Houston Cougar Game Day 1 vs UCLA - Links Dump

Just dumping a few links in anticipation of the Houston vs. UCLA match up  on Saturday.

University of Houston vs. UCLA Game notes

Conference USA Week One Notes

From The Houston Chronicle:

Case Stories:  Keenum Once Kicked A 47 Yard FG

Faith, Family, Friends Help UH's Keenum Bounce Back From Injury

UH, Central Florida Set To Make More Headlines in C-USA

Houston Cougars Game Day 1 - vs. UCLA Bruins

VS 

Date: September 3, 2011
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Location: John O'Quinn Field at Roberston Stadium
University of Houston
TV: Fox Sports
Radio: 790 AM (Houston)
Last Meeting: 2010 @ UCLA 31 Houston 13

Revenge Match

The Houston Cougars entered the 2010 season with high expectations.  The Cougars had a highly successful 2009 season that saw victories over #5 Oklahoma St., Texas Tech and Mississippi St.  The Cougars took a late season tumble that ended with losses in the Conference USA title game and the Armed Forces Bowl.  The loss to Air Force in the bowl game was especially bitter to fans and star UH QB Case Keenum.  Keenum threw 6 interceptions in the game.

UH opened the 2010 season with resounding wins over Texas St. (68-28) and UTEP (54-24).  The wins also returned the Cougars to the national rankings entering the game with the Bruins.  

However the UTEP game only foreshadowed a more ominous injury against UCLA.  In the 3rd quarter against the Miners, Keenum threw a pick and attempted to make a tackle.  Keenum missed and was injured on the play.  It was later revealed he sustained a concussion.

Fast forward to the next game versus UCLA.  Things were already going bad for the Coogs.  Down 21-3, Keenum threw an interception to Akeem Ayers and again attempted a tackle.  The results of that one player devastated the Houston season.  Keenum and the hopes of Cougar fans everywhere lay crumpled on the turf of the Rose Bowl.

Case Keenum tore his ACL and the hearts of Cougar fans.  The injury ended Keenum's college career, his assault on the UH and NCAA record book, the Cougars hopes of crashing the BCS and dreams of a wonderful season.

To add insult to injury, Keenum's primary back up Cotton Turner sustained a season injury also.  The injuries thrust true freshman Terrance Broadway into the fire and the starting line up a week later.

In the last two seasons, Houston prevailed on revenge games.  In 2008, crosstown arch-rival Rice knocked the Cougars out of the C-USA title game and the 2009 Cougars responded with a 73-14 thrashing of the Owls.  In 2009, UTEP burst the bubble of the Coogs.  The Cougars were coming off back to back wins over #5 Oklahoma St. and Texas Tech then lost to UTEP.  The 2010 Cougars retaliated with a 54-24 beat down.

Coming off a bitter 5-7 season, the Coogs hope to get a second shot at the 2010 season.  Well not really.  The schedule plays much easier than 2010.  However, Case Keenum attained a sixth year of eligibility from the NCAA.  The offense returns a high powered attack lead by WRs Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier.  The Coogs also return stud running backs Bryce Beall and Michael Hayes.  RB Charles Sims returns after sitting out his sophomore season.  The NCAA ruled Sims ineligible academically for the 2010 season.  Sims (2009) and Beall (2008) are former C-USA Freshman of the Year.

Finally a word about the defense.  If the Coogs defense leaps to the middle tier of NCAA defenses then the season becomes a much more promising one.  The defense doesn't even have to make a giant leap statistically.  If they can make just a few more stops a game and get Keenum and Company the ball back, the Coogs will soar in 2011.

Houston Cougars Basketball - Fall 2010/Spring 2011 Signees - Jherrod Stiggers

Continuing to meet the new Houston Cougar basketball signees, welcome Jherrod Stiggers from Terrell, TX.  Reports list Stiggers as a 200 lb. shooting guard.  According the release from the University, Stiggers averaged 18.4 points per game and named the 15-4A move valuable player.

Stiggers joined the Cougars in the early signing period last fall.

Rivals rates Stiggers a 3-star recruit while Scout ranks him a 2-star recruit.  ESPN also rates Stiggers with 3-stars and gives him a 91 grade.  The 91 score reflects him as a Mid-Major Prospect on the ESPN Grading Scale.  Follow the links for more information on Stiggers.

Jherrod Stiggers Summer Mixtape; University of Houston Commit

 

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