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The Texas State football team won its sixth game on Saturday, successfully qualifying for a bowl game. That led President Kelly Damphousse to keep a preseason promise to his head coach.
The Bobcats hired GJ Kinne during the offseason in hopes of turning the program around. The team had posted eight straight losing seasons in the years prior to Kinne’s arrival.
Fast forward to 2023, and TSU is sitting at 6-3 through nine games. That includes a huge season opening win over Baylor to kickstart the campaign.
The momentum has continued to build, and this past weekend, the Bobcats landed bowl eligibility with a 45-24 win over conference rival Georgia Southern.
Damphousse spoke after the game, referencing that promise made to Kinne.
GJ Kinne is our man.#TakeBackTexas x #JumpIn pic.twitter.com/4mDe9XTi0G
— Texas State Bobcats (@TxStateBobcats) November 5, 2023
“[During the interview process], I told him, ‘This school has qualified for a bowl game twice, but never gone. If [Kinne] came here, I believe that this school is ready to go to a bowl game.’ He said, ‘I’m your man.’
“I told him, ‘Not if, but when you guys qualify for a bowl game, I’m going to jump in the river.'”
Kinne held up his end of the deal by notching his sixth win of the year. Damphousse followed suit by taking the dive.
The scene was epic as students began following their president into the river in celebration.
Promises made promises kept @TXSTATEFOOTBALL @GJKinne @kdamp pic.twitter.com/Pm3afqd8Ee
— Tom Madden (@only1tommadden) November 5, 2023
The Texas State football team is obviously ecstatic with how the season’s played out thus far, but there are still bigger goals that lie ahead. The Bobcats are currently in second place in the Sunbelt’s East division, sitting one game behind Troy.
They’ll need a little help, but a potential conference championship game appearance is still on the table.
We’ll see if the ball bounces their way as the season plays out. Either way, the quick turnaround for the program is something worth celebrating.