After playing Troy’s prolific passing attack last Saturday, Georgia State faces a stark contrast this week with a Texas State team that features a strong running game. The Panthers (0-6, 0-1 Sun Belt) travel to Texas State (3-3, 0-2 Sun Belt) for their first Sun Belt Conference road game Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Bobcat Stadium in San Marcos, Texas.
The game will be regionally televised on the Sun Belt Network, including CSS in Atlanta, and will be available in other markets on ESPN3. Radio coverage can be heard on the Georgia State Radio Network, including Atlanta flagship 1340 The Fan 3.
Both schools are playing their first season in the Sun Belt and looking for their first conference victory.
“We have to have a lot of discipline on defense,” GSU head coach Trent Miles said at his weekly press conference. “Coach Franchione has been doing this system for quite a while. I coached against him when he was at New Mexico, and I coached against him when he was at TCU and had LaDainian Tomlinson. He knows how to run the football, and you have to have discipline on defense. Assignment-perfect football and physical football – that will be our goal. That’s our goal every week but more emphasis this week just because of what they can do to you.”
Not only does Texas State run the ball well on offense, but it defends the run even better, allowing just 90.3 yards per game. That leads the Sun Belt by more than 50 yards per game and ranks 11th in the nation.
Miles said that Franchione is a long-time friend and colleague, noting he almost went to work for Coach Fran at New Mexico back in the 1990s.
“I’ve got nothing but the upmost respect for him and his program, and we are really excited and looking forward to going to Texas and playing,” Miles said.
“We are steadily pounding at that rock. We’re getting closer and closer every week,” Miles continued. “Our kids are starting to understand what it takes. We’ve got to learn to win games, not try to keep from losing games. And there’s a big difference there. So our kids are working really, really hard. They’re focused in, and our practices have a lot of high energy.
“We’ve got a sense of urgency to try to go get a victory, and it will be very difficult. Again, we will not be the favorite. Nor will we be at any time this year so we kind of relish that role and look forward to always being in that role for the rest of the year.”
