A “Championship Celebration” unlike any in Bearkat history will take place Wednesday night, Feb. 8, at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum as part of the festivities for the Sam Houston versus UT-Arlington men’s basketball game that evening.

Walker County, City of Huntsville and University officials will join Feb. 8 with SHSU alumni, students, faculty-staff and fans in saluting the 2011 Southland Conference Champion and NCAA Division I football national finalist Bearkat football team.

The “Celebration” begins with a pre-game autograph session with members of the football team on the Coliseum concourse to mingle with fans.

At 7 p.m., the men’s basketball team takes center stage in an important Southland Conference showdown against the league-leading UTA Mavericks.

Halftime will feature the special victory celebration as area and university officials join with the football team to share with fans in the presentation of the 2011 Southland Conference championship trophy.
The 2011 Bearkats rolled to a 14-1 record, the most victories in one season in SHSU’s 96-year history.

Sam Houston’s 16-game winning streak during the past two seasons garnered the football program its highest national ranking and brought the community nationwide media attention and seven regional and national TV appearances.

The SHSU football team climaxed the season by earning the Bearkats’ first ever NCAA Division I Football National Championship Playoff finals appearance at FC Dallas Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

The 2011 team climbed to No. 1 in the final Football Championship Subdivision national poll. The team won NCAA playoff victories over nationally-ranked teams from Stony Brook, Montana State and Montana before combined crowds of more than 30,000 fans.
The influx of fans from all over the country filled area hotels and restaurants to make December one of the most successful months ever for the local economy.

At season’s end, 15 Bearkats earned All-Southland Conference honors and seven were recognized as All-America selections. Head Coach Willie Fritz earned college football’s top honors as American Football Coaches Association FCS “Coach of the Year” and was named as Southland Conference “Coach of the Year.”

“The Championship Celebration for the football team in conjunction with the men’s basketball game against UT-Arlington is going to be a night Huntsville and Sam Houston State will long remember,” Sam Houston director of athletic Bobby Williams said. “No Bearkat fan will want to miss this exciting evening.”

Tickets for Sam Houston State men’s basketball home games are available online now at www.gobearkats.com/tickets. Fans also may purchase tickets at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone is (936) 294-1729.