DEFENDING THE FIRST AMENDMENT SINCE 1911 @universitystar | universitystar.com TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019 Volume 109, Issue 03 WELCOME BACK FOOTBALL Bobcats kickoff Spavital era at Kyle Field By Sean Anchondo with four and five-star players, the team Sports Reporter was not great last year on the defensive side of the ball, ending the 2018 season After months of uncertainty, Texas with one of the worst pass defenses in the State football announced last year's SEC. The Aggies have also lost a bulk of occasional starter Tyler Vitt as their their front seven coming into the season. starting quarterback for their opening Despite the odds, Texas State has game against Texas A&M University for strength on the defensive side of the ball. the Thursday night game at Kyle Field. The linebacking core was a strength on The news comes less than a week before the team last season. the Jake Spavital era kicks off under the Standout linebacker Bryan London bright lights of the fourth biggest college II is returning for his senior year just a stadium in the nation. The Bobcats are little over 100 tackles away (341) from starting their schedule as a 34.5-point breaking Greg Pitt's tackle record (447). underdog in what will likely be their The Bobcats are bringing back almost toughest competition of the season. every player but one from last year's The decision comes as a surprise to defense (A.J. Krawczyk). London said some Bobcat fans, as Vitt was in stiff the group has clicked and is prepared for competition with junior transfer Gresch a defensive battle. Jensen since the spring football game. “People are playing with more Jensen has a history with offensive Freshman quarterback Tyler Vitt evades a UTSA defender Sept. 22, 2018 confidence and speed (this year)," coordinator Bob Stitt, who coached PHOTO BY KATE CONNORS London said. "No one has seemed to Jensen in his time at Montana as a Hero have missed a step so far.” Sports First-team FCS Freshman All- Bobcats and Spavital are looking to his track record as a successful offensive Texas State has one other thing on American. rebuild a once-proud football program coach mentoring the likes of Johnny their side, and that is the element of Vitt started in five games in 2018, that has stumbled for the past several Manziel has caused a stir of excitement surprise. With a limited amount of game completing 116 of 191 passes for 1,159 seasons. The Bobcats had a combined once again among Bobcat fans and the tape on what Jake Spavital will put on yards and making seven touchdowns in record of 7-28 with previous head coach community. the field, it will be hard to know what to his eleven game appearances. Everett Withers. Amidst the anticipation, Texas State expect from this team. This game may Spavital will be making his return Needless to say, the Bobcats were a bit is at an obvious disadvantage in the first be a lot closer than what most people to Kyle Field after being the offensive of a fixer-upper going into this season, game of the season. According to ESPN's expect. Offensive Coordinator Bob Stitt coordinator for Texas A&M back in and many tweaks became necessary for Football Power Index, the team is set at said he has confidence in his experienced 2013. Spavital and the Aggies mutually the team to become competitive within 2.4% odds at taking the win from the players on the defensive side of the ball. split up in 2016. the Sun Belt once again. Aggies, whose formidable offense could “They are going to be tough, (so) we While coaches and players may see To keep their past issues from be a big challenge. have to be perfect,” Stitt said. “They're this game as just another game, other resurfacing in the 2019 season, Spavital The Aggies finished last year with good but they don't have as many things players, like redshirt freshman tight end said he has has spent the offseason a 9-4 record, and a 3rd place finish in going on as our defense. They are hard Blake Aragon, have said that this game is assembling a coaching staff, recruiting the SEC West. Sophomore quarterback and they will prepare us for everything.” personal to Spavital. and getting to know the San Marcos Junior Kellen Mond is one of the best After they take on the Aggies, the “There are definitely some personal community. Spavital has been sighted at quarterbacks in the conference, finishing team will return to San Marcos to play reasons,” Aragon said. “He has definitely basketball and baseball games as well as with 3,107yards, 24 touchdowns and Wyoming on Sept. 7 at Bobcat Stadium, mentioned it a couple of times, (but) I local eateries throughout the past several nine interceptions last season. a game that is projected to be much can’t really say too much.” months. A&M's defense, however, has some closer in competition. Entering the 2019-2020 season, the Spavital's openness to the public and deficiencies. Although the team is littered NEWS 3 | Tuesday, August 27, 2019 Sonia Garcia | News Editor The University Star Trinity Building ENERGY 203 Pleasant St. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 245 - 3487 Renewable energy implementation Editors for San Marcos by 2021 Editor-in-Chief: Jakob Rodriguez, [email protected] By Mia Estrada News Reporter Managing Editor: Bayley Bogus, The City of San Marcos consistently [email protected] strides toward living environmentally friendly. By 2021, San Marcos will raise News Editor: the amount of renewable energy that Sonia Garcia, powers the city to 10% with help from [email protected] its electric provider, Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Life & Arts Editor: Laura Figi, The San Marcos City Council [email protected] approved plans to use 10% combined wind and solar renewable energies and Opinions Editor: improve financial opportunities for the Jordan Drake, city’s electric utilities. Beginning July 1, [email protected] 2021, solar power usage during the day and wind during the night will provide Sports Editor: renewable energy for the city. Claire Partain, Under this contract, LCRA will [email protected] purchase renewable energy from a solar plant in Borden County. This plant will Design Editor: A solar panel sits Aug. 26 along Sessom Drive. Molly Gonzales, add 141 megawatts of energy to its new PHOTO BY JADEN EDISON [email protected] portfolio in 2021, which includes San Marcos. Multimedia Editor: Tyler Hjorth, assistant director of communities out there that we're close H-E-B has joined the EPA GreenChill Jaden Edison, public services at San Marcos Electricity to becoming completely green and now Partnership to reduce the carbon [email protected] Utility, looks forward to utilizing are almost completely red due to debt footprint by investing in sustainable renewable powers to slowly introduce and exceeding their budget,” Hjorth refrigeration for its products. Engagement Editor: the city to more energy alternatives for said. Taylor Chevalier, exercise and sports Isabella Lopes, the future. The main goal of the energy plan is to science junior and environmental [email protected] With hydroelectric power already execute small changes in the community activist, said change starts with relatively providing San Marcos with 3.5% in order to eventually adjust to bigger insignificant action in the grand scheme renewable energy, the additional 3.6% results. Hjorth said this is only the of things, but over time, small changes Advertising Staff will bring the grand total of renewable beginning of environmentally friendly add up to a huge difference. energy in the city to 10% across the changes, with the city slowly pursuing “It’s amazing to see San Marcos board. solid and economically priced plans. stepping up and taking the initiative to Account Executives: Not only are these renewable energies In order for the renewable energy plan move toward a more sustainable path," Jasen Rodriguez practicing conservation and creating to create change in the environment, Chevalier said. "Even better, the city is [email protected] progress toward an eco-friendly other areas across Texas like Austin, taking into account what its citizens can Ashley Romo environment, but are saving the city Culberson County and McKinney and cannot afford." [email protected] money overall. Roughs Nature Park have teamed up For more information about the project According to Hjorth, by purchasing with LCRA to attempt to produce a progression and the small ways citizens renewable energies in small increments, lasting impact. can help conserve the environment, visit the city implements economic-based Even before the proposal has been the Conserve the Current page on the decisions while investing wisely in a activated, the project has inspired San Marcos official website. drastically changing technology. members of the community to take Full-Time Staff “Places not too far from here invest matters into their own hands in helping Director: heavily in renewables and there are to conserve the environment. Laura Krantz, [email protected] Student Publications Coordinator: Mayra Mejia, [email protected] COMMON EXPERIENCE Advertise With Us For advertising inquiries, please contact us at [email protected]. 512-245-2261 About Us History: The University Star is the student newspaper of Texas State University and is published every Tuesday of the spring and fall and once a month in the summer semesters. It is distributed on campus and throughout San Marcos at 8 a.m. on publication days with a distribution of 5,000. Printing and distribution is by the New Braunfels Herald- Zeitung. Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, April 30, 2019.