Birdsong: Don't lose faith in SHSU football team

You may or may not have heard the news, but the Sam Houston State University football team lost a heartbreaker over the weekend to Central Arkansas, 24-20. If you read Twitter or KatFans.com, as well, you might think that the sky is falling and that this season is already over, even though the team is just three games into the season.

Last time I checked the schedule though, this season didn’t end until Nov. 17. Right now, it’s not even the end of September. To those fans that are freaking out about the loss, I have one word for you: relax.

If you watched the game on Saturday, you saw the same thing that I did, a team who went up 10-0, got complacent with the lead and blew it. However, what you might not see is the way the team will react and moments that will come as a result of this.

Before the season started, this SHSU football team was ranked number one in the Sports Network pre-season poll. The team had swagger and told every media outlet that would listen that they were confident and focused. However, those were just words. If Saturday proved anything, the team just figured they could show up and win. The loss against UCA brought them back down to earth and gave them a reality check.

After the game, Brian Bell tweeted a quote on his own personal Twitter account (@Brian_Be11) from former Texas A&M player Beau Bevers: “What you say is not what you believe. What you say is what you want others to think you believe. What you do is what you believe. #SoTrue”

While these may be words on a computer screen, Bevers’ quote embodies exactly how the team should feel after that game: humbled. The only way to see how this team responds and really feels is to watch them as the season progresses.

The real downside to Saturday’s loss is that no NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team with less than six losses D-I wins has ever made the playoffs. That means SHSU, who currently sits 1-2 on the season, must win every remaining game of the season, excluding Texas A&M.  But, as 2011 proved, this team is more than capable of doing just that.

With the loss, there is plenty of upside. The most important piece of advice I can give to you, the students and fans, is don’t give up on your Bearkats. This team still relies heavily on student support and they need you guys now more than ever. The way the schedule sets up, there will be plenty of opportunities for you guys to get out and show your support.

This upcoming Thursday, the Bearkats will travel and play Texas Southern University at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.  On Oct. 6, SHSU plays in Houston against Stephen F. Austin and on Oct. 20, they return home for the homecoming game against McNeese State.  The following week on Oct. 27, the Kats will play Lamar in Beaumont and on Nov. 03, they wrap up the season at home against Southeastern Louisiana.

Those are five games out of the remaining seven FCS games that students and fans can easily attend without having to drive more than three hours. Do yourself the favor and show up to these games and show off your Bearkat pride. Game time against Texas Southern this Thursday is set for 7 p.m. and I hope to see a lot of you there. Eat ‘em up, Kats!