The 2016 Tarleton State University Texan football season kicks off this Saturday, September 3 against FCS Division I McNeese State University at Cowboys Stadium in Lake Charles Louisiana. The Texans, coming off a grief stricken year, as well as a 3-7 record for 2015, are looking to rebuild for the 2016 season.

The Texans, following the resignation of former head coach Cary Fowler, are under the new leadership of head coach Todd Whitten.

Whitten is no stranger to the Texan football program. Whitten was the Texan head coach in 1996 and 2000-04.

Whitten considers himself to be in the reclamation stage. “We’re in an evaluation stage right now,’ Whitten said. “And at the end of it, we want to do our best as a staff to put our guys in a position to be successful.”

“The main thing we need to do is stop the run of the ball, we need to short defenses and on offense we need to have more explosive and bigger plays with the ball on offense.”

The Texans, for the first time face off against McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana. This is also the Texans first 11 game schedule since 2011.

When asked about the recent passing of player Alex Sanchez, Whitten said, “Alex was a good guy, he had a lot of friends.” “There is not a day we go by where we don’t hurt, Alex was a special guy.”

Along with over 20 recruits signed on National Signing Day, the Texans have packed a full article for a successful 2016 season.

The Texan season kicks off September 3 against McNeese at Cowboys Stadium in Lake Charles, Louisiana at 6 p.m.