"Piney Woods" duel hot topic at Southland Media Day
7/28/2010 9:28:00 PM | Football
More than 40 writers and broadcasters from Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas gathered for media day at L'Auberge du Lac Resort.
Both players and coaches from Sam Houston and SFA answered several questions about the two school's 84-year-old rivalry that stands as the second oldest NCAA Division I FCS rivalry in Texas and the sixth oldest Division I continuing series in the state. Sam Houston and SFA will meet at 2 p.m. on October 23.
"There's been a lot of buzz on campus this summer about the "Battle of the Piney Woods" game with Stephen F. Austin," Sam Houston quarterback Bryan Randolph said. "That's going to be awesome. I know a lot of students who have already gotten their tickets."
Lumberjack linebacker Jabara Williams agrees. "The whole team is excited about playing at Reliant Stadium in Houston," the preseason All-Southland selection from Stephen F. Austin said. "It's always a battle every year with Sam Houston, but playing the Bearkats in a different setting, especially in an NFL stadium, is just going to add to the intensity."
Jarvis Pippins, a senior defensive back for Sam Houston has been part of the "Piney Woods" rivalry since his freshman year.
"When they told us last fall they were moving the Stephen F. Austin game to Reliant Stadium for my senior year, that was fantastic," Pippins said. "Stephen F. Austin is the team to beat in the conference this year. They're picked to win the league in the preseason polls and they deserve it because of their great season last year. But they know they're going to be in a battle come October."
Sam Houston holds a 48-34-2 edge in the series but SFA won the duel between the two teams last year.
"Last year our team was rewarded for their dedication with a Southland Conference championship," Harper told the media. "Winning the 'Battle of the Piney Woods' was a big highlight of that season. Now something new has been added to one of the oldest football rivalries in Texas - playing in Reliant Stadium. It's going to be exciting."
Thirteen times since 1988, one or both teams have come into the "Piney Woods" shoot-out ranked among the top 25 NCAA Division FBS teams. The 2010 matchup could mark the 14th occasion for one of the teams to be ranked as SFA has been rated as high as No. 10 in national preseason NCAA Division I FCS polls.
"Rivalry games always are an exciting part of NCAA college football and few rivalries are as intense as Sam Houston vs. Stephen F. Austin," Sam Houston head coach Willie Fritz said. "With the tremendous number of both Bearkat and Lumberjack alumni in the Greater Houston area, this contest is going to be one of the highlights of the coming season."
The move of the series to Reliant Stadium for the next four seasons comes from a partnership between Lone Star Sports & Entertainment (LSSE) and the two universities. LSSE is an independent event management company which is closely affiliated with the NFL's Houston Texans.
Battle of the Piney Woods tickets are now on sale through the university's athletic websites at www.gobearkats.com. Fans also can purchase tickets at the Sam Houston athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone at Bowers Stadium or by calling ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Sam Houston State season ticket holders will have premium ticket locations included in their packages. Only lower bowl seating will be open at Reliant Stadium for the "Battle of the Piney Woods." Sam Houston fans will be seated on the west side of the stadium while the SFA section will be on the east side.
Season tickets to all four Sam Houston home games at Bowers Stadium in 2010 plus lower corner seats at Reliant Stadium for the "Battle of the Piney Woods" are available as part of the exciting "2-2-2" offer available on the the Bearkat tickets page on www.gobearkats.com.
