Bearkat football adds two more televised games to schedule

After last year’s success of an undefeated regular season, the Sam Houston State University Bearkat football team adds two more regular season games to their televised schedule with the expectation to continue the winning success.

The Southland Conference TV network will broadcast away games against Central Arkansas, Stephen F. Austin and Lamar University. Fox will broadcast the game against Baylor University, while the KUBE in Houston will broadcast the Texas Southern game.

The televised games brings regional and national exposure to SHSU, increases the fan base population, and allows the other programs on campus to be publicized, according to Associate Athletic Director of Media Relations Paul Ridings.

“The athletic department is the front porch for the university,” Ridings said. “Dr. Gibson has performed interviews every year to expose other programs.”

Last year, the Bearkats’ final three playoff games were the only televised games during prime-time; allowing national exposure to the school.

With the success of last year’s season, the Bearkat athletic department found trouble scheduling home games, but compensated with the televised schedule as well as having games in Houston, Waco and College Station.

“It’s tough this year with how the way things turned out with three games here at Bowers Stadium…we’re the number one team in the nation going in as defending (Southland Conference) champions,” Ridings said. “While we only have three home games we have two games in Houston, one game in College Station, Baylor and Lamar. It’s not like you can’t get to the games.”

The five games at Waco, College Station, Lamar and the two games in Houston against SFA and Texas Southern University are within driving distance from Huntsville.

After moving up to Division 1 in the NCAA, SHSU football games have averaged between 17,000-18,000 fans for games in Houston and close to 25,000 at the Battle of the Piney Woods.

“We got a lot of alums down there,” Riding said. “Getting televised in Houston on the KUBE is really big to us because we have such a huge alumni base.”

The Bearkat football team has a record of 21-16 with games played on the regional and national broadcast stage since 1984, including a win on ABC network against Steve McNair and Alcorn State in 1994.

“We’re the only school in the (Southland) conference that has been on a regular season ABC national telecast,” Ridings said.

Riding encourages students to make the drives to the Houston, Waco, and College Station games to help motivate the Bearkat football team with their travel heavy schedule.

“We don’t want the students to watch the game on TV,” Ridings said. “We want them to go to the game.”
For more information about the SHSU football schedule visit www.gobearkats.com for a full schedule and televised list.