Bearkat homecoming history full of memorable games
10/9/2009 2:30:00 AM | Football, Athletics
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Saturday marks the 76th annual homecoming football game at Sam Houston State, making the Bearkats part of a great national tradition.
The University of Missouri and the University of Illinois lay claim to playing the first homecoming football game in the early 1900s. Baylor University in Waco was the first to hold a Homecoming sports event in Texas. That contest was in 1909.
Sam Houston's first homecoming celebration tied to a football game was in 1931, but the weekend was spoiled by a 33-0 loss to Texas A&I. The Bearkats have won 34 homecoming games, lost 41 and tied one during their football history.
Since moving into Bowers Stadium in 1986, Sam Houston stands 14-9 at homecoming.
Southwest Texas State (now Texas State) has been Sam Houston's most frequent homecoming opponent. Although the Bearkats and the Bobcats have not battled in a homecoming event since 1978, the pair have meet at SHSU homecoming 12 times. Ranking behind the Bobcats are Stephen F. Austin and East Texas. Both have played at Sam homecoming eight times.
Saturday's contest marks the fifth time Nicholls has been Sam Houston's homecoming opponent. SHSU is 4-0 in the previous games with the Colonels.
Three of Sam Houston's 34 homecoming victories came over nationally ranked opponents. The Bearkats defeated No. 12 Northwestern State 26-3 in 1989, No. 15 Northeast Louisiana 27-15 and No. 15 Nicholls 24-17 in 1997.
The history of homecoming football at Sam Houston State University features many exciting games. Listed below are a few of the most memorable homecoming victories for the Bearkats:
SAM HOUSTON 14, STEPHEN F. AUSTIN 0
Nov. 18, 1932
Terrell Love was a triple threat for the Bearkats with his running, passing and punting, leading Sam Houston to a 14-0 shut out of the Lumberjacks for Sam Houston's first homecoming victory.
SAM HOUSTON 28, SOUTHWEST TEXAS 0
Nov. 10, 1956
Gayle McGinty and Bobby Grisham each scored touchdowns to lead Sam Houston to a shutout victory over the Bobcats that clinched the Lone Star Conference title for Sam Houston. The win was the eighth of the year on the way to Sam Houston's only perfect unbeaten, untied year.
SAM HOUSTON 6, EAST TEXAS 0
Nov. 7, 1964
Pudgy Black kicked field goals of 29 and 20 yards as a crowd of 7,500 crammed into Pritchett Field for a defensive showdown. Sam Houston allowed the Lions only 27 yards total offense as the Bearkats picked up victory number seven on the way to a Lone Star Conference title, a 10-1-1 record and the NAIA national co-championship
SAM HOUSTON 25, SOUTHWEST TEXAS 24
Oct. 31, 1970
Chuck Hill rushed for one touchdown and caught passes for two more and Walter Anderson provided the winning points with a 16-yard field goal in a thrilling one-point victory at Pritchett Field
SAM HOUSTON 28, NICHOLLS 14
Nov. 2, 1985
In the first of four times the Colonels have been Sam Houston's homecoming foe, Luther Turner rushed for three touchdowns to lead the Bearkats to a victory on the way to the 1985 Gulf Star Conference championship.
SAM HOUSTON 26, NORTHWESTERN STATE 3
Oct. 28, 1989
A young Bearkat squad with a 2-5 record upset No. 12 ranked Northwestern State at 1989 homecoming. Claude Stewart made a diving catch on a pass from Ashley Van Meter for a 45-yard touchdown just before halftime and Kats were off to the races. Curtis Thomas scored on two short runs in the second half to sow up the victory. (Purchase a copy of this game)
SAM HOUSTON 27, NORTHEAST LOUISIANA 15
Oct. 19, 1991
The Bearkat defense led by All-America defensive lineman Michael Bankston held the defending Southland Conference champion Indians to only 31 yards rushing as Sam Houston knocked off No. 15-ranked Northeast Louisiana. The victory helped pave the way to Sam Houston's first Southland Conference football championship. (Purchase a copy of this game)
SAM HOUSTON 24, NICHOLLS 17
Oct. 18, 1997
An 18-yard interception return by Carlton Fulton set up an 18-yard scoring pass from Chad Schramek to Elmore Armstrong as the Bearkats came from behind to upset No. 15-ranked Nicholls, the third time Sam Houston defeated a nationally ranked opponent at homecoming. (Purchase a copy of this game)
SAM HOUSTON 55, JACKSONVILLE STATE 30
Nov. 10, 2001
Head Coach Ron Randleman picked up his 200th career victory as Josh McCown passed for 340 yards and three TDs. The Gamecocks led 14-10 at halftime but Jonathon Cooper erased that lead with TD catches of 55 and 46 yards in the first five minutes ot the second half. The Bearkats went on to win the 2001 Southland Conference championship and advance to the NCAA playoff quarterfinals. (Purchase a copy of this game)
SAM HOSUTON 38, NICHOLLS 10
Oct. 16, 2004
The Bearkats moved into the top 10 in the NCAA national rankings after quarterback Dustin Long passed for 225 yards and two touchdowns. The 2004 team went on to earn Sam Houston its highest NCAA Division I national ranking (No. 4) as the Kats won the Southland Conference crown and reached the semifinals of the national playoffs. (Purchase a copy of this game)
SAM HOUSTON STATE ALL-TIME HOMECOMING RESULTS
|
Year |
Opponent |
Result |
SH |
Foe |
|
1931 |
Texas A&I |
L |
0 |
33 |
|
1932 |
Stephen F. Austin |
W |
14 |
0 |
|
1933 |
Texas A&M |
L |
6 |
37 |
|
1934 |
Stephen F. Austin |
L |
6 |
7 |
|
1935 |
East Central Okla |
W |
14 |
13 |
|
1936 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
0 |
14 |
|
1937 |
East Texas |
L |
0 |
26 |
|
1938 |
Texas Wesleyan |
W |
28 |
7 |
|
1939 |
East Texas |
W |
15 |
0 |
|
1940 |
North Texas |
L |
6 |
7 |
|
1941 |
East Texas |
L |
7 |
20 |
|
1942 |
North Texas |
W |
21 |
20 |
|
1946 |
Stephen F. Austin |
W |
20 |
7 |
|
1947 |
North Texas |
L |
0 |
27 |
|
1948 |
Stephen F. Austin |
L |
0 |
21 |
|
1949 |
North Texas |
L |
21 |
41 |
|
1950 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
13 |
20 |
|
1951 |
East Texas |
L |
21 |
52 |
|
1952 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
27 |
35 |
|
1953 |
Lamar |
W |
34 |
0 |
|
1954 |
Texas A&I |
W |
14 |
0 |
|
1955 |
East Texas |
L |
0 |
14 |
|
1956 |
Southwest Texas |
W |
28 |
0 |
|
1957 |
East Texas |
L |
13 |
21 |
|
1958 |
Southwest Texas |
W |
9 |
0 |
|
1959 |
Lamar |
L |
14 |
27 |
|
1960 |
Southwest Texas |
W |
7 |
0 |
|
1961 |
Lamar |
W |
9 |
7 |
|
1962 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
20 |
21 |
|
1963 |
Sul Ross |
T |
21 |
21 |
|
1964 |
East Texas |
W |
6 |
0 |
|
1965 |
Texas A&I |
L |
6 |
14 |
|
1966 |
East Texas |
L |
13 |
17 |
|
1967 |
Texas A&I |
L |
6 |
48 |
|
1968 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
15 |
31 |
|
1969 |
McMurry |
W |
35 |
13 |
|
1970 |
Southwest Texas |
W |
25 |
24 |
|
1971 |
Howard Payne |
L |
17 |
35 |
|
1972 |
Tarleton St |
W |
17 |
13 |
|
1973 |
Howard Payne |
L |
13 |
14 |
|
1974 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
6 |
20 |
|
1975 |
Howard Payne |
L |
23 |
24 |
|
1976 |
Southwest Texas |
L |
10 |
40 |
|
1977 |
Texas A&I |
L |
20 |
34 |
|
1978 |
Southwest Texas |
W |
21 |
16 |
|
1979 |
Abilene Christian |
L |
14 |
31 |
|
1980 |
Howard Payne |
W |
23 |
14 |
|
1981 |
Texas A&I |
L |
7 |
10 |
|
1982 |
Howard Payne |
L |
13 |
14 |
|
1983 |
Abilene Christian |
L |
20 |
27 |
|
1984 |
Lamar |
W |
27 |
11 |
|
1985 |
Nicholls St |
W |
28 |
14 |
|
1986 |
Central St. (OK) |
W |
27 |
17 |
|
1987 |
Northwestern St |
W |
34 |
7 |
|
1988 |
Stephen F. Austin |
L |
10 |
17 |
|
1989 |
Northwestern St |
W |
26 |
3 |
|
1990 |
Stephen F. Austin |
W |
23 |
3 |
|
1991 |
Northeast LA |
W |
27 |
15 |
|
1992 |
Stephen F. Austin |
W |
34 |
23 |
|
1993 |
North Texas |
W |
24 |
14 |
|
1994 |
McNeese St |
L |
6 |
30 |
|
1995 |
Northwestern St |
L |
2 |
24 |
|
1996 |
McNeese St |
W |
30 |
25 |
|
1997 |
Nicholls St |
W |
24 |
17 |
|
1998 |
McNeese St |
L |
13 |
35 |
|
1999 |
Stephen F. Austin |
L |
31 |
45 |
|
2000 |
McNeese St |
L |
17 |
31 |
|
2001 |
Jacksonville St |
W |
55 |
30 |
|
2002 |
McNeese St |
L |
10 |
47 |
|
2003 |
Northwestern St |
W |
29 |
24 |
|
2004 |
Nicholls St |
W |
38 |
10 |
|
2005 |
Northwestern St |
L |
6 |
10 |
|
2006 |
Nicholls St |
W |
37 |
7 |
|
2007 |
Northwestern St |
W |
42 |
20 |
|
2008 |
McNeese St. |
L |
17 |
28 |
