When Winning Gets Harder, Bring the Valley Closer
Winning fills stadiums. Relationships keep people coming back when the winning gets harder.
And if Saturday in San Antonio proved anything, it’s that the Valley isn’t going anywhere.
UTRGV fans made the four-hour trip to watch their Vaqueros take on UIW. They showed up in force, brought the energy, and made their presence felt inside another team’s stadium. DITV was right there with them.
The scoreboard read 41–16. The support told a different story.
Now sitting at 3–4 and searching for its first road victory, UTRGV faces a pivotal moment in its young history. Nine wins and an undefeated home record in Year One helped create a football culture that energized an entire region.
The university built the foundation. The Valley embraced it.
And make no mistake, we still believe in what this team can accomplish.
There’s plenty of football left. The Vaqueros have talented athletes, coaches who have already demonstrated they can win, and a fan base that’s ready to celebrate the next victory. This season isn’t finished, and neither is the fight.
But there’s something bigger being tested alongside the results: the relationship between the program and the community that embraced it.
When you’re winning, opening the doors comes naturally. Smiles are everywhere, highlights are rolling, and everybody wants to share the story. When the losses come, the temptation can be to turn inward.
Maybe that’s exactly when a program should bring its community closer.
Through DITV, I’ve learned that sometimes our greatest value isn’t our own opinion. It’s creating a place where fans gather, share perspectives, dig into the stats, and hear from guests who bring knowledge and insight beyond our own.
Our shows are live. We’re not talking at fans. We’re talking with them. The people commenting, asking questions, and sharing their perspectives help shape the conversation. Those connections can turn casual followers into supporters willing to travel four hours for a football game. That’s a responsibility I don’t take lightly.
I’ve also interviewed athletes, spoken with their families, and learned about the journeys that brought them to the Valley. Those relationships change how you experience a game. You’re no longer cheering for a number on a jersey. You’re invested in the person wearing it.
And that investment doesn’t disappear after a loss.
I’d love to see more of those stories told.
More player interviews, personal features, and behind-the-scenes access. Show us the preparation.
Introduce us to athletes who aren’t making the headlines. Take us back to the families, coaches, and communities that helped them get here.
An open practice or traveling coaches’ show could create opportunities for fans across Brownsville, McAllen, and Harlingen to connect with the program. And imagine future recruits seeing how this community celebrates its athletes even when the scoreboard isn’t cooperating.
No amount of access replaces winning football games. And we absolutely want to win. We believe this team can respond, finish strong, and give the Valley more Saturdays worth celebrating.
But a program’s relationship with its community shouldn’t depend entirely on the results.
UTRGV has an opportunity to make Year Two about more than its final record. This difficult stretch can become part of the foundation of something stronger, both on the field and throughout the Valley.
We’re not writing off this season. We’re looking forward to what comes next.
There are games left to win, stories left to tell, and athletes who deserve to be celebrated every step of the way.
DITV will keep doing our part, bringing fans into live conversations, celebrating athletes, and sharing the stories that make Valley sports special. There’s room for more of those stories from everyone who believes in what UTRGV is building.
The Valley hasn’t stopped showing up. The belief hasn’t disappeared. And neither has our expectation that this team can win.
When the football gets difficult, the stories shouldn’t disappear with the wins.
Bring the Valley closer. Keep fighting. There’s still a whole lot worth believing in.
DITV | Built by the Valley, for the Valley.
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