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.
They were also just off their first conference championship, though it was shared with Lamar Tech. Many of the contributors were back. UTA just went through a successful transition.
Claude "Chena" Gilstrap had been the Head Coach and Athletic Director for the school since 1953. After claiming Southland Conference Coach of the Year in 1965, he stepped down from his coaching duties. He stayed on as AD for almost another decade.
Burley Bearden, who had been an assistant at the school longer than Gilstrap's tenure was given the reigns. Bearden's first year earned Arlingon State their first Southland Conference championship in any sport and a 6-4 record. He would coach for a total of five years and finish with a winning record.
There was a lot of talent on the 1967 team and expectations were very high as the newly-named UTA Rebels opened the season at home against the Los Angles State Diablos on this day in UTA football history.
Taken from the Dallas Morning News, 9-17-67.
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