Bearkats Ready To Let The Hitting Begin
9/3/2015 10:20:00 AM | Football
Head coach K. C. Keeler knows every one of his players on the 2015 Sam Houston football team is ready to start hitting someone else.
The squad gets that opportunity Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in Lubbock when the Bearkats take on Texas Tech from the Big 12 Conference.
“Everyone is ready to get started,” Keeler said. “These guys have been hitting on each other for a month and they're ready to hit someone else.”
Saturday's game is a historic day for both universities. Texas Tech is playing its 1,000th football game. Sam Houston is beginning its 100th season of football. The contest marks 979th gridiron contest.
The 60,454-seat Jones AT&T Stadium is expected to be near capacity as the Red Raiders are looking to get off to a strong start after a disappointing 4-8 year in 2014.
“Texas Tech has a sense of urgency with the program right now,” Keeler said. “Even though they're coming off a rough year, you can see they are greatly improved. Their expectations are pretty high. They have some really electric players who, when they get the ball in space, can do something different.”
With the most up-tempo offense in FBS facing one of the fastest-playing offense in FCS, Keeler sees Saturday's game to be a track meet. Since 2000, the Red Raiders have compiled a staggering 91,715 yards of total offense along with 900 touchdowns and 6,843 points. The Red Raiders have posted 325-plus yards of total offense in 40 consecutive games, the longest streak among FBS teams.
Sam Houston became only the ninth team in FCS history to produce more than 7,000 yards total offense last year.
“We are very similar in how fast we play offensively,” Keeler said. “Texas Tech had the fastest offense in the nation last year and we weren't far behind. Two keys for us will be the play clean, without mistakes, and not to let the tempo get away from us. If we play clean, make some big plays early and play with confidence, we'll be fine.”
The game will Texas Tech marks Sam Houston's 30th game versus FBS competition. Last year's LSU game gave the Bearkats the opportunity to play in front of the largest crowd ever to see a Sam Houston football game as 100,330 fans packed the newly-enlarged Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge. LSU won 56-0.
“Last year was totally different,” Keeler said. “We struggled early on. Sam Houston had lost 93 percent of its offense and 10 of 11 starters on defense. But once we got rolling, the team really came together and we had a great run. Twenty-two of our 24 starters return and we think we've added some really good talent with a couple of transfers and some good young freshmen. We feel really good about this team.
“We know we are stepping up in competition with a Big 12 school. We know it's going to be a little up-hill, but our kids are ready for the challenge. They're excited to have the opportunity to play a storied football program like Texas Tech and in front of a great crowd.”
The Sam Houston versus Texas Tech game will be televised live regionally by FOXSports Southwest. The telecast marks the 40th Sam Houston football game in the past four seasons on TV either regionally or nationally.
FOXSports Southwest is available on U-Verse channel 755, Verizon channel 577, Direct TV channel 676 and Dish channel 416. The game also will be broadcast in the Walker County area on KSAM 101.7 FM and on the internet at www.gobearkats.com
Sam Houston alumni groups around the state also will be hosting Bearkat watch parties.
Complete Bearkat Watch Party Information.
