As someone who was there every step of the way last season when the Sam Houston State Bearkats finished 14-1, winning every game they played until the FCS title game in Frisco against North Dakota State, I can only expect them to be even more motivated this season. And there's not much of a drop-off with this group, returning 19 starters and three preseason All-Americans.
↵The College Sporting News has the Bearkats in their preseason poll right where they finished last season in the FCS: No. 2.
↵↵↵For you FCS fans out there, North Dakota State is your preseason No. 1. Sam Houston State starts No. 2, Georgia Southern No. 3.
↵— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) August 6, 2012
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↵But with Tim Flanders in the backfield and still one of the most dangerous weapons in all of college football; Richard Sincere back for another year of hybrid running/quarterback and wide receiver play, and a defense that was shown up by North Dakota State in the championship game... Well, you see where I'm going.
↵Sam Houston has key players returning and still something to prove after having by far the best season in school history. That has to be scary, even for North Dakota State, if the two should meet again. Bearkats head coach Willie Fritz was on 610 AM while observing Texans training camp on Monday morning.
↵A lot of the conversation was about the Battle of the Piney Woods between SHSU and Stephen F. Austin in October. But you can believe Fritz and his group have goals that reach far beyond what's happening in the Southland Conference.
↵Been there, done that.