Yes we all know by now that the University of Houston Cougars are headed to the Big East after the 2012 season.
The Cougars capped off a 13-1 season with the Ticket City Bowl win over a Penn State team in disarray but still facing the fifth rated defense. Case Keenum solved them quick and dispatched the Nittany Lions 30-14.
So with the football season in the review mirror what was left for the Cougars to do as a follow up?
The next big task facing new Houston coach Tom Levine was keeping the recruiting class of 2012 intact. Not only did he succeed in bringing in a talented class, he wrested away a prize recruit from Notre Dame.
Recruiting Day Surprise
Deontay Greenberry committed the Fighting Irish eight months ago. Despite the commitment to the Irish, he took a last minute weekend visit to UH. Pretty much everyone attributes the switch to his relationship with UH assistant Jamie Christian. Christian recruited Greenberry for Arizona St. before relocating to Houston's staff. My best guess is that Greenberry did a the last minute visit to Houston as a courtesy to Christian.
Initially, Greenberry was following his cousin to Notre Dame. After his Houston visit Greenberry stated that
Greenberry is ranked a five star recruit by Scout.
Greenberry's highlight reel:
Other Recruiting News
Even if Greenberry stayed with the Irish, the Cougars still hauled in a nice recruiting class. Scout ranked the Cougars as top recruiting class in Conference USA and 57th overall.. For comparison, future Big East brethren Boise St. ranked a step ahead of UH a #56, SMU at #65 and Central Florida #119. In the Big East, the Cougars ranked only ahead of #66 UConn and #68 South Florida.
I can't do the new class justice in a blog write up. Instead I'll leave it to the pros. The best free capsules are from official Houston website and Houston Chronicle UH beat writer Sam Khan, Jr.
Students Approve Fee Increase
Finally, one last step was required to fund a new football stadium and renovate Hofheinz Pavilion. The athletic department and the student government asked the students to vote in favor of increasing fees to fund both projects.
Again, Khan does a fantastic write up on what the referendum approval means to the school.
For artistic renderings of the new facilities and the UH push to get the approval visit Building UH Pride Together.
Cougar Pride Brewing
And now for an Unkle Monkee editorial.
Major props to the University of Houston students for passing the referendum. The administration and athletic department worked hard to move the Coogs out of Conference USA and into the Big East. With their work done, the students were ask to do their part and decide whether or not to build facilities deserving of the conference upgrade. And the students overwhelmingly approved the measure to impose fee increases on themselves.
In these economic times, when funding and money is tight, the students decided to add more to their financial obligations to the University. That is asking a lot when $50 can buy a lot of cheap beer, Ramen noodles and mac & cheese. On the message boards, many commented that $50 is not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. Yes it is when you are paying for books, tuition, rent and buying food. Every cent counts.
Yet the students realized that the conference upgrade raised the profile of the athletic teams which in turn raised the profile of the University. In view such upgrades, they saw the teams deserved to play in upgraded facilities. 9,923 students (26.1% of enrollment) voted. 7,334 (73.9%) voted in favor of the increase. The students didn't think about the present. They saw the future...they saw the potential for the Cougars...they not only voted on the ballot, they voted with their wallets and bank accounts.
Go Coogs!
The Cougars capped off a 13-1 season with the Ticket City Bowl win over a Penn State team in disarray but still facing the fifth rated defense. Case Keenum solved them quick and dispatched the Nittany Lions 30-14.
So with the football season in the review mirror what was left for the Cougars to do as a follow up?
The next big task facing new Houston coach Tom Levine was keeping the recruiting class of 2012 intact. Not only did he succeed in bringing in a talented class, he wrested away a prize recruit from Notre Dame.
Recruiting Day Surprise
Deontay Greenberry committed the Fighting Irish eight months ago. Despite the commitment to the Irish, he took a last minute weekend visit to UH. Pretty much everyone attributes the switch to his relationship with UH assistant Jamie Christian. Christian recruited Greenberry for Arizona St. before relocating to Houston's staff. My best guess is that Greenberry did a the last minute visit to Houston as a courtesy to Christian.
Initially, Greenberry was following his cousin to Notre Dame. After his Houston visit Greenberry stated that
I was going to Notre Dame for the wrong reason...I started sitting down and really thinking what's best for me, where I would feel most comfortable.
Greenberry is ranked a five star recruit by Scout.
Greenberry's highlight reel:
Other Recruiting News
Even if Greenberry stayed with the Irish, the Cougars still hauled in a nice recruiting class. Scout ranked the Cougars as top recruiting class in Conference USA and 57th overall.. For comparison, future Big East brethren Boise St. ranked a step ahead of UH a #56, SMU at #65 and Central Florida #119. In the Big East, the Cougars ranked only ahead of #66 UConn and #68 South Florida.
I can't do the new class justice in a blog write up. Instead I'll leave it to the pros. The best free capsules are from official Houston website and Houston Chronicle UH beat writer Sam Khan, Jr.
Students Approve Fee Increase
Finally, one last step was required to fund a new football stadium and renovate Hofheinz Pavilion. The athletic department and the student government asked the students to vote in favor of increasing fees to fund both projects.
Again, Khan does a fantastic write up on what the referendum approval means to the school.
For artistic renderings of the new facilities and the UH push to get the approval visit Building UH Pride Together.
Cougar Pride Brewing
And now for an Unkle Monkee editorial.
Major props to the University of Houston students for passing the referendum. The administration and athletic department worked hard to move the Coogs out of Conference USA and into the Big East. With their work done, the students were ask to do their part and decide whether or not to build facilities deserving of the conference upgrade. And the students overwhelmingly approved the measure to impose fee increases on themselves.
In these economic times, when funding and money is tight, the students decided to add more to their financial obligations to the University. That is asking a lot when $50 can buy a lot of cheap beer, Ramen noodles and mac & cheese. On the message boards, many commented that $50 is not a lot of money in the grand scheme of things. Yes it is when you are paying for books, tuition, rent and buying food. Every cent counts.
Yet the students realized that the conference upgrade raised the profile of the athletic teams which in turn raised the profile of the University. In view such upgrades, they saw the teams deserved to play in upgraded facilities. 9,923 students (26.1% of enrollment) voted. 7,334 (73.9%) voted in favor of the increase. The students didn't think about the present. They saw the future...they saw the potential for the Cougars...they not only voted on the ballot, they voted with their wallets and bank accounts.
Go Coogs!
