LIVE UNITED
Arkansas Tech University and Pittsburg State will clash
Arkansas Tech University and Pittsburg State University will clash in the fifth annual Agent Barry Live United Bowl in Texarkana on Saturday, Dec. 2.
The Wonder Boys finished second in the Great American Conference standings and will be the home team to the Gorillas, who won five games in a row in the MIAA to finish tied for fourth. The teams for the NCAA Division II bowl game were announced Wednesday during a press conference at the Texarkana, Ark. Convention Center.
The Agent Barry Live United Bowl is set for noon at Razorback Stadium for the first Saturday in December. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for students, and are available at liveunitedbowl.com.
“We’re really excited about our matchup this year,” Bowl Chairman Allen Brown said. “The Great American Conference side went down to the last snap of pretty much the last game (Saturday); going into the last week, with us getting the highest place finisher from the Great American Conference, who doesn’t qualify for the playoffs, there were eight possible scenarios.
“From our start four years ago, with just an idea Jeff Roberson and I had, to now it’s taken a lot of hard work from a lot of people to be able to put on an event of this magnitude.”
Arkansas Tech (8-3) and Pitt State (7-4) have met 10 times in their history. The record is 4-4-2 in those meetings.
The Wonder Boys, coached by Raymond Monica, led the GAC in scoring this season and their three losses were by a combined 12 points. ATU twice put together four-game win streaks in 2017. Arkansas Tech won the 2015 C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl.
Tech operates a spread, up-tempo offense, similar to Auburn, and tries to balance the run and passing attacks. The Wonder Boy defense is set in a 4-2-5 formation.
“We’re very excited about being here. The players are excited about coming, but I don’t think they realize how great this bowl game is,” Monica said. “People talk about this as another game and more practices, but to me it’s more about being around this football team a little bit longer because they’re a special group of players. And being around each other, as well as this is obviously a great experience with a great cause. Our players are really looking forward to being here and being involved in the things we’ll be doing while in Texarkana.”
The Gorillas, coached by Tim Beck, won the MIAA championships in 2011 and 2014 as well as the NCAA Division II national championship in 2011.
Pitt State also runs a spread out of the pistol, with mostly 1-back sets. The Gorillas can switch to 2-backs and option plays, and the defense is mainly 4-2 with man coverage.
“We have a fairly young team; we started out not so good and got better at the end of the year,” Beck said. “We’re super excited about the opportunity to play another game. When you get here and meet these guys, you can tell the hospitality is outstanding. We’re looking forward to bringing our Gorillas down here and being a part of your community for a couple of days.”
The Agent Barry Live United Bowl benefits the United Way of Greater Texarkana. Along with a special events, such as a community pep rally and the Jeans, Boots and BBQ team banquet, and the bowl game, the players from
both schools will participate in four community events involving programs directly supported by the United Way.
“There are four of these bowl games in Division II, and clearly with all the work Allen and Jeff and all these people have done here, I don’t think there’s any question, you’ve created the premier bowl game in Division II,” Pittsburg State Athletic Director Jim Johnson said. “These bowl games are an extra opportunity for the student-athletes to compete one more time, for the seniors to compete once more.
“There are only eight teams (selected to the four bowls), and we certainly feel like we’re getting the opportunity to play in the premier game of those four. We’re appreciate with the opportunity and, certainly, thrilled to help support a great cause like the United Way.”
The teams are expected to arrive on Thursday, Nov. 30, with the community events Friday after lunch. Later the teams will hold open practices, Arkansas Tech at Arkansas High and Pittsburg State at Texas High.
The team banquet, which tickets are available online only, will be at 6 p.m. at the Texarkana, Texas Convention Center with a special guest appearance by Rod Smith. The community pep rally will follow at 8, and a concert by the Robert St. John Band will be held from 9:30-11 p.m. Showing a game ticket or $10 is the admission fee for the concert.
The Live United 5K will be Saturday morning at 8 a.m., tailgating will be allowed for the game in the East parking lot, gates open at 10 a.m. to Razorback Stadium, and kickoff is set for noon.