In this 1981-heavy volume of This Day in UTA Football History, we return to the 1981 season. Remember, the theme of the 1970's for UT Arlington was lose early in the year, play competitive football in the Southland Conference, but ultimately lose a game or two in the conference slate and finish in third place, occasionally second. Many times that lost SLC game came in the fiont third of the SLC race.
Well today, that formula fits to this point in the year as that last piece of what was a very predictable puzzle of UTA football was put in place. Fans had seen this song and dance before.
When we last looked at the '81 Movin' Mavs, they had done something that was somewhat of a rarity. They beat Louisiana Tech, 31-14. That win saw their SLC mark go to 1-0. That had happened only three times since 1970. Given the past struggles against Louisiana Tech combined with the poor start, the 5,138 would be the lowest of the year.
Following the LTU win, UTA was off for a week before taking on North Texas in the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas. In the eventual 7-6 win, 15,797 witnessed the game. As far as crowds go, that would be the fourth-largest showing amongst the seven games in the series to that point. Fair, but roughly 4,000 shy from the largest crowd. It was a down year for North Texas State to that point and UTA sported a 2-4 record going into the rivalry game.
Now sitting with a 3-4 record, 1-0 in conference, 1981 introduced the final puzzle piece from the previous decade that gave the same-ole, same-ole feeling.
While not as pointy as La Tech, Arkansas State was the other SLC foe that was a consistent thorn in UTA's side. UTA played the Indians more than anyone else save Lamar as those two schools played UTA 22 games in total. But at 8-13-1, the .386 winning percentage is quite opposite of the .727 UTA owns over the Cardinals.
The then-Indians would finish third in 1981. And as usual, still gave UTA all they could handle going into today's game.
As a final aside, as the winning improved, so did the spectator size. Arkansas State wasn't known for their traveling fan base. When today's crowd improved by 700 over the previous home game, which had a decent contingent from Ruston, Louisiana, it was mostly from UTA fans who wondered if this team may have righted the ship. And that was usually missing in the previous 11 years. There was an optimism that UTA may be building to a title.
On this day in UTA football history, the UTA Mavs host the Arkansas State Indians in 1981.
Taken from the Dallas Morning News, November 1, 1981.
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