Welcome to the CUSA Club: Sports of SHSU's Benjamin Sorrells on Sam Houston State
CUSA added four new schools to the conference. Let’s learn about Sam Houston State from Sports of SHSU
We’re now six days into the new CUSA, with four new schools to now refer to as “conference rivals” as we officially welcomed Liberty, Jacksonville State, Sam Houston State and New Mexico State to the league.
If you’re like us, you probably don’t know a whole lot about the new schools joining CUSA so we are going to reach out to someone that covers each new school this month to learn more about the new members.
This week, we’ll kick things off with Sam Houston State. To answer our questions, we got Benjamin Sorrells at Sports of SHSU to give us some insight on the Bearkats. Be sure to follow them on Twitter to have a source for SHSU this season and beyond!
Let’s learn about SHSU.
The Towel Rack: Most WKU fans don’t know much about Sam Houston State. What would say are the most interesting things about the school that you would tell someone who doesn’t know anything about the school?
Sports of SHSU: Sam Houston is one of the oldest schools in Texas and is filled with rich history since it was founded in 1879 as the "Sam Houston Normal Institute" and it is home to Austin Hall which is the oldest university building west of the Mississippi.
Sam Houston has grown by nearly 10,000 students in the last decade and is projected to grow to an enrollment of 30,000 by 2030. The school is also rich in athletic history and has also grown tremendously as has the university. Sam Houston won an NAIA football national championship in 1964 and since 1982 has slowly made its way up to the FBS level.
The school went from NAIA to D2 in 1982, moved to the D1 FCS level in 1986 and is now moving to the FBS level in 2023. The school has competed at a national level in multiple sports including winning a bowling national championship in 2014, making a super regional in baseball in 2017, finishing ninth nationally in men's golf in 2021 and winning the 2020 FCS national championship.
TTR: When looking at athletics, what would you consider SHSU’s biggest accomplishments in its sports history?
SoS: I think a few of the biggest accomplishments include the 2020 FCS national championship, winning the 1964 NAIA national football championship, making the 2017 super regionals in baseball, winning the 2014 bowling national title, winning the Southland basketball tournaments in 2003 and 2010 and then men's golf finishing ninth nationally in 2021.
TTR: How are most SHSU fans feeling about the move to CUSA?
SoS: The reaction when the news first broke about moving to CUSA was mixed and probably about half of the fans and alumni liked the move. As some time has passed, I think more people have gotten on board and realized the move came at the right time and it was the right thing to do. It will be interesting to see if the support translates into this upcoming season and the seasons to come.
TTR: When looking at football, how do you see the Bearkats doing in their first season in the conference?
SoS: I think the football team has a chance to win games and turn some heads. The out-of-conference schedule is not easy and will present challenges but I think there are opportunities to win games in conference play. The team enters 2023 after redshirting nearly 20 of its top players in 2022 to retain eligibility and brings back nearly the entire defense which includes many key pieces from the national championship team.
I think the season ultimately hinges on quarterback play and the depth of the team. If Grant Gunnell or Keegan Shoemaker can provide consistency at the QB position and the team remains healthy, I think the team has a shot to win six games in year one.
TTR: When looking at men’s basketball, how do you see the Bearkats doing?
SoS: It is a new era for the basketball team not only in joining a new conference but also going through a coaching change for the first time in 13 years. Basketball is coming off one of the best seasons in school history and returns six key contributors from that team that won the WAC regular season and an NIT game. Chris Mudge has done a nice job filling out the roster and I think the team has a chance to win 20+ games as they did last year and have in years past. The big question that remains is if the team can get over the hump and get into the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010.
TTR: Do you think there’s any potential for SHSU to make some new rivals in the new conference?
SoS: With longtime rival SFA remaining in the WAC, I do think there is a chance to create a new rivalry with a CUSA school. The geographic proximity to Louisiana Tech could create something. The battle for Texas with UTEP could present an opportunity for a rivalry. Jacksonville State and Sam Houston have a history when it comes to football and that could possibly develop into a rivalry. In baseball, I think a rivalry could develop with DBU due to both teams traditionally being very successful, being within a few hours of each other and the two teams having played each other in the past.
We are thankful for Benjamin’s time for answering our questions! Be sure to go follow Sports of SHSU this season and to follow the Bearkats in their maiden CUSA voyage.