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August 14, 2009

Southland Notebook: Trying something new

Millard joins Bearkat coaching staff as voluntary assistant

By Cody Stark

There will be some new coaches roaming the sideline this season for Sam Houston State, but there is one guy that literally stands above the rest.

Former Seattle Seahawks and University of Texas offensive lineman Bryan Millard has joined the Bearkats staff as a voluntary assistant with the goal of breaking into the coaching ranks down the road.

Millard hopes that he can use his successful playing career to help develop young players. But he knows that just because he played football does not necessarily mean that he can coach.

“I learned a long, long time ago that just because you played does not equate to you being able to coach,” Millard said Friday afternoon. “I have to learn how to coach also. Being around coach (Brandon) Jones, coach (James) Ferguson and coach (Lee) Hayes, I’m getting hands-on experience.”

Millard played at Texas from 1980-82 and was a starter on the Longhorns’ 1981 squad, which won the Cotton Bowl and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the nation. He went undrafted in the NFL, but he was selected by the New Jersey Generals in the 1983 United States Football League draft.

He played there for two seasons before joining the Seahawks in the fall of 1984. He earned a starting job in 1985 and held it until an injury derailed his career at the beginning of the ’92 season.

After Seattle released him in ’93, Millard wanted to be a family man, went into private business and eventually opened a chain of gas stations. He sold those a few years back, and after watching his kids grow up, decided it was the right time to get back into football.

Former Texas assistant coach Hardee McCrary got Millard in touch with Bearkats head coach Todd Whitten and that opened the door.

“Hardee McCrary, who used to coach with coach Whitten years ago, helped me out,” Millard said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity coach Whitten has given me. I’m here when they open the door and when they close the door. I’m very thankful to be here.”



Lamar football schedule finalized — Lamar announced its 11th and final opponent for the 2010 season when the Cardinals return to football for the first time since 1989. The Cardinals will finish the season Nov. 20 at home in a contest against Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Lamar also hosts Webber International (Sept. 11), Sam Houston State (Oct. 2), Langston (Oct. 9), South Alabama (Oct. 16) and South Dakota. The Cardinals open the season at McNeese State on Sept. 4 and head to Southeastern Louisiana (Sept. 18), Stephen F. Austin (Sept. 25), North Dakota (Oct. 30) and Georgia State (Nov. 6).



Two more invites — The Nicholls State men’s basketball team better make sure it stocks up on plenty of warm clothes this fall. The Colonels were part of the six-team field that will play in the Great Alaska Shootout, which was announced Friday.

The tournament usually features eight teams, but host Alaska Anchorage said the field will be smaller in 2009. Joining the Colonels and Seawolves will be Houston, Oklahoma, San Diego and Washington State.

Also this week, the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-off field was announced and Texas State will be representing the Southland Conference. The Bobcats will face Arizona State in the opening round when the event begins Nov. 16-17.

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SHSU Sports
  • 7-29-willie-fritz-interview.jpg Time to crank it up

    Sam Houston State head coach Willie Fritz knew coming into the season that he was going to have his hands full turning around the Bearkats’ football program.
    The rest of the coaches in the Southland Conference apparently agree.
    Coming off a 5-6 season, a fifth-place finish in league play and the loss of 15 starters, Sam Houston State has been tabbed to finish seventh in the SLC preseason coaches’ poll, which was announced Wednesday during the Southland Conference Football Media Day at the L’Auberge du Lac Resort.

    July 28, 2010 1 Photo

  • Pitching dominates Triple-A All-Star Game

    Like the Major League All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Anaheim, Calif., pitchers dominated the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday in Allentown, Pa.

    July 14, 2010

  • 7-11-Dustin-Martin.jpg Almost there

    After years of toiling in the minor leagues, Dustin Martin can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
    Rising through the ranks of the minor league system all the way from Rookie League, the former Sam Houston outfielder is playing some of his best baseball these days and will play in Wednesday’s Triple-A All-Star Game in Allentown Pa., which will be televised at 6 p.m. on the MLB Network.

    July 10, 2010 1 Photo

  • Gallant shining again in Cape Cod League

    Maybe, just maybe, on the mound closing games is where Dallas Gallant needs to be if he’s going to make a name for himself.
    For the second summer in a row, the Sam Houston State pitcher has performed marvelously when he finishes games for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, a member of the distinguished Cape Cod Baseball League.

    July 9, 2010

  • Bearkats enjoy banner year in classroom

    With the release of grade point averages for the more than 400 Bearkats participating in varsity sports, plus the announcement by the Southland Conference office of the annual Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll, the 2009-10 season goes in the books as another banner academic year for Sam Houston State University.

    June 25, 2010

  • Belcher, Vilardi golf tournaments help rival football programs

    Golfers in the Huntsville area can help the football programs at both Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin, two longtime rivals that soon will be adding new excitement to their annual “Battle of the Piney Woods” when they kick off this fall at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

    June 17, 2010

  • Kelly ready for NCAA golf regional

    When Sam Houston’s Scott Kelly tees off Thursday in the NCAA South Central Regional men’s golf tournament, his goal will be simple. He wants to become the first Bearkat golfer to earn a spot in the national tournament.
    “As an at-large entry, it’s difficult to advance but it’s not out of the question,” Kelly said. “I’m going into the tournament with high expectations and will give it my best shot.”

    May 19, 2010

  • Dreaming about a trip to state Dreaming big

    His mind has been working overtime. Huntsville senior Quenntin Tucker has spent the past two weeks preparing for the Class 4A Region III track meet.
    Tucker practices the discus by day, then dreams about it at night. Physically and mentally, he’s ready for the big meet.
    “I had a dream about this,” Tucker said last week during a short break from practice. “In the dream I finished second in our region, then I finished second at state.
    “I woke up that morning smiling.”

    May 1, 2010 1 Photo

  • Hot hitter Same old story

    The Bearkats must’ve felt as if they had a little bit of déjà vu.
    For the second straight Saturday, the Bearkats used a monster inning to climb out of a huge hole only to see it slip away.
    This time, it was Stephen F. Austin, which rallied for five runs in the final two innings and held off Sam Houston for a 14-13 win.

    May 1, 2010 1 Photo

  • What a catch! UCA has Bearkat softball team on ropes

    The Bearkats saw the light dim on their Southland Conference tournament aspirations Saturday afternoon.
    Desperately in need of a series win to gain ground in the chase for the sixth and final seed, the Sam Houston State softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Central Arkansas.

    May 1, 2010 1 Photo