‘We got to get better’ - The Rider Newspaper

Vaqueros reflect on ‘personal’ first loss against SLU

Linebacker and graduate student Warren Shankle (left) and freshman defensive back Andrew Earls practice their plays during morning practice Tuesday in the Vaquero Performance Center on the Edinburg campus.
Draya Rios/THE RIDER

The Vaqueros (4-1, 0-1 SLC) suffered their first loss in their Southland Conference opener on Sept. 27, falling 45-31 to Southeastern Louisiana University (3-2, 1-0 SLC), as of press time Friday.

But what is the next step for the nascent Vaqueros football program? Head coach Travis Bush spoke with the media following the team’s first open practice after the loss.

Bush said although the team could match up and remain competitive in the conference, there are areas where the team got exposed and need improvement. He said it is a “process.”

“[We] got exposed on a lot of things there,” Bush said. “Which is good for our program. It’s exactly what we needed. But the bottom line is, we’ve got to get a lot better as a program. We will.”

UTRGV struggled early in the game on both sides of the ball, finding themselves down three touchdowns with five minutes left in the second half. Although they clawed back into the game, they ultimately lost by two scores.

Starting quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger took responsibility for the loss against Southeastern Louisiana in his comments to the media Tuesday. He had an interception in the second quarter that put the Lions up 21-0.

“I gotta be better,” Marburger said. “I take accountability for that [pick], and we’re gonna fix that. And just as an offense in general, I don’t think we played as well as we’re capable of.”

He added he “hates the taste of losing,” and while the defense played well, he and the offense have room for improvement in future games, and the loss lit “a new fire under us.”

Defensive coordinator Brian Gamble said he was looking forward to returning to the practice field and working on improving as a defensive unit.

Speaking exclusively with The Rider, he said the defensive team is working on improving its execution, which he said was “the biggest thing” they needed to do in-game.

“I told the guys somewhere that in the second quarter that ‘We’re gonna watch this thing on Sunday and you guys are gonna be sick,’” he said. “So, it was a good learning moment. We challenged the guys in yesterday’s meeting to play to the standard, to not let the moment be too big.”

Gamble added no matter what the outcome was, win or loss, they would continue to improve as a unit and hold themselves “to the standard they set for themselves” in non-conference play.

Redshirt freshman defensive back Alijah Prosser told The Rider the Southeastern game, as well as remaining conference matchups, are going to be “12-round fight[s]” where the team has to play faster and more physical football.

“We got to come out with energy,” Prosser said. “Playing fast. I know for the defense, and the whole team, we took that loss personal, so we can’t let that happen again. And that’s how we’re working out here.”

Bush said the team will constantly strive to improve week-to-week, and “it’s always about us, never about our opponent.”

“When you get in those big ballgames and bullets are flying, can we learn from that?” he said. “[It is about] how can we maximize our potential this week in practice and be as good as we can be Saturday.”

The Vaqueros played their home conference opener Saturday.

The team will have a bye week and then play on Oct. 18 against Lamar University on the road.