Speaking of the Southland

It has been awhile since my last blog, so we need to catch up on what has occurred in the time that has past. The most notable news has come from Texas State.

TXST became the most recent Southland Conference school to [url=http://www.txstatebobcats.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030210aai.html]announce their schedule[/url], doing so on March 2nd.

The Bobcats have a slate that will put them in a tough situation as far as qualifying for the Division I playoffs goes. After a challenging game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) foe Houston, TXST will face Division II Southern Arkansas in their home opener.

A pair of games against Great West Football Conference foes await in Cal Poly (Sept. 18) and Southern Utah (Sept. 25) before conference play. The Bobcats have had their fair share of trouble against SUU over the years and the Mustangs of CP will not be a pushover. TXST will need to win two of their three Div I games or could be in a predicament where they need to win the SLC automatic bid in order to obtain admittance into the playoffs.

Lucky for the San Marcos squad, they do have both the GWFC coming to Bobcat Stadium.

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In other news from San Marcos, TXST running back [url=http://www.sanmarcosrecord.com/local/x1765871602/Bobcat-running-back-arrested-on-assault-charge]Karrington Bush was arrested on assault charges[/url].

According to the San Marcos Record, Bush "was charged with assault causing injury/family violence." He was released on a $3,000 surety bond.

Initial reports are that Bush was defending himself from physical violence at the hands of his girlfriend at an apartment they shared together. In his statement to the police, Bush said that he was not trying to hurt her, but calm her down.

The legal process will have to play itself out, but it does look like self defense. We'll leave that decision-making to those powers who will sort through this case.

Bush was an All-American candidate heading into his junior season in 2009, but was hampered by injuries. Bush is expected to make a full recovery and be at 100 percent heading into the 2010 season.

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Since we last touched base, the two newest coaches in the league - Willie Fritz at Sam Houston State and Charlie Stubbs at Nicholls - added to their staffs. Here's a quick look back at those moves.

• Fritz [url=http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=92955&SPID=11345&DB_OEM_ID=19900&ATCLID=204899284]formally announced four members[/url] of his staff at the start of the month. Former Southwest Texas head coach Bob DeBesse will serve as an offensive coordinator on the staff, with Johnny Jernigan and Derek Warehime slotted as the offensive and defensive line coaches, respectively. Jernigan comes from Murray State and prior to that Tennessee Tech and Henderson State. Warehime was most recently at Arkansas-Monticello and has spent time on the staffs at Rice and Tulsa. Anthony Johnson, a quality control coach at the University of Texas, rounds out the group as the running backs coach.

• Stubbs continued to add [url=http://geauxcolonels.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/030910aaa.html]to his coaching staff[/url]. A recent announcement has Stubbs adding former Colonels Edward Dillon and Adam Gardner to the ranks. Outside of Gardner, who was a student assistant at Southern Miss, each comes to campus with high school coaching experience since wrapping up their Nicholls playing careers. Dillion will be a cornerbacks coach with Gardner assisting Keith Uperesa on the offensive line.