All-American on a mission
11/27/2012 9:49:00 PM | Football
Entitled "All-American makes a difference," the feature focuses on the Bearkat football team's success since Flanders became part of the program.
With Flanders, who transferred from Kansas State in 2010, the team is a combined 28-9.
Edison lists many of Flanders' honors including Southland Conference "Freshman of the Year" in 2010 and back-to-back Southland "Player of the Year" honors in 2011 and 2012.
The junior from Midwest City, Oklahoma, stands as Sam Houston's all-time rushing leader with more than 3,5000 yards in three seasons. In 2011 he set Southland Conference single season records for touchdowns (24), points (144) and rushing yards (1,644).
As Southland Conference champions for the second year in a row, Flanders and his teammates are preparing for the NCAA Division I Football Championships. The Kats play host to Cal Poly at 3 p.m. Saturday at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
"It was a great experience making it to the finals last season," Flanders said. "But losing to North Dakota State left a bad taste. I stayed on the field and watched them celebrate. That's an experience I want for me and my teammates.
"I have a picture of their championship ring on my phone to remind me of what our team goal is, to get back to the championship game and win it all," he said.
Edison says Flanders did not set out to play college football in Texas.
"I was being heavily recruited by Oklahoma State and Tulsa," Flanders said. "Late in the process, Kansas State got involved. They had just brought back legendary coach Bill Snyder and that was all I needed. I signed to go to K-State."
Flanders was redshirted his freshman year amid a stable of talented Wildcat backs who included Daniel Thomas, the Miami Dolphins' second round pick in 2011.
With the prospect of limited playing time looming, Flanders made a major decision. He opted to leave Kansas State and go where his chances of playing would be enhanced.
"I talked to my high school coach and we figured a Football Championship Subdivision school would be best because I would be eligibile to play immediately," Flanders said.
The decision to go to Sam Houston State came from an unexpected source.
"The son of the head coach of my high school's main rival was on the staff at Sam Houston as an assistant coach," Flanders said. "My high school coach knew this and suggested Sam Houston. That's how I happened to come to Huntsville.
"I enrolled three days before school started. I had been to Texas a few times as a little kid playing Little League, but never thought I'd be in school here."
Flanders broke for a 35-yard gain in his first appearance as a Bearkat at Baylor and was a starter two games later.
Tickets for the Sam Houston versus Cal Poly football playoff game Saturday are available online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. The ticket office will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
