What a difference a year makes. Former Roadrunner quarterback Eric Soza may be at UTSA’s opening game against the University of Houston — but not on the Roadrunners’ sideline. Soza, a recent hire by the Cougars, will be assisting on the University of Houston sideline as a coach.

Soza accounted for 89 percent of UTSA’s passes in his NCAA career, and 88 percent of the Roadrunners’ yards.

Despite this achievement, Head Coach Larry Coker is confident in his team and assured that this is the year for improvement.

“You can tell this is a veteran team just by watching them practice”, said Coker.

Since UTSA’s induction into the college football spotlight, not much publicity about the team has made its way out of the Alamo city. However, the Roadrunners’ early success has poised them for a run at the program’s first Conference USA title this fall.

The 2014 squad boasts a nation leading 38 returning seniors, most of who have been with the team since UTSA’s first season. Nineteen are returning starters; 10 will start on defense.

This senior-laden defense will have a lot to live up to if they wish to repeat last season’s accomplishments when the team held opponents to under 20 points six times. The Roadrunners’ chances look bright with so many familiar faces back in the Alamodome.

Precedents set by past football teams dictate that with so many senior players returning, UTSA won’t have a problem assembling a winning formula and pushing towards the C-USA crown. Last season the Roadrunners’ were a game shy of playing in the conference title game, but optimistically finished with the programs first winning season.

In 2010, UTSA’s aspirations for a football team were only a dream.

Four years later, the university now boasts a 2014-15 schedule that includes 12 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams, such as Houston, Oklahoma State and Arizona.

Not many programs have produced impressive results like UTSA’s in such a short amount of time.

The Roadrunners’ ambitious goal for collegiate football success and relentlessness in obtaining it has started them on the path for achievement and growth.

With this and so much more, UTSA has locked itself in for a promising year.

The Roadrunners will start their 2014 campaign Aug. 29, when they take on the University of Houston Cougars at John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium.