For Bearkats, 2011 Has a Different Feel

For Bearkats, 2011 Has a Different Feel

KatFans.com Writer - Joesph Healy


There was no doubting the fact that there was cautious optimism around the Bearkats’ football program heading into the 2011 season, but some of the Bearkat faithful were understandably hesitant to buy in. After all, we had felt that way before only to have our hopes dashed mere weeks into the season.
Six week into the season, I think it’s safe to say that this team is worth buying into.

The results speak for themselves. The Kats are 6-0 and with the exception of their win over New Mexico on the road, they have yet to be pushed to the final whistle.

Their conference wins have come by a combined score of 145-34. When compared to their 45-10 and 44-7 wins over Stephen F. Austin and Nicholls State, respectively, their 22-7 win over UTSA seems like a nail-biter.

But the excitement around this new-look program goes far beyond the on-field results. There is a palpable buzz around the program that hasn’t been felt in several years.

The success of the Bearkats has worked its way into conversations all around town and the presence of Bearkat football posters and flags can be seen as you drive around Huntsville. It would be nice if some of these same locals would show up on Saturdays at Bowers Stadium with a little more regularity, but that’s a conversation for another day.

More importantly, the buzz has extended beyond the Huntsville area. The win in the annual Battle of the Piney Woods game against SFA was huge in this regard. Houston-area alumni came out in droves and they were treated to a dominating win over their biggest rival.

Sam grads that are likely used to hearing all about the successes of UT and A&M at work and in their circle of friends now have a little something to crow about.

Who, then, do we have to thank for this success?

That conversation has to start with head coach Willie Fritz. Fritz has done a lot to improve the talent level on campus, but the improvements he has made have as much to do with attitude and effort  as they do with talent.

Gone are the listless performances of the past. Without indicting anyone in particular, seeing the Bearkats look all but apathetic toward the game at hand became all too common there for a while.

At least as far as I’ve seen, that has yet to happen with Fritz as the head coach. Even last season when the Bearkats were a little over-matched at times, they were nothing if not scrappy and hard-working.

On the field, you have to look at Brian Bell. The sophomore quarterback from China Spring has been a leader from the first time he stepped on the field.  Bell isn’t the biggest guy or fastest guy on the field. He doesn’t have the strongest arm or even the most accurate arm. But he’s a tough kid and a field general above all else. He went through the growing pains expected of a freshman quarterback last season, but he continued to fight and proved to be the best man for the job.

To put it simply, Bell is just what the doctor ordered for the Bearkats. He avoids costly mistakes, plays within himself and always puts his team in a position to win.

It’s also not like Bell is out there by himself. It’s always nice when you have a stud running back like Tim Flanders. After rushing for 989 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, Flanders has already rushed for 638 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2011. His appearance on SportsCenter’s Top 10 Plays for his “Flanders Flip” into the end zone against SFA certainly doesn’t hurt the excitement level around the program.

On top of it all, the defense has been spot-on. They have yet to allow more than ten points to any FCS opponent.

There is still a lot of football to be played, but things have broken right for the Bearkats in the conference race. They already control their own destiny, as they are the only undefeated team left in the Southland Conference.

This Bearkats team is much different from the teams we have seen over the last several years. They are playing well, they are playing hard and you can feel their confidence.

I’ll say this much. If you aren’t already on the bandwagon, you had better get on it soon. It’s getting crowded and it promises to only grow from here.

Photo Credit: David Barfield