Sequeena Thomas Earns “SLC” Player of The Week
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston State senior forward Sequeena Thomas has been named Southland Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday.
Thomas helped the Bearkats moved into a three-way tie for first place with a 5-1 conference mark after two wins one the week against Central Arkansas and Oral Roberts.
In the two games, the senior from Allentown, Pa. (Parkland H.S.), averaged 17.0 rebounds and 13.0 points.
She became Sam Houston’s all-time rebounding leader (990) during the week and set another school record with her 44th career double-double when she pulled down 20 rebounds and scored 18 points against Oral Roberts.
Her 20 boards against the Golden Eagles was only the 12th time a Bearkat woman has accounted for 20 or more rebounds in a game.
Thomas’ three blocks on the week also upped her school record to 190.
Next action for the Sam Houston State women will be a Southland Conference road trip Thursday and Saturday to Southeastern Louisiana and Nicholls State.
Bearkat Wide Receiver Earns Invite From NFLPA
by Cheval John
With all the attention that the Sam Houston State Bearkat football team has received during their consecutive run at the FCS National Championship, many wondered could it get any better than this?
Well, it gets even better when Bearkat wide receiver Trey Diller received an invite to participate in the NFLPA All-Star Collegiate Bowl that’s set to be played in Carson, California on Jan. 19 on ESPN2.
Diller, who caught the ball 62 times for 927 yards and four touchdowns, became the first Bearkat to ever participate in the NFLPA.
The Woodlands, Texas native also was the return specialist, as he finished third in the Southland Conference with 354 yards in punt returns.
In addition, he became the first Bearkat to make the All-Southland Conference honors both as a wide receiver and a return specialist.
He played a huge part during the Bearkat playoff run at the FCS Championsip when in the quarterfinal round at Montana State, he caught a 56-yard pass TD pass from quarterback Brian Bell that allowed the Bearkats to blow the game wide open.
Diller completes his collegiate career with 1,190 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Playoff Fever Spreading In Huntsville, TX
by Cheval John
NCAA FCS playoff fever has spread throughout the nation.
It’s not more evident than in the city of Huntsville, TX.
Huntsville, home of Sam Houston State University with a population of about 39,000, have been in a frenzy since the Bearkat football team have made the FCS playoffs for the second consecutive year after finishing the season at 8-3 overall and claimed a share of the Southland Conference title.
Now, they are one game away from returning to the FCS national championship game after they slaughtered Montana State Bobcats 34-15 in Bozeman, Montana last Friday.
Bearkat fans gathered either in Huntsville area bars or across the country (in the case of SHSU’s alumni base) to watch the matchup between the Bearkats and Bobcats that was televised nationally on ESPN2.
Many people who have lived in Huntsville and have been around to see the Bearkat athletic teams have said that they have not seen anything like this.
They have good reason to say that because before, the Bearkat football team have made the playoffs a total of four times since becoming a member of the NCAA Division I in 1986.
Those four playoff appearances happened in 1986, 1991, 2001, and 2004 under Ron Randleman.
After Randleman’s retirement in 2004, Todd Whitten served as head coach from 2005-2009 without much success and was fired.
When SHSU’s athletic director, Bobby Williams hired Willie Fritz, many were hoping for a renaissance of the football program.
After a 6-5 campaign in 2010, people started to believe that great things was going to happen in his second year.
Before the 2011 season began, the SLC’s pre-season polls expected the Bearkats to finished fourth in the conference because they only had 12 seniors on the team.
The Bearkats did the opposite: finished the regular season at 11-0, won their fourth SLC title (first undisputed), were the No.1 seed in the FCS playoffs and brought the Bearkat nation together.
From there, they defeated No. 7 Stony Brook, Montana State and Montana to reach the title game in Frisco, TX where they fell short against North Dakota State.
With the playoff fever amidst in Huntsville, the Bearkats know that they have to play extremely well against No.2 seeded Eastern Washington on Saturday at 3 p.m. if they want to make it back to Frisco.
What they also know is that playoff fever is amdst in Huntsville with a loyal fan base with who will be watching them on ESPNU and cheering them on to victory.
Bearkat Football Players Receives All-Southland Honors
Courtesy: Paul Ridings, Jr., SHSU Sports Information
Sam Houston State’s 2012 Southland Conference championship team produced 21 players who have earned spots on the all-league honor squad.
Those awards include both “Player of the Year” recognition for running back Timothy Flanders and “Defensive Player of the Year” Darnell Taylor. Darnell and his twin brother Darius also become the first pair of twins at Sam Houston to earn all-conference recognition together.
The Bearkats’ list of All-Southland players after an 8-3 overall regular season and 6-1 march to a second consecutive league title include 10 first team selections, six second team honorees and six honorable mention players.
First team offense All-Southland players from Sam Houston include Flanders, tight end T. J. Jones, offensive linemen Kaleb Hopson and Chris Rogers and all-purpose back Richard Sincere.
First team defense Bearkats are defensive lineman J. T. Cleveland, lineback Darius Taylor, defensive backs Darnell Taylor and Dax Swanson and punter Matt Foster.
Second team all-conference Kats include quarterback Brian Bell, wide receiver Trey Diller, defensive lineman Gary Lorance and defensive backs Kenneth Jenkins and Bookie Sneed. Diller also received second team recognition as kick return specialist.
Receiving All-Southland honorable mention were running back Keshawn Hill, offensive linemen Donald Jackson and Riley Smith, defensive lineman Jarrett Brown, linebacker Jesse Beauchamp, defensive back Robert Shaw and place kicker Miguel Antonio.
Flanders and Darnell Taylor both earned their “Player of the Year” recognition for the second consecutive seasons. Flanders, Jenkins and Cleveland are three-time All-Southland selections.
Darnell Taylor, Hopson, Sincere, Swanson, Foster, Bell and Sneed each are in their second consecutive year as All-Southland honorees.
Sam Houston State will face Cal Poly in the second round of the NCAA Division I football championship Saturday, Dec. 1 at 3 p.m. at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.
Complete ticket information is available on www.gobearkats.com. The SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The telephone number is (936) 294-1729.
2012 All-Southland Conference Football Team
First-Team Offense
Pos. Name University Ht. Wt. Cl.
QB Wynrick Smothers Central Arkansas 6-1 208 Jr.
RB Timothy Flanders Sam Houston State 5-9 210 Jr.
RB Gus Johnson Stephen F. Austin 5-10 215 So.
TE T.J. Jones Sam Houston State 6-3 245 Sr.
WR Cordell Roberson Stephen F. Austin 6-3 215 Sr.
WR Jesse Grandy Central Arkansas 5-11 165 Sr.
WR Dominque Croom Central Arkansas 6-1 193 Sr.
OL Corey Howard Central Arkansas 6-1 290 Sr.
OL Kaleb Hopson Sam Houston State 6-6 300 Sr.
OL John Steel Stephen F. Austin 6-5 295 Sr.
OL Arinze Agada McNeese State 6-1 286 Jr.
OL Chris Rogers Sam Houston State 5-11 270 Sr.
AP Richard Sincere Sam Houston State 5-10 180 Jr.
PK Eddie Camara Central Arkansas 5-9 168 So.
First-Team Defense
Pos. Name University Ht. Wt. Cl.
DL Willie Jefferson Stephen F. Austin 6-6 234 Sr.
DL J.T. Cleveland Sam Houston State 6-0 290 Sr.
DL Jonathan Woodard Central Arkansas 6-5 251 Fr.
DL Darren Robinson Stephen F. Austin 5-11 247 So.
LB Darius Taylor Sam Houston State 6-0 240 Sr.
LB Seth Allison Central Arkansas 5-11 195 Sr.
LB Derek Rose Northwestern State 5-11 229 Sr.
DB Darnell Taylor Sam Houston State 6-0 195 Sr.
DB Robert Alford Southeastern La. 6-0 185 Sr.
DB Dax Swanson Sam Houston State 5-11 185 Sr.
DB Josh Aubrey Stephen F. Austin 5-11 202 Sr.
DB Jestin Love Central Arkansas 6-0 208 Jr.
P Matt Foster Sam Houston State 6-6 195 Sr.
KR Jesse Grandy Central Arkansas 5-11 165 Sr.
Second-Team Offense
Pos. Name University Ht. Wt. Cl.
QB Brian Bell Sam Houston State 6-2 175 Jr.
RB Marcus Wiltz McNeese State 5-9 192 Jr.
RB Jackie Hinton Central Arkansas 5-10 210 Sr.
TE/HB Nick Scelfo Nicholls State 6-4 235 So.
WR Trey Diller Sam Houston State 6-2 200 Sr.
WR Darius Carey McNeese State 6-0 184 Sr.
WR D.J. Ward Stephen F. Austin 5-11 180 Fr.
OL Alec Savoie McNeese State 6-7 309 Sr.
OL Gasten Gabriel Southeastern La. 6-5 310 Jr.
OL Taylor Johnson McNeese State 6-4 290 Sr.
OL Cole Caruthers Central Arkansas 6-4 284 So.
OL Sean Robertson Lamar 6-1 270 Sr.
AP Xavier Roberson Southeastern La. 5-9 170 Fr.
PK John Shaughnessy Northwestern State 5-11 181 Sr.
Second-Team Defense
Pos. Name University Ht. Wt. Cl.
DL Matt Hornbuckle Central Arkansas 6-2 281 Jr.
DL Gary Lorance Sam Houston State 6-0 290 Jr.
DL Jesse Dickson Lamar 6-3 265 Jr.
DL Everett Ellefsen McNeese State 6-3 230 So.
LB Jordan Piper Nicholls State 5-10 242 Sr.
LB Devan Walker Southeastern La. 6-3 240 Sr.
LB Joe Narcisse McNeese State 5-11 222 Sr.
DB Terence Cahee McNeese State 5-9 190 Jr.
DB Kenneth Jenkins Sam Houston State 5-10 195 Sr.
DB Bookie Sneed Sam Houston State 6-0 180 Jr.
DB Jamaal White Northwestern State 6-0 192 Sr.
DB Cortez Paige Northwestern State 6-1 181 Sr.
P Beau Mothe Southeastern La. 6-3 210 Sr.
KR Trey Diller Sam Houston State 6-2 200 Sr.
PR Darius Carey McNeese State 6-0 184 Sr.
2012 Southland Conference Individual Superlatives
Player of the Year: Timothy Flanders, Sam Houston State
Offensive Player of the Year: Wynrick Smothers, Central Arkansas
Defensive Player of the Year: Darnell Taylor, Sam Houston State
Offensive Lineman of the Year: Corey Howard, Central Arkansas
Freshman of the Year: Jonathan Woodard, Central Arkansas
Newcomer of the Year: Kevin Johnson, Lamar
Coach of the Year: Clint Conque, Central Arkansas
Honorable Mention:
Quarterback: Brady Attaway, Stephen F. Austin. Running Back: Marcus Washington, Nicholls State; Keshawn Hill, Sam Houston State. Tight End/H-Back: Mike Brooks, Stephen F. Austin; Jeremy Meyers, Southeastern Louisiana; Corey Simmons, Northwestern State; Chase Dixon, Central Arkansas. Wide Receiver: Kevin Johnson, Lamar; Dezmin Lewis, Central Arkansas; Louis Hollier, Northwestern State; Erik Buchanan, Nicholls State; Tony McCrea, Southeastern Louisiana. Offensive Linemen: Warren Jones, Northwestern State; Austin Wright, Stephen F. Austin; Abasi Salimu, Nicholls State; Donald Jackson, Sam Houston State; Andrew Ratliff, Stephen F. Austin; Riley Smith, Sam Houston State; Jonathan Landry, McNeese State; Carson Chaisson, McNeese State. Offensive All-Purpose: Phillip Harvey, Northwestern State; Ryan Gambel, Stephen F. Austin. Defensive Linemen: Lesley Deamer, Northwestern State; Pat Williams, McNeese State; Tremaine Lucas, Southeastern Louisiana; Jarrett Brown, Sam Houston State; Ryan Chambers, Stephen F. Austin; John Prescott, Lamar; Wade Williams, Northwestern State. Linebacker: Ryan Epperson, Stephen F. Austin; Justin Heard, Central Arkansas; Jermaine Longino, Lamar; Marcus Malbrough, Lamar; Kerry Guidry, Nicholls State; Patrick Black, Northwestern State; Robert Shaw, Sam Houston State; Jesse Beauchamp, Sam Houston State; Collin Garrett, Stephen F. Austin. Defensive Back: Branden Thomas, Lamar; Guy Morgan; McNeese State; Ford Smesny, McNeese State; Chad Allen, Lamar; Caleb Nelson, Stephen F. Austin; Tyler Stoddard, Southeastern Louisiana; Dillon Winfrey, Central Arkansas; Todd Washington, Southeastern Louisiana. Placekicker: Miguel Antonio, Sam Houston State; Jordan Wiggs, Stephen F. Austin. Punter: Cory Kemps, Nicholls State. Kick Return Specialist: Kevin Johnson, Lamar; Phillip Harvey, Northwestern State.
Bearkat Football Soars To New Heights Under Coach Fritz
by Cheval John
Though there is no such thing as moral victories, the Sam Houston State Bearkat football team have accomplished more under head coach Willie Fritz.
Before the arrival of coach Fritz, the Bearkats have made only four appearances in the NCAA FCS playoffs (1986, 1991, 2001, 2004) during their 26 years of competition at the Division I level.
But under Fritz, the Bearkats have made back-to-back appearances in the FCS National Championship game and brought pride to the city of Huntsville, the students and alumni of Sam Houston State.
In addition, the Bearkats have made more television appearances in the last two years either nationally or regionally and applications to the university has sky-rocketed over that same period of time.
Though they run to the FCS title game in 2011 was great, their 2012 run was even more impressive because they only had three regular season home games and had to go through three teams, who were the tri-champions in what is considered to be the toughest conference in the FCS, the Big Sky.
Ron Randleman, who was the head coach of SHSU from 1982 to 2004, is not surprised with the success of coach Fritz.
“Coach Fritz has a special way with people. Randleman said. ”
He’s put together a quality staff and these guys gave worked very hard to get to where we are today because it’s not easy to get there.”
Fritz played for Randleman while he was at Pittsburg State from 1979-82. and
He later served as a graduate assistant under Randleman in 1984-85 at SHSU and again in 1991-92 as as an assistant coach.
When he was hired as the head coach in December of 2009, the Bearkats was reeling from two consecutive losing seasons.
Many knew that coach Fritz was going to turn things around because of his reputation of turning programs that previously had losing seasons into winning teams.
After going 6-5, many believed that they were going to do better in the 2011 season by winning the SLC title.
The Bearkats exceeded their expectations and went 11-0 in the regular season and won the SLC title for the fourth time and won three straight playoffs games to make their first appearance in the FCS title game.
It seemed as they were not going to get back to the FCS title game because they only had three regular season home games and had brought in three new assistant coaches on the offensive side of the ball.
But coach Fritz and the Bearkats had other ideas as they went 8-3 and won their second consecutive SLC title and made it back to the playoffs and went through Cal Poly at home and defeated Montana State and Eastern Washington on the road to return to the title game.
Though they lost, one thing is for certain, the Bearkat football program has gone to new heights under coach Fritz.
But the most important thing is that coach Fritz is following in the footsteps of Coach Randleman because the players has conducted themselves with dignity and respect and have brought great pride to the university.
Maybe, that alone is a moral victory after all.
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