HBU head coach Vic Shealy, players speak at Southland Conference football media day

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyrightr 2019 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (July 18, 2019) The 2019 Southland Conference football media day was held at the Hilton Post Oak in Houston with all 11 schools represented to discuss their upcoming season and field questions from the 50-plus media in attendence.

Houston Baptist University was represented by head coach Vic Shealy (shown left), who is in his sixth season at the helm of the Huskies. HBU returns 17 starters, nine on offense and eight on defense, along with exceptional talent on both sides of the ball. Senior defensive end Andre Walker, who enters the season as the Huskies' all-time sacks leader, is a preseason all-conference selection. Junior linebacker Caleb Johnson ranked fifth in the league in tackles per game, recorded 102 total stops on the year and tied for the league lead with four fumble recoveries to earn preseason all-conference honors. Sophomore wide receiver Jerreth Sterns led the conference in receptions in his rookie campaign and earned preseason all-conference honors. Junior quarterback Bailey Zappe tied for the league lead with 23 touchdown passes, while setting nearly every HBU single-game, single-season and career passing record.

Shealy discussed his view of the upcoming season;  stating to the press:

“These are good days at HBU with great things happening in our program. I can’t wait to see these guys. We play, in my opinion, in the best FCS conference in the country and I think this year, what makes it more difficult, is the strength from top to bottom. You look at the quality of teams that you have to play week-in and week-out, our league exposes areas where you are not very good. By the time you get to a playoff, you are a hardened team."

He added:

"I think this year will be one of the most fun years I’ve ever had as a coach. I believe in this football team we have, this is the best team we have had in our years here at HBU. The six years have gone by fast and what I see with this team, is that since we said goodbye to them before Christmas until they came back in January, they have not missed a step toward the expectations on their plate.”

In addition,

“Some of the success that we’ve seen, particularly on offense last year, the ability to generate points and do things with the football, are good indicators of where we are. This year we are going to be a fit for team’s in this league to handle, because both sides of the ball have the ability to trend up in incredible fashion.”

The Huskies open camp Monday, August 5 with a 7:30 p.m. practice at Husky Stadium. The 2019 season kicks off against FBS and Conference USA foe UTEP Saturday, Aug. 31 at 8 p.m. CDT at the Sun Bowl in El Paso.