Attending to Know the UAC: Meet Little Rock’s New Conference Foes

In lower than every week, Little Rock Athletics begins an thrilling new chapter. On July 1, the Trojans formally change into members of the United Athletic Conference (UAC), becoming a member of eight establishments throughout the South in one of many nation’s latest Division I conferences.

Some of the names shall be acquainted to Trojan followers, whereas others could also be new. Here’s a fast introduction to Little Rock’s new convention rivals. Be certain to maintain checking lrtrojans.com all through the summer season as we proceed highlighting the UAC.

University of Central Arkansas

•Location: Conway, Arkansas

•Mascot: Bears

•Distance from Little Rock: 34 miles

Notable Alumni

•Scottie Pippen – NBA Hall of Famer

•Monte Coleman – Former Washington Commanders linebacker

•Kris Allen – Winner of American Idol

•Gil Gerard – Actor finest identified for portraying Buck Rogers in Buck Rogers within the twenty fifth Century

Fun Fact

UCA’s Jewel Moore Nature Reserve spans greater than 235 acres and consists of lots of of recognized species of vegetation and wildlife, serving as each an outside classroom and a wildlife sanctuary.

University of Texas at Arlington

•Location: Arlington, Texas

•Mascot: Mavericks

•Distance from Little Rock: 336 miles

Notable Alumni

•Lou Diamond Phillips – Golden Globe-nominated actor (La Bamba, Young Guns)

•Kalpana Chawla – First Indian-born girl in area

•Robert L. Stewart – Retired U.S. Army brigadier basic and NASA astronaut

•John Lackey – Three-time World Series champion pitcher

•Hunter Pence – Two-time World Series champion outfielder

Fun Fact

UTA is internationally acknowledged for its wheelchair basketball program, some of the profitable adaptive athletics packages within the nation.

Tarleton State University

•Location: Stephenville, Texas

•Mascot: Texans

•Distance from Little Rock: 424 miles

Notable Alumni

•Koe Wetzel – Country music singer-songwriter

•Mike Moncrief – Former Fort Worth mayor and Texas state senator

•Chris Kyle – U.S. Navy SEAL and creator of American Sniper

•Ben Barnes – Former lieutenant governor of Texas

•Millie Hughes-Fulford – NASA astronaut and biomedical researcher

•Chad Fox – Former Major League Baseball pitcher

Fun Fact

Tarleton State is called after rancher John Tarleton, whose property helped set up the college in 1899. Originally often known as John Tarleton Agricultural College, it turned Tarleton State University in 1973.

Abilene Christian University

•Location: Abilene, Texas

•Mascot: Wildcats

•Distance from Little Rock: 494 miles

Notable Alumni

•Ronnie Dunn – One-half of Brooks & Dunn

•John Bradshaw Layfield (JBL) – WWE Hall of Famer

•Wilbert Montgomery – Former Philadelphia Eagles working again

•Jack Pope – Former chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court

Fun Fact

ACU turned the primary college to publish its pupil newspaper, The Optimist, on Apple’s iPad platform.

Austin Peay State University

•Location: Clarksville, Tennessee

•Mascot: Governors

•Distance from Little Rock: 348 miles

Notable Alumni

•John “Hot Rod” Williams – Former NBA standout

•Trenton Hassell – Eight-year NBA veteran

•George Sherrill – MLB All-Star pitcher

•Chonda Pierce – Emmy-nominated comic

•Bob Harper – Fitness professional and tv persona on The Biggest Loser

Fun Fact

Austin Peay’s well-known “Let’s Go Peay!” cheer originated within the Seventies because of legendary basketball participant James “Fly” Williams.

University of North Alabama

•Location: Florence, Alabama

•Mascot: Lions

•Distance from Little Rock: 287 miles

Notable Alumni

•Josh Willingham – Former MLB outfielder

•Bobby Humphrey – NFL Pro Bowl working again

•Ronald McKinnon – Former NFL linebacker and Harlon Hill Trophy winner

•George Lindsey – Actor finest often known as Goober Pyle on The Andy Griffith ShowFun Fact

Former Little Rock males’s basketball coach Wimp Sanderson (1994-99) is a North Alabama alumnus and led the Trojans to the 1996 Sun Belt Conference championship.

Eastern Kentucky University

•Location: Richmond, Kentucky

•Mascot: Colonels

•Distance from Little Rock: 574 miles

Notable Alumni

•Earle Combs – Baseball Hall of Famer and member of the Yankees’ famed “Murderers’ Row”

•Lee Majors – Star of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Fall Guy

•Sam Champion – Television meteorologist

•J.C.W. Beckham – Former Kentucky governor and U.S. senator

•Wallace Wilkinson – Former Kentucky governor

•Chad Bratzke – Former Indianapolis Colts defensive finish

Fun Fact

New Little Rock males’s basketball head coach Travis Ford served as Eastern Kentucky’s head coach from 2000-05, main EKU to a NCAA Tournament berth.

University of West Georgia

•Location: Carrollton, Georgia

•Mascot: Wolves

•Distance from Little Rock: 485 miles

Notable Alumni

•Zac Brown – Lead singer of the Zac Brown Band

•Newt Gingrich – Former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives

•Elle Duncan – Former ESPN anchor and host

Fun Fact

One of essentially the most recognizable gathering locations on campus is Love Valley, a former lake the place generations of scholars met. After the lake was drained in 1981, it turned a well-liked inexperienced area that is still a centerpiece of campus life.