For 21 seniors on UTSA’s roster, Friday night’s matchup with the University of South Florida Bulls will most likely be the final regular season game they play in the Alamodome.
Some listed as seniors might be able to return next year — and the possibility of the Roadrunners hosting an American Athletic Conference championship game exists — but most will be playing their final game in the Alamodome.
“It’s always tough. I’m close to all of those guys,” UTSA Head Coach Jeff Traylor said. “It’s always an emotional night. We’ve talked about it. It will be a special night for those guys.”
This group of seniors is the foundation upon which this golden era of Roadrunner football was built. They were instrumental in the back-to-back conference championships won in Conference USA the last two years.
“I hadn’t won much in football before coming here,” UTSA offensive lineman Terrell Haynes said. “Being able to win those conference championships meant everything.”
UTSA (7-3 overall, 6-0 AAC) vs. South Florida (5-5, 3-3)
When: Friday, Nov. 17, 8 p.m.
Where: Alamodome
If you go: VIA Park & Ride service is available from Crossroads Park & Ride.
How to watch: ESPN2
Now as members of the American Athletic Conference, the Roadrunners (7-3 overall, 6-0 in the AAC) continue to maintain a spot at the top of the league standings, battling Tulane and SMU — which like UTSA are undefeated in conference play — for one of two spots in the conference championship game.
“We’re doing good, especially in this new conference,” UTSA tight end Oscar Cardenas said. “It’s tougher competition.”
As they prepare for their final home game on Friday night, the seniors have been reflecting on their time at UTSA, most of them having gotten an extra year of eligibility because of the pandemic.
“Having been here these past six years, it just shows like how much success has happened here, you know, since I was here with the last coaching staff back in 2018,” UTSA defensive lineman Trumane Bell said. “I just see how it is being on a losing team to a winning team and having a good culture.”
After each practice this week, seniors have been telling their stories and what they’ve learned as Roadrunners to the younger players.
“I kind of got emotional, but it was fun,” UTSA safety Kelechi Nwachuku said of giving his senior speech after practice. “I gave thanks to everyone who got me here. Playing college football for six years is tough, and it takes a village. I just wanted to share how appreciative I am of all of them.”
There will certainly be emotions on display in the crowd and on the field when quarterback Frank Harris and safety Rashad Wisdom are recognized. Both Harris and Wisdom came to UTSA from local high schools when Frank Wilson was head coach and stayed at UTSA when Traylor was hired. Harris was part of senior day last season but returned for his final year of eligibility this year.
“I’ve been through so much, you know, being at UTSA,” Harris said. “It’s finally coming to an end, so it hasn’t really hit me just yet, but I know when Friday comes,and with all my family and seeing how my teammates go out there, it will definitely hit me.”
All the sentimentality will be on display for the ceremony before the game and as the seniors linger on the field after the game, but once the game kicks off all attention will be on trying to knock off the South Florida Bulls (5-5, 3-3).
After only winning four games between 2020 and 2022, the 2023 Bulls are at .500 under new Head Coach Alex Golesh. It’s the first meeting between UTSA and South Florida.
