Bearkat Gameday: Getting to know Billy Skinner

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October 18, 2008

By Cody Stark The Huntsville Item Sat Oct 18, 2008, 01:28 AM CDT

Billy Skinner is in his first season as Sam Houston State’s starting free safety. In four games this season, the senior from Arlington leads the Bearkats with 15 solo and 27 total tackles.

What do you like to do when you are not playing football?

I like to hang out with my fiancé. We have three dogs, so that takes up a lot of time running around with them. I also like to hang out with my teammates and play Madden. I really dominate in Madden, I dominate everybody. I’m a Cowboys guy, but they are so good on the game that I play with whoever. I’m going to win whenever, so it doesn’t matter. I can win with the Browns.

What is one of your greatest memories on the field ?

Probably my senior year of high school (at Arlington Lamar) and making is really deep in the playoffs. We made it to the state semifinals and lost to The Woodlands in 2004. That was fun. It was a fun year, the best I have ever had in football.

What are your plans after college?

I would like to go back to the (Dallas/Fort Worth) area and coach. Hopefully go coach some high school football. I don’t think I want to coach college because it takes up so much time. I want to be a family man. I want to spend a lot of time with my family, and I think it would be easier doing that as a high school coach instead of a college coach. They work hard (at Sam Houston).

You originally went to BYU to play football before transferring to Sam Houston. Why did you choose to go all the way to Utah?

I originally committed to Tulane in New Orleans, but the coach that recruited me there left and went to Tennessee, so they pulled the scholarship. It was late in the year, and BYU came and said they would offer me a scholarship. I went up there on an official visit, and it was a really nice place.

What is your favorite thing about being a Bearkat?

I love everybody on the team. Everybody around here makes this place what it is. Everybody is so cool on offense and defense. I can’t really say that there is anyone that bugs me, and that is rare. I can see these guys around and talk to them. That’s what I like.

Who has been a major influence in your life?

My high school coach Jeff Kemp. He was my safeties coach. He has always called me and made sure everything was OK. When I was going through tough times he was there for me. He was a heck of a coach, too. He is the one who turned me on to coaching and wanting to be a part of someone’s life. He has been a part of my life. I didn’t have a father, and he was there in that aspect — someone I could look up to as a positive male influence.

What is in your DVD player right now?

“The Office” season four. I love that show. Me and my fiancé watch that all the time. Nolan (Bucek) and David Cash can quote that show from season one to the show that is on right now.

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