excitement for its athletics. With the start of the fall 2024 semester, all athletics will be NCAA Division 1 playoff eligible with Texan Football bringing the most anticipation, starting soon after classes begin.  

There have been changes to the coaching staff and 2024 schedule since its original release. It is sure to be an exciting start coming off the previous 8-3 season.

Coach Todd Whitten won the United Athletic Conference (UAC) Coach of the Year award last year. He plans on keeping his practices and goals “more of the same” this year.

“My expectations are high,” Coach Whitten said.

“You have to be consistent and play every Saturday,” Whitten said. “We’re not going to get ahead of ourselves but we certainly feel good about winning eight games a year ago and we know we have that in us.”

The Texans start the season on Aug. 24 in Stephenville at 2:30 p.m. with a chance to gain viewership with their first game being aired  on ESPN 2 while hosting McNeese.

On Aug. 31, the Texans will travel to Waco to play the Baylor University Bears on the Big 12 network at 6 p.m.. Tarleton will stay on the road for the next two games against Houston Christian on Sept. 6 and Northern Alabama on Sept. 21.

The Texans will look to add to their win streak against Houston Christian after last season’s dominating 49-7 victory over the Huskies. Conference play will begin against Northern Alabama as Tarleton hopes to extend the two game winning streak coming from a high scoring match up last year where the final score favored Tarleton 52-31.

The purple and white will return to Memorial Stadium on Sept. 28 for a game during family weekend against Southern Louisiana on ESPN+. 

Conference play will resume on Oct. 5 at Southern Utah and play out the rest of the season. Southern Utah is the only loss from the 2023 season that is returning.

Oct. 12 will mark the Homecoming game for Tarleton as they battle Utah Tech at 6 p.m..

The three game stretch from Oct. 26 Austin Peay, Nov. 2 Eastern Kentucky and Nov 9 West Georgia will be important for the Texans to take control or make up for their record and prove their skills.

The final two games will be a home stretch for the Texans against Abilene Christian University and Central Arkansas. The I-30 rivalry will be tested again this season at Memorial Stadium for the annual Military Appreciation game while Central Arkansas will be the final game of the season and will be the Senior game to recognize the graduating football players.

Early in the offseason came a flurry of coaching changes. Devante Sims was hired as an assistant coach over the cornerbacks, Stephen Lee was hired to be the assistant coach of tight ends and the Texans hired PJ Hall as a defensive assistant. 

Promotions include Adam Austin to offensive coordinator, Scott Carey being the new co-offensive coordinator, Dylan Wagner was named director of recruiting and player development, Michael Walton being assigned to assistant coach of lead safeties and most recently defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix being promoted to Assistant Head Coach.

Victor Gabalis is returning as Quarterback for the Texans after having a successful season. The culture set but the coaches have played a big role in his success.

With a lot of movement and shape around coaching positions it’s easy to feel like you’re restarting and build new relationships but with us we’re such a big family that it makes the transition being smoother,” Gabalis said.

Amongst the excitement for this years team, Darius Cooper is returning to take over the wide receiver one-slot and play with the Texans after missing some time in 2023 season but having a big impact on the team.

“We come and we fight everyday, it doesn’t matter what’s going on with your outside lives when we’re here it’s time to play football, we’re so family-oriented that being consistent and having integrity is what we strive for,” Cooper said.

This new Texan Football era with playoff eligibility and Steve Uryasz as the Vice President and Director of Athletics kicks off at Memorial Stadium on Aug. 24 at 2:30 p.m..