Football making Hurricane preparations
9/22/2009 2:00:00 AM | Football
By Cody Stark, Huntsville Item
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The Sam Houston State has been making hurricane preparations at Bowers Stadium this week.
The storm the Bearkats face is the Tulsa Hurricanes, the Conference USA power SHSU travels to Oklahoma to face Saturday night at 6 p.m.
The Bearkats will take on an offensive machine in the Hurricanes when the pair kickoff Saturday at 6 p.m. Tulsa rolled up a school record 11-3 record in 2008, defeating Ball State in the GMAC Bowl.
Tulsa has averaged better than 44.2 points per game the last two seasons , leading NCAA Division I FBS in total offense with 543.9 yards per game in 2007 and 569.9 yards in 2008. The Hurricanes rank 20th nationally for most wins during the last six seasons with 50 victories. They scored a record 661 points in 2008.
"This game is going to be a real challenge for us defensively," SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. "We're facing one of the best offenses in the country. Tulsa is one of the few teams in the nation who have put double digit victory seasons back-to-back over the past two years."
The biggest concern the head coach has about the Hurricanes is their explosiveness.
"We have to be very consistent this week," Whitten said. "We have to do a good job in the kicking game. Tulsa has a great returner in Damaris Johnson, so we have to control that. They have been so explosive on offense in the past. We are going to have to take our best punch with us."
Whitten points to the fact that in Tulsa's first two games, victories over New Mexico and Tulane, the Golden Hurricane are averaging 450.5 yards and 40.5 points per contest.
"They are ballanced, there is no doubt about that," Whitten said. "We need to be more consistent defensively. We need to tackle beet and stay away from the big play. That has been our Achille's heel. We are working hard at that.
"I know we can play great defense. We did in the first half of the North Dakota State victory. But we didn't in the second half."
Whitten believes the open date following the North Dakota State victory came at a good time for the Bearkats. The team has had some extra time to heel some nagging injuries and look to get a couple of plays back for the Tulsa game.
Senior wide receiver Darrell Armstead, who had a solid spring, and junior safety Randy Stewart, who brings experience and depth to the secondary, could both see their first action of the season Saturday.
"We are thin in some positions, so having those guys back gives us some added depth," Whitten said. "Armstead has great speed. Randy has played a bunch around here and we are young in the secondary and can benefit from that experience. Their status is still going to be a game-time decision."
KSAM 101.7 FM will broadcast all Sam Houston football games again in 2009. Kooter Roberson and Leroy Wilkinson will be the voices of the Bearkats. The broadcast also can be heard anywhere in the world on the web at www.gobearkats.com.
Following the Tulsa game, Sam Houston returns home for a non-conference tilt with Saint Joseph's of Indiana Saturday, Oct. 3, and for the annual Homecoming contest Oct. 10 with Southland Conference opponent Nicholls.
For complete information about Bearkat athletic events, go on the web to www.gobearkats.com. Ticket prices for Bearkat football at $25 for reserved chairback seats and $15 for general admission bench seats. Tickets are available online by clicking here.
Fans also may purchase tickets in person at the Sam Houston State ticket office in the Ron Mafrige Field House located in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Bearkat ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
