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.



In the 1970's, there were very few true rivals for the UTA football team. The conference lost two of the four charter conference members. Arkansas State was too far away for true interest. Lamar, one of the four original Southland Conference Texas schools, was the farthest of the other three. Due to the lack of competitiveness by the Mavericks, there were few meaningful games in any sport, another key to building a rivalry.

UTA did get to play North Texas, perhaps the only true rival UTA had in the decade. TCU, a Southwest Conference school, didn't really get up for the Mavericks.

It was far different than what UTA had in the 1960's. UTA played meaningful games against Lamar and Arkansas State (but not enough to really elevate to long-term, rivalry status). Those games meant something and drew the fans in.

But in addition to that, there was at least one regional game a year. A game that meant something to both teams.

Texas A&M-Commerce may not seem like a rival to UTA today, but in the 1960's, they were schools that were very similar, even that both schools had different names back then. The games between ASC/UTA and East Texas State were competitive and were usually the highest attended game of the season. It was like how UTA circles North Texas on the schedule today.

In addition, UTA was 2-0 entering the game. We know that UTA opened with a win against Los Angeles State. They followed that with a win against a major school. In a squeaker, 15-14, UTA defeated New Mexico State at Memorial Stadium. It was the first win in the series for UTA after losses the previous three years.

On this day in UTA football history, the Rebels traveled to Commerce, Texas to face the East Texas State Lions.

Taken from the Dallas Morning News, 10-1-67.