Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/865593
CONWAY — Steve Campbell knows what it takes to break out of second place. For the past three seasons, the Uni- versity of Central Arkansas has finished second in the Southland Conference. To earn the team's first conference champi- onship since 2012, the Bears will have to beat the team that has won the confer- ence three years running. "You beat Sam Houston," the UCA coach said at the Southland Conference's media day in July. "You have to win that game. We're not making any more or less of it than it is. Our goal is to win the conference and compete for the national championship. "We went 10-3 last season. Had a good little run. But we didn't beat Sam Hous- ton. We have to get back to work." UCA last beat Sam Houston State 49-31 in 2013, and Sam Houston is the only team other than Valdosta State that owns an all-time winning record (6-5) over the Bears, among schools that have had more than 10 meetings. The annual meeting is a litmus test, foreshadowing the success UCA will have against the top teams in the play- offs. Last season, UCA lost 59-23 to Sam Houston in the regular-season finale. Two rounds into the FCS playoffs, which UCA hadn't reached since 2011, the Bears lost 31-14 to No. 2 Eastern Washington. "[Sam Houston] is the type of com- petition we have to compete with in the playoffs," said senior quarterback Hayden Hildebrand, who passed for 3,051 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 intercep- tions in 2016. "The last 10 teams left will all be of that caliber. We have to come back stronger." BROOKS KUBENA ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE General parking can access the golf course from either Fair Park Blvd. or S. Taylor St. Razorback Game Day parking fee is $20. GAME DAY PARKING AND TRAFFIC FLOW For latest updates on parking and traffic flow, go to wmstadium.com and click on Parking for Razorback Game Day. PERMITTED AND PROHIBITED ITEMS For a complete list of permitted and prohibited items, go to wmstadium.com and click on Razorback Game Day Policies at War Memorial Stadium. • Reserved Tailgating, Large Grill, and Fraternity Row will open at 7 a.m. and close at 1:30 p.m. • Corporate Tailgating opens at 8 a.m. • Scholarship Lots 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 12 will open at 8 a.m. • General Parking (Golf Course) opens at 9 a.m. • Scholarship Lots 2 and 9 will be available after 1 p.m. • Handicap Parking will be available after 1 p.m. • Ray Winder Lot will be available after 1 p.m. • Rick's Armory Lot will be available after 5 p.m. Please check website for most current update. (Subject to change) WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM INFORMATION -2017 SEASON RAZORBACKS VS. FLORIDA A&M | AUGUST 31 501-663-0775 • wmstadium.com Venue security reserves the right to search all items or further prohibit items not included above if deemed inappropriate or they present a safety or security risk. Unlawful items are subject to confiscation, and the person in possession of such items is subject to arrest. N S W E GATE 7 GATE 12 GATE 8 GATE 5 GATE 2 GATE 11 GATE 10 GATE 9 GATE 4 A R K A N S A S B E N C H V I S I T O R B E N C H ARKANSAS WARM-UP AREA ARKANSAS DRESSING ROOM PRESS BOX PRESS WILL CALL WILL CALL VISITOR'S DRESSING ROOM VISITING TEAM PLAYERS GUEST LIST ARKANSAS PLAYERS WILL CALL VISITOR'S WARM-UP AREA 1 31 32 40 2 30 3 29 4 5 6 7 28 27 26 25 8 24 9 23 10 22 11 21 12 20 13 19 33 14 15 16 17 18 38 39 37 36 35 34 32 27 31 30 29 28 12 13 14 15 1 26 2 25 3 24 4 5 6 7 23 22 21 20 8 19 9 18 10 17 16 GATE 1 11 GATE 3 CARRYING A HANDGUN IS PROHIBITED AT ATHLETIC EVENTS CLEAR BAG POLICY ENTER WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM WITH ONE OF THESE APPROVED BAGS FOR PERSONAL ITEMS FOR PERSONAL ITEMS FOR PERSONAL ITEMS 44 NWA Democrat-Gazette College Football Preview Sunday, August 27, 2017 UCA looking to remove Sam Houston St. roadblock Bears at a glance COACH Steve Campbell (23-13 in three sea- sons at UCA, 137-43 overall in 17 seasons) LAST YEAR 10-3, 8-1 in Sun Belt Confer- ence RETURNING STARTERS 15 (8 on offense, 7 on defense) OFFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH QB Hayden Hildebrand, RB Carlos Blackman, WR Jakari Dillard, WR Roman Gordon DEFENSIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH DB George Odum, DB Tremon Smith, DB Jaylon Lofton, DE Cardell Best 2016 RESULTS DATE OPPONENT RESULT Sept. 1 ........... Houston Baptist .........W, 56-13 Sept. 10 ............... Samford ................L, 35-29 Sept. 17 ......Northwestern State* .....W, 24-10 Sept. 24 ........at Arkansas State........W, 28-23 Oct. 1 ..........at Abilene Christian* .....W, 58-27 Oct. 15 ......... at McNeese State* .........W, 35-0 Oct. 22 .................. Lamar* ................W, 22-12 Oct. 29 ...........at SE Louisiana* ........W, 45-10 Nov. 5 ........ at Stephen F. Austin* .....W, 34-14 Nov. 12................. Nicholls* ............... W, 31-24 Nov. 19......at Sam Houston State* ....L, 59-23 Nov. 26 .............Illinois State^ ........... W, 31-24 Dec. 3 ......at Eastern Washington# ... L, 31-14 * Southland Conference game ^ NCAA FCS Playoffs, First Round # NCAA FCS Playoffs, Second Round NWA Democrat Gazette file photo UCA coach Steve Campbell aims to lead his Bears to victory against Sam Houston State this year. v Continued on next page