Overtime

Football – Roster issues to clear up as training camp closes

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 no comments

The Cougars concluded training camp Saturday with their second scrimmage at the Carl Lewis International Complex.

Eleven days remain until the season opener against UCLA on Sept. 3 at Robertson Stadium.

With two weeks of preparation UH is focusing on bringing a well-balanced attack on both sides of the ball.
“For us to be the team we want to be, we’ve got to improve defensively,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We understand the scheme a lot more, we’ve been able to bring in some new players and it will be a matter of how quick they can adapt and play within in the system.

“I like where we’re headed, I like where we are right now as far as where were at this time last year. I would look for us to be much improved.”

Juniors Chevy Bennett and D.J. Hayden were expected to be the starters at cornerback. The emergence of sophomore Zach McMillan has complicated the defensive back situation, but it gives the unit more options.

“We’ve got to get our secondary cleaned up, and figure out who our safeties are going to be,” Sumlin said. “Zach McMillan has really come on as a corner and given us the ability to move Chevy Bennett to safety.”

Sumlin has counted on contributions from true freshmen for several seasons, but this year’s squad will be the most experienced of his tenure.

“It looks to me like we’ll probably have the least amount of freshman play since we’ve been here for four years,” Sumlin said. “You like to think that’s because you’re growing a program.”

Sumlin said linebacker Derrick Mathews, defensive lineman Joey Mbu, wide receiver/running back Daniel Spencer and wide receiver Mark Roberts are the four true freshman who will travel to away games based off of their efforts in training camp.

There have been no setbacks in the rehabilitation of senior quarterback Case Keenum’s knee. However, the goal of the coaching staff has been to not overwork him.
“We’re under a year from the injury and the surgery,” Sumlin said. “During the last two weeks he missed only two practices, we held him out of a couple. If it were up to him he’d practice all the time. We’ve got to ice the knee, we have to make sure he’s not sore. If he starts favoring it you get other problems with arms and shoulders.

“Our medical staff does a great job, he’s right where he needs to be. Everything has gone according to plan.”

Football – Quarterback added to fourth award watch list

Tuesday, August 23, 2011 no comments

The eyes of college football’s elite will be on Case Keenum this season. He was one of 31 quarterbacks who was selected to the Manning Award Watch List.

The accolade was established by the AllState Sugar Bowl to commemorate the quarterback family of Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning.
Others C-USA signal callers on the list include East Carolina quarterback Dominique Davis Sr. and Southern Miss. quarterback Austin Davis.

SEC declines immediate changes, but leaves door cracked open for Aggies

Sunday, August 14, 2011 no comments

Texas A&M will remain in the Big 12 for now, but the possibility of the Aggies leaving for the Southeastern Conference in the future is still plausible.

The A&M Board of Regents will still meet tomorrow to discuss conference realignment.

SEC presidents and chancellors decided Sunday that they are content “with the present 12 institutional alignment.” However, the statement did not rule out future expansion.

“Future conditions may make it advantageous to expand the number of institutions in the league,” Dr. Bernie Machen, the chair of SEC presidents, said in the statement.

UH is thought to be an option to replace A&M because it would keep a Big 12 presence in Houston, and because of the ties to former Southwest Conference schools Baylor, Texas and Texas Tech. Like the rest of the NCAA, the Cougars are waiting on the Aggies’ next move.

Brent Zwerneman of The San Antonio Express News suggests the SEC’s move has more to do with legalities and less to do with the SEC’s desire to welcome the Aggies.

Chip Brown of Orangebloods.com reported the Aggies buyout fees to leave the Big 12 could reach $30 million and “possible litigation from the Big 12 with regard to the SEC interfering with Texas A&M’s current contracts with Big 12 TV partners (ABC/ESPN and Fox).”

According to a tweet from the New York Times’ Pete Thamel, “A high-ranking SEC official called today’s statement a way to ‘tap the brakes’ so the Texas A&M can ‘get its house in order.’

In addition to the legal issues created by conference realignment, the SEC would likely also want to find add a 14th school if the Aggies join.

Football – Coach relishes props from “Prime Time”

Friday, August 12, 2011 no comments

In his Hall of Fame induction, all-time great NFL cornerback Deion Sanders gave UH Co-Offensive Coordinator and wide receivers coach Jason Phillips received some unexpected praise.

As a credit to Phillips work ethic, Sanders complimented him for his competitiveness in practice.

“Jason Phillips who is the offensive coordinator at the University of Houston, but when we went at it against each other in Atlanta on the scout team,” Sanders said in his speech. “He didn’t have Sundays to play. He had Wednesdays and Thursdays, and he went at my butt. We had a battle every day, and I love you Jay for that.”

As a player Phillips was one of the most successful wide receivers in UH history. He played in the NFL from 1989-1994 for the Detroit Lions and the Falcons. Afterward Phillips played three seasons in the Canadian Football League.

He was in Canton, Ohio at the time of Sanders’ speech, but said he had no idea he would be involved in it.

“I’m still in a surreal state of mind,” Phillips said. “There’s a guy who is one of the greatest of all time to ever play that position. It says a lot about him as an individual, him respecting the way I approached the game and how we went at each other and competed. I’m very honored for him to mention me in his Hall of Fame speech.”

-John Brannen

UH involved in conference realignment chatter

Friday, August 12, 2011 2 comments

Perhaps summer can’t be complete without UH getting pulled into the discussion of conference realignment.

The ongoing tug of war between Texas A&M and Texas over The Longhorn Network threatens to drastically alter the look of the Big 12. UT wanted to take advantage of an untapped market by airing high school football games. A&M is adamantly opposed to that notion and is positioning itself for a move to the Southeastern Conference.

With the Aggies itching for a spot in the SEC, it is the Cougars who could benefit. Brent Zerneman of the Houston Chronicle reported today that the Big 12 considers UH a potential replacement if A&M leaves.

Last summer State Rep Garnet Coleman (D-Houston) along with 27 other members of the legislature wrote a letter to the Big 12 asking them to consider the inclusion of UH.

Coleman also made a Facebook group called “University of Houston Should Join The Big 12.” The group has more than 4,800 members. After a year of relative inactivity, the page has been abuzz with the recent rumors.

Texas Christian took the first chance it got to upgrade from the Mountain West Conference to the Big East. While UH would likely welcome an invite from the Big East, it is an upgrade to the Big 12 that is more logical.

TCU will play many of its away games against schools like Connecticut, Pittsburgh and West Virginia. That creates a logistical challenge for athletes, having to travel long distances across the country to compete.

The Big 12 transition wouldn’t be as difficult for UH. The Cougars would go from travelling to Conference USA schools like SMU, Tulane and UTEP to Baylor, Texas and Oklahoma.

The long-term future of the Big 12 is a valid concern, but nonetheless a step up from C-USA. A coveted spot in a BCS conference will likely be greeted with open arms.

Like A&M will have to acclimate to the SEC, UH would have to do the same in the Big 12. The Cougars would take some licks for several seasons adjusting to the level of competition.

Expediting the process of new facilities might also be an issue. Sam Khan of the Houston Chronicle reported Thursday that UH has raised $51 million for a new football stadium. Approximately $30 million more is needed to begin construction. A move to the Big 12 would probably increase sense of urgency.