MONTICELLO, Ark. – The University of Arkansas at Monticello football team will open its 2019 campaign at home in Monticello against Arkansas Tech University Thursday, Sept. 5 with a 6 p.m. kickoff from Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium.
 
Below you will find important information regarding tickets, parking and live coverage, along with complete game notes.
 
GAME NOTES, WEEK 1  |  INTERVIEW WITH HUD JACKSON
 
LIVE COVERAGE
• Live Stats Link
• Live Streaming Video (YouTube)
• Radio  |  Provided by 93.7 KHBM Radio (Monticello, Ark.)
• Twitter (@UAMsports) |  All scoring information and in-game updates.
 
BLACKOUT GAME

• Requested by UAM Athletes, fans are encouraged to wear black for the contest, as it will be a blackout.
• First 250 students in attendance will be given black shirts when they enter the stadium.

 
COMMUNITY DAY

• UAM will be welcoming near 100 high school students to campus for tailgating and activities leading up to game time.
• Corporate Sponsors, families of players, alumni, and student groups are expected to begin tailgating as early as 2 p.m. Thursday across from Weevil Pond. For more information, contact the UAM Athletics Department at 870-460-1058.

 
RIBBON CUTTING FOR STARBUCKS AND REDEDICATION OF HORSFALL

• Take a break from your tailgating to celebrate some new changes to campus! At 3 p.m., UAM will celebrate the grand opening of Boll Weevil Bistro, Proudly Serving Starbucks, in addition to rededicating Horsfall Hall, a historic women's residence hall, which has just undergone a major renovation. The brief ceremony will include a ribbon cutting and a chance to see the new spaces.

 
WALK OF CHAMPIONS

• At 3:30 p.m., the traditional Weevil Walk of Champions will take place on Lakeshore Dr. in the midst of tailgating. The UAM band, color guard, cheer squad, mascots, and football team will process through a crowd of campus and community supporters ready to cheer them to victory over Arkansas Tech.

 
TICKETS (For advance tickets, call 870-460-1058, or stop by the Athletics Office in Steelman Field House)

• Tickets may be purchased on game day. The box office at the main entrance will open at 5 p.m.
• Reserved Seats - $15
• General Admission - $10
• Upgrade to Reserved - $5
• Adults 65+ W/ID – Free
• Students, Faculty, and Staff W/ID – Free
• Children 10 and under – Free
• Entrances
  • Main entrance is the only purchasable ticketed entrance.
  • Visitor's entrance – Non-purchasable ticketed entrance.
  • Re-Entry allowed.

 
RESTROOMS

• Steelman Fieldhouse will be accessible through door closest Athletic Director's office prior to event. During game – Visitors side entrance will be locked.

CONCESSIONS

• Chick-Fil-A Sandwiches will be available at concession stands. 

PARKING

• Lakeshore Dr. is shutdown 4 hours prior to event.
• No Parking in front of Steelman Fieldhouse
• VIP parking is located at Harris Hall. Proper credentials are required.
• Handicapped parking available at Harris Hall and the Scoggins Rd. Lot.
• There will be hospitality carts available before and after game. 

TAILGATING

• Tailgating will begin 4 hours prior to the event at the Commercial Bank Tailgate Row.
• Reserved spots and power is available for $75 at Tailgate Row. If you are interested in reserving a spot, please contact Assistant AD for External Affairs Cody Reaves at (870-460-1157)
• Tailgating is first come first serve.

See Map Below
 
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY

• Only clear bags and clutch purses are allowed at UAM Athletics events.
• Clear backs are available for purchase at main entrance $10 (Limited Availability)
• An officer will be enforcing the clear bag policy at the main entrance and the non-purchasable ticketed entrance closest to Steelman Fieldhouse.

 
THE MATCHUP
The Boll Weevils will host Arkansas Tech at Willis "Convoy" Leslie Cotton Boll Stadium for the sixth time. The Wonder Boys lead the all-time series, 9-5, and have also won more games on Arkansas-Monticello's campus, posting a road record of 3-2 at UAM.
 
LAST MEETING
The last time UAM and ATU met, the Boll Weevils scored early and often, winning, 34-16. Quarterback Cole Sears was 20-33 for 220 yards and one touchdown through the air, and another on the ground. Imani Riley rushed for 43 yards on 13 attempts, while Jeremy Hampton rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown on two carries.
 
UAM'S 2018 GAC NUMBERS
Last year, the Boll Weevils were fifth in the GAC in scoring offense and eighth in scoring defense. UAM was also second in total offense tallying 4,783 yards; 3,070 of those yards were in the air and 1,713 were on the ground.
 
SEARS TO WASHINGTON
Sears threw for 2,925 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2018 and he averaged 243.8 yards per contest. Although he won't be returning, UAM will still have All-American DeAndre Washington who registered 38 receptions for 700 yards and seven TD's.
 
LAST YEAR'S GROUND GAME
Riley was the team's top rusher at halfback totaling 449 yards, but Sears led the team in rushing touchdowns with nine.
 
TWO DEFENSIVE KEYS
Defensively, Christian Jefferson led the team in tackles last season with 68, while Marshaud Melancon was tied for the team-lead in interceptions and had 44 tackles as a defensive back. The pair will both return this season.
 
NEW COACHING FACES
Not only did UAM change some personnel on the field, but also on the sidelines this offseason. Joining the Boll Weevils this year are Ryan Lusby, Jordan Frost-Dixon, Matt Goggans, Steve Wright and Josh Qualls. Lusby is the offensive coordinator, Frost-Dixon joins the staff as the linebackers coach and assistant special teams coordinator, Goggans is the wide receivers coach, Wright is working with defensive backs and Qualls, who was here as a graduate assistant is in a full-time role as a tight ends and half-backs coach.
 
COUNTING ON CANADY
Quarterback Caleb Canady will take over the starting job after Sears graduated last year. Canady looks to help pace a top-5 offense this season with the help of his All-American tight end, in Washington, and a few of his top receivers. Canady did see some action last year playing in three games, going 5-of-9 for 100 yards and two TD's.
 
ON THE OTHER SIDE
The Boll Weevils will see a familiar face coaching, but on the opposite side of the field. Former UAM offensive coordinator, Kyle Shipp, took over the Arkansas Tech football program as the head coach. Shipp spent his previous five seasons with Arkansas-Monticello where two of his offenses in the past five years averaged over 400 yards per game.
 
AS FOR TECH
The Wonder Boys return 14 starters from a season ago. The team was 3-8 overall and in conference play. ATU ranked last in the GAC in scoring offense posting just 14.5 points per game. They also were in the bottom half of the conference in total offense averaging 334.3 yards per contest.
 
THE DEFENSE
Defensively, Arkansas Tech was fifth in the conference the scoring defense surrendering 24.5 points per game, and fifth in total defense allowing 346.5 yards per matchup. One of the biggest reasons for this was due to their ability to get to the quarterback. The Wonder Boys were tied for second in the GAC in sacks at with 23
 
TECH'S QB QUESTION
A season ago, ATU saw several quarterbacks in the lineup. Carter Burcham, Manny Harris and Tanner Gaines all played in at least eight games. Burcham and Harris each attempted over 150 pass attempts and usage was mostly split. As of game one, Burcham is named the starter. He threw for 1,208 yards and five TD's in 2018.
 
THE PASS RUSHERS
Arkansas Tech did lose some of its top pass rushers from 2018, but kept one in D'Idric Dugan. Dugan was tied for second on the team in sacks with 3.0.