87R27557 CW-D
By: Bailes H.R. No. 1306
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Sam Houston State University football team
closed out a historic season by winning the 2020-2021 NCAA Division
I Football Championship Subdivision title; and
WHEREAS, The Bearkats posted a perfect regular-season ledger
and claimed their eighth Southland Conference crown to enter the
FCS playoffs as the second seed; embarking on a thrilling
postseason run against top 10-ranked opponents, SHSU began by
besting Monmouth University 21-15, sealing the win by intercepting
a pass in the end zone in the final minute of play; the team then
came from behind to dispatch North Dakota State University 24-20 in
the quarterfinals; and
WHEREAS, Playing in the semifinals on its Bowers Stadium home
field, SHSU met James Madison University on May 8; trailing by three
touchdowns at the half, the Bearkats erupted for 24 points in the
third quarter and prevailed by the final score of 38-35; with the
victory, SHSU punched its ticket to the championship game for the
first time since 2012, and it remained undefeated in FCS playoff
games hosted on its own turf, having won a total of 16 through the
years; and
WHEREAS, The Sam Houston State players battled No. 1 seed
South Dakota State University for the FCS crown on May 16 in Frisco;
in a contest beset by torrential rain and a lightning delay, the
Bearkats once again stormed back when the game was on the line;
trailing 21-17 with less than six minutes remaining, SHSU converted
a series of clutch fourth-down plays on its last possession before
scoring on a 10-yard touchdown strike with 16 seconds left to clinch
the 23-21 triumph; the team celebrated the first national title in
program history and capped the year with an unblemished record of 10
wins and zero losses; and
WHEREAS, SHSU was led by Jequez Ezzard, the championship game
Most Outstanding Player, and Eric Schmid, the Southland Conference
Player of the Year; both were selected as FCS All-Americans, as were
Jahari Kay and Colby Thomas; the Bearkats also received valuable
contributions throughout the year from the other members of the
roster, and the players were guided by K. C. Keeler, the SLC Coach
of the Year and the all-time winningest coach in FCS playoff
history; everyone associated with the Bearkats demonstrated great
resilience during an unforgettable year; the team was forced to
compete in the spring after the 2020 season was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic, and it also endured the hardships inflicted by
Winter Storm Uri in February 2021; and
WHEREAS, Winning a national title represents the culmination
of countless hours of training and an unwavering commitment to
excellence, and the Sam Houston State Bearkats may indeed reflect
with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature hereby congratulate the Sam Houston State University
football team on winning the 2020-2021 NCAA Division I Football
Championship Subdivision title and extend to the team's players,
coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for continued success; and,
be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the team as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.