Reliant Stadium here we come
For 83 years Sam Houston State and Stephen F. Austin have been playing home and home series, now they will move to Houston
Lotis Butchko - Sports Editor
Issue date: 10/22/09 Section: Sports
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Sam Houston State University, Stephen F. Austin University and Lone Star Sports and Entertainment have come to terms on a four year contract for an unspecified amount of money.
"I can't think of a better deal for both teams on the table," said Stephen F. Austin Head Coach J.C. Harper. "It is always fun, and a great rivalry."
Both teams feature a significant number of alumni in Harris County. Sam Houston State reports as many as 58,000 alumni in the Houston area.
The battle of the piney woods, which is now in its 83 year, ranks only behind Sam Houston State and Texas State for the longest rivalry. Both schools use the greater Houston area as a hotbed for recruiting and feel that this could bolster their efforts.
"We recruit really hard down here, and have a big presence down here," said Sam Houston State Head Coach Todd Whitten. "So many kids can come to the games and I think it will be a huge success."
Reliant stadium will host three college games a year including Rice vs. Texas, the Texas Bowl, which hosts a Big 10 team and a Big 12 team, and now the Battle of the Piney woods game.
"I think the most interesting thing about this rivalry is when you walk into the state capital in Austin first thing you see is a statue of Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin," Athletic Director Bobby Williams said. "I think the rivalry starts right there."
In the 83 years of the rivalry, Sam Houston leads the series 48-33-2, including winning the last five games."I have seen this thing from both sides," said Whitten, who use to play quarterback for Stephen F. Austin. "It truly is one of the great great rivalries of all time."
The biggest factor for the game will be attendance. For both teams this game is typically the biggest draw of the year. For Sam Houston the Alumni Association will sponsor a bus this year along with tickets and tailgating.
But with the game being moved to a neutral site will it affect attendance or will it draw more alumni?
"It's very critical for all of us out there to support this football game when it comes around," said Stephen F. Austin athletic director Robert Hill. "And to encourage as many people as possible to attend this football game and to support it so we can have kind of a Texas, Oklahoma weekend."
Reliant stadium will be roping off the top tiers of the stadium leaving the lower bowl open for approximately 26,000 seats, with tickets between 15 to 35 dollars.
"We think it's one of the best rivalries, regardless of what division it is in," said Hill.
Now the question is, will that rivalry sell?
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