The long-awaited first day of practice for the UTPB football team arrived Wednesday as the Falcons returned to the field for their first day of practice.
At this point last year, UTPB’s football team had never been to the NCAA Division II playoffs or won a conference championship.
Now, 365 days later, the program-which enters its ninth season in existence- is coming off its best showing.
The Falcons went 10-2 overall and 8-0 in conference play, winning the Lone Star Conference and clinching a spot in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2023.
UTPB’s historic season ended with a first round loss to Bemidji State in the playoffs last year.
Second-year head coach Kris McCullough and his players are looking to build off last year’s LSC title and advance further in the postseason.
“Obviously, we have a sour taste from last year (in the playoffs) so we’re eager to get back at it,” McCullough said. “I think this group of guys, especially the ones who were here last year, they have such a drive to prove everyone wrong and show that we aren’t a one-and-done team. We have to take care of business in the regular season. We’re ready to get back at it.”
While the Falcons did graduate ten seniors from last year and must replace three All-Americans on their roster, they’ve had a busy time in the transfer portal.
“We lost a few guys to the transfer portal and our nine to ten seniors last year but we replaced them with 22 transfer portals and junior college players who are ready to go,” McCullough said.
With last year’s success, there’s been a night and day difference between this year’s start of fall camp versus last season.
“I think the buy-in is a little bit better,” McCullough said. “Last year, we saw improvement in everything. Nobody knew what to expect and we proved to everyone that we can be champions. We did just that. now the buy-in is there and now we need to get back to work.”
Among the players returning is wide receiver Jeremiah Cooley who was the Lone Star Conference Receiver of the Year and made First Team All-LSC.
“We’re very excited,” Coooley said who had 26 passes for 522 yards and eight touchdowns in his eleven games last year. “The energy is up, just like we expected. We’ve been inching to get back on the field. I only got three hours of sleep last night. I’m always excited to get back on the field and fly around with the guys.”
Cooley also talked about how much of a step forward the program has made in just the last year.
“It’s a testament to how hard we work,” Cooley said. “Our offseason program was very rigorous but they put us through some obstacles. Some guys may have contemplated quitting but that just shows how hard we worked. Spring ball, coach really stuck it to us and wants us to be better than we have been. We’ve been telling ourselves that last year is out the window. What matters is going out and being 1-0 every week.”
This year’s Lone Star Conference preseason poll had the Falcons finishing third, behind Angelo State and Central Washington.
While the UTPB players know what they can accomplish, they also know there’s going to be a bull target on their backs from last year.
Cooley said the team needs to just stay focused each and every week.
“We’re keeping a humble attitude and showing some humility and that any dog can have its day but we want to go out there and for it to be our day every day,” Cooley said. “We have to do what we have to do.”
Replacing last year’s quarterback Kenny Hrncir (who is now the co-offensive coordinator for the Falcons) is senior Dylan Graham who is eager to finally get his opportunity to start under center.
“It’s been a journey,” Graham said. “It’s been a long process going from not being able to play to starting. It’s all about the guys and it’s all about what we do every single day and it starts today … we have a pent up anxiety because if you don’t play for a year, you are too eager to get on the field. I’m looking forward to being with this group. I got to see what it takes to win a championship with this group last year.”
Following in the footsteps of Hrncir, who was named the LSC Offensive Player of the Year and an All-American last season, is not easy. However, Graham said he has learned a lot from the former UTPB quarterback.
“What I learned from Kenny is his passion and his grit,” Graham said. “That dude is the toughest dude I’ve seen on the football field. I’m trying to learn from him and his mentality and his process. It’s something I’m trying to learn every day. I love that. He’s so mentally locked in that I try to take in every little thing that he does.”
The main thing McCullough said he is looking for in the first week of practice is just the intensity from his players.
“We’re making sure that we don’t have missed assignments,” McCullough said. “We’ve had some meetings where we stir everyone back to where they need to be. We’re just making sure we don’t have too many mental assignments that we don’t bust.”
UTPB’s first game will be against Western New Mexico at 6 p.m. Aug. 31 at Ratliff Stadium.
