It's been a while since this volume documented a 1960 game, the season-opening road win against the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks to be exact. Arlington State College stayed on the road the next week when they traveled to Memphis State and were shut out by the Tigers 35-0. The offense struggled all night, but aside from a 21-0 second quarter, the defense performed decently.
The home opener in Arlington at Memorial Stadium came against future conference rival Northeastern Louisiana, now Louisiana-Monroe. The then-Indians were one of the better Southland teams in the 1980's, but the 1960 Arlington State team exercised some frustrations in a 16-0 shutout win. Two touchdowns in the second half backed up a stellar defensive performance. The win avenged the prior year's 26-21 loss in Monroe, Louisiana.
In the fourth game of the season, UTA made its third road trip going to Cleveland, Mississippi for a game against Delta State. I wish I could see this game because it was an awkward win for the Rebels, 19-8. ASC scored first on a Ronnie Southerland interception. Ole' reliable Charlie Key picked up a blocked field goal and ran into the end zone for the second TD. UTA's only conventional TD was a six-yard pass from Doug Wilson to John Niederauer. All Rebel scoring was in the first half, but it was again the defense the repelled the Statesmen all game long, giving up a total of 106 yards.
Other than the 35 points against University Division Memphis State, it was clear the defense was a formidable unit for the 3-1 Rebels. Next up would be a return to Arlington against the McNeese State Cowboys. This would be the first of 19 games between the two teams. They played against each other four times in the 1960's, including today's game. Starting in 1973, the Cowboys would join the SLC and teams would meet every year until the team was disbanded in the mid-1980's.
There were some memorable games with the Cowboys, as ten of the 19 games were within a touchdown either way. Today's game would be no exception, setting the stage for what would occur during the series. McNeese is one of six (by my count) teams to play UTA every decade from the '60's to '80's. Arkansas State, Lamar, New Mexico State, Southern Mississippi and West Texas State were the other. Ironically, Sam Houston played ASC/UTA in 1959, the '60's and '80's, so they join the three-decade club., but just not consecutively. Louisiana-Monroe is the only member of the four-decade club, having played ASC in 1959 and 1976.
Many long-time Maverick fans will remember the 1979 McNeese State game that was essentially a title game, as the Mavs came up one-point shy, 13-14, to the eventual conference champions. The Mavs got the revenge in 1981, as their 21-20 win put them in the driver's seat for their first conference title in 13 years. The final win was UTA's in 1984, as the 1985 game ended in a tie.
McNeese State opened the season against the Pensacola Navy, a 13-7 loss. Fresh off their loss to ASC, SFA then lost to McNeese St, 14-0. McNeese then dropped the next game, 15-14 to in-state rival Louisiana Tech.
On this day in UTA football history, the 3-1 Arlington State Rebels host the 1-2 McNeese State Cowboys.
Taken from the Dallas Morning News, October 9, 1960.
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