SHSU athletics department announces first football opponent
Published: Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2012 00:07
 "Photo: photo provided by shsu.edu and uiw.edu")
photo provided by shsu.edu and uiw.edu
SHSU football will start out their season against Incarnate Word.
The Sam Houston State University football team will start off their 2012 season against the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals on Saturday Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Elliot T. Bowers Stadium.
The Bearkats return 50 lettermen including 19 starters from the 2011 team that went 14-1, ranked number one in the nation, and reached the National Championship game in Frisco.
The Cardinals now compete as a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference, and finished their 2011 season 0-10. They began playing football in 2009.
Sixteen-year veteran of the NFL in a career that includes a Super Bowl Ring from his days with the Los Angeles Rams, Larry Kennan, is the new coach for Incarnate Word. His team has 21-fourth year players returning including 12 senior starters and six players who earned All-LSC honors.
Even though the loss to North Dakota State in Frisco last January ended a school record 16-game winning streak, the Bearkats still have a couple of streaks intact.
SHSU has won its last 10 home games, the longest streak in SHSU football history since the 15-game winning streak from 1985-1988.
The Bearkats have not lost a regular season game since losing to McNeese State in 2010.
Returning players include running back Tim Flanders who was SLC “Player of the Year;” Richard Sincere who was “Offensive Player of the Year;” safety Darnell Taylor who was “Defensive Player of the Year;” J.T. Cleveland and Dax Swanson who received All-American recognition; quarterback Brian Bell; wide receiver Torrance Williams; defensive lineman Andrew Weaver and defensive backs Kenneth Jenkins and Robert Shaw.
Season tickets for Sam Houston State football now are on sale both online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets and at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium.
Season ticket holders are guaranteed seats for home games at Bowers Stadium, the "Battle of the Piney Woods" at Reliant Stadium Oct. 6 and post-season playoff games at Bowers. Season ticket holders also have first priority on tickets for road games at Baylor and Texas A&M.
For more information, please call the Sam Houston athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
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