Football opens Thursday night
8/22/2008 1:00:00 AM | Football
SEASON OPENER
Thursday, Aug. 28, 2007 -- 6 p.m. -- Bowers Stadium -- Huntsville, TX
GAME INFORMATION
General Admission $10
SHSU Student (with student ID) Free
Children age 5 and under Free
Radio KSAM 101.7 FM
Internet Radio www.gobearkats.com
Video Bearkat Vision
SEASON OPENER
Sam Houston State begins its 93rd season of football Aug. 28 when the Bearkats kick off against East Central Oklahoma. The Kats own a 50-38-4 record in season openers. Sam Houston has won nine of its last 10 season openers and own a 15-7 record in opening games since moving up to NCAA Division I championship subdivision play in 1986. .
THURSDAY FOOTBALL
The East Central game Aug. 28 marks the 24th time in SHSU football history the Bearkats have played football on a Thursday. Sam Houston is 17-6 on Thursday. Eleven of the Thursday games were Thanksgiving contests (1926 to 1948). The game also will mark the 12th time the Bearkats have opened a season with a home game at Bowers Stadium. Sam Houston State is 8-3 in the previous 11 encounters.
SAM HOUSTON VS. THE LONE STAR CONFERENCE
East Central University is a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference. Sam Houston State was one of the charter members of the Lone Star Conference, competing in the league from 1932 until 1983. Since moving up to the NCAA Division I championship subdivision level, the Bearkats stand 18-7 against the Lone Star. Sam Houston's records against Lone Star members since 1984 are Angelo State 10-3, Texas A&M-Kingsville 4-2, Tarleton State 2-1, Texas A&M-Commerce 1-1 and Southeastern Oklahoma 1-0.
FOURTH YEAR UNDER COACH WHITTEN
Todd Whitten and his staff begin their fourth season at Sam Houston State, seeking to build on back-to-back winning seasons and Southland Conference runner-up finishes. Thirty-eight lettermen return from last year's 7-4 squad including six starters on offense and and six on defense.
OFFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Quarterback Rhett Bomar, who led the Southland and ranked No. 8 nationally in total offense (290.6 yards per game), returns. Bomar passed for 2,209 yards and 10 touchdowns and rushed for 406 yards and seven scores in nine games last year. All three starting wide receivers return including Catron Houston (46 catches for 597 yards), Justin Wells (42 catches for 660 yards) and Trey Payne (12 catches for 136 yards). The Bearkats lost three All-Southland Conference offensive linemen (Brandon Hale, Ryan Dretke and Brennan Williams) and All-American tight end Blake Martin to graduation.
DEFENSIVE OUTLOOK
Defensive end Chris Brown, who accounted for five of the Bearkats' 13 sacks in 2007 and Eric Mikolajchak return in the front line. Nolan Bucek led the Southland in tackles (88) and Luke McCall added 72 stops as linebackers last year. Cornerbacks Wonseleh Brewer and Stanley Garrett return as starters in the secondary.
The Bearkats must replace three All-Southland Conference players. David Branch was a two-time All-SLC selection at defensive end and safeties Byran Richmond and Carlton Cobey each earned All-SLC honors as seniors last year.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Taylor Wilkins was 33-for-33 on extra points and hit 14-of-18 field goals. Justin Humphrey returns for deep snaps.
ALL-SOUTHLAND RETURNEES
Six All-Southland Conference Bearkats return. Defensive end Chris Brown was a first team selection. Kicker Taylor Wilkins and linebacker Nolan Bucek were named to the second team. Quarterback Rhett Bomar, offensive lineman Hunter Schmidt and defensive lineman Eric Mikolajchak were honorable mention All-Southland.
TRANSFERS LOOK TO FILL GAPS
Several transfers figure to fill important spots in the Bearkat two-deep including wide receiver Jason Madkins (Navarro JC), tight end Jonathon Clark (Glendale CC), defensive back D. J. Emerson (SMU) and quarterback Bryan Randolph (Moorpark JC).
BEARKAT OFFENSIVE SUCCESS
In the past nine seasons, Sam Houston has led the Southland Conference in passnig four times and total offense three seasons. Three Bearkat quarterbacks have earned Southland "Player of the Year" honors and been finalists for the Walter Payton Award as NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision offensive player of the year.
EAST CENTRAL TIGERS
The Tigers look to bounce back from a 2-9 season in 2007 with an offense led by junior Marcus Johnson. The 6-1 189 pound Abilene High School product was named Lone Star Conference North Division Player of the Year as a sophomore after transfering to ECU from Cisco Junior College. Johnson set school records for touchdown passes in a game (6), yards in a game (387), yards in a season (2,508), completions in a game (39) and completions in a season (256) last year.
