Football | 11/18/2015 3:56:00 PM
WEDNESDAY UPDATE - 1 DAY AWAYFor every student-athlete, time, effort, heart and soul is poured out in every game/match/tournament they ever compete in. For seniors
Jack Rhoades and
Jafus Gaines, who are among several Bobcats to have seen and experienced the full transformation from FCS to FBS, Thursday's Senior Night at Bobcat Stadium will be the ultimate bittersweet moment.
"It's sweet because I get to take the field one last time at our home stadium with a lot of guys that have really become like brothers to me," said Rhoades. "As much time as we've spent together and been through, it's really exciting to come back one more time and take the field with those guys."
"Just like Jack said, it's going to be bittersweet," said Gaines. "It's just one of those things where you're going to be very emotional and you're going to try and play to the best of your abilities because you know it's going to be your last home game. You know it's the last game where you can play in front of your home crowd."
Rhoades and Gaines join seven other Bobcats in
Ryan Garrey,
Stephan Jacobs,
Tim Gay,
Zach Crawford,
Tyler Blades, David Mims, and
Chris Nutall who came to Texas State in 2011, head coach
Dennis Franchione's first season in his second tenure with the Bobcats. For Coach Franchione, this core group has a special place with what they have been through and had to sacrifice to get Texas State to where it is today.
"I just have such warm, heartfelt feelings for them and what they've given to this program since I've been here," said Franchione. "Those few players who fall into that category are pretty special and this is the last time for them to play at Bobcat Stadium."
"It's going to be heartbreaking for the fact we've been here from when the back of the end zone (North End Zone) was gone and you can see nothing but the road," Gaines said. "We were here then and here through the ups and downs. We've been through it all."
In 2011, when Coach Fran along with these nine seniors came to Texas State, the North End Zone stands hadn't been built and there was still a track around the football field. As the 'Cats have experienced the transformation over the past few years, there is a lot to be said for the adversity this team has had to deal with.
"We've seen everything and we just cherish (and value) the moment," said Gaines. "A lot of new people come here and don't understand because they see what we have now. There was a time when we didn't have this and Coach Fran and everyone worked hard in order to give us this. I am just grateful for having it and hoping we keep building from here on out."
"As far as the transformation of this place, it's unbelievable," added Rhoades. "As the years have progressed, we've gotten more and more. It's going to be sad not to be around anymore."
Thursday's game against UL Monroe is scheduled for an 8:30 p.m. kick-off that will be televised live on ESPNU.
TUESDAY UPDATE - 2 DAYS AWAY With three games left on the schedule including Senior Day against UL Monroe on Thursday, head football coach
Dennis Franchione reflects back on practice tonight, the team's mentality going into the remainder of the season, and how important Thursday's game is for the seniors.
On practice tonight…"It was good. Good spirit, the kids worked hard and had fun. We've had two good days. We went at 9 o'clock last night because yesterday was a class day and then Tuesday was good. This is a different kind of week. Yesterday was like a Tuesday practice, today was Wednesday and tomorrow will be a Thursday. They're a little shorter and you manage as much as you can in the short week. I'm just thankful we didn't have to travel like we did last time."
On the team's mentality going into the final games of the season…"I think they really want to do well and I really think they feel like they're better than what they've shown. I think they're determined to do that (the best they can) and that's the way they should be. I respect and admire the kids for being that way."
On Thursday being senior day…"This is the senior's last home game. There are some (for me), some pretty special kids here. I think there are six kids that came in with me that January when I started that have been through everything with us, let alone the rest of the seniors. Those six that sacrificed a year or two of any hopes of postseason really stuck through everything, through thick and thin, the good and the tough time of this season. Gosh, I just have such heartfelt feelings for them and what they've given to this program since I've been here."
