Sam Houston State Bearkats
Encyclopedia
The Bearkats represent Sam Houston State University
in intercollegiate athletics.
Sam Houston State's colors are orange
and white
and their mascot is the Bearkats. Sam Houston State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision (FCS-formerly known as Division I-AA) for football
) in the Southland Conference
. SHSU's primary rival is Stephen F. Austin State University
and tensions between the two schools can run high before major sporting events that pit one against the other.
The Bearkats have had recent success with the Men's and Women's Track & Field teams; capturing both the Men's and Women's Southland Conference Outdoor Team Championships in 2005 and 2006. The Women's Team added the school's first Indoor Track & Field Team Championship in 2007. As a whole, the Sam Houston State athletic department captured the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup in 2005, 2006, and 2007 for all-around athletic department and topped the Southland Conference for all-academic recognition. The Kats are the only athletic department in the Southland Conference to get the Commissioner's Cup for 3 consecutive years. In the same 3 year stretch, Sam Houston boasts both the best average student athlete GPA as well as the highest number of student athletes named to the Southland Conference honor roll. This is particularly evident in the men's basketball program, which fielded 6 of the 13 student athletes who gained Academic All-Conference honors, including junior Ryan Bright, who was also named student athlete of the year for men's basketball.
The football team was coached by Todd Whitten
, who played quarterback at rival institution Stephen F. Austin State University
. Whitten's record at Sam was 25-28 overall. Whitten was released from his coaching duties on Nov. 23, 2009.
Every year, the “Battle of the Piney Woods
" rivalry game is held between the SFASU Lumberjacks and the Bearkats. The Bearkats have dominated the rivalry for the past decade and own an all-time advantage in the football series 45-32-2, including 6 of the last 7.
Whitten was preceded by Ron Randleman
, who served as head coach at Sam Houston from 1982 to 2004. Randleman took over in the school's first year competing in NCAA Division II and four years later, the Bearkats moved up to Division I. He wasted no time in competing in Division I, leading the team to the playoffs in the school's first season in the NCAA's highest division in 1986. The next season, the Bearkats joined the Southland Conference. In the school's Division I history, the Bearkats have claimed 3 Southland Conference titles (1991, 2001, 2004) and 4 playoff appearances (1986, 1991, 2001, 2004). They have posted an overall Division I playoff record of 3-4. Their most successful playoff run came in the final season of Randleman's coaching career in 2004 when the team made an appearance in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs. This was made possible by a remarkable 4th quarter comeback in the 2nd round at Eastern Washington when the Bearkats rallied from 20 points down and scoring the tying TD pass from Dustin Long to Jason Mathenia as time expired, winning the game on the PAT. This is still remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in Division I playoff football history. The Bearkats also shared the NAIA national title with Concordia (MN) in 1964, when they finished the national championship game in a 7-7 tie.
In recent history, the football team has had considerable success with transfer quarterbacks transferring from Football Bowl Subdivision Schools (formerly I-A). In 1999, Chris Chaloupka transferred from Oklahoma State University. In 2001, Josh McCown
transferred from Southern Methodist University
. In 2004, Dustin Long transferred from Texas A&M University
. In 2008 the team was led by senior QB transfer from the University of Oklahoma
, Rhett Bomar
. Bomar entered the 2009 NFL draft
and was selected in the 5th round (151 overall) by the New York Giants
. In 2009, University of Houston
transfer Blake Joseph was the starting quarterback.
located on the campus of Sam Houston State University. Built in 1976, Johnson Coliseum is a 6,100 multi-seat arena that serves as host to both basketball and volleyball home matches.
The men's basketball program is among the most efficient programs in NCAA Division I, ranking # 2 nationally in cost per win in 2006 at less than $25,000 per win with 18 wins against Division I opponents (21 overall). The program has been the most consistent in the conference over the past decade under the direction of head coach Bob Marlin
, winning regular season titles in 2000 and 2003 with an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 (the first in school history). The Bearkat men's basketball team has won more games in the 11 seasons under Coach Marlin than any other Southland school. The team also ranks #2 in wins among Division I schools in Texas in the current decade behind the Texas Longhorns. The Bearkat teams under Coach Marlin have compiled five 20-win seasons. Marlin's teams have been the only teams among Texas Division I programs to win at least 2 conference championships in the past 6 seasons. Under the direction of Bob Marlin, Bearkat men's basketball players have broken 23 school records and 30 Division I school records.
Since the departure of Bob Marlin
to the University of Louisiana-Layette in 2010, the Bearkat Men's Basketball team has been under the direction of Jason Hooten
, who had previously served as an assistant under Bob Marlin. In his first year as Head Coach
, Hooten produced an 18-13 record, while garnishing a #3 seed in the Southland Conference
tournament.
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
in intercollegiate athletics.
Sam Houston State's colors are orange
Orange (colour)
The colour orange occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum at a wavelength of about 585–620 nm, and has a hue of 30° in HSV colour space. It is numerically halfway between red and yellow in a gamma-compressed RGB colour space, the expression of which is the RGB colour wheel. The...
and white
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
and their mascot is the Bearkats. Sam Houston State sports teams participate in NCAA Division I (Football Championship Subdivision (FCS-formerly known as Division I-AA) for football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
) in the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. SHSU's primary rival is Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
and tensions between the two schools can run high before major sporting events that pit one against the other.
The Bearkats have had recent success with the Men's and Women's Track & Field teams; capturing both the Men's and Women's Southland Conference Outdoor Team Championships in 2005 and 2006. The Women's Team added the school's first Indoor Track & Field Team Championship in 2007. As a whole, the Sam Houston State athletic department captured the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup in 2005, 2006, and 2007 for all-around athletic department and topped the Southland Conference for all-academic recognition. The Kats are the only athletic department in the Southland Conference to get the Commissioner's Cup for 3 consecutive years. In the same 3 year stretch, Sam Houston boasts both the best average student athlete GPA as well as the highest number of student athletes named to the Southland Conference honor roll. This is particularly evident in the men's basketball program, which fielded 6 of the 13 student athletes who gained Academic All-Conference honors, including junior Ryan Bright, who was also named student athlete of the year for men's basketball.
Football
Willie Fritz is the New Head Football Coach at Sam Houston State University.The football team was coached by Todd Whitten
Todd Whitten
-External links:* *...
, who played quarterback at rival institution Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University
Stephen F. Austin State University is a public university located in Nacogdoches, Texas, United States. Founded as a teachers' college in 1923, the university was named after one of Texas' founding fathers, Stephen F. Austin. Its campus resides on part of the homestead of another Texas founding...
. Whitten's record at Sam was 25-28 overall. Whitten was released from his coaching duties on Nov. 23, 2009.
Every year, the “Battle of the Piney Woods
Battle of the Piney Woods
The Battle of the Piney Woods is a notable sports rivalry, which is the annual battle between Sam Houston State University and Stephen F. Austin State University. With Sam HoustonState located in Huntsville, Texas, and Stephen F...
" rivalry game is held between the SFASU Lumberjacks and the Bearkats. The Bearkats have dominated the rivalry for the past decade and own an all-time advantage in the football series 45-32-2, including 6 of the last 7.
Whitten was preceded by Ron Randleman
Ron Randleman
Ron Randleman is a former American football coach. He served as head coach at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas from 1982–2004. Randleman retired after the 2004 season as the winningest coach in SHSU history.A native of Carlisle, Iowa, Randleman quarterbacked at William Penn...
, who served as head coach at Sam Houston from 1982 to 2004. Randleman took over in the school's first year competing in NCAA Division II and four years later, the Bearkats moved up to Division I. He wasted no time in competing in Division I, leading the team to the playoffs in the school's first season in the NCAA's highest division in 1986. The next season, the Bearkats joined the Southland Conference. In the school's Division I history, the Bearkats have claimed 3 Southland Conference titles (1991, 2001, 2004) and 4 playoff appearances (1986, 1991, 2001, 2004). They have posted an overall Division I playoff record of 3-4. Their most successful playoff run came in the final season of Randleman's coaching career in 2004 when the team made an appearance in the semifinals of the Division I playoffs. This was made possible by a remarkable 4th quarter comeback in the 2nd round at Eastern Washington when the Bearkats rallied from 20 points down and scoring the tying TD pass from Dustin Long to Jason Mathenia as time expired, winning the game on the PAT. This is still remembered as one of the greatest comebacks in Division I playoff football history. The Bearkats also shared the NAIA national title with Concordia (MN) in 1964, when they finished the national championship game in a 7-7 tie.
In recent history, the football team has had considerable success with transfer quarterbacks transferring from Football Bowl Subdivision Schools (formerly I-A). In 1999, Chris Chaloupka transferred from Oklahoma State University. In 2001, Josh McCown
Josh McCown
Joshua Treadwell McCown is an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Sam Houston State.McCown has played for the Detroit Lions, Oakland...
transferred from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
. In 2004, Dustin Long transferred from Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school...
. In 2008 the team was led by senior QB transfer from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
, Rhett Bomar
Rhett Bomar
Rhett Matthew Bomar is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
. Bomar entered the 2009 NFL draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
and was selected in the 5th round (151 overall) by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In 2009, University of Houston
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
transfer Blake Joseph was the starting quarterback.
Basketball
Both Men's and Women's basketball teams hold home games in Bernard Johnson ColiseumBernard Johnson Coliseum
Bernard Johnson Coliseum is a 6,100-seat multi-purpose arena in Huntsville, Texas. It was built in 1976 and is home to the Sam Houston State University Bearkats basketball team. It hosted the Southland Conference men's basketball tournament in 2003...
located on the campus of Sam Houston State University. Built in 1976, Johnson Coliseum is a 6,100 multi-seat arena that serves as host to both basketball and volleyball home matches.
The men's basketball program is among the most efficient programs in NCAA Division I, ranking # 2 nationally in cost per win in 2006 at less than $25,000 per win with 18 wins against Division I opponents (21 overall). The program has been the most consistent in the conference over the past decade under the direction of head coach Bob Marlin
Bob Marlin
-External links:*...
, winning regular season titles in 2000 and 2003 with an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2003 (the first in school history). The Bearkat men's basketball team has won more games in the 11 seasons under Coach Marlin than any other Southland school. The team also ranks #2 in wins among Division I schools in Texas in the current decade behind the Texas Longhorns. The Bearkat teams under Coach Marlin have compiled five 20-win seasons. Marlin's teams have been the only teams among Texas Division I programs to win at least 2 conference championships in the past 6 seasons. Under the direction of Bob Marlin, Bearkat men's basketball players have broken 23 school records and 30 Division I school records.
Since the departure of Bob Marlin
Bob Marlin
-External links:*...
to the University of Louisiana-Layette in 2010, the Bearkat Men's Basketball team has been under the direction of Jason Hooten
Jason Hooten
-References:...
, who had previously served as an assistant under Bob Marlin. In his first year as Head Coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
, Hooten produced an 18-13 record, while garnishing a #3 seed in the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
tournament.