Texan football, Tarleton featured on National ESPN broadcast

BY ANDREW UTTERBACK / Multimedia Journalist

The Tarleton Texans took home a 26-23 victory over the McNeese Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 24 after the game came down to a nail-biting 4th quarter. This game was not only a season-opening purple-out home game, but also the first Tarleton football game to be broadcast on national TV. ESPN 2 carried the 2:30 p.m. game played at Memorial Stadium in Stephenville, Texas and the Texans did not disappoint. 

I got a chance to speak to Head Coach Todd Whitten, starting quarterback Victor Gabalis and corner Kasyus Kurns about the atmosphere of the national stage. 

For Coach Whitten the ESPN coverage was an “added bonus” saying that there is never a normal game and that he and the team “always feel pressure to play well and get a win for our university.” He said the ESPN presence amounted to a “nice atmosphere” and that they were “very thankful for the opportunity to play.” 

Gabalis echoed this, saying the focus in the locker room wasn’t national TV, but instead that the team was just “excited to see how we were going to perform.”

Kurns says that after practicing in the heat all week, he and his teammates were ready to be themselves, “Play our game and play for each other.” 

He also said that the team had been practicing outside in the heat all week, which likely helped the Texans overcome the nearly 100 degree Texas heat. 

Both players, with a smile on their face, said it was nice for their friends and family to be able to see them play and added that their phones were full of texts from family and friends watching from around the country. 

Kurns said that his family was able to watch him from back in Chicago and that he was “truly blessed to have that opportunity.”

Both Gabalis and Kurns had strong performances to kick off the season. Gabalis threw for 140 yards and a touchdown, helping put the Texans up 26-7 before exiting the game at halftime due to a thumb injury which should sideline him for around three weeks. Kurns had two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a touchdown to help the Texans secure the win and start the season 1-0. 

Tarleton just recently became a Division 1 school and their football program is certainly off to a strong start.