ULM's Malone Stadium (Photo: ULM Athletics)
ULM and Louisiana Tech will face off in a football game for the first time since 2000, now that the Bulldogs have joined the Sun Belt Conference. The reunion is set for Oct. 17 in Monroe. Warhawks head coach Bryant Vincent said this is what college football is about.
“If you’re a college football fan, and we care about this game and we’re trying to build our universities, this game has to be played. We’re right down the street,” Vincent said.
The teams played each other every season for 39 years until 1991. They have squared off 43 times total, with Tech leading the series 29-14. Vincent said the renewal of the I-20 rivalry is a can’t-miss game.
“It’s gonna go back down in history, ‘Hey, that was the first time in 25 years that they started the renewal of the rivalry,’ and as a player and a coach, you want to be in that game,” Vincent said.
For Louisiana Tech, bringing back in-state rivalries with ULM and UL Lafayette was one of the biggest reasons to join the Sun Belt. Head coach Sonny Cumbie says he cannot wait to take on the Warhawks every year.
“The environment is gonna be electric,” Cumbie said. “We play over there. We get to stay in our own home hotel and drive over there the day of the game. And our fanbase is excited about going over there, and there’s a lot of bragging rights on an annual basis.
Cumbie said fans on both sides can start creating their own memories and traditions in the historic rivalry.
“I think you’re affording people opportunities to watch, to cheer passionately in meaningful games, that matter within conference play,” Cumbie said.
LA Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson said he has spoken with the Governor’s Office about creating a Louisiana Governor’s Cup between the three UL system schools, modeled after the Commander-in-Chief’s Cup Army, Navy and Air Force play for each year.
The Bulldogs and Ragin’ Cajuns face off in Ruston Oct. 10. ULM hosts the Cajuns Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.
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