Sammy Bearkat

Sammy Bearkat is the mascot of Sam Houston State University (SHSU), located in Huntsville, Texas. He is a popular attraction at many athletic events such as football, basketball, and volleyball. He also appears for various campus and community functions. Sammy's two-minute routine earned him a national championship of the mascots division at the 2005 United Spirit Association Collegiate National Championship. Sammy was also named the 2010^[1] and 2011^[2] National Cheerleading Association (NCA) Mascot National Champion. In the 2012 nationals season, Sammy competed with the SHSU Co-Ed Cheer Team (who made their first appearance ever) at the National Cheerleading Association (NCA) collegiate cheer competition. Together they won first place and earned the title of NCA Division I Cheer National Collegiate Champions. In 2013 Sammy also competed with the SHSU Co-Ed Cheer Team who won their second straight national championship title for NCA. Sammy returned to the Band Shell in Daytona Beach to compete alongside the SHSU All-Girl cheer team who won the NCA All-Girl Division I National Championship Title in 2014. In 2015 Sammy was able to wrap his paws around another NCA Division I title as he competed alongside the Co-Ed Cheer Team. In 2016, Sammy competed alongside the SHSU Division I Co-Ed Cheer Team to win another 1st place NCA National Championship. Sammy was also chosen as the 2016 NCA Mascot National Champion after showcasing a great routine in Daytona Beach, Florida. Sammy has now brought home 1st place in various different flavors in 2005 (USA Mascot Championship), 2010 (NCA Mascot Championship), 2011 (NCA Mascot Championship), 2012 (NCA Division I Co-Ed Championship), 2013 (NCA Division I Co-Ed Championship), 2014 (NCA Division I All-Girl Championship), 2015 (NCA Division I Co-Ed Championship) & 2016 (NCA Mascot Championship & NCA Division I Co-Ed Championship), 2017 (NCA Mascot Championship), 2018 (NCA Division I All-Girl Championship).

History[edit]

Sam Houston Normal Institute's athletics teams were originally nicknamed the Normals. When the Texas Legislature changed the name of Sam Houston Normal Institute to Sam Houston State Teachers College, the term “Normal” became outdated.^[3]

The settled replacement was Bearkats, though early references spelled the name either "Bearcats," "Bear Cats," or "Bearkats." A bearcat is said by some to be a kinkajou, a small, golden, carnivorous mammal that resides in the jungles of South America. It is doubtful those who coined the "Bearkat" nickname had either a kinkajou or a binturong in mind. However, more likely, the name came from a popular local saying of the time, "Tough as a Bearkat!" Since the animal in the saying was thought more mythical than real, the spelling settled upon was "Bearkat, because the University of Cincinnati Bearcats are the only "bearcats"!.^[3]^[4]"

In the late 1940s, then SHSU President Harmon Lowman attempted to change the Sam Houston mascot from Bearkats to "Ravens" (after General Sam Houston's Cherokee nickname).^[3] Mrs. Vernon Schuder reported that the alumni were polled and she voted for the raven, but that "all those old Bearkats beat us out!^[5]"

Three real kinkajous graced the SHSU campus in their role of a live mascot at various times during the 1960s and 1970s.^[4]

On December 14, 1959, Sammy began appearing at sporting events and other university functions.^[3]

The current Sammy Bearkat look and suit was unveiled on January 30, 1997 at half time of the Sam Houston State versus Stephen F. Austin basketball game.

Although many of the former student mascots remain unknown, some of them include:

Gilbert McEachern (1959-1961, Original Sammy Bearkat)
Holly Ritter (1980-1981)
Joe Dacovich (1981-1982)
Shelley Stogsdill (1982-1983)
Kim (Henderson) Boudny (1983-1984)
Cari Ashkar and Sherilan (Youngblood) Young (1984-1985)
Angelina (Wooten) Santos (1985-1986)
Johnny Robinson (1985-1986)
Kelly Cartwright (Plunkett) (1986)
Crofford "Snooky" Lane (1986-1987)
Brad Davison (1987-1988)
Lana Burns (1988-1989)
Cindy Coe - Samantha Bearkat (1989-1990)
Ryan Rose (1988-1990); (* in suit on stage to compete at 1989 NCA Cheerleading National Championship (SHSU's first ever National Championship appearance). He was also in the suit on mat to compete at 1990 UCA Mascot National Championship, 2nd Place (SHSU's first ever Mascot Championship appearance) video: 1990 Highlight Reel
Danet Vrazel - Samantha Bearkat (1990)
Patricia "Trish" Briscoe (1991-1992)
Michael Turner (1992)
Henry "Dale" Chambers, Jr. (1992)
Chris Gill (1992-1993)
Bishop Greene (1993)
Kenny Alexander (1994-1995)
James Pharaon (1995-1998) (*in suit on mat to compete at UCA Nationals, 10th Place) videos:1995, 1996, 1997
Mark Barry (1998-1999) (*in suit on mat to compete at UCA Nationals, 5th Place) video: 1998
Jeremy Hatfield (1999-2000)
Jon Segura (1999-2000)
Patrick Gardenier (2000-2006) (*in suit on mat to win 2005 United Spirit Association National Championship) videos:2003, 2004
Trent Coots (2004-2008)
Jarrod Leftwich (2005-2010,*in suit on mat to win 2010 National Cheerleading Association Mascot National Championship with a 92.22 score.^[6])
Thomas Inman (2009-2011,*in suit on mat to win 2011 National Cheerleading Association Mascot National Championship with a 90.00 score.)
Zane Thrift (2009-2012, *in suit on mat to compete at 2012 NCA Mascot Nationals, 7th place with a 78.89 score.)
Keith Jennings (2010-2011/2013-2015, *in suit on mat to win 2014 National Cheerleading Association All-Girl Division I Cheer National Championship with a 95.63 score.)
Julio Poletti (2010-2011)
Heath Martin (2011-2012)
Stephanie Chronister (2011-2012)
Jackson Mayes (2011-2012,*in suit on mat to win 2012 National Cheerleading Association Division I Cheer National Championship with a 96.00 score.)
Brad Ertl (2012-201, *in suit on mat to win 2013 National Cheerleading Association Division I Cheer National Championship with a 91.78 score & 2016 National Cheerleading Association Division I Cheer National Championship with a 94.98 score)
Jarid Swope (2014-2018), *in suit on mat to win 2015 National Cheerleading Association Division I Cheer National Championship with a 96.95 score & 2016 National Cheerleading Association Mascot National Championship with a 57.63 score.
Jason Carson (2015-2017), 2017 Cane Award recipient (video 2017 Award^[7])
Harrison Teel (2016-2017), *in suit on mat to win 2017 National Cheerleading Association Mascot National Championship with a 58.23 score. 2017 Cane Award^[7] recipient
Amy Gibson (2016-2018), 2017 Cane Award^[7] recipient
Addison Martindale (2016-2019), 2017 Cane Award^[7] recipient

Samantha Bearkat (1986-2005)[edit]

In 1986, Samantha Bearkat was introduced as a non-costumed character. In later years Samantha appeared in costume along Sammy. she was "retired" in 2005.

Cindy Coe, who played Samantha from 1989 to 1990 brought a whole new look to Samantha's costume when her Mom custom-made most of Samantha's outfits to include a homecoming dress, old fashioned bikini and other fun fashions. (These clothes have since been donated to the Florida Gators mascot team.)

Airkat[edit]

Airkat, an inflatable costumed version of Sammy, appeared in the mid-2000s. Although the costume has since been retired, it is still in a container on school grounds.

References[edit]

^ "SHSU Wins Championship Titles in Two Spirit Programs". KBTX. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ Kolby Flowers. "Sammy the Bearkat retains national champion title". The Houstonian. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Erin Cassidy (2011). "A Short History of SHSU's Bearkat Mascot" (PDF). Newton Gresham Library at SHSU. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ ^a ^b "Truth Be Told--A Bearkat is NOT a Kinkajou OR a Binturong". Sam Houston State University: Today@Sam. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ "SHSU Tradition". Sam Houston State University. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ Mary Rainwater. "A Real Character". Huntsville Item. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cane Award 2017 Sammy Bearkat Spirit Program, archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2019-09-20

[2010champ-1] "SHSU Wins Championship Titles in Two Spirit Programs". KBTX. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[2011champ-2] Kolby Flowers. "Sammy the Bearkat retains national champion title". The Houstonian. Archived from the original on 2013-06-29. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[musings-3] Erin Cassidy (2011). "A Short History of SHSU's Bearkat Mascot" (PDF). Newton Gresham Library at SHSU. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[todayatsamkinkajou-4] "Truth Be Told--A Bearkat is NOT a Kinkajou OR a Binturong". Sam Houston State University: Today@Sam. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[shsutradition-5] "SHSU Tradition". Sam Houston State University. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[2010leftwich-6] Mary Rainwater. "A Real Character". Huntsville Item. Retrieved 2013-04-24.

[:0-7] Cane Award 2017 Sammy Bearkat Spirit Program, archived from the original on 2021-12-15, retrieved 2019-09-20

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v t e Sam Houston Bearkats football
Venues	Pritchett Field (1912–1985) Bowers Stadium (1986–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Stephen F. Austin: Battle of the Piney Woods
Culture & lore	Sammy Bearkat "Bearkat Fight Song" Bearkat Marching Band
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
National championship seasons in bold

v t e Sam Houston Bearkats men's basketball
Venues	Sam Houston State Gymnasium (Old Wooden Gym) (1917-56) Bearkat Gymnasium (1956-76) Bernard Johnson Coliseum (1976–present)
Culture & lore	Sammy Bearkat The Famous Bearkat Band
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
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