RIO GRANDE VALLEY – During a City Council meeting on Tuesday, the City of Edinburg honored The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley football team with a proclamation celebrating its historic inaugural season.
 
Mayor Omar Ochoa read the following proclamation:
 
WHEREAS, The UTRGV Vaqueros football team kicked off their inaugural 2025 season competing in the Southland Conference (SLC), within the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS); and,
 
WHEREAS, The Vaqueros football team quickly built a strong local following, with exciting home game experiences, feature tailgating, pep rallies, and can be watched on ESPN+.  The program averaged 12,539 fans per game, ranking 16th best in the FCS for average attendance; and,
 
WHEREAS, under the leadership of Head Coach Travis Bush, the Vaqueros achieved the most successful debut for a startup FCS program in history: Overall Record: 9–3, Home Record: 7–0 undefeated at home (Robert & Janet Vackar Stadium in Edinburg, Tx.), Conference Play: 5–3 in the Southland Conference, a notable achievement for the first new FCS program to start from scratch in years; and,
 
WHEREAS, the entire team was instrumental to the historic 2025 inaugural season, with key contributions on both offense and defense, UTRGV ranked 6th in the FCS for scoring, averaging 39.6 points per game and led the nation in fewest fumbles lost, losing only one (a muffed punt) the entire season; and,
 
WHEREAS, the program's first year achieved great success including multiple players earning All-Southland Conference honors; senior quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger, was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year; wide receiver Tony Diaz, was named Freshman of the Year; offensive lineman Nick Hughes, and punter Nathaniel Wallace-Dilling are all-conference second team offense selections, and junior defensive end Ian Box is an all-conference second team defense selection. The seven honors are the fourth most of any team in the conference; and, 
 
WHEREAS, UTRGV's first-ever football season marked a new chapter for South Texas this season represented opportunity, growth, community support and the beginning of a tradition that brought students, families, alumni, and residents from across the Valley to witness a historic moment and the birth of a new tradition; and,
 
WHEREAS, the Edinburg City Council would like to congratulate Chasse Conque, Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics, Head Coach Travis Bush, and the Vaqueros Football Team for their exemplary inaugural season.
 
NOW, THEREFORE, I, OMAR OCHOA, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF EDINBURG, Texas: By the power vested in me by law, do hereby recognize:
 
UTRGV VAQUEROS FOOTBALL
 
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Edinburg, Texas, a Municipal Corporation, to be affixed on this the 3^rd day of February, 2026.
 
"We would like to thank the City of Edinburg for honoring our football team in such a meaningful way," UTRGV Senior Vice President and Director of Athletics Chasse Conque said. "Saturday nights in the Rio Grande Valley will never be the same, and the city has been a great partner, supporter and investor in helping make Vaqueros football a success this past fall and for many years to come."

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