20/10 Vision
As new season begins, Bears eye D-I Playoffs for first time When the 2010 UCA football season kicks off Thursday night, the Bears will officially begin a journey five years in the making as they begin their first-ever quest for the Division I FCS Playoffs. After playing the 2006-2009 seasons in a transitional phase as part of the school’s reclassification from NCAA Division II to Division I and the Football Championship Subdivision, the shackles finally come off for all of UCA’s programs as the 2010-11 school year begins. The Bears come into the season with goals of crashing the playoff party in their first year eligible; of winning a(nother) Southland Conference title; and of bouncing back from a disappointing 5-7 season in which the losses came by a grand total of 23 points. To do so, the Bears must find a way to replace a 23-player senior
class that included NFL Draft pick and two-time Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year Larry Hart; Taylor Scott - who later signed on with the Montreal Alouettes of the CFL; and Brent Grimes - one of the school’s all-time great running backs. Also gone is quarterback Robbie Park, leaving the Bears with a group of talented yet inexperienced signal-callers who will be tasked with guiding the alwaysexciting brand of offense played under Clint Conque – who begins his 11th season at the helm and finds himself a win away from tying Harold Horton as the all-time winningest coach in the long, storied history of UCA football. With post-season play now a possibility, we all have something to look forward to at season’s end. It promises to be a fun-filled ride. Grab your seat Thursday.
ELIZABETH CITY STATE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 7 P.M. FIRST SECURITY FIELD @ ESTES STADIUM
[Tailgating begins at 4 p.m.]
on the web:
UCAsports.com
Facebook.com/ucasports Twitter.com/ucasports Message from the Director of Athletics:
Dr. Brad Teague Dear Lettermen. The summer, once again, has passed us by quickly. We spent the majority of our summer fundraising, selling advertisements, and selling tickets. We were also proud to learn of the NCAA electing us to Active Membership in Division I. We will have no more stigma attached to our name and can compete in the playoffs now! Even before classes started last Thursday, our fall sports were already well into their preparation for the upcoming seasons. Our women’s soccer and volleyball programs have already started their regular seasons, men’s soccer begins Wednesday and our football team is ready to fill Estes Stadium this Thursday night. We will be in full swing very soon and with our entire campus community and all of our students and student-athletes back on campus, the excitement of the new year is upon us. With our transition period over and full Division I status secured, this is the beginning of an incredible era in athletics at the University of Central Arkansas. We hope to see you soon and often. Go Bears and Sugar Bears, Brad
All-New UCASPORTS.COM to be unveiled this week The athletic department will unveil its new online home this week with the debut of the all-new UCAsports.com. UCA has teamed up with Sidearm Sports, a Syracuse-based company that is one of the national leaders in athletics websites. The rapidly-growing company has more than 400 clients nationally spanning all NCAA divisions. The new site will include more video content, enhanced live stats, photo store, and various other new features. In conjunction with the launch of the new site, the UCA athletic department will also roll out its new online store which will feature approximately 750 items ranging from apparel for men, women and children (with brands including Nike, Under Armour and adidas), to gifts and accessories, to tailgating supplies.
on
check us out at:
www.youtube.com/ucasportsvideo The athletic department has established an online video presence with the creation of a channel on YouTube. Already, in the preseason videos from football practices and scrimmages have been posted with interviews with head coach Clint Conque and a number of assistant coaches and players. A threepart volleyball season preview is also available for viewing. More will be steadily added as the year goes on.
R.I.P. RECLASSIFICATION Athletic Department, University and Conference leaders’ comments on UCA’s Division I Active Membership
“ “ “ “We are thrilled and relieved to receive the news of our approval of active membership status at the NCAA Division I level. This has been a long process which has strengthened our awareness and implementation of Division I rules on governance, academics, diversity, and student-athlete well-being. These are all key principles of D-I athletics. There are so many responsible for our successful reclassification from Division II to Division I. Certainly our athletics administrative staff was heavily involved in the process, our coaches had to overcome many issues in dealing with the four years of transition, and our campus was extremely supportive. We look forward to our active membership status and the opportunity to participate in post-season competition on the conference and NCAA level. This is an exciting time for our student-athletes and coaches.” — Dr. Brad Teague, UCA
Director of Athletics
“This final step to full D-I recognition is the result of a tremendous amount of work by Dr. Teague and the entire athletic department. Our coaches have been outstanding in their support of the athletic administration during this transition period. I would also like to acknowledge the work of numerous individuals and offices throughout the UCA campus that assisted in bringing about this day. A special thanks to the UCA’s Board of Trustees for their support and encouragement.” — Dr. Allen C. Meadors, UCA
President
“This This is a great great m moment for the University of Central Arkansas, its athletic program, and everyone involved in When the Southland Conference began reviewing membership possibilities with UCA the university university community. ccom in 2005, ou our ur pres ur presidents quickly realized the university’s obvious potential as a strong, competitive Division I program. Now, w we are very pleased that the NCAA has seen the same qualities we discovered five years ago. ago On behalf of the other member institutions of the Southland Conference, it’s been a great pleasure working with and assisting the university during its divisional transition and we now look forward to UCA competing fully as a member of NCAA Division I. Congratulations to the UCA Board of Trustees, President Allen Meadors, Athletic Director Brad Teague, the UCA coaches, student-athletes, support staff and the tremendous fans and enthusiastic followers of the Bears and Sugar Bears for a great accomplishment.” — Tom Burnett, Southland
Conference Commissioner
Supreme Court The court in the Farris Center underwent a complete overhaul this summer, with Gym Masters out of Searcy handling the project. The redesigned court features the new athletics logos at center court and in each of the four corners, along with a wider border along the sidelines and baselines and the athletic department’s website featured prominently in alternating corners of the floor. The old surface was stripped and sanded and the wood brought back to a lighter tone, with the area inside the 3-point line stained darker. In addition to the playing surface getting a makeover, other improvements are underway with more planned between now and the beginning of the season on November 12. The walls in front of the stands on the East and West sides are in the process of being repainted to reflect the new logos as well.
Prince (Center) & The Revolution Volleyball Facility Undergoes Upgrades
The Prince Center has been re-worked during the offseason, with a number of changes around the facility.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE The last time the Bears lost a football home opener was...
A. 2007 B. 2003 C. 1999 D. 1996
In addition to the new championship banners won by Coach Steven McRoberts’ team, the large wall at the south end of the arena has been repainted (by UCA alum Bradley Widding - who is also currently working on a project in the Farris Center) with the new athletics logo and the lower portion of the other walls have all been repainted purple from gray. Capacity has been increased with the addition of student section risers in the southeast and northeast corners, with additional chairback seating in the works.
Answer: C. – UCA lost 24-17 to North Alabama on Sept. 25, 1999.
MOVED ON Kale Gober Director of Athletics Henderson State Univ. Gober moved into the AD position at his alma mater on Aug. 23 after two years at UCA working under Dr. Teague. “Kale has an extreme desire for responsibility,” Teague said. “Couple that desire with an abundant work ethic and it allowed him to experience and learn much about athletics administration in the two years he spent at UCA. Kale is innovative in his fundraising and marketing approaches and will bring a fresh perspective to Reddie athletics.
Jack O’Keefe Asst. Golf Coach Ole Miss
O’Keefe and Jenkins both left UCA for assistants positions at major-conference schools in the Big 12 and SEC. O’Keefe had been at UCA since 2006 and Jenkins joined the Bears’ program in 2009. “This is quite an accomplishment and says a great deal about our Division I golf program,’” said Dr. Brad Teague, UCA’s director of athletics. “Coach Dismuke and his staff have done a fine job bringing our men’s and women’s golf program to among the elite in our conference. We are happy for Coach O’Keefe and Coach Jenkins for Jeff Jenkins Asst. Golf Coach their moves.” Texas Tech
MOVED IN Maegan Dyson Development Associate Dyson, who had previously served as a graduate assistant for marketing with the UCA athletic department before earning her master’s degree earlier in the year, will take over the role vacated by Gober as a Development Associate. Also previously the the cheer coach, Dyson will continue in that role and will also take over as coach of the Honey Bears dance team with current coach Susan O’Keefe leaving for Ole Miss with her husband Jack.
Richard Johnson Asst. Golf Coach Replacing O’Keefe and Jenkins are Richard Johnson and Shane McClung. Johnson was No. 1 on the Nationwide Tour money list in 2007 and won the Nationwide Tour championship that year. He rose as high as No. 113 on the official Golf World rankings in 2007. He will serve as the men’s assistant at UCA. McClung is a UALR graduate and served as the Trojans’ head coach for two years. He was formerly a Nike golf rep and an instructor at The Country Club of Arkansas in Maumelle. He will assist head coach Ryke Dismuke with the UCA women’s Shane McClung team. Asst. Golf Coach
“Decade of Dominance”
Purple Circle Members of Year to be recognized prior to kickoff Thursday
Celebration planned to honor UCA football teams from 1983-1992 The UCA Lettermen’s Club is planning an event scheduled for the Sam Houston State game on November 13 to celebrate the 10-year period in which the Bears won 10 straight AIC titles and three NAIA national championships.
Bo Connor 2009 Purple Circle Member of the Year
Paul Cantrell 2008 Purple Circle Member of the Year
Players and coaches from those teams interested in attending the event should check out the info on the Lettermen’s page on UCAsports.com. A flyer and registration form are available.
HARRIS NAMED GSC WEST PLAYER OF THE DECADE Carone Harris was tabbed as the Player of the Decade for the Gulf South Conference’s West Division for the years 20002010. Harris was a three-time GSC West Player of the Year, threetime All-American, and two-time South Region Player of the Year during her time as a Sugar Bear. She holds the league’s season record for points, steals and free throws made. Harris is the NCAA’s all-time leader in steals for any division with 667 and is second on UCA’s career scoring list with 2,447 points. Kentrel Rogers and Cory Cangelosi were named to the GSC’s All-Decade 2nd team for football, while Claire Koelling was a 2nd team selection for women’s soccer and Danny George was Honorable Mention on the men’s soccer squad.
UCA Lettermen’s Club Membership Application Please act now to reserve your membership in the UCA Lettermen’s Club It only takes a minute to be remembered for a lifetime! PRINT this form and return to address listed below. Name __________________________________________________________________ Address________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________ State ________ Zip __________ Home Phone _______________________________ Business Phone ____________________ *Email Address__________________________________ Years Lettered __________________ Sports _________________________________________________________________ Dues:
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Card Number__________________________________________ Expires _________________ Print name as it appears on card ___________________________________________________ For additional information on the UCA Lettermen’s Club contact Carole Good at 501.450.3150 or caroleg@uca.edu Please return this form with check or credit card authorization to: UCA Lettermen’s Club Athletic Department PO Box 5004 Conway, AR 72035 Fax your application to (501) 852.2638
Go UCA Bears!!