Opening Day Finally Here
8/31/2013 7:36:00 AM | Football
Parking & Ticket Information for Saturday
The two teams clashing tonight at 6 p.m. at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville could not be more different.
Houston Baptist never has played a football game.
Sam Houston State is coming off its second consecutive NCAA Division I FCS national finals appearance.
The Bearkats return an amazing amount of talent from last season's Southland Conference championship team including the program's all-time leading rusher and leading passer.
The Huskies on the other hand, just want to get their feet wet against a team they will play against in the Southland beginning next season.
“We're excited to finally getting back to playing football,” Bearkat senior receiver Richard Sincere said. “We've trained a lot in the offseason. It's been a long fall camp. We're ready to be able to play other people. We're real excited.”
With plenty of upperclassmen and players who have seen a lot of action over the last couple of years, the Kats have high expectations again.
“The one word that sums it up is excitement,” Kats senior linebacker Jesse Beauchamp said. “Everybody's ready for the first game. Everybody's excited. We've got high expectations coming out. We're just ready to see how that first game's going to go and how this 2013 season's going to get kicked off.”
From the routine of going through practice on a daily basis nearly all month long during preseason camp, actually having a game day to look forward to right at home has the Kats chomping at the bit.
“Who doesn't want to play at home? Home turf and you defend it. That's what we do,” Beauchamp said. “We're just ready to prove that we're as good a team as last year, even better. We've got a lot of talent, young talent, and we just need to put it together and it will be just fine.”
Saturday's contest is the first of seven home games at Bowers for SHSU this year and a large crowd is expected for the opener.
“Once we come down the ramp, we get real excited because the fans are excited and the band's playing,” Sincere said. “The season's finally here. It's like a sign of relief. We finally get to play. The fans are out here and they're excited. We're just ready to go.”
The Bearkats have responded well to playing in their own backyard over the last couple of years and have rattled off 14 straight victories, including 13 in the last two Southland Conference championship campaigns.
Sam Houston State will face Cotton Bowl Champion Texas A&M Saturday, Sept. 7 in College Station, Texas in the Bearkats' next outing.
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 .
