15-bearkat-bballPROCLAMATION 2002-15
WHEREAS The 2002-2003 Sam Houston State University Men’s Basketball Team brought national recognition to Huntsville, Texas by earning the University’s first earned berth in the NCAA
Men’s Basketball National Championship tournament; and
WHEREAS Sam Houston State Bearkats, one of only 64 teams selected for the tournament, played the University of Florida Gators in a CBS nationally televised game in Tampa, Florida on
Friday, March 21; and
WHEREAS When the Bearkats defeated Stephen F. Austin State 69 – 66 in overtime in the ESPN2 national telecast Southland Conference tournament finals, the victory marked the Bearkats’
first post-season tournament trophy, and the first time to reach the tournament finals; and
WHEREAS With a 23 – 7 season record, SHSU produced its highest NCAA Division I season victory total, and longest NCAA Division I winning streak (ten in a row). The Bearkats ended the
regular season ranked fifth nationally in field goal percentage defense, eighth in blocked shots, and 24th in assists; and
WHEREAS Bob Marlin, in his fifth season as head coach of the Bearkat basketball team, was recognized as Southland Conference Men’s Basketball “Coach of the Year,” his second such honor.
And, during Marlin’s five years as Sam Houston coach, the Bearkats stand 85—57, the best record of all 11 teams in the Southland Conference; and
WHEREAS Senior forward Donald Cole became Sam Houston State’s first men’s basketball NCAA Division I All-American in 2003, earning honorable mention selection by the Associated Press,
Southland Conference “Player of the Year,” a first team all-conference, and Southland Conference Tournament “Most Valuable Player;” and
WHEREAS Senior point guard Robert Shannon, who led the Southland Conference in assists for the second year in a row, was a second team All-Southland Conference selection, and junior
center Eddy Fobbs was a third team All-SLC selection;
WHEREAS Coaches Bob Marlin, Dwayne Kelley, Neil Hardin, Joe Hicks, Ricky Fernandez and Brian Jordy; Players Othello Alford, Eddy Barlow, Nick Christopher, Donald Cole, Marcus Ebow, Eddy
Fobbs, Felton Freeman, Chris Jordan, Mario Kinsey, Jay Oliphant, Sam Onwuchekwa, Robert Shannon, Jason Stephenson and Rodrick Winters; and Managers/Trainers Jerrell Barron, Hope Ghorley
and Ross McRae all played key roles during the Bearkats’ victorious 2003 season;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT HEREBY PROCLAIMED, by the power vested in me as the Mayor of the City of Huntsville that April 22, 2003 be designated as:
MEN’S BEARKAT BASKETBALL DAY
in Huntsville, Texas.
______________________________
William B. Green, Mayor