UTA Football History Vol. 6 Gm. 12 - The End of a Tenure

Normally when I write these game articles, I leave the suspense for the article that follows. Using last week as an example, the Mavericks won a conference title, but I set the article up about how they got there and what was at stake. Today's significance is a bit different. The last game of the 1983 season would be the last game head coach Harold "Bud" Elliott lead the Mavericks. His contract wasn't renewed before today's game.

After the last entry of this season, where UTA beat New Mexico State, they upped their record to 4-3 on the year. They traveled on the road to Jonesboro the following week and beat Arkansas State, 28-19. Scotty Caldwell scored two touchdowns in a 128-yard rushing effort. The best backfield in the Southland Conference was on display as Randy Johnson ran for 95 more yards and another score. Quarterback Danny Jackson threw a 37-yard pass to tight end Jon Dyer for the other score. The defense came up big late in the game to seal the fourth straight win.

After the SMU loss earlier in the season, head coach Bud Elliott, the dean of Southland Conference coaches in 1983, said the team may not lose another game. That would equate to seven games. They just passed the halfway point with another road contest on the horizon against McNeese. After defeating Arkansas State, UTA was tied with Northeast Louisiana (Louisiana-Monroe today) and North Texas on top of the SLC. UTA had previously lost to NLU and had a date with NTSU to end the regular season.

Why Can't it be Done Again?

For decades, supporters of the UT Arlington Athletic Department adding a football team have heard many combinations of reasons why it can't be done. Poor attendance for current sports, poor athletic budget, poor facilities (not as much since CPC's opening), poor external support and market (in)significance were among the primary reasons. 

And to some degree, I share these concerns. But I don't believe these are detriments to the resurrection of a UTA football team. I never have. I want the basketball team to have better attendance. I don't believe that means a football team is out of the question. For much of the time in the Sun Belt, UTA was a top three men's basketball attended program, season in and out until the last couple of seasons. The other programs have successful and decently attended football programs. Neither correlate to the other, especially in the South,

That's not to say there aren't challenges, but if there's a will there's a way. It was seen in UTA's own conference with Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana and UT San Antonio. Now, an even greater example has been offered that basically says, "if they can do it, why can't we?"

UTA FB History Vol. 6 Gm. 11 - First Time Champs

After defeating East Texas State University, the 1966 Arlington State College Rebels continued their winning ways the following week by shutting out McNeese St, 20-0. The defense overshadowed quarterback Carl Williams' rushing, receiver Jimmy Thomas' receiving touchdowns and two Skipper Butler field goals. The defense led the way with five interceptions in the first shut victory since 1961.

Next up was a match-up against University Division Texas Western, or UT El Paso today. End Raymond Mathews scored first for ASC, but a 300+ yard passing performance with five touchdowns overwhelmed the secondary one game after their heroics en route to a 68-21 defeat. Quarterback Mike Baylor ran for two more TD's late.

Abruptly, Williams stepped down as QB, leading the way for Mike Baylor, whose stat lines would end as the best all-time passer in UTA history. Williams and Baylor were both sophomores, so this was definitely a history-defining moment.

With a 2-3 record, the Rebels opened Southland Conference play against the Trinity Tigers. After a scoreless first half, a long Mathews punt return set up running back Keith Luft for the game's first touchdown. Two Butler field goals and another Thomas TD gave ASC a 20-7 victory, and importantly, a 1-0 start to conference.

The 2022/23 Women's Basketball Preview-Proven Talent

Unlike their counterpart on the men's side, everyone knows what the UT Arlington women's basketball team is bringing to College Park Center this year. After finishing second in the Sun Belt Conference at the conclusion of the regular season, the Mavericks dominated the conference tournament and made the NCAA tournament. I still stand by the post after the game where they were robbed in Iowa. That said, they have the talent to return. The team earned coach and player of the year honors. 

And both are back. 

WHAT WE KNOW

Player of the Year Starr Jacobs is returns. One of the most dominating seasons by a player to don a Maverick uniform, Jacobs averaged 21 points, over six rebounds, over two steals and almost two assists, all at the forward position. She also shot over 50 percent from the field. She was the player other teams tried to stop, and still put up those numbers. Jacobs plays an aggressive, active game. I'd list all of her accolades from last year, but it would double the length of this post. The fact that she's on the Becky Hammon pre-season player of the year watch list tells you all you need to know there.

The 2022/23 Men's Basketball Preview - a Whole Lotta Unknowns

To say there are a bunch of question marks heading into the 2022/23 UT Arlington men's basketball season is an understatement at best. There hasn't been a season with this amount of murkiness since I've been associate with the University. That creates challenges for this entry. But as we head into the latest college basketball season, UT Arlington fits in there somewhere. The unknowns just make it hard to see.

WHAT WE KNOW

Let's start with the knowns. Returning is graduate student guard Pedro Castro. He's back after sitting out most of last season with a back injury. It works out this year for the U, but had he been healthy, UTA would have been a lot more competitive in 2021/22. He averaged seven points and near 4 rebounds when he went out in mid-December. His last full season saw him average almost 15 points and near eight rebounds a game for Houston Christian in 2020/21. He did start his collegiate career at UTA. He redshirted in 2017/18 and played a season as a Mav in 2018/19 before transferring out.

UTA FB History Vol. 6 Gm. 10 - Banned Mascots

 After losing to McNeese State in early October, the 1960 Arlington State Rebels started themselves a nice little win streak. In fact, it would set a record for the longest win streak in program history, tied on three other occasions.

The first win came against Southwest Louisiana, or just Louisiana today, at their place. Quarterback Doug Wilson threw a 35-yard pass to Freddie Arnold in the second quarter for the game's first touchdown. In the third, Wilson's 1-yard quarterback sneak brought ASC up 13-0. The Cajuns made it interesting late. With under five minutes remaining, an 80-yard drive culminated in their first TD. The Cajuns got the ball back pretty quickly and started another drive. After getting all the way down to the eight, Mr. UTA Charlie Key intercepted a pass for the third turnover converted to seal the win. ASC jumped to 4-2 on the year. 

Abilene Christian visited Arlington the following week. This was the first meeting of the two. The eventual Southland Conference schools would meet every year until the Wildcats left the SLC after the 1972 season. Memorial Stadium was near its capacity for this game. Wilson scored three touchdowns, with two coming in the air. Wayne Crowley caught both of them en route to a convincing 29-6 win.