HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 7
State University
Bearkats find major success in second year of FBS play
It was questioned in 2021 why the Bearkats would make the move up a division and leave behind playing for National Championships for bowl appearances .
But all of that was answered on the field at the Casers Superdome on Dec . 19 . The Bearkats played in their first-ever appearance at an FBS bowl .
Sam Houston capped off a 10-win season , captured the R + L Carriers New Orleans Bowl championship , and had a lot more attention to their program that won a national championship in the spring of 2021 .
While the New Orleans Bowl trophy now sits in the Ron Manfrige Field House , this season saw so many new ups for the Bearkats that made the move up all worth it .
The move started in 2021 when it was first announced the Bearkats would head to Conference USA . At the time , Sam Houston was trying to go back-toback as national champions and was right in the middle of a 21-win streak . But on a frigid night at Bowers , the Kats lost to Montana State . That loss ended the Bearkats ’ run and their time at the FCS stage as the next year began the transition . Sam Houston fielded a team in 2022 that was filled with redshirted players who were looking to get at least one year in Conference USA . The Bearkats limped to a 5-4 record that season with the only win that mattered being over former instate rival Stephen F . Austin in the final rendition of the Battle of the Piney Woods . Then 2023 happened . Sam Houston was finally on the big stage and had a chance to play with the big boys , but they fell flat . Sam Houston started its run 0-8 and lost games by shooting themselves in the foot . As Sam Houston ’ s former head coach K . C . Keeler said before the season , “ We lost five games on five plays ,” and that became the mantra of the team .
Over the offseason , Keeler went out and brought in a new strength and conditioning coach Kevin Schadt , and changed the offseason and spring camp . Finding those five plays came in all aspects and that paid off for the Bearkats . In one-score games this year , Sam Houston flipped its record to 6-0 , including the bowl game , after going 1-5 last year . But that was just one of the problems . Going into 2024 , Sam Houston had lost one starter in the transfer portal but had some holes to fill due to graduation . That started with finding a quarterback to lead the offense after a year of struggles .
Keeler sent the offensive coordinator to watch Hunter Watson play in the Junior College National Championship . The Bearkats was the lone division I school offered him .
The Bearkats entered the spring season with three guys that could have started at the quarterback position and Watson had entered the spring hurt . With some time lost , he was behind the eight ball from Jase Bauer and Grant Gunnell .
Watson quickly shot up the ladder , though , and was announced the starter before the Bearkats hit the field against Rice . Watson had a strong showing against the Owls and kicked off the Bearkats ’ season .
However , his style of play had him prone to injuries and he would go on to miss some time for the Bearkats . But he was still the most viable option at quarterback . As Watson gets credit on the offensive side of the ball , the Sam Houston defense deserves just as much for their efforts on the field . Needing a new defensive coordinator , Keeler hired the youngest coordinator in the FBS away from Abilene Christian to lead that side of the ball .
HUNTSVILLE LIVING - FOOTBALL REVIEW | JANUARY 2025 | 7