SHSU Writeup:
GOBEARKATS.COM
February 11, 2016
PHOTO COURTESY
The Richmond Spiders and Sam Houston, both semi-finalists in the 2015 NCAA Division I Football National Championship, will play at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville on August 31, 2017.
The two universities announced the game Thursday. The contest will mark the first football meeting of teams that have ranked as two of the best FCS programs during the past decade. The two programs have combined for 167 total wins, eight conference championships, 10 FCS Playoff appearances and 23 FCS playoff victories in the past 10 years.
Richmond won the 2008 NCAA Division I Football national championship and Sam Houston has reached the national championship finals in 2011 and 2012 and the semifinals four of the last five seasons.
“Sam Houston is pleased to join with the University of Richmond in announcing this tremendous intersectional matchup,” Bearkat director of athletics Bobby Williams said. “Any time we can bring a FCS opponent to play here in Huntsville is great. But to bring a program with the rich football resume of the University of Richmond is special.
“This continues a tradition of bringing FCS national championship caliber teams to Bowers Stadium. Montana was ranked No. 1 nationally when they played here in 2004. Eastern Washington came to Huntsville ranked No. 2 in 2013. In addition, seven top 20 opponents have visited Huntsville for FCS playoff action. Based on the two universities’ records, the Bearkat-Spiders game should be one of the top FCS intersectional matchup of the 2017 season.”
Sam Houston and Richmond finished third and fourth in the STATS FCS 2015 final rankings. The Bearkats produced an 11-4 record in 2015 while the Spiders posted a 10-4 mark.
The Kats defeated No. 16 Southern Utah, No. 2 McNeese State and unranked Colgate to advance to the semifinals. The Spiders drew a bye in the first round as the No. 7 FCS seed then posted victories over No. 13 William & Mary and No. 2 Illinois State. Sam Houston and Richmond lost to Jacksonville State and North Dakota State, respectively, in the semis.
“We’re excited to be able to play one of the best teams in the country in our 2017 opener,” Sam Houston head coach K. C. Keeler said. “Danny Rocco is one of the top coaches at any level in football. It will be a great challenge for our players and a thrill for our fans to see us take on a battle-proven team like the Spiders.”
Sam Houston owns a 16-9 record in its nine playoff appearances. The Bearkats join North Dakota State and New Hampshire as the only three programs to earn five consecutive playoff berths (since 2011). Sam Houston played in the NCAA National Championship game in Frisco, Texas, in both 2011 and 2012 and have reached the semifinals four of the last five years.
Richmond defeated Montana 24-7 in the 2008 national championship game in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Spiders own a 13-9 playoff record, also earning berths in 1984, 1987, 1998, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2014 and 2015.
"We're excited about the opportunity to play against a tremendous program in Sam Houston State," Richmond head coach Danny Rocco said. "This is a great game for FCS football as it matches two prominent programs. It will be a national spotlight game to start our 2017 season."
Elliot T Bowers Stadium:
http://www.gobearkats.com/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=1275265
