On Dec. 3, 2011, the Bears ended their first-ever run in the NCAA Division I Playoffs with a second-round defeat at one of the most storied venues in the Football Championship Subdivision -- the University of Montana's Washington-Grizzly Stadium. At the end of an incredible season that saw the Bears go through a grueling schedule that resulted in playing five different conference champions (two from the FBS level) and suiting up for 11 consecutive weeks without a bye, Central Arkansas went on an 8-game tear to leave themselves as one of 16 in the nation left playing for a shot at a national championship. No small feat for a program in just its second year eligible for postseason play at the Division I level.
The Bears closed out their season with a lofty national ranking, their second season of 9 or more wins in the last four, and senior quarterback Nathan Dick broke the school's records for passing yards (3,275) and touchdowns (32) in a season. Most importantly, they closed it out with an unforgettable playoff experience that will serve as the springboard for the program's growth.
The Bears' trip to Missoula was chronicled in pictures (in the slideshow below) by photographer and UCA supporter Bradley Widding.
