UTA Football Game Three; No Options

Today's edition of This Day in UTA Football kicks off the 1969 season. Recall from last year that the 1968 campaign ended on a down year as the Mavs came up just shy of repeating as Southland Conference Champions and another Pecan Bowl appearance.

The big question for the 1969 season is would this be an avenging year and the team would stay competitive in the Southland Conference or would this be the start of a decline.

Gone was all-everything quarterback Mike Baylor, UTA's career leader in total yards (4,685), passing yards (4,441) most plays (1,014), most passing TD's (31), Completions (322) and attempts (768). In was Ronnie Faulkner, a capable if occasionally erratic QB. One of Baylor's favorite targets had graduated. Jimmy Thomas was a big play wide receiver who is UTA's career leader in TD's (17) and yards (1,906) and is second in receptions (94). All-conference guard Greg Bailey also needed to be replaced. But make no mistake, the offense was still potent.

Returning was fullback Danny Griffin, tight end Dick Hill, T Don Morrison and C Billy Kornegay. Also returning was perhaps UTA's greatest special teams player of all-time Skipper Butler, first team all-conference in 1967 and 68.



The defense would lose more big play firepower. Out was linebacker Fred Gough, cornerback Jim Marcum and safety Mike Stamps, all multiple first teamers on the all SLC squad. Only the defensive line seemed to be the only unit in good shape to start the year.

Today's opponent was the Northeast Louisiana Indians, now know as Louisiana Monroe Warhawks. This was the sixth meeting between the two with UTA holding a 3-2 record. The Indians were coming of a 6-4 season and hoping to improve on their 3-2 Gulf States record. As this was the season opener for both teams, many of the questions both sides had would be answered.

One last bit of useless trivia. I'd have probably picked this game since it was the season opener of a turning point year, barring something spectacular from one of the other available seasons. But this is the only game in UTA history played on September 20.

Griffin Boys Pace UTA to 17-3 Win

MONROE, La. (AP) - The UT Arlington Rebels exploded for 17 points in five minutes of second quarter action and took their season opener from Northeast Louisiana Saturday night, 17-3.

The Griffin boys, tailback Marc and fullback Danny, scored a touchdown each in the outburst, and placement specialist Skipper Butler chipped in a 20-yard field goal and two conversions.

Northeast had taken a 3-0 first-quarter lead on a 32-yard field goal following a 62-yard drive to the UTA 15.

But when Danny Griffin bucked over from the Indians 1 to put UTA ahead, the gates were open. Butler upped the lead to 10-3 with his field goal, and moments later Marc Griffin hauled in a pass from quarterback Ronnie Faulkner and sped 59 yards to the final touchdown.

Linebacker Milton Davis sparked the rugged UTA defense, getting in on 14 tackles, intercepting a pass and recovering two fumbles. Danny Griffin was leading rusher with 98 yards on 16 carries.

                                  UTA          NELa.
First downs...................14................17
Rushing yardage..........190..............167
Passing yardage...........110..............119
Passes....................5-21-3.......11-22-2
Punts.......................7-42.3.........9-39.3
Fumbles lost.....................3.................3
Yards penalized...........8-90............5-55

UTA.......0  17  0   0-17
NE.........3   0   0   0-3
NE-Blake 32 FG.
UTA-D. Griffin 1 run (Butler kick).
UTA-Butler 20 FG.
UTA-M. Griffin 59 pass from Faulkner (Butler kick).
A-7,800.

Taken from the Dallas Morning News 9-21-1969