Roadrunners take on Western Kentucky for the Conference USA championship

DECEMBER 1, 2021 — In the biggest game in the brief history of UTSA Football, the Roadrunners will host Western Kentucky in the Ryan Conference USA Championship Game at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 3, at the Alamodome.

Roadrunner fans and football enthusiasts across the greater San Antonio area are encouraged to pack the dome as UTSA eyes its first conference championship in school history.

UTSA (11-1) won Conference USA’s West Division title with a definitive 34-31 victory over UAB in front of a frenzied crowd of 35,147 at the Alamodome on November 20, before suffering its first loss of the season at North Texas last Saturday. Western Kentucky (8-4) earned C-USA’s East Division crown by defeating Marshall last weekend. The Roadrunners topped the Hilltoppers in their regular season matchup on October 9, a 52-46 shootout in Bowling Green that remains one of the most entertaining games of the college football season. Western Kentucky has not lost since that evening, winning its last seven games.

To acknowledge the remarkable achievements of UTSA Football in 2021 and rally the city around the Roadrunners as they prepare for the big game on Friday, landmarks, monuments and businesses throughout the city will display orange lights from December 1-4. The City of San Antonio and Centro San Antonio have led the effort to “Light the City Orange.” The Roadunner community is being encouraged to follow suit by wearing orange on Friday to show their support for the team.

Alumni, fans and local businesses have also stepped up by making donations to fund free student tickets for the conference championship game and UTSA’s yet-to-be-announced bowl appearance—ensuring that one of the rowdiest student crowds around would be able to continue supporting their beloved Roadrunners through the postseason.

Roadrunner Nation is invited to show its school spirit this week and get amped for UTSA’s upcoming football game through the following family-friendly activities:

GAME WEEK EXCITEMENT

Game Week Wednesday
11 a.m. to noon, Wednesday, Central Plaza, Main Campus

Join the Rowdy Crew, UTSA’s very own student spirit organization, for Game Week Wednesday. Learn how to be a part of the full game day experience and have a chance to win Rowdy Crew merch to wear to the Alamodome for Friday’s game. Head coach Jeff Traylor will be on hand to meet guests and hand out free pizza.

The Jeff Traylor Radio Show
7 p.m., Wednesday, The Sand Box, 7280 UTSA Blvd.

Fans are invited to join Traylor and host Andy Everett for a one-hour radio show at the Sand Box, within walking distance of the UTSA Main Campus. The show is carried live in the San Antonio area on Ticket 760 AM or online at goUTSA.com and Ticket760.com. Roadrunner fans may also tune in via the free iHeartRadio and The Varsity Network apps. Additionally, fans can watch the show on Facebook Live via the UTSA Athletics Facebook page and call in with questions by dialing 210-736-9760.

Rowdy Rally
6:30 p.m., Thursday, Paseo Principal (just outside Student Union), Main Campus

The entire community is invited to join Traylor and the UTSA football team for a pep rally on the eve of the monumental matchup. The Rowdy Rally will feature performances by the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band and the award-winning UTSA Cheerleaders. Parking will be free in all Main Campus parking lots from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to accommodate guests.

PRE-GAME

Rowdy Town
3 p.m., Friday, H-E-B Plaza (north side of the Alamodome)

Roadrunner fans of all ages can take part in free pregame festivities at Rowdy Town, including music, interactive games, displays, food and beverages.

Spirit Walk
3:45 p.m., Friday, Alamodome, Roadrunner Alley (between Lots B and C)

This is an exciting tradition for fans to get the 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 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
4:30 to 6 p.m., Friday, Alamodome, Hall of Fame Club (north end of Club level)

The UTSA Student Indoor Tailgate is the new gathering spot for students inside the Alamodome on game day. Free food and beverages will be available (while supplies last). Door prizes include concession vouchers and UTSA apparel.

GOING TO THE GAME

Get Your Tickets

Current UTSA students receive free admission to the Ryan Conference USA Championship by downloading tickets via their Account Manager. UTSA Athletics posted a helpful video on Twitter to guide students through the process. Students may also purchase up to four guest tickets at $10 each.

Tickets for the general public can be purchased through Ticketmaster. For walk-up sales, the Alamodome Southwest Box Office will open at 10 a.m. Friday 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. Alamodome Lots A, B and C will open at 11 a.m. for those who have valid parking passes. Please do NOT enter the lots prior or Alamodome staff will ask you to vacate your spot(s) and re-enter once the lots are open.

Paid parking is available in the parking lot next to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at the corner of Montana Street and Tower of the Americas Way. UTSA students, faculty and staff may park in any unmarked spaces with a valid UTSA parking permit on Saturdays at the Downtown Campus under IH-35.

Alamodome parking lots will open at 11 a.m. on Friday. Visit UTSA Athletics online for more information about parking passes, RV passes, ADA passes and tailgating guidelines in the Alamodome parking lots.

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 3 p.m. The last shuttle will depart campus at 5:30 p.m. Students will be dropped off and picked up at the Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome.

UTSA shuttles will start departures from the Alamodome to return to Main Campus at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The last shuttle will depart from the Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome one hour after the end of the game.

VIA is serving UTSA home football games. VIA's route 93 IH-10 Crossroads/UTSA Express will provide express service from the Main Campus and Crossroads Park and Ride to the Robert Thompson Transit Station at the Alamodome. VIA will offer return service for one hour after the game. The bus fares remain the same as standard express fares ($2.60 per trip) for service to the game. Day passes are also available for $2.75 using the VIA goMobile+ app. 

UTSA students can ride VIA's route 93 for free from the Main Campus Bus Loop to the Alamodome using their U-Pass. Students will need to visit the VIA U-Pass website for more information on how to access this service.

Need some UTSA gear?

Fans can buy the latest UTSA apparel and accessories from the Rowdy Campus Store, which will have merchandise sales counters located inside the Alamodome on the Plaza and Club Level concourses.

Alamodome Entry

Masks are highly encouraged for all visitors and staff inside the Alamodome. Anyone experiencing COVID-like symptoms is encouraged to refrain from attending.

To encourage physical distancing and to minimize larger crowds in the main entrances in the concourses, a gate plan has been created to disseminate the crowds throughout the various entrances to the Alamodome. Unvaccinated guests are required to practice physical distancing, including standing at least six feet away from other groups of people not traveling with them while standing in lines and avoiding the elevators.

Fans should also be aware of the Alamodome clear bag policy, including a list of the approved bags.

Alamodome doors will open to the public 90 minutes before kickoff. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 30 minutes before kickoff for the pregame festivities featuring the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band and a ceremony recognizing UTSA’s senior players.

WATCH. TWEET. CELEBRATE.

Can’t make it? Watch or listen live!

Friday’s game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network. Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Jenny Dell (reporter) have the call.

The contest will air live on Ticket 760 AM in the San Antonio area and on SiriusXM app channel 966. Everett (play-by-play), Jay Riley (analyst) and Pat Evans (reporter) will call the action. The pregame show will begin at 4 p.m. and there will be a 45-minute postgame show. The radio broadcast also can be heard online at Ticket760.com and via the iHeartRadio and The Varsity Network apps.

Game Day Traditions and Social Media

Get into game mode by brushing up on UTSA game traditions and other important information. Stay engaged with fellow Roadrunners by sharing your UTSA game day experiences on social media using #UTSA, #BirdsUp, #LetsGo210 and #210TriangleOfToughness. Also, follow UTSA Football and UTSA Athletics on Twitter and UTSA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Campus Experience

During the football season, the Monument 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