Published: October 27, 2008 11:32 pm      

Bomar to play in East-West Shrine game

Bearkat quarterback eager to impress

Sam Houston State quarterback Rhett Bomar looks to cap off collegiate career in Houston after accepting an invitation to play in the East-West Shrine All-Star Game on Jan. 17, 2009.

With NFL scouts on hand, playing in the Shrine game will be Bomar’s last opportunity to impress before the NFL Draft on Apr. 25 and 26.

“I’m real excited about this opportunity,” Bomar said Monday. “I’ve put in a lot of hard work. I’m ready to go out there and show what I can do. There will be a ton of scouts out there. This will just give me one more chance.”

The Shrine Game is one of three postseason all-star games. There is also the Texas vs. the Nation game held in El Paso and the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala. Bomar will face football players from both the Football Bowl Subdivision and the Football Championship Subdivision.

“It will be good to play against guys from a higher level,” Bomar said. “I’ve played in that upper level before so it won’t be that big of a shock for me.

The Shrine game will be held at Robertson Stadium on the campus of the University of Houston and boasts alumni such as Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers and Joe Greene.

“The good thing about it is that the game is only in Houston,” Bomar said. “It will definitely be good for the fans. It’s not far enough to where they can’t attend. I can put on a Bearkat helmet one last time in front of them. It should be a good time for everyone and good for Sam Houston State.”

Bomar will be the sixth Bearkat to appear in a postseason all-star game.

Most recently, former running back D.D. Terry participated in the 2007 Texas vs. the Nation game. Former quarterback Dustin Long played in a pair of games. Long played in the Shrine Game and the Hula Bowl in 2005.

Former quarterback Josh McCown played in the 2001 Senior Bowl and scored a touchdown in the game.

Michael Bankston and Mike Ober played in the Senior Bowl in 1991 and 1989, respectively.

Through 15 outings as a Bearkat, Bomar has passed for 3,999 yards. He is 904 yards away from become the SHSU all-time leader in passing. Arthur Louis is the current record holder, throwing for 4,902 yards from 1977 to 1980.