Bearkats prepared to unleash Bomar
Sam Houston State lost Southland Conference Offensive Most Valuable Player D.D. Terry, three receivers who combined to catch 82 passes for 1,138 yards, and eight starters on defense, yet the Bearkats were tabbed by three SLC sports information directors to win the league.
Those votes reflect the presumed impact of junior quarterback Rhett Bomar.
Disgraced and dismissed from Oklahoma after accepting payment for work he did not perform at a Norman, Okla., auto dealership, Rhett Bomar transferred to Sam Houston State, served his penance by completing a one-year suspension handed down by the NCAA, and emerged last spring as the Bearkats' No. 1 quarterback. And while most everyone outside Huntsville continues to associate Rhett Bomar with the ills of intercollegiate athletics, his teammates have focused their attention on his burgeoning talent and tremendous upside.
The total package
"Anything you ask for a quarterback to have, he's got it," Sam Houston State tight end Blake Martin said of Rhett Bomar. "Last year we were 4-2 (in conference), and my best friend was quarterback Brett Hicks. He's a pocket passer. He drops back to pass the ball.
"But Rhett, he can drop back, he can scramble ... he can do it all. When a team has a quarterback with that much talent and guys around him that can make plays, you have no reason not to do well. Rhett is a great player and a great guy, and he brings a lot to the table."
Aside from Martin, a preseason all-conference selection, the Bearkats' lack of skill position players armed with talent and experience is troublesome. But that concern was pushed to the back burner when Rhett Bomar took the field and flashed his potential last spring. His arm strength was as good as advertised, and his elusiveness exceeded expectations.
Rhett Bomar had the competitive fire and leadership traits coaches crave in signal callers, making those questionable passes and occasional lapses in patience relatively tolerable.
"He needs to be patient and needs to understand that he does not have to do it all," Sam Houston State coach Todd Whitten said. "I've got to do a good job as a head coach of creating an environment that he can be successful in. We're going to work hard at that."
Part of that plan includes tweaking the offense to complement Rhett Bomar. The Bearkats will remain a passing team, attempting roughly 35 passes per game, but they will also feature Rhett Bomar on the move. Depending on how often he scrambles for positive yardage, Rhett Bomar will have 10-12 designed running plays per game to take advantage of his speed.
Maximizing his talents
Whitten sought advice from Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis on how the Longhorns best utilized Vince Young with an aim to showcase Rhett Bomar similarly.
"When I was at McNeese (State), Sam Houston had (future NFL quarterback) Josh McCown," Stephen F. Austin coach J.C. Harper said. "And after the game, I told him I don't know if I've ever been around a more competitive, great quarterback than him.
"With Rhett being at Sam Houston, it seems like 'here we go again.' Guys that are great players are just that; a lot of times, you can't do a whole lot (to stop them). They make plays and do what they're supposed to do. He's going to be a heck of a player in this league. It's really fortunate for Sam Houston and not so fortunate for the rest of us."
Whitten is acutely aware of what he has in Rhett Bomar.
"I think he's going to have a great year," Whitten said. "At some point this year, you'll see one of the finest quarterbacks that's ever played in the conference out on the field."
Eagerly waiting to play
For Rhett Bomar, the Aug. 30 opener against Angelo State can't come soon enough. The past year of inactivity has done little to distance him from his horrendous mistake in judgment, and it appears the only way to make critics forget his transgressions will be to remind them of the physical gifts that once had them uttering his name in admiration.
"He's excited about football," Martin said. "His having to sit out has really made him excited. I think he's ready to get back on the field and prove to people he's over all this."
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