UTSA's inaugural game
With the Homecoming game coming up soon it might be time to get a little educated about the program we will be facing. UTSA is in its first year in C-USA and only in it's third season as a team. Here's everything you need to know about the program. (I've never studied any start up teams and thought it was kind of interesting of how you can set up a team)
A long road ahead
In 2006 the University of Texas San Antonio conducted a study to decide if it should recommend an expansion of the athletics department or not. Late that year the university facilitated a student survey to see where their approval laid. Nearly 66% of voters supported a fee increase for an expansion to happen.
Two years later, in December of 2008, UTSA presented a pitch in front of the University of Texas college system with a long-term plan to expand the program. This included recommendations of a $84 million athletics complex. The pitch was accepted and UTSA launched a campaign to raise money. This initiative was known as the “Step Up UTSA” program. The program raised $15 million to help fund coaches’ salaries, player scholarships, and the construction of practice fields.
Former Miami Hurricanes head coach, Larry Coker, was announced as the head coach for the Roadrunners. Mike Menefee, Neal Neathery, Travis Bush, Eric Roark and David Ross joined his staff as assistants. After the coaches were set, UTSA then started making negotiations to join the Western Athletic Conference for membership in the summer of 2010. In November of that same year the WAC offered UTSA and they joined the conference.
In UTSA’s inaugural signing class (2010) they signed 27 students. Most were freshmen, but two transfer students who were sophomores joined as well. More than half of the class was recruited from the Greater San Antonio area. Surprisingly (I didn’t know you could do this), each player of this class was redshirted for a year so they would be able to practice, but not lose a year of eligibility.
A start of the beginning
UTSA played its first game against Northeastern State for the start of the 2011 season. Its attendance of almost 57,000 set a record for the most attendance for a start-up program in division 1. It’s first campaign was less than promising since they finished with a 4-6 record. However, in 2012 they finished their record with a surprising record of 8-4. The Roadrunners would not get a bowl game however because as a FBS member, you must wait three years after joining before you become bowl eligible.
Early 2013 it was announced that UTSA would be leaving the WAC to join Conference USA, which they did in the Summer. UTSA is currently 2-2 on the season. Their losses include Oklahoma State and Houston (badly).
In 2006 the University of Texas San Antonio conducted a study to decide if it should recommend an expansion of the athletics department or not. Late that year the university facilitated a student survey to see where their approval laid. Nearly 66% of voters supported a fee increase for an expansion to happen.
Two years later, in December of 2008, UTSA presented a pitch in front of the University of Texas college system with a long-term plan to expand the program. This included recommendations of a $84 million athletics complex. The pitch was accepted and UTSA launched a campaign to raise money. This initiative was known as the “Step Up UTSA” program. The program raised $15 million to help fund coaches’ salaries, player scholarships, and the construction of practice fields.
Former Miami Hurricanes head coach, Larry Coker, was announced as the head coach for the Roadrunners. Mike Menefee, Neal Neathery, Travis Bush, Eric Roark and David Ross joined his staff as assistants. After the coaches were set, UTSA then started making negotiations to join the Western Athletic Conference for membership in the summer of 2010. In November of that same year the WAC offered UTSA and they joined the conference.
In UTSA’s inaugural signing class (2010) they signed 27 students. Most were freshmen, but two transfer students who were sophomores joined as well. More than half of the class was recruited from the Greater San Antonio area. Surprisingly (I didn’t know you could do this), each player of this class was redshirted for a year so they would be able to practice, but not lose a year of eligibility.
A start of the beginning
UTSA played its first game against Northeastern State for the start of the 2011 season. Its attendance of almost 57,000 set a record for the most attendance for a start-up program in division 1. It’s first campaign was less than promising since they finished with a 4-6 record. However, in 2012 they finished their record with a surprising record of 8-4. The Roadrunners would not get a bowl game however because as a FBS member, you must wait three years after joining before you become bowl eligible.
Early 2013 it was announced that UTSA would be leaving the WAC to join Conference USA, which they did in the Summer. UTSA is currently 2-2 on the season. Their losses include Oklahoma State and Houston (badly).
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