UTRGV to play inaugural spring game Thursday in Brownsville

BROWNSVILLE — The UTRGV football team is ready to end its five-week, 15-practice Spring Ball schedule with a bang as the Vaqueros hit the Lower Valley for their first spring game in program history at 6 p.m. Thursday at Brownsville Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Tickets for the game are free but sold out earlier this week. Brownsville Veterans Memorial Stadium, located at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School, has a capacity of 5,000 people.

UTRGV head coach Travis Bush said the team is looking forward to getting down to Brownsville on Thursday to show the Valley what the Vaqueros have been working on this spring.

“It’s going to be more of a fun atmosphere,” Bush said. “Everybody is going to play. We’re going to split up into two teams and kind of divide the staff up and let the two staff go at it. They may have some trick plays, some gadgets, but it’s going to be more of a fun day and let people see where UTRGV football is right now. It’s a chance to see all the players play, the band is going to be out there. It’s going to be a cool gameday atmosphere.”

The Vaqueros have spent the week split into two teams — Orange and White. They’ve been working separately all week but will go head-to-head with bragging rights on the line Thursday.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for us to have as a team,” former Sharyland Pioneer and UTSA quarterback Eddie Lee Marburger said. “We’re the first ones ever to be out there representing this program. We’re so excited. It’s all we talk about in the locker room, and we can’t wait to get out there. Hopefully we see a good turnout and play our best.”

For the majority of the roster, players who aren’t from the RGV, it’ll be their first time playing a game in front of the Valley football faithful.

Redshirt sophomore Nebraska transfer Ismael Smith Flores, a Crowley native, said Thursday is just a preview of what’s to come this fall when the Vaqueros officially kick off their first season in program history.

“We’ve been working hard here every day. It’s something the community deserves, and in August, we’re going to give them a lot more,” he said. “I’m very excited. I’m excited to see what everybody is like in the Valley. Obviously I’m not from here, but I’ve heard a lot and I know they like football down here, so I’m excited to get out there in front of everybody and hopefully give them a good time.”

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