{"id":8153,"date":"2025-11-17T16:28:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/?p=8153"},"modified":"2025-11-17T16:28:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-17T22:28:20","slug":"no-looking-back-players-reflect-on-utrgv-football-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/17\/no-looking-back-players-reflect-on-utrgv-football-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"No Looking Back: Players reflect on UTRGV football journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/utrgvradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Football-1117_mixdown.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">In their inaugural season, the UTRGV Vaqueros football team faced the challenges of building a team from scratch, learning to play together and earning respect on the field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a strong start to the season and an upcoming game against East Texas A&amp;M Saturday, the players are aiming to prove that even a brand-new program can make a lasting impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Redshirt freshman linebacker Tyler Day said the season has been better than what he expected it was going to be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cI think whenever I got in the portal and coach [Brian] Gamble called me and just told me about the vision of the first-year program and, you know, the culture of what they\u2019ve already said and what they\u2019re looking forward to do, I think it\u2019s nothing but a blessing,\u201d Day said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Day said a memorable moment he will cherish is the fake punt touchdown he scored against Langston University Sept. 13.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Redshirt junior wide receiver Marcus Heard Jr. said being on the team is a lot of responsibility and he doesn\u2019t take it lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Heard said he makes sure he prepares properly before every game and practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cMake sure I&#8217;m stretching, being treated, extra treatment necessary. I think as the season goes on, you really, like, your body, like, taking care of your body, it\u2019s like, it\u2019s a premium to make sure you in the right way,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Xayvion Noland said the locker room energy is also brought on to the field, adding having a lot of players with different cultures and backgrounds helps everyone connect and create a bond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Noland said wearing the UTRGV logo means keeping a certain standard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>\u201cWe have a lot of stuff to prove here in the Valley, to ourselves, to the community. So, wearing UTRGV on our jerseys, it means a lot. It means that the community can trust on us and we&#8217;ll go out there and put our best foot forward,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Vaqueros will face the East Texas A&amp;M Lions for their last game of the season at 5 p.m. Saturday at the Robert and Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In their inaugural season, the UTRGV Vaqueros football team faced the challenges of building a team from scratch,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":8154,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[16,34,567,831,14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-edinburg","category-entertainment","category-football","category-on-campus","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.4 - 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