Practice in the fog
12/29/2011 2:28:00 PM | Football
The 14-0 Bearkats took a break for the Christmas holidays immediately following their 31-28 semifinal victory over Montana Dec. 16. The players all returned to Huntsville Wednesday afternoon for a team meeting and took the field Thursday morning for a two hour practice.
"It's great get on the field again. Everyone is excited to be back," Sam Houston quarterback Brian Bell said. "Our holiday was cut a bit short, but it's for a good cause. Everyone on the team is excited about being able to getting ready for a national championship game."
Sam Houston is the No. 1 seed out of 20 teams selected for the NCAA Division I football playoffs that began the week after Thanksgiving. The Bearkats' opponent in the finals at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco is No. 2 seeded North Dakota State. The Bison bring a 13-1 record into the finals. Both teams are making their first appearances in the championship game.
"We haven't had an opportunity to see a lot of video of North Dakota State yet but, obviously, as the No. 2 seed, we know they're a great football team," Southland Conference "Defensive Player of the Year" Darnell Taylor said. "We're blessed to have this opportunity and so excited to be back at work. With most of the players on our team from Texas, getting to play the national championship game in Texas is tremendous."
Sam Houston State defeated Stony Brook, Montana State and Montana to reach the final game. The Bearkats and the Bison have met twice before in their football histories with each team winning once.
The Bearkats will practice daily Friday through next Wednesday at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville. Wednesday night Sam Houston will bus up to Frisco and practice on Thursday and Friday at the national championship game facility.
"We had a good practice this morning and its really great to everyone back again today," head coach Willie Fritz said. "I was surprised the fog never really lifted while we were working. Everyone came back ready to get down to business.
"This is going to be exciting. Last year, I went to the finals game between Eastern Washington and Delaware. It was a great atmosphere. Having the game already sold out, it will be even better this year. It will be fun playing in front of a packed house. It's a really neat stadium and a great idea by the NCAA and the people from Frisco to have the game there."
The finals will be televised Jan. 7 nationally on ESPN2. Kickoff is 12 noon.
