Huntsville Community Continues Backing Kats
4/19/2012 1:43:00 PM | Football
People are still talking about the Bearkats' football playoff games last season, which saw Bowers Stadium fill up on three straight occasions.
For those who were around for it, Sam Houston's 14-1 football season in 2011 was an unforgettable one with the Kats making it all the way to the NCAA Division I Football title game in Frisco.
Still, there is more to Sam Houston's success than winning football games and competing for a championship. What the Bearkats did last season, led by the infectious and energetic personality of head coach Willie Fritz, brought the Huntsville community together.
During Wednesday's annual Orange-White Spring Game, one former Hornet football player said Huntsville has always supported Sam Houston, but never the way it did last season.
Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said he believes the excitement started with the Battle of the Piney Woods game in Houston and heightened once the playoffs rolled around.
"If we had just one playoff game, I don't know if we'd have the same impact. But there were three straight playoff games that we were building up," Williams said. "And the kids are such great kids. They're successful on the field and successful off the field and that attracts a lot of people. I think that's the biggest plus."
Yet the Bearkats don't just attract people, but they reach out to them as well. Sam Houston is interactive with the local Pop Warner football players and invite them to attend games. Before the Orange-White Spring Game on Wednesday, the Huntsville Bears ran drills with the team.
"It felt pretty awesome," 8-year-old Bears player Matthew Long said.
Bearkat players are also participating in an upcoming fundraiser for the Bears in which they'll wear their jerseys to attract attention to the cause.
Those are the kinds of gestures that impress SHSU President Dana Gibson the most.
"It's one thing to do well in athletics and they've done well academically, but they're out in the community," Gibson said. "Before the game, they were down there for 30 minutes interacting with the students and everything else at tailgating. I think that's one thing coach Fritz has brought to this.
"But what it's also brought is more Sam Houston pride. I talk to friends and they know where Sam Houston is now. It's raised the pride level a little bit and I think that's really the result of a lot of that football."
The tailgating for the spring game had the feel of a season opener. It didn't seem to matter much that no one was keeping score and the game was void of winners or losers. People just wanted to be out there.
"The football team has boosted Bearkat spirit overall," Pike member Edward Graham said. "It's incredible watching it over the past three years and how having one big winning season increases attendance and Bearkat spirit overall."
All the way in the back of the bleachers sat a few Bearkat seniors from last year's team observing their old teammates. Eddie Decambre and Travis Watson, both of whom spent five years in a Sam Houston uniform, felt awkward watching from the stands, but still comfortable with being part of the lasting impact that was made last season.
"I just feel like it made such a difference, like it changed the whole culture of the community," Decambre said. "It brought cheerleaders and fans like a real spring game. People are really excited about Bearkat football. The sky is the limit.
"I know enrollment is going to go up, population is going to go up. It's going to be good for Huntsville all around."
Watson spoke about taking pride in being positive role models to kids while also giving them something to look forward to.
"It's great to see the students come out and that's awesome. But the community is what's got to be behind you. When you're around town getting noticed and everyone is seeing you, it's a cool deal. We'd be on the field after games and the kids would be running around playing catch and we'd sign autographs. It's pretty cool and you can tell that they are excited."
For those who were around for it, Sam Houston's 14-1 football season in 2011 was an unforgettable one with the Kats making it all the way to the NCAA Division I Football title game in Frisco.
Still, there is more to Sam Houston's success than winning football games and competing for a championship. What the Bearkats did last season, led by the infectious and energetic personality of head coach Willie Fritz, brought the Huntsville community together.
During Wednesday's annual Orange-White Spring Game, one former Hornet football player said Huntsville has always supported Sam Houston, but never the way it did last season.
Sam Houston athletic director Bobby Williams said he believes the excitement started with the Battle of the Piney Woods game in Houston and heightened once the playoffs rolled around.
"If we had just one playoff game, I don't know if we'd have the same impact. But there were three straight playoff games that we were building up," Williams said. "And the kids are such great kids. They're successful on the field and successful off the field and that attracts a lot of people. I think that's the biggest plus."
Yet the Bearkats don't just attract people, but they reach out to them as well. Sam Houston is interactive with the local Pop Warner football players and invite them to attend games. Before the Orange-White Spring Game on Wednesday, the Huntsville Bears ran drills with the team.
"It felt pretty awesome," 8-year-old Bears player Matthew Long said.
Bearkat players are also participating in an upcoming fundraiser for the Bears in which they'll wear their jerseys to attract attention to the cause.
Those are the kinds of gestures that impress SHSU President Dana Gibson the most.
"It's one thing to do well in athletics and they've done well academically, but they're out in the community," Gibson said. "Before the game, they were down there for 30 minutes interacting with the students and everything else at tailgating. I think that's one thing coach Fritz has brought to this.
"But what it's also brought is more Sam Houston pride. I talk to friends and they know where Sam Houston is now. It's raised the pride level a little bit and I think that's really the result of a lot of that football."
The tailgating for the spring game had the feel of a season opener. It didn't seem to matter much that no one was keeping score and the game was void of winners or losers. People just wanted to be out there.
"The football team has boosted Bearkat spirit overall," Pike member Edward Graham said. "It's incredible watching it over the past three years and how having one big winning season increases attendance and Bearkat spirit overall."
All the way in the back of the bleachers sat a few Bearkat seniors from last year's team observing their old teammates. Eddie Decambre and Travis Watson, both of whom spent five years in a Sam Houston uniform, felt awkward watching from the stands, but still comfortable with being part of the lasting impact that was made last season.
"I just feel like it made such a difference, like it changed the whole culture of the community," Decambre said. "It brought cheerleaders and fans like a real spring game. People are really excited about Bearkat football. The sky is the limit.
"I know enrollment is going to go up, population is going to go up. It's going to be good for Huntsville all around."
Watson spoke about taking pride in being positive role models to kids while also giving them something to look forward to.
"It's great to see the students come out and that's awesome. But the community is what's got to be behind you. When you're around town getting noticed and everyone is seeing you, it's a cool deal. We'd be on the field after games and the kids would be running around playing catch and we'd sign autographs. It's pretty cool and you can tell that they are excited."
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