Coaches & players eager to kickoff season
8/28/2013 8:51:00 AM | Football
According to their head coach, the Sam Houston football team is ready for action.
“We had a good preseason camp, but everyone – coaches and players – are ready to kickoff this Saturday,” Willie Fritz said.
Fritz's Bearkats have rolled up 31 victories, two Southland titles and two NCAA FCS playoff runs to the national finals in the last three years. Ranked No. 3 in the FCS preseason poll, Sam Houston opens their 2013 campaign Saturday against first year program Houston Baptist.
“We're fortunate to have some outstanding veteran leaders on this year's squad,” Fritz said. “They've done a great job of providing leadership for our young players. The guys who have been part of our program for the last three years are like extra coaches on the field.”
Saturday's matchup with the HBU Huskies offers a contrast.
Sam Houston is beginning its 98th season of football. Houston Baptist is playing its first game after adding football as an NCAA Division I FCS sport last year.
“Obviously, with a new program you don't have much to go on with a scouting report,” Fritz said. “We look at their head coach and their coordinators and what they have done at other programs. We've focused more on ourselves in getting ready for this game. Sure, we will see stuff we might not expect, but we'll have to adjust as the game goes along.”
Fritz points to a group of 17 players who have combined for 303 starts the past three years.
“Essentially, we've been running the same system for the past three seasons,” Fritz said. “The returning guys know what it takes to succeed. We enter this season with high expectations. We're proud of our accomplishments in the past but know there is still a whole lot of to be done.”
Following the opener with HBU, the Bearkats face Cotton Bowl champion Texas A&M in College Station on Sept. 7, then play four consecutive home games including non-conference tilts with Texas Southern, Incarnate Word and Eastern Washington.
“Our number one goal in these early games is to get ready for Southland Conference play,” Fritz said. “Win the Southland title outright and you have an automatic bid into the NCAA playoffs. After only three regular season home games last year, we're very excited to have seven games at Bowers this year.”
Season tickets and individual game seats for all seven home games at Bowers Stadium plus the 88th “Battle of the Piney Woods” with SFA at Reliant Stadium Nov. 2 remain on sale online at www.gobearkats.com.
Tickets also may be purchased at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House in the south end zone of Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.
Saturday, the ticket office on the west (press box) side of Bowers Stadium will open at 2 p.m. The west and north VIP parking lots also will open at 2 p.m.
The “Bearkat Alley” tailgate will begin at 4 p.m. Other tailgating areas include lots P-5 and P-7 west of “Bearkat Alley.”
Students and faculty/staff may present their BearkatOne Cards for admission at the northeast gate of Bowers Stadium (underneath the scoreboard).
Gates will open at 4:30 p.m. The “Bearkat Alley” tailgate will close at 5:30 p.m.
The Sam Houston-HBU game will be broadcast live on KSAM 101.7 FM in the Walker County area and on the internet at www.gobearkats.com .
