Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello will go helmet to helmet at the El Dorado Boomtown Classic on November 7, 2009 at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado.
The meeting will be the 85th between the SAU Muleriders and the UAM Boll Weevils in a series that began in 1913 and serves as the longest-standing rival for the Muleriders. Another special note about this year’s matchup is that both schools are celebrating their Centennial anniversaries this year.
“The Boomtown Classic will be a great competition between the two schools that were founded in 1909 and have become fine universities,” said SAU President Dr. David Rankin. “The game will provide fans with NCAA Division II football at its best. We’re delighted that the city of El Dorado invited the Muleriders to participate in this event.
El Dorado city officials announced the formation of the Boomtown Football Classic on Monday during a press conference held in conjunction with the El Dorado Rotary Club’s weekly meeting. According to Matt Thomas, chairman of the El Dorado Advertising and Promotion Commission, the fall football classic will feature UAM and SAU on a two year home and home agreement.
“We are delighted to host these two south Arkansas universities in what promises to be a festival type weekend in El Dorado, Arkansas’ Original Boomtown,” Thomas said.
The capacity of Memorial Stadium in El Dorado is 9,269. City and university officials are hopeful the game will draw fans to the stadium for the game and to explore the town afterwards.
“El Dorado features a beautifully restored downtown, dozens of dining establishments, more than 800 hotel rooms and an entertainment district that fans will find enjoyable,” said El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas.
The November 7 matchup between SAU and UAM will not be the first time these two schools have played in El Dorado. Local newspaper accounts record that the two schools played on Thanksgiving Day in 1933 and 1934. The game was dubbed the “Battle of the Goat,” as the two agricultural schools battled for a prized Aggie goat named Nanny and drew a crowd of 3,500 to watch the 0-0 tie game in 1933.
