Southern Arkansas University and the University of Arkansas at Monticello, both created by Act 100 of 1909, will celebrate their 100th anniversaries during a new football series announced in El Dorado on March 2.

The universities will play the inaugural “Boomtown Classic” football game on Saturday, Nov. 7, at Memorial Stadium in El Dorado. The event is sponsored by the City of El Dorado and the El Dorado Advertising and Promotions Commission.

“El Dorado features a beautifully restored downtown, dozens of dining establishments, over 800 hotel rooms and an entertainment district that fans will find enjoyable,” said El Dorado Mayor Mike Dumas. “We believe that El Dorado has something for everyone, and now, thanks to the El Dorado A & P, SAU and UAM, college football will be a part of our fall activities.”

El Dorado is home to the El Dorado Promise, a $50 million gift from Murphy Oil Corporation that provides scholarships to high school graduates of El Dorado schools with a tuition based scholarship that can be used at any accredited two or four year educational institution in the United States.

According to Jack Lassiter, Chancellor at UAM, “UAM is excited about the opportunity to compete in El Dorado against one of our long-time rivals, the Muleriders of SAU. We appreciate the efforts of the local committee in the development of what we envision to be a wonderful weekend for alumni, students and football fans. We are especially excited about the opportunity for a continuing partnership with the residents of this area as we have many present and prospective students, friends and alumni in El Dorado. ”

Southern Arkansas University President David Rankin stated, “The Boomtown Classic will be a great competition between two schools that were founded in 1909 and have become fine universities. 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.”

“Many of our students from El Dorado High School attend SAU and UAM,” Dumas said. “They are two of the closest four year options in higher education. While these two schools will be competing on the field, they are also competing for our high school graduates and the college tuition made possible by the El Dorado Promise.”

The November 7 matchup between UAM and SAU 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. A crowd of 3,500 gathered under the lights at El Dorado’s Rowland field as the two played to a 0-0 tie in 1933.

In addition to the Gulf South Conference football game, city officials are working with local organizations to host a concert and other activities during the Boomtown Classic, such as alumni events, tailgating opportunities, a band competition and other entertainment.

*Some information in this post was taken from an El Dorado A&P Commission press release.