So in a huge bout of user error, I have failed to post one of my favorite annual features. Today is the fifth installment of This Day in UTA Football History. Unfortunately, the first four installments didn't make it. Rather than skip them, today will be a quintuple doubleheader.
To ease confusion, I put in parenthesis the day the late installments were supposed to be posted.
Apologies to all.
Saturday, September 30, 2017
UTA FB Vol. 5 Gm. 5 - Rivalry Weekend
Rivalry is the lifeblood of any sport. While there were many reasons for UT Arlington's football decline in the 1970's. There were many. I've covered it extensively here. No need to rehash them here.
I bring it up because there is one that I think gets overlooked. The lack of true rivals. Schools like UTA aren't going to attract attention like the flagship schools. They drive attendance two ways: by attracting big name schools/events or local games that attract interest.
This is evident when you look at UTA's top attended games at College Park Center. UTA has had four games top 6,000. Oklahoma University (big-name school) is number one, Cal St-Bakersfield is two (event-NIT quarterfinals), UTSA is third (event-CPC grand opening), while North Texas is fourth (rival).
Which of those is repeatable? If the Mavericks basketball team gets their wish, they won't be playing in the NIT this year. CPC can only have one grand opening. It's very apparent that big name schools won't schedule a team like UTA. But scheduling regional rivals is very repeatable. I expect this year's North Texas game to also top 6,000 and be in the top five-attended.
I bring it up because there is one that I think gets overlooked. The lack of true rivals. Schools like UTA aren't going to attract attention like the flagship schools. They drive attendance two ways: by attracting big name schools/events or local games that attract interest.
This is evident when you look at UTA's top attended games at College Park Center. UTA has had four games top 6,000. Oklahoma University (big-name school) is number one, Cal St-Bakersfield is two (event-NIT quarterfinals), UTSA is third (event-CPC grand opening), while North Texas is fourth (rival).
Which of those is repeatable? If the Mavericks basketball team gets their wish, they won't be playing in the NIT this year. CPC can only have one grand opening. It's very apparent that big name schools won't schedule a team like UTA. But scheduling regional rivals is very repeatable. I expect this year's North Texas game to also top 6,000 and be in the top five-attended.
UTA FB Vol. 5 Gm. 4 - Continuing Excellence
It seems that the fifth volume of In This Day in UTA Football History is working backwards. I started with the 1978 season, went to the 1972 year, then last week's 1967 opener. The 1961 season is the final year that qualifies for the history series.
UT Arlington, or Arlington State College, seemed to have an upward trajectory. After winning two junior college national titles, UTA went to four-year status in 1959. That resulted in a winning 4-3 record. 1960 was even better. The Rebels finished 9-2, tied for the second best record in UTA history. One of the two losses was to a higher level school (ASC was College Division). It seemed that ASC had no limits for the football program.
ASC opened the season on the road against Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles were one of the better non-major teams. They fluttered between the University and College Division in the early 1960's, but there's no question they were a talented team.
UT Arlington, or Arlington State College, seemed to have an upward trajectory. After winning two junior college national titles, UTA went to four-year status in 1959. That resulted in a winning 4-3 record. 1960 was even better. The Rebels finished 9-2, tied for the second best record in UTA history. One of the two losses was to a higher level school (ASC was College Division). It seemed that ASC had no limits for the football program.
ASC opened the season on the road against Southern Mississippi. The Golden Eagles were one of the better non-major teams. They fluttered between the University and College Division in the early 1960's, but there's no question they were a talented team.
UTA FB Vol. 5 Gm. 3 - Start of Something Special
Today is the last of three consecutive season openers I cover on This Day in UTA Football History. It came at a much different time than previous installments.
This was the first year for the University's new name. The school had been known as Arlington State College since 1949 when it was a junior college and a part of the Texas A&M system. Frustrated with the attention the "main" campus was receiving by the system. UTA was actually bigger at the time and grew restless. There was a lot behind the scenes maneuvering to get out from under the Aggie shadow. In 1965, the University joined the University of Texas system.
This year, 1967, the University debuted a new name, the University of Texas at Arlington. They were still known as the Rebels, but the newly-named UTA squad was bolstered by the optimism of the time.
This was the first year for the University's new name. The school had been known as Arlington State College since 1949 when it was a junior college and a part of the Texas A&M system. Frustrated with the attention the "main" campus was receiving by the system. UTA was actually bigger at the time and grew restless. There was a lot behind the scenes maneuvering to get out from under the Aggie shadow. In 1965, the University joined the University of Texas system.
This year, 1967, the University debuted a new name, the University of Texas at Arlington. They were still known as the Rebels, but the newly-named UTA squad was bolstered by the optimism of the time.
UTA FB Vol. 5 Gm. 2 - Brick Wall
In the second installment of this year's UT Arlington football history lesson, we look at the 1972 season. In order to maintain the surprise, I can't relate the significance of this season. What I will do is set the table.
UTA had just made the jump to the University Division from the College Division the previous year, the equivalent of going from Division II to DI today. It is perhaps the most disastrous jump in the history of the NCAA. I have yet to see a case study worse than UTA's.
The final College Division season was winless. They just moved to a baseball stadium off campus. That meant there were very few September home games. There was no improvement in funding. The schedule got tougher while the talent was the same or even less. There was no momentum for the program in any respect. No other sport was competitive. There was zero winning culture in the Athletic Department - UTA won zero conference championships in the 1970's.
UTA had just made the jump to the University Division from the College Division the previous year, the equivalent of going from Division II to DI today. It is perhaps the most disastrous jump in the history of the NCAA. I have yet to see a case study worse than UTA's.
The final College Division season was winless. They just moved to a baseball stadium off campus. That meant there were very few September home games. There was no improvement in funding. The schedule got tougher while the talent was the same or even less. There was no momentum for the program in any respect. No other sport was competitive. There was zero winning culture in the Athletic Department - UTA won zero conference championships in the 1970's.
UTA FB Vol. 5 Gm. 1 - Consistent Mediocrity
As I ramp up another year of This Day in UTA Football History, I am very much looking forward to this year's offerings. We'll have a championship, a solid season, and two seasons which really emphasized what UT Arlington was all about in the 1970's, with all the challenges that entailed.
Today (September 2) marks the opener to the 1978 season. It was the start of Harold "Bud" Elliott's fifth year at UTA. By all accounts, he had the football program moving in the right direction. He started his Mav career 1-10 in 1974 (this series covered his first game here, first win here). He finished second to last in the Southland Conference. Everyone knew it was a rebuilding year.
In 1975, the team saw an improvement to 4-7 (I covered a win over TCU here, loss to Southern Mississippi here and a win over Lamar here). There was no improvement in conference though, as UTA again was second to last (1-4). In some ways, this was ironic. Most years, he was known for winning more conference games then he did in non-conference.
He again increased the win column in 1976, this time to 5-6. There was great improvement in the conference standings, as UTA moved up from fifth to third and had a winning conference mark of 3-2. That was considered important now, as the Southland Conference's regular season champions would get an Independence Bowl berth. In a twist, UTA was in contention for it near the end of the season.
Today (September 2) marks the opener to the 1978 season. It was the start of Harold "Bud" Elliott's fifth year at UTA. By all accounts, he had the football program moving in the right direction. He started his Mav career 1-10 in 1974 (this series covered his first game here, first win here). He finished second to last in the Southland Conference. Everyone knew it was a rebuilding year.
In 1975, the team saw an improvement to 4-7 (I covered a win over TCU here, loss to Southern Mississippi here and a win over Lamar here). There was no improvement in conference though, as UTA again was second to last (1-4). In some ways, this was ironic. Most years, he was known for winning more conference games then he did in non-conference.
He again increased the win column in 1976, this time to 5-6. There was great improvement in the conference standings, as UTA moved up from fifth to third and had a winning conference mark of 3-2. That was considered important now, as the Southland Conference's regular season champions would get an Independence Bowl berth. In a twist, UTA was in contention for it near the end of the season.
Tuesday, September 12, 2017
First Losing Streak
I don't think anyone thought the UT Arlington Volleyball team would continue the .800 winning percentage when it entered the Lobo Classic hosted by the University of New Mexico. They were facing top teams in peer conferences to the Sun Belt as well as New Mexico, which was picked low in a very good Mountain West.
They did not win a match in the tournament. I'm not terribly surprised by that, but am disappointed that they only won one set. Aside from the Lobo match, they fought in most every set and were fairly competitive.
Speaking of the Lobo match, that is the one that I believe they really didn't show up. They scored 17, 18 and 14 respectively against a team that is likely only a little better than Houston. Yes it was a true road match, but I was expecting a better showing. At no point did I think that they were about to make a run and win a set.
They picked up their lone set win in a 3-1 loss to Northern Colorado. They stayed in the match for the most part and seemed to just have a little less than needed. The black eye that I wasn't thrilled about was the fourth and final set, where they scored 18, but the first three I thought showed a lot of grit.
They did not win a match in the tournament. I'm not terribly surprised by that, but am disappointed that they only won one set. Aside from the Lobo match, they fought in most every set and were fairly competitive.
Speaking of the Lobo match, that is the one that I believe they really didn't show up. They scored 17, 18 and 14 respectively against a team that is likely only a little better than Houston. Yes it was a true road match, but I was expecting a better showing. At no point did I think that they were about to make a run and win a set.
They picked up their lone set win in a 3-1 loss to Northern Colorado. They stayed in the match for the most part and seemed to just have a little less than needed. The black eye that I wasn't thrilled about was the fourth and final set, where they scored 18, but the first three I thought showed a lot of grit.
Sunday, September 3, 2017
Great start for a new team
I hesitated posting after the opening week to the 2017 volleyball season in an effort to temper the homer effect. After all UT Arlington opened the season 3-0 and won the opening tournament for the first time since 2013. Prior to that, you'd have to go back to 2004. In essence, it was a rare moment in the Diane Seymour era.
But under new coach J.T. Wenger, it is now an every-year phenomenon. I kid, I kid, but you see why I wanted to temper expectation. They beat Southern, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Mavericks have never lost to a SWAC school in the previous 16 matches, so no big win. UTA swept McNeese in three sets. That match is also not a big upset as McNeese is picked ninth out of 13 Southland schools in the preseason poll.
The match that did give me cause for concern was a five-set win against Houston. If you glanced on the surface, that might seem like a tough opponent. After all, Houston came in with a 27-21 series advantage, and UTA owns series wins over two-thirds of its opponents, so that is saying something.
But under new coach J.T. Wenger, it is now an every-year phenomenon. I kid, I kid, but you see why I wanted to temper expectation. They beat Southern, a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The Mavericks have never lost to a SWAC school in the previous 16 matches, so no big win. UTA swept McNeese in three sets. That match is also not a big upset as McNeese is picked ninth out of 13 Southland schools in the preseason poll.
The match that did give me cause for concern was a five-set win against Houston. If you glanced on the surface, that might seem like a tough opponent. After all, Houston came in with a 27-21 series advantage, and UTA owns series wins over two-thirds of its opponents, so that is saying something.
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