Top Ten Moments in UTSA Football 2011

10. UTSA Jerseys Soft-Reveal

For whatever reason, UTSA opted not to officially reveal their jerseys as they were rumored to do one week before kickoff. We may never know why the cards fell this way, but perhaps it was for the best. One night Steven Kurfehs posted a couple of pictures of himself wearing his jersey and, well, Facebook BLEW UP. I hate using the word “viral” but it’s pretty applicable in this occasion. The jerseys were sharp and minimalist (although I’m hearing that’s changing a bit next year, possible more to come on that soon). Nearly everyone loved them. Students and fans got uber-hyped for the season, and it was all grassroots. Damn, I used another word I hate.

9. Erik Brown/Ashaad Mabry Transfers

Bob Owen/SAEN

Just a few weeks before the season started (and a week after, in Brown’s case), UTSA received an unexpected influx of talent that provided a nice boost to the on-field production of the fledgling Roadrunners. Mabry is a 6’3, 300 lb. defensive tackle that transferred from Boone Picken’s WonderWorld at Oklahoma State to a football program that, at that point, had never even played a real football game. Mabry once worked out in world-class multi-million dollar facilities in Stillwater, but now throws weight around in a steamy, underground, outdated gym that is actually a converted P.E. classroom. Mabry was a big time recruit at MacArthur HS, drawing offers from several big-name programs. And now here he is at humble UTSA. Mabry chose to transfer back to his hometown in order to be close to his ill mother. While Ashaad only started in four games, his presence was felt throughout the entire season. The victim of numerous double-teams, Mabry finished the season with 20 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, one sack, and four quarterback hurries. As a true freshman. 19 years old.

Brian Baer/SAEN

To put it simply, Erik Brown was a shot in the arm for this program. After struggling to see the field at Fresno State, Brown flew back down to San Antonio, where he led Converse Judson to a state championship in his junior year of high school before moving to Arizona. A quick, instinctual cornerback, Brown brought a sense of stability to what was likely the Roadrunners’ weakest position. Brown’s infusion couldn’t have come at a better time. Jeremy Hall and Crosby Adams were both routinely toasted by McMurry receivers in Game Two. After just a week and a half of practice, Brown saw considerate playing time at Southern Utah and then quickly evolved into a starter and consistent performer. Brown also usurped punt return duties. Thanks to UTSA’s FCS status, Brown was able to save a year of eligibility and play as a redshirt sophomore.

8. UTSA Mariachi Band

via Urban Spotlight San Antonio

It’s no secret that UTSA is desperate to instill some type of unique tradition. In a culturally rich city like San Antonio, it’s not going to take too much time. In Game Two the Spirit of San Antonio marched out with a special group of mariachi players dubbed "Los Paisanos". The crowd absolutely loved it. Mariachi is as puro as it gets and it’s crucial that we embrace our city’s tradition as we begin to establish our identity as a program and fan base. I wouldn’t mind seeing the mariachi become a staple of SOSA in the future.

7. UTSA Signs its Second Recruiting Class

via Kens5

Coker and his coaching staff made a huge splash on the recruiting trail in 2011, signing 28 outstanding, accomplished athletes to scholarships. While UTSA failed to attract the size and experience they were looking for on the offensive line, they were able to land some real steals at skilled positions. Personally, the coaching staff proved to me that they were extremely talented skill evaluators. Just take a look at all of the contributors this year that were unranked by online recruiting services: Franky Anaya, Kenny Harrison, David Morgan, Jason Neill, Brandon Reeves, Payton Rion, Alondre Thorn, Triston Wade, Josh Walker. Those are all guys that either started or saw serious playing time against Division I talent. All but two of them are true freshmen. That's not just being good at evaluating talent-- that's a minor miracle.

6. UTSA vs. SHSU

Jack Wilson

Some people might think it’s weird that I have a loss as one of my top moments of the season, but if you were there you would understand. It was UTSA’s first away game within reasonable driving distance and the Roadrunner faithful represented very well. I would say at minimum ¼ of the crowd were UTSA fans but it sounded like ¾. If you’re living in a cave, Sam Houston is playing played in the FCS national championship game and they’re still undefeated in ’11 finished their season with just one loss. UTSA almost spoiled their miracle season, but two fumbles and three interceptions from Soza gave the Bearkats too many opportunities to wrap it up, leading to a bitter 22-7 road loss. The Roadrunner defense was stifling against SHSU’s three-headed run game, holding the Bearkats way below offensive averages. After the hard-fought loss, the team came over to the visitor section to join the band and fan base in the alma mater. In that moment, surrounded by new friends with shared passion, college football at UTSA was very real. A family was starting to form. This was everything we had hoped for. There was also copious amounts of smack talked on both ends leading up to the game, which was fun.

5. First Pep Rally

via yours truly

With anticipation and anxiety running high, thousands of Roadrunner fans invaded the River Walk on Friday evening before the inaugural kick off for the program's first ever pep rally. High fives were exchanged, gallons of beer and top-shelf margs were consumed, but most importantly, UTSA staked its territorial claim on the city of San Antonio. Mobs of Blue and Orange filled downtown San Antonio in all directions. The River Walk pep rally was an awesome flair of San Antonio—as President Romo put it: “Isn’t this the coolest pep rally on Earth?”

4. Georgia State vs. UTSA

They had to have their backs against the wall to do it, but UTSA finally beat a Division I team. Both defenses took turns whacking at the opposition in a low-scoring affair. Nic Johnston, Erik Brown, Mark Waters, and Chris Johnson all stepped up with big plays to put kicker Sean Ianno in position to send the game into overtime and then later seal the 17-14 victory.

3. "Birth of a Program" on Fox Sports Southwest

After diligent work and perhaps some pestering from the UTSA administration, Fox Sports Southwest agreed to carry a six episode television series following the birth of the university’s football program. The broadcast brought the Roadrunners into the living rooms of 10,000,000 Texans and Oklahomans, providing crucial exposure. You have no idea how many “UTSA is starting a football team?” tweets I read while the show was on. While the production value varied by episode, it was cool to get a personal look at the team and whet our appetites for actual games.

2. Ticket Sales Pandemonium

On 9/3/11 a whopping, staggering, deafening 56,783 people showed up to make their place in history as UTSA started their football program against Larry Coker’s alma mater Northeastern State. While the official record-breaking announcement of the attendance was jaw-dropping, the buildup throughout the weeks leading up to the game was intense and exhilarating. Thanks to Ticketmaster’s interactive seating chart, we were able to approximate ticket sales in real time, watching as seats flew off the shelves by the dozens every time one hit F5. Season ticket sales finished at around 12,000. Average attendance set a new NCAA record for start-up programs with 35,521. Who said San Antonio wasn’t going to support UTSA football again?

1. Game One

via k0nwu in our Flickr Group

Could you have drawn it up better? The atmosphere was elite, the turnout was record-breaking, the Roadrunners looked ready to go undefeated, and the beer was a-flowin'. Everything was so flawless, from the first tunnel entrance to the echoes of "U-T-S-A" through the concourse as the masses of Roadrunner fans gloated in pride after the victory. For some, it had been a 40+ year wait for football. For others, it was just a curious walk across the street to see the new hot thing in town. For all, it was a moment not soon to be forgotten. As Mark Dyer of IMG put it, "You would have thought UTSA was playing the Texas Longhorns for the national title rather than a Division II team"



Before you bash me about how terrible my rankings are, be sure to leave your top ten in the comments section!

Podcast Episode 11: Post Season Analysis

We look over Dan McCarney's offensive breakdowns, pimp Adam's other sites, look at next season and have a lot of laughs. It is about an hour and 22 minutes. Some explicit language. Enjoy!

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Another Take on the Offense

Quarterback

I am not as high on Soza’s performance as either Dan McCarney, or Jared. It isn’t that I don’t recognize the the situation that Eric was in an expected something outstanding when an average performance would be satisfactory. No, I had no problems with his accuracy. Leadership and the ability to manage fellow freshman doesn’t have much to do with not throwing the ball into the ground. In fact -- just to be the a-hole here -- it can be argued that leading a team of peers is not as mammoth of an ordeal as commanding the respect of guys who have been to Rose Bowls and National Championships a la Colt McCoy or something. Granted, this is a totally different scenario but so is the situation in Akron and Louisiana Tech.

I don’t want to diminish the guy’s season but merely put look at it for what it was. He did an commendable job considering he had an unsettled line. Both he and the running backs would have benefited from more experience up front. That must be considered. Also, I have to give weight to Travis Bush’s comments. He knows what demands are placed on the quarterback in this system and how Eric Soza should run it. He knows what plays were called and the progressions he may or may not have missed.

Both Jared and I have been guilty of tossing out some easy Soza hate when he throws a terrible pass or coughs up a fumble at a most inopportune time. Afterwards we are both more levelheaded. That said, his turnovers were still pretty bad. I don’t have a problem with inconsistency in general as much as the timing and nature of his turnovers. I am not even talking about early season stuff against the likes of Southern Utah. The terrible throws in the Georgia State on? Those are what stand out.

Hitting the ground on a slant, swing, and screen --especially wide-open stuff is scary. That is what holds me back from giving all gold stars here. I’m hoping the wideouts and newness of the system and lack of confidence in the line is what made him short his throws but I can’t help but feel that is a bit too generous. It doesn’t matter too much, now though. Everyone has plenty of time to improve on all that stuff. Hopefully Soza isn’t so entrenched that he feels overconfident and Simmons, Polite, and Conque give him a run for his position. It’ll do everyone some good.

Running Back

I was looking forward to some magic from these guys. We did get some, but not from Chris Johnson, David Glasco, nor the other guys. Instead it was Evil Evans Okotcha. This isn’t terribly unusual in college ball. You hear about a heralded class and think you have a stable of studs when only one or two do anything if at all. There are many reasons for this ranging from guys not fitting in with the system, not adjusting, mis-evaluation of talent, or bad luck. Hell, sometimes it just takes time.

I like what we have here at the end though. This position is fickle and a handful of guys similarly talented isn’t a bad thing especially in this offense. The multiplicity means you don’t need a workhorse nor a feature guy (though Bush seems to want one). Having a two-back system a a Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown or a Reggie Bush and Lendale White. I like Evans as a power guy and Brandon Armstrong as a speedy changeup. Brandon was an awesome threat on swings and out of the spread. Oklahoma used to kill teams with those passes to Demarco Murray (among other things). I can live with Glasco, Johnson, Williams and any other guy spelling them until they figure out whatever they need to figure out in and out of the Alamodome.

I figure Bush wants a feature back so he can do everything he wants to do on offense. That means a guy that motion out to the slot and also blow someone up on a blitz. Every team in the nation wants that, too.

Wide Receiver and TEs

There isn’t much to add here. Kam Jones was beastly. Some guys had drops and there were a couple bright spots. Wideout is so dependent on the line and quarterback that it is hard to rate them objectively. As much as I like Kam, I’d like to see the ball spread around more organically than via formations and swapping roles. That is more a philosophical question that I’ll get to later.

Also, David Morgan made some nice catches.


Offensive Line

Really, we should have started with these guys as the entire operation’s success is tied to them. As mentioned, this was gigantic question mark entering the year. Travis Bush (admittedly) played it close to the vest early in the year. Short passes and safe runs saved everyone. The big guys did good and might have prevented disaster on a number of occasions. The running game struggled as they all do when manned by young, smallish lines. A better line (as these guys improve and we bring in those JUCO guys) will “solve” a lot of offensive problems. We aren’t going to find a bunch of road-pavers at this level so we need to find diamonds in the the rough, to use another terrible cliche. We need diamonds and dudes with smarts and cleverness akin to the service academies and Hawaii that PreSnapRead mentions here:

One thing that’s important to consider: Hawaii has to play things differently. The Warriors can’t play things straight, in other words, but must approach football in a similar way to the three service academies, each of which runs an offense that works on technique and precision, not speed and athleticism.

We probably don’t need to quirk it up as much but “technique and precision” are the keys to winning with less.

That brings me to the Offensive Coordinator.

He can call a really good game. He found ways to work with his personnel and got the football to Kam in a myriad of ways when it became clear that he was and is our biggest home run threat. He has gotten raves from opposing coaches and looks to go on to bigger and better things eventually.

The only thing that I wonder about is the complexity of the offense. With so many young players and especially on the offensive line, it seems odd to throw so many formations and sets at a team. It is making his quarterback look bad. It may not be totally deserved, but he has to know that no one cares.

Philosophically, I lean more toward the Air Raid stuff for a number of reasons, but also because it makes experts out of players in the tiny amount of teaching time available at this level. It also is very good at spreading the ball around. Each guy learns his position and only his position. Air Raid guys like Dana Holgorsen say “the ball finds the playmakers.” You don’t need to move them around.

Again, that is a philosophical quibble I have. Bush has brought some excitement and for whatever this program means for this town, it still is ultimately entertainment.

I can’t wait for the spring game.

Rambling Reflection: Minot State

I didn’t go to the game. I did go to four of the six home games so I feel like I did my part to contribute to the NCAA attendance record for a first year program.

I is a fun little trivia tidbit that slightly disarms the unknowledgeable. It probably will impress a recruit or two. Wow, they think, must be legit.. *

*While out in Austin, my friend was absolutely shocked (shocked!) that SA had 1.2 million people. She thought it was a tiny town or something.

The problem next (aside from raising funds for facilities) is maintaining the momentum from November 20, 2011 to early September 2012.

We’ll do our part out of loyalty and fandom and the school’s athletic administration will continue to tout the benefits of becoming a fan and supporter.

So far it has been nothing but success. Thirty-five thousand plus every couple of weeks to see the Runners play a schedule full of Never-Heard-Ofs. The immediate goal of fielding a Division 1-A (FBS) team has been achieved. Fielding a successful team is a separate, more difficult undertaking.

You, the fan and/or student need to be in it for the long haul.

Minot state was as good as a bowl game. They laid down like a good has-been boxer for a former champion. They were the journeyman fighter for an aging Rocky in a montage.

Next year will bring tougher opponents and 2013, an even tougher batch. I believe in increasing the challenges. You don’t repeat level one in Tetris. We probably will get our asses handed to us more often and by bigger margins than at Southern Utah and UC-Davis.

It is all part of the experience. These kinds of games are fun and maybe a little useful. Stretching your legs against inferior opponents has to be good for confidence and helps protect your younger players from mentally checking out. This is supposed to be a little fun after all.

I’ll be back with more later.

*So crazy to see that north of the capitol building there is tailgating awesomeness and south of it, on Congress there is hipster awesomeness. Austin is such a cool city.

Jared is writing something, too. Right now I’m watching Liverpool v Chelsea and recovering from the Austin trip.* Also, don't forget to check out El Convo for our ramblings on the basketball team. They are really good and there will be lots of winning going on. If you need something to scratch your basketball itch you should definitely come out to the games and hang with us, yo. Also, don't forget to check out El Convo for our ramblings on the basketball team. They are really good and there will be lots of winning going on. If you need something to scratch your basketball itch you should definitely come out to the games and hang with us, yo.

Episode 6: The First Loss

This week we talk about the loss to McMurray, preview the Southern Utah game with Hipster Football Jared and look at What It Means For The Program --even though I'm already tiring of the phrase.

An hour and a half of goodness:

Beat via @DJ_Sheednomics of UTSA with “Swaggy” by @BDSMonstaz



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Quick Links

If you haven't noticed, I have yet to post on Travis Bush' offense . Thanks to a myriad of factors preventing me from doing so, I'll just lazily link to two excellent tactics-themed sites:

Smart Football

Brophy

Enjoy!

Podcast Episode 4: Season Preview Edition

This week we had special guest Darrell from Rowdy Report to join us on a big community podcast special for the season preview edition.

This is a crazy two hour podcast. Enjoy:

1min: roster talk. Depth chart breakdown. We go position by position.

40th min: Player Interview Review and we talk mess about Mike Taylor of Ticket 760 a little.

50th min: Fearless Predictions!!

Hour+6 min: Northeastern State vs Bacone College breakdown and preview of Northeastern State.

Hour +16 min: Gameday talk, looking at Mysa Downtown Blog

Hour+25 min: Facial Hair talk with Jared. We rank the best facial/head hair styles on the squad.

Hour +32 min: Why Tx-San Antonio instead of UTSA.

Hour +43 min: Wrap up. Shout out to our twitter followers and other important info.








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Podcast Episode 3: Two Weeks

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Podcast Episode 2: Miami Vices

GIF courtesy of none other than LSUfreek

In this episode:

• Intro and Practice Talk 
• Ticket Talk -- 5:51
• TAMU moving! --12:18
• Miami! OMG! Strippers and hookers! --30:19
• What it means for the future of College Football --50:01

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Tradition and the Aggies

It is important to preserve a collective identity. Tradition serves as a guide, a handy code reference for the social norms by which the new person will abide. It can become stifling, however. New ideas can be crushed by the stodgy adherence to tradition, often called “the way we do things” or “that’s the way it’s always been.”

I’m not exactly sure which iteration of tradition we are talking about with this A&M move.

Pete Thamel says A&M is ignoring tradition. He is mostly talking about the long history of competition between them and Texas. That is good tradition. He is also talking about the conference affiliation with Texas, one that has long favored one over the other. Though, A&M has always had one chief rival, the don’t play that game as a showpiece in Dallas do they? No, Texas has long been the Cowboys to the SWC/BigXII’s NFC East. They are everyone’s rivals and no one’s exclusively.

That’s a bad tradition. Unrequited hate? If A&M has determined that the relationship as currently formed is not worth preserving even at the loss of so much inter-school history? Well then they have no choice. Sure, Texas needs them . . . to fill a role. They need them to be the plucky thorn in their side. Good enough to be a worthy loser post-Thanksgiving.

I’m rooting for them to move. Same way I root for mistreated girlfriends to get out from bad relationships with abusive boyfriends. How could you not? Texas and the rest of the Big XII are not making compelling arguments for staying. that sound much different from said abusive boyfriend, either “You promised.” “Look what you’ll be doing to everyone here!” “You’re being selfish.”

That last one is key. Thamel also threw that line in there. No doubt there is some measure of pride involved on the Aggie half. Deriders call it “ego.” The Aggies have a first-class university and to be cliche -- they have to look out for themselves a bit. Texas A&M is as good or better than Texas in many facets --they just want to be treated like it.

I can’t hate ‘em for that.

Neathery's 4-2-5 Defense

Neal Neathery is the defensive coordinator. His preference for scheme is the 4-2-5. You know it. TCU runs it and their success has rustled up plenty of interest in it.

So what is it?

Well first it is more than just a formation. It isn’t a nickel package. Ideally, instead of having four defensive backs (two safeties and two corners) and three linebackers you have two corners two strong safeties, a free safety and two Super Strong Safeties.

Base defense. But you knew that.

The system is about speed and versatility. Guys who would play linebackers play end at TCU. Guys who would play safety play linebacker. Guys who play corner can hit and tackle.

Like spread offenses, the 4-2-5 is designed to level the playing field and put the defense in the best positions to complete (and not get obliterated by bigger, stronger, faster teams).

Let the master himself tell it:

We must establish the 8 man front and use the multiplicity of that to our advantage.
The reason for using the eight man front is that we believe you must stop the run first. If you can’t do that, nothing else matters. The 4-2-5 front allows us the multiplicity to always try to have one more player at the point of attack than the offense.

That multiplicity and versatility allows the defense to establish leverage on the run. The safeties act as third linebackers (or fourth if needed).

The biggest worry when relying so much on speed and leverage is just getting plain run over. Here is how that is done.

People new to the idea of using a 5 man secondary are skeptical, because it seems like it would be difficult to stop a power running team that uses bigger personnel. At times being smaller can put the D at a disadvantage, however, with proper game-planning and practice the 4-2-5 can become an excellent defense for stopping the power run.

By far my favorite aspect of the defense is the ability to surprise. TCU calls it an attacking defense. You have to be. You are the smaller team with less powerful athletes. You must strike first and use your strengths (er- well, speed).

Remember that TCU-Wisconsin Rose Bowl? Remember the game winning pass deflection? Sure you do. That is the boring part. The good part? Exotic blitzing.

Patterson talks some about the importance of the blitz in the minds of the opponent. “The threat of the blitz to an offense is oftentimes worse than the blitz itself.”

A well-coached 4-2-5 is deadly. The natural angles created can cause plenty of headaches for even the most disciplined offense. In the end though, a scheme is only as good as its execution. UTSA is rolling out a ton of freshman and sophomores with no experience playing a college football game. It is somewhat unrealistic to expect a dominant force from Neathery against Northeastern, or really, at all in 2011.

That said, it is an good defense to have for a non-BCS school. Instead of relying on 4 and 5 star behemoth defensive lineman to win games and get stops, you play the undersized talent that fits perfectly in your system. Speed and size are rare, but speed is slightly more common. Patterson recruits “corners that can grow into safeties and safeties that can grow into linebackers.”

The finished product (as finished as a college squad can be) will be a fast --if slightly undersized--nightmare that wreaks havoc. It will be the defense that allows UTSA to pull off something like TCU did back when it beat Oklahoma in Norman, gave Texas a run for their money and shut down Mike Leach’s prolific Texas Tech squad at Among G. Carter.

Caveats

Though Neathery comes with an impressive resume (and DVDs) he is not Gary Patterson. That’s not meant to sound negative. Gary Patterson’s success comes from the ability of the TCU staff to identify players that can thrive in his system and then teach them how to do that. Without those two facets, we are left with a lot of pretty scribbles on the whiteboard and a lopsided score on the field.


Here is more on the basics of the defense from a Clemson blog.