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WEEVILS
HOST MISSOURI S&T FOR FIRST HOME GAME
September 4, 2008
Contact: Brian Ramsey, UAM Sports Information
 MONTICELLO
– Despite what has seemed to be non-stop rain for the past
week, the University of Arkansas at Monticello football team is
set to open its home portion of the 2008 schedule on Saturday,
when the team hosts Missouri University of Science and
Technology for a 6 p.m. kickoff.
For the most part, the southeast region of the United States has
been dealing with the leftovers of Hurricane Gustav, and
Monticello, Ark. is no different. The Weevils have not been able
to practice outside for the majority of the past week due to the
excessive rain and poor field conditions.
“Look brother, all this weather does right here is make us
appreciate more and more each day what the new practice facility
will give our program,” said fourth-year head coach Gwaine
Mathews. “We have done a ton of walk-through practices this
week, but that just isn’t enough.”
Mathews said the quarterbacks haven’t thrown a ball more than 40
yards, the defense has not defended a pass more than 40 yards,
and the team has not been able to work at all on special teams.
But Mathews is confident his team will rise to the challenge
just like they did for the 21-7 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff
last Saturday.
“This is the same boat that we were in for fall training camp,”
said Mathews. “It rained and stormed a lot through camp, but we
still found a way to get as prepared as we could be…The mindset
of our players is not hindered by the weather…They are focused
and will be ready to play come Saturday.”
On a more positive note, the National Weather Service is
forecasting mostly sunny skies with a high near 89 for Saturday
and only partly cloudy skies for Saturday night.
Looking inside the series with Missouri S&T, the two teams have
met twice. The series opener was in 1939, when MST was then
named Missouri School of Mines. The Miners took a 28-13 win, but
last year the Weevils evened the series, bringing back to
Monticello a 45-28 win in a game which the UAM defense allowed
zero rushing yards and scored once from a fumble recovery and
once more on an interception return.
Saturday’s game is the season-opener for Missouri S&T. Their
season was scheduled to start last Thursday at Truman State, but
inclement weather forced the game to be postponed.
Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. from
Willis “Convoy” Leslie Cotton-Boll Stadium. Pre-game festivities
start at 4 p.m. with the “Walk of Champions,” when the team
enters the stadium through the tailgating area.
The game can be heard live on the radio at KHBM-FM 93.7 in
Monticello. That broadcast will be streamed over the Internet at
uamsports.com. The pre-game show starts at approximately 5:30
p.m. |
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