Sam Houston State Bearkats 2008 Preview

Coach: Todd Whitten (16-16) Fourth Year
Last Year: 7-4, 5-2 Southland, tied second of eight 
Returning Starters: Offense 6*, Line 2 | Defense 6, Line 2

Three Things You Should Know
1) Former Oklahoma QB Rhett Bomar is a senior at Sam Houston and threw for 2,209 yards last year with 10 TDs and 6 INTs. He also rushed for 406 yards and 7 TDs.
2) The Bearkats return all three starting wide receivers including Catron Houston (46 catches for 597 yards), Justin Wells (42 catches for 660 yards) and Trey Payne (12 catches for 136 yards).
3) Defensive end Chris Brown was a first team All-Southland selection and led the team with five sacks. Kicker Taylor Wilkins and linebacker Nolan Bucek were named to the second team. QB Bomar, OL Hunter Schmidt and DL Eric Mikolajchak were honorable mention All-Southland.

Trends
For comparison purposes, Sam Houston lost last year at OSU 39-3.

The Game
While the FCS Bearkats are on an upward trend under coach Todd Whitten, this is an exhibition game. A last chance to see some action or maybe earn a starting spot before going into two weeks of prep for Iowa State. The most interesting aspect of the game is Rhett Bomar at QB. I'm sure KU will have mercy despite the results of the 2005 OU matchup.

Is a Bearkat Tougher than A Normal?

Sam Houston State's athletic teams have been nicknamed "The Bearkats" since 1923 when the university's name was changed by the Texas state legislature from Sam Houston Normal Institute to Sam Houston State Teachers College. Prior to 1923, the varsity sports teams were nicknamed "The Normals."

Early references to "Bearkats" spelled the name either "Bearcats," "Bear Cats," or "Bearkats." A bearcat is said by some to be a kinkajou, a small, golden, carnivorous mammal that resides in the jungles of South America. It is doubtful those who coined the "Bearkat" nickname had either a kinkajou or a binturong in mind. However, more likely, the name came from a popular local saying of the time, "Tough as a Bearkat!" Since the animal in the saying was thought more mythical than real, the spelling settled upon was "Bearkat.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Houston_State_University

2008 Sam Houston State Schedule
Aug. 30, 2008 EAST CENTRAL OK
Sept. 13, 2008 Prairie View A&M 
Sept. 20, 2008 at Kansas  
Sept. 27, 2008 at Gardner-Webb  
Oct. 11, 2008 at Central Ark 
Oct. 18, 2008 McNeese State 
Oct. 25, 2008 at Northwestern St.  
Nov. 1, 2008 Stephen F. Austin
Nov. 8, 2008 at Nicholls St. 
Nov. 15, 2008 SE Lousiana 
Nov. 22, 2008 Texas State

2007 Results
W ANGELO ST 17-13
W ARK MONTICELLO 48-10
L at NO DAKOTA ST 41-38
L at OK State 39-3
L Central Ark 35-14
L at McNeese State 31-21
W Northwestern St. 42-20
W at Stephen F. Austin 45-17
W Nicholls St. 16-13
W at SE Lousiana 20-16
W at Texas State 29-28