#shsu17

1915 SHNI Normals

To celebrate the Sam Houston State Bearkats’ 100th season, we are highlighting some of our football material from years past. 

Today we are focusing on the 1915 Sam Houston Normal Institute football team. 1915 proved a successful year for SHNI as they tallied their best record (5-1-1) since the school began playing football in 1912. Led by Quarterback  Edwin “Red” Adams, SHNI amassed 251 points to its opponents 9. The team easily defeated their early opponents in the high school class (Cleveland HS, Palestine YMCA, Allen Academy, and Houston HS). SHNI defeated rival the Alexander Institute by a score of 19-3, but injuries started piling up. SHNI battled it out in the rain with Southwest Texas (Texas State-San Marcos) to bruising 0-0 tie. Limping into the final game with North Texas, SHNI fell 0-6. The yearbook noted that “ it is true we lost the most important game, but the defeat was not decisive and a good alibi is ours”

This drawing, created by a local teacher and artist named John W. Thomason, depicts a member of the 1915 team. In a few short years, Thomason would join the United States Marines and receive the Navy Cross for his service in World War I.