Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González
February 8, 2025—McAllen, TX—Atlas, Hall & Rodriguez, LLP hosted community business leaders at its offices to hear presentations from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas and UTRGV Athletics, highlighting significant progress in academic achievements and athletic development.
Chasse Conque, UTRGV Vice President and Director of Athletics, and UTRGV Head Football Coach Travis Bush shared exciting updates on the university’s rapidly evolving athletics program, particularly emphasizing the historic launch of UTRGV’s inaugural football season, which will begin in Fall 2025.
“I won’t take too much of your time, but I want to give some updates,” Bush began. “There are so many different directions to go—whether it’s recruiting, facilities, or the schedule—but the bottom line is, time has flown by, and we are getting closer to game day.”
Bush emphasized the significant progress made in just two years, transforming a concept on paper into a fully operational team.
“Two years ago, we sat in a meeting room and looked at plans on paper—just a piece of dirt behind the football field,” he recalled. “Now, we can step outside and see practice fields in use, stadium construction underway, and a program that’s getting more real by the day.”
With just 200 days until UTRGV’s first game, the program is making final preparations to be game-ready.
Aggressive Recruiting and Team Development. Coach Bush detailed UTRGV’s aggressive recruitment efforts, including signing 38 new players this season.
“We wrapped up our second official signing class, and 28 players are already enrolled and training,” he explained.
Of the 28 new enrollees, 25 are transfers from Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs, while three joined straight from high school. An additional 10 recruits will arrive in the summer.
“We started with a young team—75 of our 90 players were true freshmen,” Coach Bush said. “Our priority now is balancing the roster so that, by kickoff, we have the same structure as every other top program: a solid mix of seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen.”
Bush credited the community, donors, and the Valley’s strong support system as major factors in recruiting success.
“Every game will be sold out, the facilities rival those at FBS schools, and our players know they’re joining something historic,” he stated.
UTRGV will begin spring practice on March 10, 2025, and will hold 15 practices over one month. The Spring Game will take place in April, and another round of recruitment will follow before the August preseason.
As for the team’s playing style, Bush—an experienced offensive coordinator—revealed his aggressive, high-scoring approach.
“I like to push the ball downfield and score quickly,” he said. “Our system is designed to be versatile, like what you see at Texas or Ohio State. We’ll adapt to our personnel, but we’ll definitely be exciting to watch.”
Upcoming Dates to Watch
- March 10, 2025 – UTRGV Spring Football Practice Begins
- April 2025 – UTRGV Spring Game
- August 2025 – Final UTRGV Recruiting Cycle
- Fall 2025 – UTRGV Inaugural Football Season Kickoff
A Bright Future for Sports in the RGV. As the event wrapped up, Coach Bush highlighted the Valley’s rapid transformation in sports and economics.
UTRGV’s historic first football season will be a milestone event that will bring national attention and regional pride. Meanwhile, the Rio Grande Valley’s economic growth continues to gain recognition, ensuring a bright future for businesses, communities, and financial institutions.
With football season approaching and the Valley’s influence expanding, the energy surrounding UTRGV athletics and economic development is stronger than ever.
