Elliott T. Bowers Stadium

Named in honor of Dr. Elliott T. Bowers, who retired in 1989 after 20 years as president of Sam Houston State University, 14,000-seat Bowers Stadium has been the home of Bearkat football since 1986. The stadium opened on Sept. 13, 1986, with a 23-6 victory over Montana State. The largest crowd ever to see a game in Bowers Stadium (more than 16,000) watched Sam Houston State defeat nationally-ranked Alcorn State and future Super Bowl quarterback Steve "Air" McNair in 1994 in a contest aired on ABC-TV. Since the stadium opened, the Bearkats produced a record of 81 victories, 40 losses and one tie in the facility. Prior to the opening of Bowers Stadium, the Bearkats played in the old stone stadium at historic Pritchett Field. Home to both Sam Houston State University's football and track programs, the stadium features a Real Grass Pro artificial surface installed during the summer of 2007. The 27,000 square-foot Ron Mafrige Field House adjacent to the stadium contains athletic department administrative offices, three dressing rooms, training room, team meeting rooms, and the Sam Houston State University Athletics Learning Enhancement Center. The video/scoreboard with replays plus special interviews and features on the Sam Houston football team was added in 2006. Bowers Stadium also hosts several UIL high school football playoff games each season.