Friday, December 8, 2023

Roadrunners inch closer to C-USA title game, host Louisiana Tech on Saturday

Roadrunners inch closer to C-USA title game, host Louisiana Tech on Saturday

Tight end Oscar Cardenas and the Roadrunners will take on Louisiana Tech at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, at the Alamodome. Photo by Jeff Huehn

NOVEMBER 10, 2022 — It’s so close they can taste it. The UTSA Roadrunners need two wins in their final three games to secure first place in Conference USA and host the conference championship game in December. UTSA will kick off this crucial final stretch of the regular season against Louisiana Tech at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 12, at the Alamodome.

The Roadrunners (7-2 overall, 5-0 in C-USA) are still the only undefeated team in conference play after a nail-biting 44-38 victory over UAB in double overtime last Saturday. UTSA overcame a furious fourth-quarter comeback by UAB with two touchdown passes by quarterback Frank Harris in overtime — one to Tykee Ogle-Kellogg in the first overtime period and another to Joshua Cephus in the second overtime period that put the Roadrunners ahead for good. Running back Kevorian Barnes (114 rushing yards, one touchdown) and wide receiver Zakhari Franklin (93 receiving yards, two touchdowns) powered the UTSA offense to yet another superb performance.

After back-to-back losses in overtime to Rice and FIU, Louisiana Tech (3-6 overall, 2-3 in C-USA) got back on track with a decisive 40-24 victory over Middle Tennessee last weekend. The Bulldogs need to win all three of their remaining games to become bowl-eligible, so they will be highly motivated to upend the Roadrunners on Saturday afternoon at the Alamodome.

UTSA has already earned bowl eligibility and now has its sights set on a second consecutive conference championship. The Roadrunners need two more regular season wins to earn the right to host the Ryan Conference USA Championship Game on Friday, December 2. However, UTSA could conceivably clinch at least a spot in the conference championship game with a win on Saturday depending on various other results around the conference. The Roadrunners are counting on their fans to pack the dome and give them a big home-field advantage for another important matchup. UTSA is 15-2 in home games under head coach Jeff Traylor.

Winners of six games in a row, the Roadrunners have also re-emerged in the conversation for national rankings. UTSA earned five votes for this week’s AP Top 25 and six votes for the USA Today AFCA Coaches Top 25. A strong finish to the season could see the Roadrunners re-enter the rankings for the first time since 2021, when they reached as high as No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.

UTSA will honor all veterans and military-affiliated fans across Military City USA during Saturday’s game, which has been tabbed as the Military Appreciation Game. Through its Tickets for Troops drive, UTSA Athletics has donated thousands of tickets to the game to Fort Sam Houston, Lackland AFB, Randolph AFB and several local veteran organizations. Lt. Gen. John R. Evans, Jr., the commanding general of U.S. Army North headquartered at Fort Sam Houston, will provide the pre-game coin toss. Additionally, the National Anthem will feature a “living flag” and an Oath of Enlistment ceremony will take place at halftime.

In partnership with Brenda Tracy, sexual assault survivor, public speaker and founder of the national campaign and nonprofit #SetTheExpectation, Saturday’s game against Louisiana Tech is UTSA’s #SetTheExpectation game. Tracy will join Traylor, UTSA Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Lisa Campos and the football team for the Spirit Walk and be a guest for the pregame coin toss.  

Roadrunner Nation is invited to show its school spirit on Saturday at the following family-friendly events:


PRE-GAME

Fan Zone
11:30 a.m., H-E-B Plaza (north side of the Alamodome)

Roadrunner fans of all ages can take part in free pre-game festivities at the Fan Zone, including live music, a rock wall, inflatables for kids, interactive games, displays, food samples and beverages.

UTSA Alumni Association's Roadrunner Nation Tailgate
11:30 a.m., Hoefgen Lot (499 Hoefgen Ave.)

The UTSA Alumni Association invites fans to the official Roadrunner Nation Tailgate. Enjoy food, drinks, activities and giveaways, along with visits from UTSA Cheer, the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band and Rowdy the Roadrunner. Several types of tickets are available for the Roadrunner Nation Tailgate. Blue tickets are $20 and come with a food ticket and a cash bar. Orange tickets are $45 and come with a food ticket and open bar privileges. Tickets are $10 for students aged 13-20, who receive a food ticket and a non-alcoholic drink. Children 12 and under are admitted for free. Discounts are given to UTSA Alumni Association members.

The UTSA Alumni Association is also offering a military discount this weekend. Active-duty military, veterans and reservists should use promo code Military22 for $25 all-inclusive food and drinks at the tailgate.

Spirit Walk
12:15 p.m., Alamodome, Roadrunner Alley (between Lots B and C)

This exciting tradition gets Roadrunner fans and the UTSA team pumped up for the game. Join the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band and UTSA spirit squads as they accompany the team down Roadrunner Alley and into the Alamodome approximately two hours before each home game. Fans can line the walkway between the Alamodome parking lots B and C to cheer on the team.

UTSA Student Indoor Tailgate
1 to 2:15 p.m., Alamodome, North Media Room (north end of plaza level)

The UTSA Student Indoor Tailgate is where students go to connect, cool down and vibe before the game. DJ Wynkoop and QuickStrike Entertainment will provide fun and excitement before kickoff. Free food and beverages will be available while supplies last and door prizes such as game concession vouchers and UTSA apparel will be given away. On each game day, different colleges and departments at UTSA will be highlighted to connect students to important resources.


GOING TO THE GAME

Tickets

Tickets are on sale by calling or texting 210-458-UTSA (8872) or visiting ticketmaster.com. UTSA has transitioned to digital tickets through Account Manager. All students currently enrolled at UTSA are eligible for free admission to all home football games. UTSA students may purchase up to four guest tickets for student-section seating.

For walk-up sales, the Alamodome’s southwest box office will open at 10 a.m. Saturday and all other Alamodome box offices will open at noon. Customer service windows are located at the northeast and southeast box offices.

Game day parking and tailgating

Parking in Alamodome Lots A, B and C is limited to fans who already have purchased permits. A limited number of disabled parking spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The lots will open at 8 a.m. for those who have valid parking passes. Please do NOT enter prior to 8 a.m. or staff will ask you to vacate your spot(s) and re-enter once the lots are open. There are several paid public parking lots in the general vicinity of the Alamodome.

Visit UTSA Athletics online for more information and City of San Antonio tailgating guidelines. Student organization tailgating begins at 10:30 a.m.

Getting to the game

Students and their guests may park at the UTSA Main Campus and catch a UTSA shuttle to the game at the North Paseo Bus Oval, just outside of the North Paseo Building. Shuttles will begin service to the Alamodome at 11:30 a.m. The last shuttle to the game will depart campus at 2 p.m. To avoid possible delays, students and their guests are encouraged to catch a shuttle early in the departure window. Students will be dropped off and picked up at the Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome. Buses will begin return service back to UTSA at the start of the fourth quarter and the last shuttle bus from the Alamodome will depart one hour after the end of the game.

VIA has announced that it will serve UTSA home football games. VIA’s Park & Ride Service offers roundtrip travel to the Alamodome for just $2.60. Service to all UTSA home games will be provided from the Crossroads Park & Ride, beginning three hours before game time, and return service will run for one hour after each game. The Park & Ride fare is $1.30 each way with discounted fares available for children, seniors, students and active-duty military. Pre-purchase tickets on VIA’s goMobile+ app, available to download free on Apple and Android devices. Cash and credit cards are accepted on game day at the Crossroads Park & Ride location.

UTSA students can use their U-Pass for service to the game. VIAtrans customers and children under age 5 ride free. VIA bus passes are not valid for this service. VIA’s day pass, 7-day pass, and 31-day pass are valid for special event service.

The drop-off and pick-up location for rideshare users is located in Parking Lot D next to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at the corner of Montana Street and Tower of Americas Way.

Alamodome entry

Please enter the stadium early to avoid long lines. Doors open to the public at 1 p.m. Fans should read the Alamodome clear bag policy before entering the stadium, including the list of approved bags. Speed lanes will be available at security checkpoints for those with no bags. Please have your keys, phone and wallet out before getting to the scanners. Please have your tickets out or loaded on your phone with the screen brightness turned all the way up before reaching the doors.

Student seating

Student seating is general admission within sections 122-131. To accommodate increased student attendance, sections 220-226 on the Club Level will also be open for student general admission seating. The Spirit of San Antonio band will occupy sections 127-128.

UTSA gear

Fans can buy the latest UTSA apparel and accessories from the Rowdy Campus Store, which will be set up in Lot B near Roadrunner Alley. Merchandise sales counters are also located inside the Alamodome on the Plaza Level concourses near sections 106 and 118.


WATCH. TWEET. CELEBRATE.

Television and radio broadcasts

Saturday’s television broadcast will air on the ESPN+ streaming service. Lincoln Rose will provide play-by-play commentary alongside analyst LaDarrin McClane.

The radio broadcast will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area and on SiriusXM app channel 988. Andy Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 12:30 p.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The radio broadcast can also be heard online at Ticket760.com and via the iHeartRadio and The Varsity Network apps.

Game day traditions and social media

First, get into game mode by brushing up on UTSA’s traditions including the fight song and alma mater. Then, stay engaged with fellow Roadrunners by sharing your UTSA game day experiences on social media using the hashtags #UTSA, #LetsGo210 and #BirdsUp. All Roadrunner fans are encouraged to follow UTSA Football and UTSA Athletics on Twitter and UTSA on TwitterInstagramFacebook and TikTok.

Campus experience

During the football season, the Monument lights and Student Union Tower lights will glow blue and orange during home game weeks. After a win, the lights turn orange in celebration for the rest of the weekend.

Shea Conner



UTSA Today is produced by University Strategic Communications,
the official news source
of The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu.


UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.


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