By Sarah Ortiz
Contributing Writer
Among the 56,743 UTSA Roadrunner fans present at the inaugural football game Saturday in the Alamodome, was a small group of Texas A&M University-San Antonio students decked out in maroon, Texas A&M System’s signature color.
Maroon at a UTSA football game? That’s right.
Among the A&M-San Antonio students present at the game were Student Government Association President Zaira Rodriguez, Ms. TAMU-SA Stephanie Gower and Richard Delgado, Jr, military community and veterans support officer.
“We received a lot of stares and puzzled looks as to why we were there, but not many comments,” Gower said of the students in Jaggie colors.
While the group received a few snickering stares for sporting what appeared to be a different allegiance (go Jaggies!), the group said they were there to support fellow students and San Antonio’s first public university football team during their opening game.
And what a game it was.
During the inaugural game for the Roadrunners, fans were on their feet cheering for the team until almost the end of the first quarter. The Roadrunners scored touchdown after touchdown leading the way with a 21-0 score in the first quarter. By halftime, the Roadrunners were up 24-0.
Supporters hoped for a record-breaking turn out for the inaugural game and they got what they wanted. Records were shattered with over 56,000 fans, but the concession stands fell short in supplying an adequate number of hotdogs to feed the hungry paying crowd.
“I really wanted a hotdog because I always buy one when I go to a game, but I had to settle for stale popcorn and a pretzel,” Gower said.
Though disappointed by the concessions, A&M-San Antonio students thoroughly enjoyed the game as they supported fellow San Antonio students.
“The team is good,” Gower said. “Before we know it, TAMU-SA will be breaking all UTSA’s records. Watch out UTSA, the Jaguars will be preying on some Roadrunners soon enough.”
During the half, UTSA’s marching Roadrunner band entertained the crowd. However, the enormous size of the Alamodome dwarfed the musical serenades. The music did not travel well within the stadium and some fans were left wondering what the band was playing. The band may be working on sound issues for future games at the Alamodome.
UTSA Roadrunners sped past the Northeastern State team from Oklahoma, defeating them with a final score of 31-3. With an undefeated record, UTSA continues to write San Antonio history with their next game 1 p.m, Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Alamodome.
For more information about UTSA’s Roadrunners visit http://goutsa.com/.
