FRB Preview: Patience pays off for UTSA and Louisiana
By Art Garcia
Forgive UTSA coach Jeff Traylor for being somewhat nervous before the announcement of SERVPRO First Responder Bowl. The Roadrunners had already celebrated one previous bowl berth, only to have the game cancelled the next day.
So when the official word came down that UTSA would face No. 19 Louisiana on Dec. 26 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, Traylor exhaled a sigh of relief.
“I guess I’ll use the word relieved,” the Roadrunners’ first-year coach said, “when I finally saw it, to be very honest with you. I felt really good because we’ve been so committed from the beginning.”
The matchup on the campus of SMU is a just reward for two programs coming off outstanding regular seasons. UTSA went 7-4 overall, finishing second in Conference USA’s West Division at 5-2. The Ragin’ Cajuns posted a 9-1 mark and were named Sun Belt co-champs with No. 9 Coastal Carolina.
“We’re excited about the opportunity to play on national television on ABC,” Louisiana coach Billy Napier said. “Certainly, the biggest bowl in the history of our school in terms of payout and exposure. To be outside the inventory of bowls that the Sun Belt Conference plays in makes a statement about the type of season we’ve had.”
UTSA originally accepted a bid to face SMU in the Frisco Bowl, only to have that contest cancelled due to COVID-19 issues with the Mustangs program. The quick change of direction may seem challenging, but the Roadrunners are taking it in stride.
“We’re just glad to be playing,” Traylor said. “To have an opponent in a great bowl game against a top-ranked team is very exciting.”
Both programs are well versed in dealing with cancellations during a season unlike any other in college football history. The Ragin’ Cajuns were lined up to avenge their only loss against undefeated Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt championship game before it was scrapped.
Napier admitted his squad was disappointed and frustrated with not getting another shot at the Chanticleers. Now their attention turns to UTSA.
“What’s happened has happened,” he said. “We’re going to move forward here, and we really look forward to finishing this season in a quality ball game against a really formidable opponent.”
Louisiana is headed to its 10th postseason game in program history and the third in a row under Napier, who’s known his First Responder Bowl counterpart for years.
“Coach Traylor and I go way back,” Napier said. “I recruited his school when he was a high school coach, and have tremendous respect for him as a person and a football coach.”
The Roadrunners are in the postseason for just the second time. A victory would match the program record for wins set in 2012.
Traylor expects to be prepared for the trip to Dallas, and promises the Roadrunners will do what it takes to be ready during what’s been an uncertain 2020.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to play, like we’ve done every game,” Traylor said. “If it means moving kids around, backups, walk-ons, it doesn’t matter to us. We want to go play the game. We feel like a larger sense of obligation that we started this and want to finish it.”
Art Garcia is a veteran award-winning sportswriter who’s worked at NBA.com, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and San Antonio Express-News. He’s also contributed to ESPN.com, FOXSports.com, DFWPressBox.com and various national and local publications.