Still Undefeated: How UTSA Football Went From Forbidden to Significant

Former University of Texas at San Antonio Athletics Director Lynn Hickey calls it “a God thing.” Unique circumstances and uncanny timing converged to make UTSA football possible. A hurricane merged with a West Texas whirlwind to awaken a city to a university’s immense potential. A meaningless contract phrase opened new possibilities. A homeless athletic department became a sought-after major conference member. And those with much were moved to tears when asked to do what others thought was impossible.

Authors Brad Parrott and Jim Goodman came together in the halftime of their lives to work with Hickey, NCAA national champion head coach Larry Coker, San Antonio community leaders and UTSA personnel to create a football program revered throughout the nation. Their path was littered with listless past performance, powerful opposition and severe financial limitations. But previous professional experiences and willingness to ask others for assistance removed obstacles and brought major college gridiron glory to the nation’s seventh largest city.

Relationships developed far from football’s bright lights were stirred to shine on something significant. Titans of business, politicians and even other universities shared a vision to provide fun, affordable entertainment for a university and a community. Building pride and tradition cast a net to bring in new students and bring back graduates. Increased national exposure through nationwide media coverage and stronger conference affiliations built equity in a UTSA degree by bolstering alumni resumes.

Parrott and Goodman string together first-hand accounts of situations and individuals to tell the UTSA football story. This entertaining and often humorous read delivers inspiration to step away from comfort and financial reward to deliver meaning and substance to one’s occupation. The Roadrunners may have been defeated on the scoreboard, but they are Still Undefeated in the hearts of those who helped build the program.