Texas State football coach GJ Kinne praises environment, names captains ahead of opener
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Texas State football coach GJ Kinne praises environment, names captains ahead of opener
Texas State announced it surpassed the 40,000-student enrollment mark for the first time in its 125-year history. It’s the second-largest school by enrollment in the Sun Belt, below only Georgia State’s 52,400. When the Bobcats join the new Pac-12 in 2026, they project to be one of the largest schools in the conference. The team’s new captains include a redshirt senior and a four-year veteran player who has already earned the respect of a team that blends transfers and recruits. “As long as they stick together and continue to play each other for each other, we’re going to be just fine,” coach GJ Kinne said of the team’s season opener against Eastern Michigan on August 2, 2025. “It’s basically a pep rally slash party. You got the (university) president out there … smokes and DJs. I mean, those freshmen were like ‘What is going on?'” he said. “I told them (the freshman) last night: ‘Where else is this happening?”‘
For better or worse, Kinne said newcomers often have a certain perception of San Marcos until they see the dedication and environment fans create for the first game of a season. Kinne himself didn’t know what to expect the first time he participated in the university event, known as “Jumpstart” — but it certainly exceeded expectations.
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“I told them (the freshman) last night: ‘Where else is this happening?”‘ Kinne said. “It’s basically a pep rally slash party. You got the (university) president out there … smokes and DJs. I mean, those freshmen were like ‘What is going on?'”
We want our @txst freshmen to begin their college careers with the end in mind. At graduation, they jump in the river, so Welcome Week with the Jump Start pep rally. Thanks to @GJKinne, @Lincdog4, @TXSTCHEER, @txstbmb, @txstatehousing, @UPDtxst & so many more!⭐️🐾 pic.twitter.com/VgyPW1DaAs — 𝙺𝚎𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝙳𝚊𝚖𝚙𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚜𝚎 (@kdamp) August 20, 2025
In the fall of 2024, Texas State announced it surpassed the 40,000-student enrollment mark for the first time in its 125-year history, reaching 40,678. It’s the second-largest school by enrollment in the Sun Belt, below only Georgia State’s 52,400
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When the Bobcats join the new Pac-12 in 2026, they project to be one of the largest schools in the conference. San Diego State is its lone competitor, as its student body reached 38,800 in the fall of 2024, according to CBS8. Oregon State is the only other school that tops 35,000 in the new-look conference. Kinne said he remembers talking to Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham last season, who was surprised and impressed with the energy Bobcat fans created in the stadium.
“It’s just a real college environment that I think a lot of teams at this level do not experience,” Kinne said. “That’s extremely unique to us, and we got to continue to build that … as far as attendance, students and all that. I think it was cool last night to experience that.”
Texas State’s new captains
Kinne said Wednesday that the players pick the captains, but he likes to see how the coaches’ choices differ. Ahead of the 2025 season opener against Eastern Michigan, he was surprised when he saw they were all on the same page.
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“When guys are talking, they’re bringing guys up with them. And I think that that’s important,” Kinne said Wednesday. “Coach Dex (defensive coordinator Dexter McCoil) talks about it all the time. He’s not calling them out, he’s calling them up. I think that’s the message for the team.”
Texas State head coach G.J. Kinne watches practice at UFCU Stadium on Saturday, August.. 2, 2025 in San Marcos Texas. Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
McCoil said Aug. 2 that championship teams are often player-led because they hold themselves accountable. Kinne put the team in an array of situations Wednesday in preparation for the Bobcats’ season, but on game day, he and his staff will be bound to the sidelines.
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“When they have that trust in each other, and they’re playing for each other, and they’re accountable to each other, that means something,” Kinne said. “As long as they stick together and continue to play for each other, we’re going to be just fine.”
Strawn, a redshirt senior, has been with Kinne since he coached at Incarnate Word. Strawn leads by example as one of the hardest workers on the roster, Kinne said. Pare’s voice carries weight as a four-year veteran Bobcat.
But the team selecting Jackson, a redshirt freshman, as captain is notable. Despite graduating high school in the winter of 2024, he’s already earned the respect of a team that blends transfers and recruits.
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“He’s just a great player. I think that always helps,” Kinne said. “From this offseason to the summer to fall camp … I think he’s probably the vocal leader on the offense … Brad has taken that next step as far as leadership.”