2010 football auction huge success

The 22nd annual Sam Houston State football dinner and auction was a huge success with more than 375 attending and helping raise money through their bids for the Bearkat football enrichment fund.

The auction was held Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Veterans Conference Center. The bidding was intense over items that featured memorabilia from such sports legends as Muhammad Ali, Mickey Mantle, Bobby Layne, Jerry Rice, Warren Moon, Frank Howard, Joe DiMaggio, Reggie Bush and others; hunting trips; golf outings; trips with the Bearkat football team; works of art; quilts and even a puppy.

One of the highlights of the evening was the announcement by director of athletics Bobby Williams of a new award named in honor of longtime Sam Houston State assistant coach Bob Riley. The Bob Riley "Spirit Award" will be presented annually to a Sam Houston football senior. The first winner of the award was defensive lineman Chris Stewart, a three-year letterman and starter from Magnolia.

Riley first joined the Sam Houston football staff in the early 1980s under Ron Randleman and, although now retired, still helps out the Bearkat football program from time to time.

"The football staff is so grateful for all the people who attended and bid on all the great items," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "It was such a great event and we also appreciate all those who donated items and services for auction and who worked so hard to make the event the success it was."

The auction came on the eve of the 2010 Orange-White spring training game at Bowers Stadium. The final spring scrimmage also attracted a large crowd.

"The whole weekend was a great way to end spring football at Sam Houston State," Fritz said.