Take two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. Add a spark. Explosion.

That is how the space shuttle takes off from earth, and head coach Sam McElroy hopes the formula he and his staff are mixing together will have the same result.
McElroy and his staff have a high-octane offense with a strong nucleus of returners set to play for the Texans in 2008. The defense will be highly active, but there will be several new faces dressed in purple and white this season. Last year's Lone Star Conference South Division Co-Coach of the Year also hopes the pressure for success will help combine the two elements into a winner.

“Our expectations are always the same,” the fourth-year head coach said. “We want to do our best to win a conference championship. It's no different in 2008 than it has been in the past. We want to have a successful season.”

Tarleton enters the 2008 season after a 9-2 season that included a win over NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision Stephen F. Austin in overtime, 27-24. However, the season ended too soon for the Texans as Tarleton was denied the program's third trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs.

“We had our chances at the end of the season, we just didn't take care of business,” McElroy said.

The Texans had shared the LSC South Division title with West Texas A&M who has claimed the last three LSC championships and division titles thanks to downing Tarleton in each of the last three season finales for the Texans.

Tarleton returns 15 offensive, 13 defensive and three special teams members from the 2007 squad. Included in those returnees are nine offensive, two defensive and two special team starters.

“We have several guys that have playing experience at this level, but we are going to have a lot of new faces as well,” McElroy said.

Tarleton will host six games at home this season, including the season opener on Thursday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. against Southeastern Oklahoma. The schedule also includes a nationally-televised game with Angelo State on Thursday, Oct. 30 on CBS College Sports Network.

“That is a great opportunity for this program,” said Tarleton athletics director Lonn Reisman. “We will have a chance to show off our community and our University. We look forward to having a nationally-televised contest.”

McElroy is also excited about having the game seen across the United States.

“Our football team, fans and community will be on display, and that says a lot about Tarleton State University, and hopefully, it will say a lot about our football program when all is said and done,” McElroy said. “Hopefully, we will be able to take advantage of this opportunity while recruiting as well.”

However, McElroy said he will not look forward to the televised game other than to say what he has said. He says he will focus on Aug. 28.

“Right now, we are focused on Southeastern Oklahoma and what we will have to do on Thursday, Aug. 28 to start the season off with a victory,” McElroy said.

The Texans schedule is full of LSC teams. After the season opener, Tarleton will host Northeastern State in the Hall of Fame game on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. The Texans will hit the road for the first time on the season at East Central in Ada, Okla. on Saturday, Sept. 13. Tarleton will then host Central Oklahoma for Family Weekend (Sept. 20) before traveling to Weatherford, Okla. to face Southwestern Oklahoma (Sept. 27).

Tarleton will open the LSC South Division portion of the schedule with a 7 p.m. kickoff at home against Texas A&M-Kingsville. Tarleton will travel to Midwestern State in Wichita Falls (Oct. 11) before hosting Eastern New Mexico for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 18 at 2 p.m. The Texans will close out the season at Abilene Christian on Saturday, Oct. 25, at home versus ASU and on the road at West Texas A&M on Saturday, Nov. 8.

“We have a really good schedule that could help us have another winning season,” McElroy said. “This time, though, we want to make the playoffs and have the opportunity to play for the national championship.

“Playing MSU, ACU and West Texas A&M on the road is never an easy task, but every game in the South Division is a battle every Saturday. I've said it before, but we hope we will go into the last game for the season playing for a conference title and a chance to reach the playoffs.”

This year, McElroy and his staff would like to have the same reaction that helps boost the space shuttle into orbit help propel the Texans into the postseason..

Take two elements: offense and defense. Add a spark. Explosion (of success).

Here's a look at the 2008 Texans:

OFFENSE
The Tarleton offense returns a strong nucleus of starters from last year's 9-2 squad that averaged 452.2 yards per game last season, including 175.5 yards per game on the ground and 276.6 yards through the air per outing.

“Our quarterback should be really good and our running backs are a quality group,” McElroy said. “I believe just about everyone that scored a touchdown last season offensively is back, and that is always a positive. I hope we can pick up where we left off and get going strong as soon as the season kicks off.”

In fact, the Texans return just about every key facet from last year's offensive unit, including the top nine scorers from last year's team that averaged 37.2 points per game last year.

The Texan offense will have its third coordinator in as many seasons with the addition of Jason Munoz as the play caller from the sidelines. However, McElroy believes fans can still expect and explosive offense to take the field.

“Coach Munoz will add his own little things here and there, but the basis of what we are going to be doing is not going to change,” McElroy said. “We will be able to run the ball and be affective at that. We will be able to build a play action passing attack off of that, and hopefully, we will keep the ball in our hands, have nice drives and score points.”

QUARTERBACKS
After going into last season as the biggest question mark, the quarterback position looks to be solid with returning sophomore quarterback Scott Grantham leading the charge. Grantham, who threw for 24 touchdowns last season (third on the all-time single season list), completed 191 passes for 2,882 yards for an average of 262 yards per game.

He is joined by two transfers and a sophomore. Casey Page returns after a backup season in 2007 while Kelan Luker and Eric Foreman enter the signal calling picture. Luker is a transfer from Southern Methodist who hasn't played a few years while Foreman is a transfer from Texas.

“Scott had a great freshman season,” McElroy said. “He is a solid player that does a great job for us, and I think he will have a really great year. Scott got that first year under his belt and led us to nine wins by being very effective and productive. We also have Kelan Luker who transferred in here, is excited about playing, and I know he has great ability. Foreman can also play quarterback for us.

“We have a solid starter and a couple of guys that I believe are capable of winning that position, too,” McElroy said of the quarterbacks. “We can have two of those guys out there at the same time and have it to where people won't know who will be where and what they will be doing..

RUNNING BACKS
Probably the most talented returning group on the squad is the running back corps led by senior Michael Sampson. The Texan had 112 carries for 428 yards and seven touchdowns last season, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Travis Evans averaged 51.5 yards per game while carrying the ball 100 times for 567 yards and five touchdowns. Roderick Smith, who led Tarleton last year in rushing, also returns after averaging 58.4 yards per game last season. He had six touchdowns and 642 yards on 100 carries.

“We have a great group of guys returning, and they are talented,” McElroy said. “Mike is the only senior in the crew, and he has had a great career around here, and I hope he has a great senior season. I don't have any problems handing the ball to either one of these guys because I know they will get the job done.

OFFENSIVE LINE
The offensive line has been a strong point for the Texans in the past, and this year should be no different. Returning to anchor the line is First Team All-LSC South Division member Jimmy Fox. He will be joined by returners Devin Livingston, Dustin Washburn, Greg Dolan, Jarrod Sheppard, Lee Gonzales, Brandon Slay and Scott Streich, all of which saw action in 2007.

“It is nice to have so many guys returning that have started for you, and several that have received quality playing time in this conference,” McElroy said. “We have some experience there, plus we have some guys that played roles for us last year returning. Mike Hernandez is a transfer that will help us up front as well. There have been guys giving us good backup reps in the past and if they can step up, we should be OK if we can stay healthy.”

TIGHT ENDS
The Texans have no returning players at the tight end position that have extensive playing experience in the LSC, but McElroy believes the coaching staff will find the right person for the job.

“We have a few guys coming in to compete for the tight end spot,” McElroy said. “This is an extremely important position in our offense, and I am confident we will find the personnel to fill the hole.”


RECEIVERS
The Texans return a very strong receiving corps, including two of the top receivers in the LSC and nation last season. Devin Guinn recorded 57 receptions last year for 1,039 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2007. His touchdown total tied a school single-season record in the category. He averaged 18.2 yards per catch and 94.5 yards per outing. Shamarr Prentice had 44 catches for 819 yards and five touchdowns last season, averaging 18.6 yards per touch and 81.9 yard per contest.

“Devin and Shamarr are very productive returns at the wide receiver position, and Eric Foreman will come in and play out there as an asset for us as well,” McElroy said. “We have a very good receiving corps coming in this year, and if we can stay healthy, they should be very affective.”


DEFENSE
With a lot of returning faces on the offensive side of the ball, the Texan defense will have just the opposite. Tarleton returns just two starters off of last year's unit, one of which didn't start the whole season.

“We are going to be really young,” McElroy said. “We don't have many guys with any form of experience in the LSC over there, but sometimes, that is not all bad. They are going to be eager and excited. We just hope they come along and progress as quickly as possible and progress as a unit so we can be successful.”

The defense will also be under a new coordinator as Cary Fowler joined the Texan coaching staff after a long stint at Midwestern State. Last year, he coached the No. 1 defense in the LSC, and McElroy believes the change on defense will be a positive one.

“It will be a little different philosophy from what we have been doing, but it won't be too recognizable from the stands,” McElroy said. “The alignment will be a little different. Coach Fowler's philosophy is to get after it while getting the guys playing hard and running to the ball. I think in time when those guys get a little bit of experience, they will be a really solid unit. “


DEFENSIVE LINE
One of the two returning starters from last year's squad can be found at defensive end: Jamaal Steamer. Steamer, who also returns as the leading tackler among returners, led the team with 12 tackles for a loss of minus-75 yards last season. Bryant Waters, Carl Mitchell and Jacob Rowe also saw some playing time on the defensive line last season, and McElroy believes the line could be strong again this year, despite missing four-year letterwinner Tywain Myles.

“Jamaal is an all-conference guy who should have a great year this season,” McElroy said. “We really don't have a lot of experience on the line, but we have some transfer guys that should help shore up the positions. We are having to replace some very solid players from last year's team, but I think we will be able to find those players on our roster.”

LINEBACKERS
The linebacking corps will be new at starting contests as well. No returning starters can be found on the 2008 roster from prior seasons, but there is some experience as Ben Dambold and Marcus Phillips return from quality playing time last season.

“We have a couple of guys that helped us out last year and have done a good job for us,” McElroy said. “We also have some transfer guys coming in to help solidify that position as well. We have to find guys that are able to run pretty well and make plays for us. If everyone buys into the schemes, we should have a talented bunch of linebackers that on the depth chart that will be able to contribute when the season starts.”

SECONDARY
The secondary is missing three-time LSC South Division Defensive Back of the Year Ranardrick Phillips who completed his eligibility as the only LSC player to earn the award three times. And the only other returning starter can be found in the secondary, Tremaine Wright.

Wright didn't start the whole season, opening just seven games on the field in 2007, including the last six. He will be joined by several new members of the Texan squad while Brandon Johnson returns to the cornerback position with some LSC experience as well.

“Tremaine had a good year for us last season and Brandon played for us some in the fall and had a good spring,” McElroy said. “We have some young guys and a few transfers coming in to battle for playing time that should really help us.”

A new crew will be seen vying for the safety spots as there is nobody with solid experience at the position after having to fill Ranardrick Phillips' shoes.

“We will have a new crew after both of last year's starters are gone,” McElroy said. “We have a few guys that have watched them play in the last couple of years, and we hope they have been able to learn from what they saw. I hope they imitate Ranardrick pretty well.”

SPECIAL TEAMS
Scheduled to return for the Texans is place kickers Stephen Arnold and Garrett Lindholm as well as punter Kyle Hopf.

Arnold was a three-time LSC South Division Player of the Week last season. He hit all 41 of his extra point attempts last season and was 10 of 15 in field goals. He was six of six from 30-39 yards away and he had a season long kick of 47 yards.

Lindholm mostly kicked off for the Texans, booting the ball 77 times for 4,684 yards, including 18 touchbacks. He averaged 60.8 yards per kickoff. He also was five of seven in field goal range, hitting his longest from 42 yards out. Lindholm was also nine of 11 in PATs.

Hopf punted the ball 38 times last year for 1,534 yards, an average of 40.4 yards per boot. He had a long of 58 yards while putting 15 inside the 20-yardline.

The Texans did loose their experience deep snapper, Devin Wilson, to graduation, but they have recruited a newcomer to fill the role.

“We are pretty confident in our special teams this season,” McElroy said. “Stephen has had surgery, so I don't know when he will be coming back, but Garret will have to do all of our kicking for now and Kyle will continue to punt for us. We have added a deep snapper in Kyle Piercefield, and he is a good player. We should be solid in that area.”

The kick and punt returners were solid last season as the Texans averaged 23.2 yards per kick return in 2007.

Evans can not only run the ball, he is an excellent kick returner, too, after averaging 31.7 yards per kick return with 15 for 475 yards. Also slated to return kicks for the Texans will be a couple of newcomers as well as Smith.

“We will definitely have several guys, including Travis and Rod, that will give us some explosive ability at that position.”


The 2008 Texans will be young and inexperienced in some areas, but experienced in others. After combining the returning talent with the newcomers, McElroy hopes things will come together for the Texans this season.

“Hopefully, we can set ourselves up with the chance to compete for a championship again this season,” McElroy said.

There is not a lot of seniors on the 2008 roster, but the head coach believes what experience does exist will transfer into leadership.

“We are not loaded with seniors,” McElroy said. “We have some but most are on the offensive side of the ball. I think they are in places for us to score some points and move the ball.

“We have experience at receiver, running back and on the offensive line, and I hope they can bring the rest of us along.”

The head coach is not sure if there is a bad taste in the mouth of all the players after missing the playoffs last season with a 9-2 record, but he knows there is a desire to get there in 2008.

“I think every year starts the same,” McElroy said. “There is a lot of excitement about getting out and playing football. Sure, there are kids that played last year that were disappointed with the way things ended, but we have to focus on this season. It is a long season, and right now, we have to focus on SOSU.”
McElroy believes his team can be successful, but he knows this year, especially, it will not be easy.

“We have won here in the past, and I believe we can win here this year,” McElroy said. “It is certainly going to take a great effort this year. We have some good players back, but we are going to be young in some spots. However, we are still going to go out every day and strive to get better. We are going to strive for a conference championship.”

Tarleton is set to open the 2008 season at home against Southeastern Oklahoma at 7 p.m. at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 28.