Sam Houston Normal Institute’s athletics teams were nicknamed the Normals from their formation in the early years of the twentieth century until 1923. That’s the year the Texas State Legislature changed the name of Sam Houston Normal Institute to Sam Houston State Teachers College. The term “Normal” now outdated, attention was turned to finding another nickname for the teams. University lore says that the then-popular rallying phrase "tough as a bearkat” sparked the creation of the new nickname, and since the animal in the phrase was “thought to be more mythical than real,” the spelling – which differentiated between “bearcats,” “bear cats,” and “bearkats” – was settled upon as "bearkat."

Speaking of “real” – three kinkajous have graced the SHSU campus in their role of a live mascot.

In 1959, the costumed mascot Sammy Bearkat began appearing at sporting events and other university functions. His companion, Samantha Bearkat, first appeared in 1986; she was retired in 2005.

In 2009, Sammy celebrated his 50th anniversary.