On Oct. 16, UTSA football secured a historic 45-0 win against Rice in a homecoming showdown. UTSA now claims a 7-0 winning record, the best start in program history. 

The win followed events hosted by the university in a week-long preparation for celebration. The week began with the Homecoming Golf Cart Parade of Prizes hosted by the Student Government Association. Later in the evening, the UTSA PEACE Center hosted Take Back the Night, an evening of art, poetry and support in ending domestic/sexual violence at UTSA. 

On Thursday, the H-E-B Student Union hosted DeRay Davis, Darren Brand and Billy Sorrels in a night of talent and comedy, following UTSA women’s soccer game against Louisiana Tech, which ended in a 2-2 tie after going into overtime.

The highlight of the week’s festivities was BestFest, a festival and carnival that ended in a concert by Jimmie Allen, who is currently nominated for 2021 CMA New Artist of the Year. All events led up to UTSA’s homecoming football game and the announcement of the Spirit of the Roadrunner, previously known as Mr. and Ms. UTSA, recipients. 

After completing the application process, presenting their running platform and a week of open elections, Erica McFarland and Lance Tran were named Spirit of the Roadrunner recipients. McFarland’s platform centered around uplifting the eight dimensions of wellness – intellectual, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, occupation, financial and environmental. Tran’s platform promoted working with the Multicultural Student Center for Equity and Justice to relaunch events that had been postponed due to the pandemic.