Rings and Trophies Just Aren't Enough Without the Cup.

Football. Soccer. Volleyball. Softball. Baseball. Each of these sports won its regular season Southland Conference title for the 2008-2009 school year. Soccer and Softball brought home SLC Tournament trophies, and Bobcat baseball plays in Corpus Christi as we speak to take a stab at the Baseball Tournament title. This is all worthy of the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup, adding more allure to wearing a Bobcat jersey and making a bigger argument to the Drive to FBS we've heard so much about.

The Cup goes to a Southland athletic program each year based on Conference standings at the end of each team's respective season, with All-Sports Trophies as an exclusive bonus for men's and women's games. Texas State takes home its ninth consecutive ladies version of the All-Sports Trophy. These awards are based on a 12 point system, also based on end-of-season results. This Cup is a story of dominance and comebacks, exceeding expectations and giving Bobcat fans something to cheer about.

To start this journey, Karrington Bush thought he'd plow into the end zone "for another Bobcat touchdown! Hello Southland Conference Championship!" This was to beat NFL prospect Rhett Bomar's Bearkats in an overtime thriller in Huntsville, which saw a large-scale Bobcat fan weekend road trip break out. Coach Chisum's high-hopping volleyball girls were sub .500 before winning 14 of 17 at the start of Conference play (including 8 W's in a row and 8 shut outs) to take the volleyball title. And 2008 Soccer Coach of the Year Kat Conner, well, her team showed no signs of weakness. With a 13-4-4 record, the Bobcats kicked the rest of the Southland out of the NCAA tournament (where the 'Cats would lose to eventual powerhouse Texas A&M), with ten shut out victories, one of which was in the SLC Tournament in Lake Charles, LA.

With Lake Charles in the host position again in 2009, coach Woodard's softball team fought tooth and nail for redemption from last season. Down 1-0 in the championship game to McNeese State, Bethany Stefinsky (MSU's single season K's leader) had a no-no into the top of the seventh with her Cowgirls playing the home team. Leah Boatright rocked one to left to tie it, and Ryan Kos went out a hero with a solo shot to seal the 2-1 Tournament win. Talk about heroic, talk about unbelievable... When does that title grace a headline? And talk about comebacks -- the baseball boys went on a surge after a gut-wrenching loss to Sam Houston State (17-10 in ten innings makes it hard to sleep at night). A few days rest got the 'Cats rolling on a 21-of-23 win streak, including a dozen in a row. Coach Harrington's guys sealed another six game win streak with a walk-off double against Nicholls State (thanks be to Spencer Dennis) for another shiny new ring/trophy package. The boys are still in Corpus for the Tournament, sitting pretty with a 1-0 record so far.

In April, Texas State Athletics received a $1 million donation. With a new stadium for those fanatical football folks and two new sets of seats for diamond lovers, the Drive looks to be cruising towards success. This is a refreshing change from ten years ago, when San Marcos was a town with a school whose athletic program seemed stuck in neutral. Now Bobcat fans have something to worry about -- winning and losing, as opposed to just the latter. In the words of Jesse Jackson, "they don't boo nobodies," and for a good while, there are those who have maintained that Texas State is a big-name school, so it's time to start playing big-time games. This year, at least, the Bobcats have proven that with the Cup. After five regular season titles, two tournament titles (with one in the works), two NCAA regionals, and national stat leaders around the board, that makes this Cup a whole lot sweeter. Thanks, Commish.

- Mason Robinson, KTSW Sports Staff Writer