Sam Houston Football Coach KC Keeler, Players Noah Smith and Kavian Gaither Discuss Preparation and Challenges at CUSA Media Day
FRISCO, TX — Sam Houston’s head football coach KC Keeler, along with players Noah Smith and Kavian Gaither, addressed the media at the Conference USA (CUSA) Media Day on Tuesday, July 23, 2024, in Frisco, TX. The focus was on the Bearkats’ transition from the FCS to FBS last year and their preparation for the upcoming season.
Coach Keeler emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and the team’s dedication since the end of the previous season. “There is a big difference between being 10-2 and 3-9, a big difference between being 8-4 and 3-9, and that’s what this team could have achieved last year and we didn’t,” Keeler stated. “We have to push ourselves to a different level, and I thought we had a great spring and as good a summer as I’ve seen a team have.”
Addressing the transition to FBS, Keeler highlighted the increased focus on nutrition and conditioning. “We recognize that we have to get a little bit bigger and stronger to compete,” he said. “I think we all feel really good about going into the season.”
When asked about the challenges faced during the move to FBS, Keeler cited travel and scheduling difficulties. “The travel’s real. We had a unique situation where we got home after playing Liberty, a tough loss, at 7 a.m. on Friday morning and had to spin around on a Tuesday and fly out to play New Mexico State,” he recounted. “That travel is hard, those midweek games are hard.”
Keeler also spoke about hiring Skyler Cassity as the new defensive coordinator. “I remember talking to my offensive guys as we came off the field, and they’re like, ‘They did a pretty good job,’” Keeler said. “Skyler’s organizational skills have been just incredible, and he relates so well to the players.”
Gaither, entering his fourth year, reflected on the new defensive coordinator and his role in the defense. “It’s just a change of scenery,” he remarked. “At the end of the day, defense is a defense; we still have to go out there and execute.”
Junior wide receiver Noah Smith discussed the transition to working with two new quarterbacks. “Hunter (Watson) moved in, he’s my roommate, so our connection happened pretty fast,” Smith shared. “We go get extra work in and try to stay healthy and get in the playbook with both of them.”
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Smith expressed confidence. “Last year was a very humbling and challenging experience for us in Conference USA, but I think that was what we needed to rise up for this year,” he said. “We had a lot of close games, and it’s on us to make that happen and win games.”
As the Bearkats gear up for their second year in CUSA, both the coaching staff and players are optimistic about the season ahead. Coach Keeler, Smith, and Gaither’s comments reflected a commitment to growth and a readiness to compete at the FBS level.
