UTSA coach Jeff Traylor isn’t messing around with an 11 a.m. kickoff threatening home field advantage for Saturday’s game against Colorado State, stepping up to personally cover the cost of tickets for all UT Health San Antonio students. This isn’t just a gesture, it’s a calculated move to pack the Alamodome and ensure the Roadrunners get the support they need.
The Bold Play Call From Coach Traylor
Coach Traylor was clearly brainstorming ways to pump up attendance for this early morning game, reportedly mulling ideas like tequila (legal issues, obviously) or tacos (logistical nightmare). But he landed on a winner: directly addressing ticket costs. His initial thought was to pay for the first 100 UT Health students, stating, “I’ll pay for the Health students. I’ll pay for the first 100 of those guys’ tickets. Whatever it takes, I’ll do.” Within just a few hours, the UTSA athletics department had it locked down, making it official for *all* students at UT Health San Antonio to claim free tickets for the game. This comes after UTSA and UT Health San Antonio completed their merger last year, with the ticket policy for health campus students being a slow-moving puzzle. Tickets were free for the Sept. 5 opener, but for the remaining five home games, those estimated 4,000 health campus students, who don’t pay the standard athletics fee, would have faced an $11 price tag. Traylor’s move changes the game.
The Alamodome’s Early Morning Struggle
While Traylor boasts an impressive 34-5 record at the Alamodome during his tenure, this weekend’s contest against Colorado State marks only his second home game ever with an 11 a.m. kickoff. This early start accommodates a national broadcast on ESPNU, but it’s a huge attendance challenge. The last time UTSA hosted an 11 a.m. or earlier home kickoff was way back on Nov. 2, 2024, when they beat Memphis 44-36. The attendance numbers from that game speak volumes: an announced crowd of 17,198, which was the second-lowest turnout since the 2021 season, and a scanned-in ticket count of just 8,958, the lowest since 2021. The early timing clearly had a significant impact then, and Traylor is making sure it doesn’t happen again.
The Roadrunners are sitting at 2-1 right now, with solid wins against UTRGV and Texas State, despite a recent loss to Texas. A victory this Saturday is huge, giving them a real shot at the program’s best start since 2021. Traylor gets it, saying, “Our kids have played at such a level the first three games that our crowd should understand the importance of us finishing nonconference 3-1. We have a real chance to be back to a place we have not been here, and going into conference with confidence.”
This Saturday, it’s UTSA versus Colorado State at 11 a.m. in the Alamodome. Traylor has done his part, now it’s up to the fans to fill those stands and let that home-field energy rip. That 3-1 nonconference record and the confidence heading into league play is absolutely on the line.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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