Hicks steps in again
Brett Hicks has been in this situation before: starting quarterback goes down with an injury and Hicks comes in to save the day.
He did it last season and had Sam Houston State a win away from a Southland Conference championship and a trip to the playoffs.
After Bearkat starter Rhett Bomar was lost for the season last week in a win over Nicholls State, the offense is once again in Hicks’ hands. The stakes aren’t as high this time around. The Bearkats’ postseason hopes pretty much ended when McNeese State beat Stephen F. Austin last week to clinch the SLC’s automatic playoff berth.
But Hicks could help lead SHSU (5-4 overall, 3-2 in SLC) to its first back-to-back winning seasons since 2000-01 with a pair of victories in the final two games.
Hicks’ second stint as the Bearkats’ starting quarterback begins Saturday on the road at Southeastern Louisiana.
“It’s really nice to be back on the field because for a while there I thought I had thrown my last pass,” Hicks said. “That’s not the case now, but if I hadn’t gotten another opportunity I would have been OK. I have enjoyed my time here and have some fond memories. With that said, it’s going to be really funny to come out and compete before I hang them up.”
Hicks moved into the starting role three games into last season. In his first career start, he helped the Bearkats snap an eight-game road losing streak by throwing for 184 yards in a 20-17 victory at Missouri State.
After starting the following week in front of 90,000 people at the University of Texas’ Memorial Stadium, Hicks delivered a breakout game in a 30-20 win over Northwestern State to start conference play. He threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns in that game to set the tone for a 4-2 finish in league action.
The Bearkats might have lost their starter, but they have the luxury of having another one next in line.
“There is no question we have great confidence in Brett,” SHSU head coach Todd Whitten said. “That’s one of the great advantages of having a senior backup who has played. I know he has wanted to play more, but when he has, he has done a great job for us.”
With Rhett Bomar out, the Bearkats have to make adjustments to the offense. Hicks is more of a pocket passer, while Rhett Bomar was a dual-threat quarterback who has the speed to make plays with his feet.
Hicks threw for 1,773 yards and eight touchdowns last season, so he has what it takes to give SHSU a fair shake down the stretch.
And like 2006, Hicks doesn’t need to run the ball. He had SLC offensive Player of the Year D.D. Terry in the backfield. Now, Hicks has promising young running back Chris Poullard (782 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns) to carry the load.
“We will be a little more pocket-oriented with Brett,” Whitten said. “He can’t do the same quarterback run thing, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be effective. A year ago, he did a great job for us.”
Last year, Hicks was an unknown, whose only claim to fame during his first two seasons was a perfect 11-for-11 passing for 131 yards in limited action during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
But Hicks is a starter once again; the difference this time around is his teammates know what he can do.
“It’s a lot easier to play when you aren’t trying to impress people, and I felt like that was what I was doing,” Hicks said. “We have a bunch of starters back from last year and a lot of the same players. I think they genuinely believe in me. That helps a lot when you are out there, knowing they have your back and believing you can make plays.”
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