Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

UCA isn’t exactly easing into the 2012 football season.

A trip to Ole Miss is the season opener for Clint Conque and the Bears, who ended 2011 with a 9-4 overall record and an appearance in the second round of the FCS Playoffs. UCA returns 15 starters and 45 players who earned letters last season.

“Ole Miss gives our fan base our first experience of competing with a Southeastern Conference and a BSC program,” Conque said. “That is a great addition to our schedule for our supporters. To get an opportunity to go into an SEC venue, I think that’s exciting for our players, our coaches and our fans. It’s just a great opportunity for our entire football program.”

Wide receiver Jesse Grandy, a Pine Bluff native, began his career at Ole Miss. The Rebels are coached by former Arkansas State coach Hugh Freeze.

Also included on the schedule, per UCA…

UCA’s first home game of the season, and the unveiling of the 12 skyboxes on the east side of First Security Field at Estes Stadium, will be Sept. 15 against Bacone College.

The Bears will then open Southland Conference play with defending champion Sam Houston State on the stripes at Estes Stadium on Sept. 22. UCA will travel to Stephen F. Austin on Sept. 29 before returning home to host Nicholls State on Oct. 6.

UCA heads to Lake Charles, La., on Oct. 13 to face McNeese State before the Lamar Cardinals come to Conway for the first time on Oct. 20. The Bears play at Southeastern Louisiana on Oct. 27, then return home for two games to close the regular season, on Nov. 3 against Northwestern State and Nov. 17 against Eastern Illinois in a non-conference matchup.

The Bears’ open date will be late in the season again this season, this time on Nov. 10.

“Once again, we have an exciting, yet extremely challenging, schedule,” Conque said.

UCA is currently going through spring practice. The Bears hold their spring game on April 13 at Estes Stadium.