Football team takes on #19 Kansas
9/16/2008 1:00:00 AM | Football
NEXT GAME
Sam Houston State Bearkats (1-0) vs. #19 Kansas Jayhawks (2-1)
Saturday, September 20, 2008 -- 6 p.m. -- Memorial Stadium -- Lawrence, KS
KAT GAME WITH PRAIRIE VIEW CANCELED
Sam Houston State's football game with Prairie View A&M last Saturday was canceled due to Hurricane Ike. The cancelation marked the second time in four years the Bearkats have lost their Parents Weekend game due to a hurricane. The 2005 contest with Missouri State was canceled due to Hurricane Rita.
SAM HOUSTON VS. NCAA DIV. I BCS OPPONENT
Saturday's contest marks Sam Houston's 24th game against an NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision opponent. The Bearkats have won twice against BCS teams, defeating LA-Lafayette 21-14 in 2000 and LA-Monroe 20-9 in 2001.
With Kansas ranked #19 in the polls, the contest also will mark the fourth time the Bearkats have faced a nationally ranked BCS opponent. Sam Houston has played Big 12 teams four times (Baylor in 2003, Texas Tech in 2005, Texas in 2006, and Oklahoma State last year). The Bearkats also played Baylor in 1990 when the Bears were a member of the Southwest Conference.
The scores of Sam Houston State's past contests vs. NCAA Division I Bowl Subdivision teams.
1987 Houston L 34-38 Astrodome 21,738
1988 LA-Lafayette L 18-33 Cajun Field 19,533
1990 Baylor L 9-13 Floyd Casey 34,413
1990 UTEP L 10-17 Sun Bowl 21,017
1992 Rice L 14-45 Rice Stadium 20,545
1993 Rice L 13-14 Rice Stadium 18,614
1996 Houston L 25-43 Robertson Stadium 19,143
1996 LA-Monroe L 31-34 Malone Stadium 12,534
1997 Texas A&M (#24) L 6-59 Kyle Field 58,569
1998 Utah St. L 17-47 Romney Stadium 14,447
1999 Louisiana Tech L 17-55 Joe Aillet Stadium 16,055
1999 Arkansas St. L 20-41 Indian Stadium 13,041
2000 LA-Lafayette W 21-14 Cajun Field 15,721
2001 LA-Monroe W 20-9 Malone Stadium 2,420
2001 Northern Illinois L 16-41 Huskie Stadium 12,441
2002 Central Michigan L 10-34 Shorts Stadium 18,834
2003 Baylor L 6-27 Floyd Casey 27,827
2003 UTEP L 14-59 Sun Bowl 17,259
2005 Houston L 10-31 Robertson Stadium 15,631
2005 Texas Tech (#25) L 21-80 Jones Stadium 50,180
2006 SMU L 14-45 Ford Stadium 17,445
2006 Texas (#7) L 3-56 Memorial Stadium 88,913
2007 Oklahoma St. L 3-39 Boone Pickens 41,139
SAM HOUSTON FOOTBALL ON RADIO
KSAM 101.7 FM will broadcast the SHSU-Kansas game.
SHSU-KANSAS ON FOX COLLEGE SPORTS
Fox College Sports (FCS) will televise the Sam Houston State at Kansas football game to a midwest regional audience.
The game will be available on Direct TV on DirecTV on channel 617. Viewers can also call 877-2GET FCS to get more information.
Sam Houston Bearkats
Location: Huntsville, TX
Enrollment: 16,614
Stadium: Bowers
Capacity: 14,000 / RealGrass Pro
Conference: Southland
Colors: Orange & white
2007 Record: Won 7, Lost 4
Head Coach: Todd Whitten
Alma Mater: SFA, 1987
4th year at Sam Houston (17-16)
10th year as head coach (62-39)
Starters Returning: 12
Lettermen Returning: 38 of 56
SAM HOUSTON STATE BEARKATS
Sam Houston competes as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision in the Southland Conference. The Bearkats won the SLC title in 1991, 2001 and 2004.
Each of those championship years, Sam Houston earned NCAA Division I playoff berths. The Bearkats reached the national quarterfinals in 2001 and the semifinals in 2004.
Bearkats playing in the National Football League include quarterback Josh McCown (Panthers) and Keith Davis (Cowboys).
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.
THE BEARKAT OFFENSE
Quarterback Rhett Bomar led the Southland and ranked No. 8 nationally in total offense (290.6 yards per game) last year. In his first game of 2008, the 6-2 senior directed the offense to seven TDs and a field goal in its eight first half possessions in a 58-14 victory over East Central Oklahoma. Bomar passed for 198 yards and four TDs and rushed for another 30.
Senior wide receiver Catron Houston had five receptions for 72 yards including TD catches of 7 and 24 yards. Junior college transfer Jason Madkins caught three passes for 39 yards including an 11-yard score.
Houston is one of three returning starters at wide receiver for the Kats. Houston caught 46 passes for 597 yards last year. Also returning are Justin Wells (42 catches for 660 yards) and Trey Payne (12 catches for 136 yards).
Two areas of concern for the SHSU are the offensive line and running back. 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. This year's offensive line two-deep consists of four seniors, two juniors and four freshmen.
Transfer James Aston rushed eight times for 115 yards and two touchdowns and had a long gain of 49 yards as the starting running back in the East Central victory
THE BEARKAT DEFENSE
Defensive end Chris Brown, who accounted for five of the Bearkats' 13 sacks in 2007 and Eric Mikolajchak return in the front line. Both earned All-Southland Conference honors last year.
Nolan Bucek led the Southland in tackles (88) in 2007 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.
The defense forced six turnovers in the East Central victory.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker Taylor Wilkins was 33-for-33 on extra points and hit 14-of-18 field goals last season, The junior kicking specialist produced a career long 45 yard field goal against East Central and was successful on seven extra point attempts.
Derrick Raymer punted four times for a 31.8 average.
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.
BEARKAT OFFENSIVE SUCCESS
In the past nine seasons, Sam Houston has led the Southland Conference in passing 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.
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).
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and stands today as the third oldest public university in Texas. Created to train school teachers, today SHSU offers a broad range of programs leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
The University is named for General Sam Houston, the only man in U.S. history to be governor of two states (Tennessee and Texas). He led Texas to independence with the victory over Santa Anna at San Jacinto. He was the first president of the Republic of Texas and served as a senator and governor for the state of Texas. He died in 1863 and is buried in Huntsville not far from the campus named in his honor.
Perhaps Sam Houston State's most famous alum is former CBS News Anchor Dan Rather.
