Texas–Arlington Mavericks football explained

Teamname:Texas–Arlington Mavericks football
Firstyear:1919
Lastyear:1985
Stadium:Maverick Stadium
Stadcapacity:15,000
Ncaadivision:I-AA
Conference:Southland Conference
Atwins:129
Atlosses:150
Atties:2
Bowlwins:1
Bowllosses:0
Conftitles:3 (1966, 1967, 1981)
Rivalries:Lamar Cardinals, North Texas Mean Green

The Texas–Arlington Mavericks football team represented the University of Texas at Arlington from the 1959 through 1985 seasons. Between 1919 through 1958, UTA competed as a junior college prior to moving to the NCAA College Division in 1959 and ultimately the University Division in 1971. UTA played its home games at multiple stadiums throughout their history with the most recent being Maverick Stadium, in Arlington, Texas.

History

See also: List of Texas–Arlington Mavericks head football coaches.

The UT Arlington football team traces its roots to 1919 when the program was established at Grubbs Vocational College.[1] By 1923, Grubbs was renamed as the North Texas Agricultural College with the football team then playing as the Junior Aggies competing in the Central Texas Conference. As the Aggies, the program captured four conference championships through the 1948 season.[1] The 1943 North Texas Aggies football team was ranked at No. 69 among the nation's college and military service teams in the final 1943 Litkenhous Ratings.[2]

By 1949, the school changed its name and mascot again, competing as the Arlington State Blue Riders through the 1950 season only to once more change the mascot to the Rebels for the 1951 season.[1] Arlington would reach their zenith as a junior college program in capturing both the 1956 and 1957 Junior Rose Bowls as national junior college champions.[3] Following the 1958 season, Arlington State became a four-year school and begin competition as a College Division school.[1]

After founding the Southland Conference as a charter member for the 1964 season, by 1966, the school officially became the University of Texas at Arlington.[1] UTA won conference championships in 1966, 1967 and 1981 seasons in addition to winning their lone bowl game, the 1967 Pecan Bowl.[1] The program would be officially disbanded after an announcement by then university president Wendell Nedderman on November 25, 1985, citing financial loss and low attendance as the primary impetus for its abandonment.[1] [4] [5]

Despite the team's disbandment, the UTA Maverick Marching Band was determined to stay intact. They shifted focus to performing at various contests and events around the state and remain one of the only college marching bands in the United States to stand alone without a football program.[6] [7]

In 2023, the UTA students voted on a referendum which gauged student support for the return of football resulting in increased student fees. The referendum passed 1,004 in favor to 625 opposed.[8]

Seasons

This listing includes only the seasons UTA competed as a four-year college beginning with the 1959 season.

Conference Champions *Bowl game berth ^
SeasonHead coachConferenceSeason resultsBowl result
Conference finishWinsLossesTies
Texas-Arlington Mavericks
1959Chena GilstrapIndependent430
1960Independent920
1961NCAA College Division independent730
1962NCAA College Division independent460
1963NCAA College Division independent180
1964Southland Conference5th361
1965Southland Conference2nd630
1966 *Burley BeardenSouthland Conference1st640
1967 *Southland Conference1st1010Won 1967 Pecan Bowl against North Dakota State Bison, 13–0 ^
1968Southland Conference2nd640
1969Southland Conference3rd550
1970Southland Conference5th0100
1971John SymankSouthland Conference7th290
1972Southland Conference2nd560
1973Southland Conference5th460
1974Harold ElliottSouthland Conference5th1100
1975Southland Conference5th470
1976Southland Conference3rd560
1977Southland Conference3rd560
1978Southland Conference3rd560
1979Southland Conference2nd920
1980Southland Conference3rd380
1981 *Southland Conference1st650
1982Southland Conference6th380
1983Southland Conference5th560
1984Chuck CurtisSouthland Conference3rd740
1985Southland Conference6th461
Total1281502(only includes regular season games)
100(only includes bowl games)
1291502(all games)
References:[9]

Stadiums

Notes and References

  1. News: Rychlik. Michael. UTA had some football success until the program died in 1985. Arlington Morning News. December 29, 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20000525052143/http://arlingtonnow.com/sports/collegiate/11598_utafoot.html. May 25, 2000. July 12, 2018. Published in print as News: Rise & Fall: Plight of UTA football still hard for some to swallow. The Dallas Morning News. December 29, 1999. September 12, 2020. Newsbank.
  2. News: Litkenhouse Selects U.S. Grid Leaders: Notre Dame Named Top Team for 1943; Minnesota Does Fadeout. E. E. Litkenhous. The Salt Lake Tribune. December 17, 1943. 18. Newspapers.com. April 26, 2023. April 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230420091830/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/122968858/. live.
  3. http://utamagazine.uta.edu/fall_2002/sports/gilstrap.html UTA Magazine Online, Legendary Coach and Athletic Director Dies
  4. Web site: Former congressman Tommy Vandergriff, who was willing to contribute.... UPI. December 10, 1985. July 12, 2018.
  5. News: UTA eliminates football because of program costs. McNabb. David. November 26, 1985. 1A. The Dallas Morning News. July 12, 2018.
  6. Web site: Lawson . Mike . 2002-08-01 . UPFRONT: TACKLING MARCHING BAND WITHOUT A FOOTBALL TEAM . 2023-10-16 . SBO Plus!.
  7. Web site: Maverick Marching Band . 2023-10-16 . Maverick Marching Band - Department of Music - The University of Texas at Arlington . en.
  8. Web site: Appelt . Isaac . Students, alumni react as football referendum passes in Student Government election . The Shorthorn . April 4, 2023 . October 16, 2023 .
  9. https://admin.xosn.com/fls/18400/pdf/2008SLCFootballGuide103-114.pdf?SPSID=97272&SPID=10812&temp_site=NO&DB_OEM_ID=18400 League History & Records