Houston Cougars - Spring Football Edition

2010 - A Lost Year

The Houston Cougars return to the practice field after a disappointing 2010 season that saw BCS dreams shattered along with Heisman trophy candidate Case Keenum's season against UCLA Bruins. The play ended the season and seemingly the collegiate career of Keenum. Keenum's back up Cotton Turner also sustained a season ending injury in the same game and Terrance Broadway was thrust into his first action.

Broadway started the first post Keenum game against Tulane and struggled but the Cougars prevailed. Broadway would never start again and only see mop up duty thereafter. Fellow true freshman David Piland started the remainder of the season. Broadway transferred at season's end.

The Coogs never really got back on track and failed to qualify for a bowl game.

2011 - A Do Over?

Keenum declared during the season that he would apply for a medical redshirt and a sixth year of eligibility. The NCAA rarely grants medical redshirts. In order to gain one, a player must prove that a second season was lost due to injury. An initial reshirt year for any reason counts against a player's five years to use four years of eligibility. Keenum sat out his freshman year and Kevin Kolb was the starter.

The Cougars were able to prove that Keenum sustained an injury his freshman year. The NCAA took that injury and the current one as evidence that entitled Keenum to one more year.

The Cougars followed up Keenum's good news with 2011 recruiting class that looked to fill holes on defense and build depth on the offensive line. On defense the Coogs signed 12 players including six from the JUCO ranks. Coach Kevin Sumlin also added bulk up front on defense and offense. For the complete list of players and bios, they are listed at the official Houston Cougars athletic website 2011 Recruiting Class.

Today was the first day of spring practice. So in honor of the day, I present the first link dump of Houston Cougar football.

Houston Cougar Spring Football Official Website

2011 UH Cougars Spring Roster

2011 UH Cougars Spring Depth Chart
Players on team but not listed on two deep due to injury:QB Case Keenum, LB John McIntyre, DB Zach McMillian, DL Zeke Riser, DB Nick Saenz and DL Radermon Scypion

Day #1 Photos

Day #1 Notes from UHCougars.com

From the Houston Chronicle:
Five Things to Watch

New UH beat writer Sam Kahn's Blog
Spring Football Set To Begin for Cougars