San Marcos restaurants grapple with lasting pandemic effects
By Lucciana Choueiry News Editor
The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) reported 15% of Texas restaurants went out of business in 2021 due to the pandemic. While some San Marcos spots have remained open, Grins and Ivar’s River Pub are two that are still reeling from the effects of 2020.
Grins has been on sale for a year and a half
Grins first opened its doors on Valentine’s Day in 1975. After expanding three times in the early aughts, the restaurant found its permanent establishment on North LBJ Drive.
“We had to do [the expansions] because of the volume and for San Marcos at the time there weren’t a lot of restaurants,” Paul Sutphen, co-owner of Grins, said.
SEE BUSINESS PAGE 3
Memory of former student lives on after death through new bar
By Marisa Nuñez Editor-in-Chief
“I picked up my phone, and the first thing that I saw was a text from her grandfather, that said, ‘My Bayle’s died in Miami last night’,” Lilla Herman, Bayle’s best friend, said. “I will never forget that feeling. I sat up and my whole body, from head to toe, went numb and tingly. I remember looking down at my hands, and I was like, ‘Oh my god, I’m gonna pass out,’ and I screamed, just screamed the loudest ever.”
Herman described the death of her best friend and former Texas State student Bayle Bucceri as the worst thing that ever happened to her in her entire life. Bayle died on May 25, 2022, after a car lost control and slammed into a duplex in Miami, which overturned and burst into flames.
Bayle’s friends and family remember her as exciting, fun and the life of the party. She enjoyed going out and spending time with her friends
and made many memories at The Square in San Marcos. Her memory will live on through a new bar opening in The Square named after Bayle herself.
San Marcos impacted by rise in car thefts
By Ryan Claycamp Senior News Reporter
There have been an average of six vehicle thefts a week in San Marcos since Jan 1. To combat the issue, city council approved a grant application for $177,401 to combat the rise of vehicle thefts in the city on Aug. 20.
According to an email the city sent to The Star, there have been 199 auto thefts since Jan. 1. Kia and Hyundai vehicles, companies that faced a class action lawsuit over their failure to install engine immobilizers, are the most frequently stolen.
“The number of vehicle thefts [SMPD] are investigating is trending upward, with an average of approximately six occurring each week and nearly 200 for the year,” the city of San Marcos wrote in an email to The Star.
TXST thrashes UTSA for first win in I-35 Rivalry history
By Brendan Fielding Assistant Sports Editor
Redshirt senior quarterback Jordan McCloud settled into his starting role this Saturday as the Texas State steamrolled I-35 rival the University of Texas San Antonio, 49-10 at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium.
The win marks Texas State’s first in the I-35 Rivalry, snapping a five-game losing streak to the Roadrunners, a feat 12 years in the making.
“[It’s] a huge win for the program,” Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne said. “[I’m] excited to get one in the win column versus those guys.”
SEE FOOTBALL PAGE 8
BITES OF SAN MARCOS
Former Texas State student Bayle Bucceri poses for a photo, Feb. 2022, at The Belmont in Los Angeles.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLA HERMAN
Local residents Brianne Whiteman (Left), Rayla Felgate (Center) and Cameron Felgate (Right) enjoy tacos on the outdoor patio of Torchy’s Tacos, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, near downtown San Marcos. Cameron recommends the “Trailer Park” and opts for the bacon marmalade on top.
Texas State early education sophomore Danielle Godsted (Left) enjoys a cup of coffee while catching up with her friend, Grace (Right), Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at Jo’s Cafe. Grace, an alumni at Texas State, is a regular at Jo’s Cafe and has been studying and enjoying the peaceful setting since freshman year.
Austin residents Harmony Jordan (Left) and Sevyn Cramer (Right) enjoy a beautiful day on The Square, while sitting and chatting in the outdoor patio of Root Cellar Cafe, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, near downtown San Marcos.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
A couple overlooks the scenic river from the back patio area while waiting for their food, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, in San Marcos.
PHOTO BY KATHERINE REA
TXST to offer 19 online degree tracks
By Candace Taggart News Reporter
Texas State expanded its online degree program to offer 19 programs marketed toward nontraditional and working adult students.
TXST Global created Texas State Online in partnership with Risepoint to market to adult learners according to Texas State’s press release. Ryan Roark, assistant vice president for Online and Extended Programs (OXP) predicts TXST Global will launch over 40 possible asynchronous degree tracks by the end of the 2024-25 school year.
“Despite the challenges, we remain determined,” Roark wrote in a written interview with The Star. “I’m proud of our progress and we’ll keep adapting to better serve our students.”
The degree tracks will consist of eight-week, fully asynchronous courses with up to six possible start dates for students.
TXST Global handles enrollment and recruitment. It partnered with Risepoint to research which online degree tracks are in-demand and to help market and recruit students for these online classes, according to Thillainatarajan Sivakumaran, vice president of TXST Global.
“Having an online program makes it convenient for [nontraditional students], so they don’t have to drive to campus or change their work
schedule to get their degree or a graduate degree,” Sivakumaran said.
According to Sivakumaran, Texas State President Kelly Damphousse established a commission focused on international and online students.
At the State of Texas State speech in August, Damphousse said the number of international students at Texas State increased from 486 in 2020 to 1,431 in 2024.
The commission recommended expanding both populations, which led to an effort to increase the number of online degree programs, growing
from 14 in 2023-24 to 19 this year.
One of the online degree tracks offered is a Master of Science in criminal justice, executive concentration.
Sean Patrick Roche, associate professor and masters program coordinator for the School of Criminal Justice and Criminology, said some of the market research suggested criminal justice is a growing area of interest.
“I am excited about this opportunity for our university and our criminal justice program,” Roche
said. “Anything that allows us to meet people where they are, if that means they’re in a smaller town in a more rural area…I think is really great.”
The Master of Science in criminal justice, executive concentration initially launched in person in 2017.
According to Roche, the structure of the criminal justice courses were already geared to working professionals, making it more amenable to transition into an onlineonly program.
“The focus of it remains the same, which is to meet the needs of working professionals in criminal justice organizations and agencies who want to further their education but might not have the time, or might not be geographically close to San Marcos,” Roche said.
The National Association of Colleges and Employers reported 87.4% of employers surveyed hired college graduates with an online degree and there was no difference in the starting salaries between employees with online or in-person degrees.
“While the on-campus experience is valuable, many students require online options,” Roark wrote. “Future Bobcats across the U.S. who work full-time, have families or can’t relocate would greatly benefit from a Texas State degree, but we’re currently not reaching them as effectively.”
Texas State expands reach with SMCISD, Collin College partnership
By Jamie Moore News Reporter
Beginning fall 2024, Texas State is partnering with Collin College and San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD) to increase pathways for students to become Bobcats.
Texas State announced on Aug. 13 that it has joined the Academic Alliance, a co-enrollment program. This program allows students to first earn an associate degree at Collin College Technical Campus in Allen, then transfer to Texas State to complete their bachelor’s degree.
According to the Collin College website, Academic Alliance also includes a transfer program with the University of Texas at Dallas, which offers degree programs different from those at Texas State.
“One of the big frustrations that transfer students have across the country is when they do decide to transfer to a four-year institution, do they lose any of their credits?” Gary Ray, associate vice president for enrollment management at Texas State said. “By having this program... you eliminate all of that confusion. It’s clear to the student what they need to take and when they need to take it.”
Students have the option to complete their four-year Texas State degree on the Collin College campus.
Thillainatarajan Sivakumaran, vice president for TXST Global, said Collin College will hire fulltime Texas State faculty specifically for Academic Alliance. These faculty members will be permanently based at Collin College to teach in person, while other courses may be offered online.
Students who opt into the co-enrollment model and complete more than 50% of their coursework offered by Collin College are expected to save as much as $19,000 in tuition and fees,
according to a Texas State press release.
“One of the things that we try to do at Texas State is make education affordable to students,” Sivakumaran said. “You could either come to us for a degree or we could bring a degree to you.”
According to Jamie Mills, dean of Academic Partnerships at Collin College, other benefits Academic Alliance students will have are: advising at Collin College by Texas State staff, access to student resources on both campuses, including the Texas State library, access to Texas State students organizations and study abroad opportunities.
“We want them to be part of our community,” Mills said. “They can be in Collin College organizations and Texas State organizations at the same time, so they’re not hindered by not being on campus.”
According to the Collin College website, some degrees offered through the Academic Alliance are a bachelor’s in computer science and exercise sports science, both available in spring 2025.
“Collin College being a community college, our mission is to create people with skills that benefit the community and what then the community needs,” Mills said. “If our community needs these computer science people and engineering people… that’s our job, it’s to make sure our community has what it needs.”
Texas State also announced a partnership with
SMCISD on Aug. 26, allowing around 30 SMCISD students to take dual credit classes at Texas State this fall, with tuition waived for a range of college courses.
According to SMCISD Chief of Communications Andrew Fernandez, SMCISD is providing students transportation to the Texas State campus for classes. As the program continues, SMCISD plans to allow more students to participate.
“It’s exciting especially for those that have grown up in San Marcos, and all they know is Texas State,” Fernandez said. “If they can get that education for free within our public school system, it just provides more opportunity for those that may not have seen college as possible.”
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Copyright: Copyright Tuesday, September 10, 2024. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The University Star are the exclusive property of The University Star and may not be reproduced without the expressed written consent of the editor-in-chief.
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Lucciana Choueiry
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Over the next decade, Sutphen said Grins thrived, successfully building on this growth. Right before COVID-19 hit, Grins was having its best year in terms of sales and customers, according to Sutphen.
“2019 was the best year I’ve ever had, and I’ve never recovered since,” Sutphen said. “In 2021-22 I had problems getting enough people to work.”
Beyond the staffing shortage, Sutphen saw a decrease in customers frequenting the restaurant. In 2019, Grins accumulated around $1.9 million in sales. As a result of people opting to stay indoors, sales dropped 30% in 2020 and by the end of the year, Grins only made $1.4 million.
“It’s a different world after COVID-19 but the real impact that we’re still dealing with is getting supplies,” Sutphen said.
According to the Central Texas Food Bank, during the pandemic, Texas faced upheaval surrounding its food supply chain, specifically in the restaurant industry. Those issues resulted in a 5.8% increase in food prices in 2023.
Josh Daspit, an associate professor of management, said when the pandemic struck, restaurants faced various challenges, with one of the biggest being the need to shift to delivery services to maintain revenue.
“The issue is perhaps [restaurants] aren’t making enough money because they’re having to go through a third party but it’s an option that exists for revenue that wasn’t as salient before,” Daspit said.
For Sutphen, curbside pick-up and delivery helped keep Grins afloat at the height of the pandemic.
I’d say ‘you’ll always have a job, but we can’t afford anybody right now’,” Sutphen said.
Grins has since gotten back on track, Sutphen said. Its sales have jumped back up to $1.85 million in 2023 – a 32% increase.
Despite the increase in sales, the owners of Grins have decided to put the restaurant up for sale. It has been on the market for over a year.
We’d love for somebody to come in and keep the name or keep the tradition of a food restaurant, I really don’t want it to be condos,”
Paul Sutphen Grins co-owner
Daspit also said unemployment was a prominent side effect of COVID19. According to the TRA, 91% of Texas restaurants have fewer than 50 employees as of 2024.
Sutphen said Grins only lost three employees at the pandemic’s peak in spring 2020 but was still short staffed.
“My full-time people, I had them come in anyway and would clean or do projects. My part-time people,
Sutphen said the reason for the closure is that he is getting older and the owners want to retire.
“We’d love for somebody to come in and keep the name or keep the tradition of a food restaurant, I really don’t want it to be condos,” Sutphen said.
Ivar’s River Pub recovers from COVID-19
Ivar’s River Pub, a family-owned restaurant next to Rio Vista Park, first opened its doors in 1996 under
the name San Marcos River Pub and Grill. However, after the 2013 flood, the building sustained serious water damage and they shut down soon after.
“We took some time and money to be able to get it reopened, and we made the decision to completely redesign it – completely gutted the building, completely raised the main dining above the floodplain,” Denele Gunnarson, Ivar’s financial officer, said. “ We reopened in 2017 under ‘Ivar’s River Pub’.”
Like Grins, Ivar’s experienced a decline in sales when COVID-19 hit, with a 40% drop in 2020 compared to previous years. The restaurant closed for a month that year, leading many employees to quit during the shutdown.
“It was really hard and we were just getting momentum,” Gunnarson said. “You don’t know when you’re going to reopen, you don’t know what it’s going to look like. There was a bunch of crying because no one knew what was going to happen.”
Daspit said maintaining a restaurant, particularly a family-owned one, requires resilience from the owners, as there’s more at stake than just finances. “One of those things is the unique
relationship they have with their employees and each other,” Daspit said. “Like during COVID-19, they were less likely to lay off employees.”
Gunnarson said Ivar’s had to raise its menu prices due to rising supplier costs—a challenge not unique to San Marcos.
According to the TRA, 92% of Texas restaurants increased their menu prices. Beyond Texas, the National Restaurant Association reported a 4.1% increase in menu prices in the U.S. from July 2023 to July 2024.
“What this taught us is you can’t have one supplier anymore,” Gunnarson said. “It was really hard to get product during [COVID-19], so I had to add three more vendors just to get our base product out.”
Scan the QR code for programs the city of San Marcos offers for business support.
According to the San Marcos Police Department (SMPD), the grant funding will be used to hire one full-time investigator and purchase nine license plate reading (LPR) cameras.
“The unit will initially be staffed with one full-time Officer-Detective dedicated to auto crime investigations, such as vehicle or catalytic converter thefts,” SMPD wrote in an email to The Star. “The officer will also establish a task force to work with/liaison with other established task forces throughout the state.”
SMPD currently owns 14 LPR cameras. These LPRs will only be used for investigations, not for parking enforcement.
The city said the majority of thefts in city limits occurred overnight.
“Most of the [stolen] vehicles are leaving the San Marcos area with a portion of them being taken out of the country and into Mexico,” SMPD wrote in an email.
Kylie Hedge, a biochemistry senior, said she had her catalytic converter stolen at
the Cheatham Street Flats in March 2023. She said having a full-time auto theft investigator would have helped her then.
“I definitely think it would have been better. The cops seemed too busy, so it didn’t seem like a priority,” Hedge said.
While the city has seen a sharp rise in vehicle thefts, University Police Department (UPD) Chief Matthew Carmichael said there has not been a rise on Texas State’s campus. According to the 2023 Clery Act Report, there were 10 vehicle thefts on campus in 2022. Carmichael said there were nine in 2023, but the 2023 number was not fully audited.
“We have probably 9,000 cars parking here on a daily basis nine months of the year. From a statistics perspective we are faring fairly well,” Carmichael said. Carmichael attributed the lower numbers on campus to several factors including well-lit parking lots and structures, heavy foot traffic, the campus emergency phones, security cameras and regular patrols by UPD.
Carmichael said he understands how tough having your vehicle stolen can be because he experienced a vehicle theft when he was younger.
“It’s a horrible feeling, especially if you have the bare minimum insurance, that’s all I could afford, so I lost everything,” Carmichael said. “Losing your car could be life changing.”
Hedge said when someone stole her car’s catalytic converter she had to tow her car hours away to her hometown because she could not afford to get it replaced in San Marcos.
“It was right before spring break and local repairs shops said it would be like $3,000,” Hedge said.
To avoid experiencing a car theft, SMPD recommends locking your car, not leaving valuables inside, parking in well-lit areas, enabling anti-theft devices, such as steering wheel locks and car alarms, as well as installing a third party tracking software.
FROM FRONT CRIME
Texas State alumni Derek Russell (Right) enjoys his favorite food, chicken fried chicken, alongside marketing senior Emma Allen (Left), who enjoys her favorite, chicken fried steak, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at Grins.
PHOTO BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Opinions in The University Star are not necessarily those of our entire publication, Texas State University’s administration, Board of Regents, School of Journalism and Mass Communication or Student Publications Board.
Title IX rejection emphasizes hate in Texas
By Rhian Davis Opinions Editor
On April 27, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the Texas Education Agency to ignore a Title IX expansion by the Biden administration. The new amendments would have extended protections based on sexual identity to students at Texas State.
The Texas government is once again showing Texans how little they truly care. Students have the right to feel protected and valued. Abbott has shown time and time again he has one agenda: hate.
Specifically, the Title IX amendments aim to protect students based on gender identity and sexual orientation. Protections are also extended for pregnant students. The Supreme Court has now ruled the Department of Education cannot legally enforce the new regulations in Texas and other states.
The expansion to Title IX was proposed in 2022 and not finalized until April 2024. On June 11, a federal Texas judge blocked the guidelines. According to the Title IX Injunction Order, the idea that sex and gender identity be treated the same “flouts Title IX” and the Biden administration lacks the authority to “rewrite clear statutory terms to suit its own sense of how the statute should operate.”
Title IX specifically applies to feder-
ally funded educational programs.
The Texas State website states “Title IX and university policies protect all students, faculty, staff and visitors from discrimination on the basis of gender, sex, gender identity or expression and sexual orientation.”
On April 29, Abbott wrote on X, “Congress wrote Title IX to protect women. Biden, with no authority to do so, rewrote Title IX to protect men who identify as women.”
This statement is almost laughable. The nearly 10 years Abbott’s been in
Social media is
a
By Emma Hall Opinions Columnist
Although social media is often considered negative, it’s a good tool for students to utilize to make friends and stay connected on campus. Social media has positive effects on mental health, decreases loneliness and increases productivity, according to a 2022 study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI).
One of the main concerns social media brings upon users is mental health decline. McLean Hospital stated social media is “associated with anxiety and depression.” However, a study conducted by Harvard University in 2020 shows if used correctly, social media can improve mental well-being.
The Harvard research found “using social media as part of everyday routine and responding to content others share is positively associated” with social well-being, positive mental health and self-rated health.
Halee Hightower, an outdoor recreation junior, said the impact of social media on her mental health depends entirely on situations in her life.
“If I’m having a great week, [social media is] more inspiring,” Hightower said. “But, if I am having a bad week, I find that social media definitely makes my life a little bit harder. It’s not social media’s fault, though; I just realize I need to focus on myself instead of being on my phone.”
It’s not uncommon for a person to be motivated after watching an influencer explain their steps to becoming successful or watching another person achieve a goal. Social media can inspire students to start personal journeys.
Hightower said social media boosts her motiva-
office are overshadowed by his war on women and reproductive rights. He, along with other Texas officials, have no right to hide behind lies about “protecting women” when he has shown he does not care about their safety.
According to a study from the National Library of Medicine, 86.3% of LGBTQ students have “experienced sexual harassment or assault based on their identity or sexual orientation.” Expanding Title IX to include gender identity and sexual orienta-
tion is a huge step in the right direction in making an effort to protect all students. Texas students deserve this same protection.
Even if students don’t identify as members of the LGBTQ community, they should stand behind their classmates who started this school year with less protection than other students around the country.
Abbott wrote in a letter to Texas universities, “I signed laws to ensure the safety of our students on campus… as well as laws to protect the integrity of women’s sports by prohibiting men from competing against female athletes – and I will not let President Biden erase the advancements Texas has made.”
Despite the beliefs of government officials, Texas is moving backward at a scarily rapid rate. The “advancements” Abbott references are nothing but unfair discriminatory actions taken against the LGBTQ community in Texas.
Universities are supposed to be environments where students feel safe. Texas State is not to blame in this situation but should take action to ensure students know their safety is a priority, despite the hate coming out of the government.
Don’t stand for discrimination disguised as protection for others.
-Rhian Davis is a journalism junior
positive resource for students
tion to work toward her goals and gives her ideas for staying connected with friends.
“Social media positively impacts my life,” Hightower said. “It also inspires me to get out and make new friends and gives me ideas for fun things to do.”
Social media also welcomes the opportunity to combat loneliness.
According to the Pew Research Center, social media is a great way to connect and make new friends through common interests. It allows people to stay in touch and “feel support from friends during tough times.”
Regarding social media usage, 13 to 17-year-olds and college students are not alike. The Pew Research Center said 76% of teens use social media, while the NCBI says over 98% of college students use social media. Another study from the Pew Research Center shows college students are “more prone to loneliness,” making the use of social media to gain friendships a way to solve this loneliness.
Circa, an app used to foster location-based connections, launched in 2020 and was available at Texas State in 2022. The app allows students to connect with their campus community. Texas State also has numerous Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat groups, giving students opportunities to find friends, roommates, jobs and more.
Another common perception of social media is it causes people to be less productive and dormant.
According to the NCBI, social media usage
increases productivity through effective, widespread communication within a company. This research found that a company could use social media to check statistical analyses of its performance and communicate with clients more effectively.
Social media is not ruining students’ lives, it is their misuse that is disastrous. It can be a powerful tool if students learn to use it in moderation.
-Emma Hall is a journalism junior
The University Star welcomes Letters to the Editor from its readers. All submissions are reviewed and considered by the Editor in Chief and
ILLUSTRATION BY ABBY FUNDERBURK
ILLUSTRATION BY MADELINE CARPENTER
This Week at Texas State
Valentino’s Pizza experiences a rush of people after the bars close, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, on The Square.
Pre-Nursing sophomore Danah Janine Ceniza (Right) hands out pamphlets of information about the Filipino Student Association to students at the student involvement fair, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, in the LBJ Student Center Ballroom.
Texas State students cheer during the game against UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium.
Texas State students hold signs to support TXST during the game against UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at UFCU Stadium.
San Marcos residents Adriana Brito (Left) and Cat Landon (Right) enjoy lunch together, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, at Crafthouse Bar and Grill. Landon listed Crafthouse as a typical spot for lunch and recommends the Nashville hot cauliflower bites.
PHOTOS BY KOBE ARRIAGA
Chimy’s is welcomed with locals and football fans after game day, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, on The Square.
Crafthouse Bar and Grill sees fans in attendance for game day, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, near downtown San Marcos.
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
PHOTO BY NATHALIE YANEZ
PHOTO BY LUCAS KRAFT
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
“The one thing about Bayle is that if there was any way to remember her, it would be to always have a great time,” Andrew Ray, a close friend of Bayle and owner of Bayle’s, said. “She loved to have a good time, she loved her friends, she loved going out, this was her livelihood. So when we came up with this bar, we wanted to be [people’s] livelihood… we came in to be people’s favorite because Bayle was everyone’s favorite person… we really just wanted to add something to the square that was of real value, that represented the person that she was.”
“We took the best aspects of The Square, everything that she loved about the square, and we really put it into the bar,” Ray said. “She loved getting Game Faces at Mayloos, so having a signature drink was a big thing for us. She loved taking photos, so having a photo booth was a big thing for us.”
Ray said designing the bar was a group effort. He covered the walls with photos gathered from Bayle’s family and friends, asked for their opinions on lighting and colors and had her friends stop by to check out the progress all to make sure to space reflected who Bayle truly was.
“It’s so cool, because her name can live on forever, and people get a piece of her. It really shows how special she was as a person.”
Cayman Bucceri
Younger sister of Bayle Bucceri
With permission from Bayle’s family and closest friends, Ray began working on Bayle’s in February, wanting to memorialize Bayle in some way. Ray hopes to open the bar this fall.
“[The bar] so cool, because her name can live on forever, and people get a piece of her,” Cayman Bucceri, Bayle’s younger sister, said. “It really shows how special she was as a person.”
Ray created Bayle’s to be more than just a restaurant bar, but a monument of Bayle where she can be remembered and learned about. Characteristics of Bayle and everything she loved about going out, cover the bar from wall to wall and ceiling to floor.
“There’s a lot of people that are going to come to the bar, they’re going to come eat at the restaurant, and they’re going to see the name and not really know exactly who she was, but everything about this space is modeled after her,” Ray said. “The great thing about [Bayle’s] is that you can actually learn about her within the space itself. It’s our mission in order to make sure that she’s always going to be remembered. She changed my life in a positive way, and so I hope she changes everyone else’s.”
Bayle’s is located next to The Marc on The Square at 130 East San Antonio St. Ray said the bar’s hours are from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Both Cayman and Herman plan to visit from Oklahoma and Austin once the bar opens. Cayman
is excited for her sister to be remembered in a place that she loved so dearly.
“It’s the best feeling, especially [because it’s in] San Marcos because she loved that town,” Cayman said. “It really is an amazing town. They deserve to have a little bit of Bayle in it.”
For Herman, watching the process of Bayle’s was amazing, and believes it is exactly what Bayle would’ve wanted. Going through the loss of someone so close to her is hard on her, and she hopes the bar reaches people the same way it reaches her.
“I just really hope everybody understands how special she really was. I hope [the bar] shows everybody how special she was,” Herman said. “I hope everybody gets that, and not just, they go and they’re like, ‘It’s just something named after a dead girl.’ This is big, really big. She was a big person, and her death made a huge impact on so many people.”
To keep up with Bayle’s on Instagram, scan the QR code.
Former Texas State student Bayle Bucceri (Left) and her best friend Lilla Herman (Right) pose for a photo, Feb. 2022, at The Belmont in Los Angeles.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LILLA HERMAN
A sneak peak of new bar and restaurant Bayle’s opening this fall, Tuesday Sept. 3, 2024, at The Square in San Marcos.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW RAY
McCloud finished the game 18-27 for 309 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and one interception. McCloud now tops the quarterback chart with 547 yards on the season through two games.
“We came in with a great mindset and a great game plan,” McCloud said. “Our number one emphasis was to be the hammer, not the nail, and punch them in the mouth early.”
On the ground, redshirt junior running back Lincoln Pare had his best game as a Bobcat since suffering a season-ending ACL tear last offseason. He rushed for 109 yards on 11 carries, including a 45-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
“[I’m] super proud of Lincoln [Pare],” Kinne said. “I know last year was tough on him, not getting to play, but he’s a heck of a person.”
The Bobcats jumped out to an early 21-3 lead and never looked back. The lead increased to 35-3 by halftime.
UTSA redshirt freshman quarterback Luke McCown went 10-23 for
105 yards and struggled to get the Roadrunner offense flowing. Redshirt sophomore quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger eventually replaced McCown. Marburger finished 14-27 for 147 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The 39-point loss marks the largest of UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor’s tenure.
“This is a big loss because I know how much our community wanted it,” Traylor said. “The trophy has been in my office the entire time I’ve been
here, and it’s not there anymore. No doubt this will be a real sour taste in our mouth.”
Kinne said Saturday’s win means a little more than the team’s bowl game victory or the win over Baylor last season.
“This is just my second year here, so I think it’s right up there with the bowl game and Baylor game just off the top of my head, but I think there was a little bit more juice for this one being a rivalry game,” Kinne said.
Texas State will attempt to build off the momentum from the historic win in their next game against arguably its most formidable opponent of the season, Arizona State. The Sun Devils are coming off a 30-23 win against Mississippi State.
Kickoff between Texas State and Arizona State is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at UFCU Stadium. For the first time in Texas State history, the game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
Kinne defeats mentor, friend Traylor following UTSA blowout
By Jacob De Luna Sports Reporter
Saturday marked the second time Texas State Head Coach
G.J. Kinne faced off against his mentor, former high school coach and colleague UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor.
Kinne credited everyone who took part in the big win against UTSA.
“[I’m] really proud of the players, coaching staff, training staff, the university and administration,” Kinne said. “It took everybody to get this victory.”
Kinne spoke about moves made in the offseason to bolster the roster for two specific goals.
“Every recruiting move we made, and every personnel move we made [raised the question], ‘Hey, does this allow us to beat UTSA or win a conference championship?’” Kinne said.
Traylor tipped his cap to the Bobcat roster for their performance against the Roadrunners.
“[The Bobcats] were really good, and they played very good,” Traylor said. “They made some plays, and we did not. You could tell they were veterans, [and] they looked very veteran and we looked very inexperienced.”
The two head coaches’ relationship began on the football field at Gilmer High School
where Traylor was head football coach and Kinne his star quarterback. The two went on to coach side-by-side at Southern Methodist University and the University of Arkansas before becoming the head coaches at rival schools.
“As far as my relationship with G.J. Kinne, it is pretty well documented,” Traylor said. “He was my quarterback in high school, and he is like a son to me in every sense of the word. We communicate frequently, and I don’t talk to very many head coaches. I am very happy with his success, and it doesn’t surprise me at all.”
According to Kinne, the time spent with Traylor in the past resulted in a good relationship that won’t be changed by the outcome of a single football game.
“I love coach Traylor; he is a mentor, a hell of a coach, a hell of a person and a dad. Nothing will change,” Kinne said. “One of us had to lose today, and I lost last year, but we got them today. I know it’s tough for them, but they will bounce back and have a really good year.”
Traylor said he views Kinne as much more than a friend, former player and colleague.
“I would say he would speak of me as one of his mentors or a father figure, and I would say the same about him. He is literally like one of my kids,” Traylor said.
The two faced off against one another for the first time last season in week two resulting in a 20-13 UTSA win at the Alamodome. Fast forward a year later and the student toppled the master as Texas State thrashed the Roadrunners 49-10.
Traylor had great words to say about Kinne and what he specifically has done for Texas State.
“I am very happy for G.J. [Kinne] and his family,” Traylor said. “What he’s done here to totally resurrect a university and have what they had out here today is really special.”
Texas State senior wide receiver Joey Hobert (10) celebrates during the game with UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024 at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium.
Texas State Head Coach G.J. Kinne holds the I-35 Showdown trophy with his son after defeating UTSA, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at Jim Wacker Field at UFCU Stadium.
PHOTO BY MEG BOLES
PHOTO BY SARAH MANNING