Focus turning to Texas Tech as opener nears
8/22/2015 12:19:00 PM | Football
After 18 practice sessions under the Texas August sun, the Sam Houston football team is ready to turn its attention to their opening opponent Texas Tech.
“It's a little frustrating hitting on your own players every day and we're ready to focus on someone else,” Bearkat offensive lineman Bridge Blount said Saturday morning after the third scrimmage of 2015 training camp. “Having the officials out there like we did today really helps us learn what we can and can't do on the field in a game. But we're ready to play a game.”
The Bearkats have two weeks before they travel to Jones Stadium in Lubbock for their 2:30 p.m. date with the Red Raiders on Saturday September 5. Head coach K. C. Keeler continues to be pleased with the progress the squad is making.
“We were really happy with Saturday's scrimmage. We got some good special teams work in,” Keeler said. “It was hot but we're playing at 2:30 in the afternoon in Lubbock so we need to get used to it. I thought the tempo was good. It's tough sometimes because you aren't playing with the quarterbacks live. We' did some good things and I like the way we're moving.”
The head coach is pleased with the progress of all three of his quarterbacks – returning juniors Jared Johnson and Don King III and UAB transfer Jeremiah Briscoe.
“We're blessed to have three talented quarterbacks,” Keeler said. “We feel we can win with any of them. Don King has had a great camp and Jared and Jeremiah are both focused and playing well. Competition for a position is a good thing.”
Sam Houston will hold two practices (at 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.) on Sunday then take a day off the field on Monday. Class for the fall semester begins on Wednesday and the Bearkats will return to their normal 8 a.m. workouts each day.
“We're in a race against time. Texas Tech is coming up,” Keeler said. “It's important we get as many opportunities as we have to work with the officials to help us out with mechanics.
“There's some mental fatigue, going up against the same guys every day. As coaches, we need to keep challenging the kids and having a high level of expectations from them. We like where we are but we're not where we need to be to go up against Texas Tech.”
Next week the team will turn their focus primarily on the Red Raiders, studying the Texas Tech offense and defense and working on the game plan.
Sam Houston will open its 2015 home schedule on Saturday September 19 when the Bearkats open Southland Conference action against Lamar at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium. Season tickets for all six home games at Bowers plus the 90th “Battle of the Piney Woods” presented by H-E-B at NRG Stadium in Houston Oct. 3 are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com and at the athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729.
