Justin Acri: How Far the UCA Bears Have Come

How far have the UCA Bears come?

The strangest thing that happened for players, fans and broadcasters last weekend when Central Arkansas and the University of Colorado squared off on the gridiron is that Ralphie the buffalo ran around the stadium after halftime instead of before the game.  It was the result of miscommunication between the people in charge of the iconic college mascot and a new head coach eager to get his team on the field for its home opener. (See video from my camera phone of this moment below.)

The fact that the Bears were in the game until late in the fourth quarter against a Pac-12 team opponent came as no surprise to anyone.  This is a team that since moving up to Division I in 2007 has been in it until the end of the third with Ole Miss, the end of the fourth with Hawaii and the end of overtime with WAC Champion Louisiana Tech.  UCA also scored a 2009 win over an FBS school in Western Kentucky 28-7.

I grew up watching Big 8 football and always thought the atmosphere in Boulder would be fantastic with its position in the foothills of the Rockies.  Despite the fact that fans left more than 15,000 seats of a 53,000-seat stadium open for this game, it still turned out to be a truly amazing setting for football.  The relative lack of support is understandable considering this once-proud program has fallen on hard times including a 1-11 season last year.

When I traveled around Boulder leading up to the game, the fans seemed less than optimistic, despite the fact the team had won its opening game of the year against rival Colorado St. with new head coach Mike MacIntyre.  Nobody, it seemed, was taking the Bears lightly.  That could be due to the fact UCA came in ranked 5th in the FCS.  It could be because Colorado still has a long way to go on the comeback trail, or it could be due to an unprecedented number of wins by FCS teams over FBS programs the week before.

I have been to Colorado several times, but never to Boulder.  If you go to the Centennial State any time soon for a trip, make it a point to check out the restaurants, bars and shopping in this college town of around 100,000 people.  Pearl Street is the hub for all things entertainment.

The top stop for scenery and dining is a place called Flagstaff House Restaurant where several UCA fans gathered for a great experience.  It overlooks the city and serves amazing dishes from quail to lamb to lobster. We also went to a place called Centro for breakfast on game day and were so impressed that we went back on Sunday before flying home.  The huevos rancheros are magnificent and the banana pancakes are the best on earth (at least all the places on earth I have been).  There is also a growing microbrew culture.  This place is among the most relaxing I have ever been, and for me, at least, that had nothing to do with recent changes in the law regarding certain herbs.

The UCA Bears seemed to be at best slightly more talented and better prepared and at worst the equal of the Buffaloes on the field.

Think about that: Central Arkansas, a team that was just a few years ago fighting with D-II opponents for Gulf South titles, held a fourth quarter lead and was on the verge of beating a team out of an automatic qualifying FBS Conference.

Unfortunately for those of us in purple, a couple of key mistakes, including two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, cost the Bears a chance to win the game.  They did however show great resiliency after falling behind 14-0, then tying the game at the half and taking a lead on two different occasions before eventually falling 38-24.

Clint Conque is in his 14th year in Conway and is the winningest football coach in school history with 99 victories.  He is hoping numbers 100-109 come later in the year.  That would be more than enough to propel the Bears into the postseason for the third straight season.

I have no doubt that at some point his career accomplishments in Conway will be commemorated on the field, the stadium or a statue.  His leadership through the transition from D-II to D-I, along with UCA Bears athletic director Brad Teague, has been unbelievably smooth and successful.

That success includes two conference titles and two second-place finishes in six years in the Southland.  For the broadcast team of Steve Sullivan, Monty Rowell and me, it has been a ride filled with dramatic moments and a lot of wins.  With an experienced QB, the best defense the Bears have had under Conque and a favorable conference schedule, this could be the year the Bears take the next step and vie for a national championship.  The experience gained in games like the one at Colorado will help.

These things really are indicative of just how far the UCA Bears have come.

And next up: the Bears try for win number two of the season this Saturday, Sept. 14, at Tennessee-Martin.