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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Find more videos like this on BALLISLIFE - It's More Than A Game, It's A Lifestyle

NFL Lock Out Update

I've written post about the lock out from the perspective of sitting at the negotiating table myself.  I'm a union steward for my shop and represented the employees in contract talks with the company I work for.  Fortunately we were not in a lock out situation like the players. 

The other thing to consider is that the NFL labor situation is unique and different than the private sector.  Basically it is a group of workers negotiating a collective bargaining agreement.  In the private sector that CBA pretty much sets working conditions and pay.  Pay is the key difference between the two types of CBAs.  My CBA sets wages, a wage scale and raises.  In the professional sports world, pay is individually negotiated by agents as well as pay raises and other perks.  There are some guidelines on what can and cannot be included in an individual contract.  There is a player standard contract that meets minimum requirements and spells out certain expectations like player conduct.  Finally, the league office and the players union must also sign off on it. 

According to the latest reports, both sides have reached tentative agreements on most the major issues.  The two outstanding issues are the rookie wage scale and an issue with free agency. 

As for the rookie wage scale, some basic parameters have been set but how many rookies will it affect and the length of contracts they can sign appear to be the issues.  The owners want to include several first round picks in the draft subject to the scale.  Since there is a gentlemen's agreement on slotting rookie contracts, they only need to agree where the scale starts and how many players it covers.  After that, by the slotting system, the scale trickles down to the lower drafted players.

There is a good side bar in an ESPN.com story on the rookie wage scale.  I highly recommend reading it.  I can't do it justice trying to explain it here.

I think the rookie wage scale is workable.  I can't see how it would scuttle the rest of the agreement.  The biggest issue, the revenue split, is agreed upon.  That was the issue that potentially could have shortened or canceled the season.  With that out of the way, unless some boneheaded owners dig in, the CBA should be done soon.  Keep in mind it only takes a few owners to sink the agreement.  To ratify the deal, 24 out of 32 owners need to approve the deal.  It will take 9 owners to sink an agreement.

The Dead Days of Summer

I have nothing new to add thus no entries lately.

The Astros are atrocious.  The best I can do is start to scan the minor league system for looking for something to clasp onto in desperate hope for the future.

The Texans still concern me.  I still want to know who is going to play linebacker.  I'm not sold on Connor Barwin as a LB.  They are going into the new season with the same defensive backs.  If there is a new season.

I pretty much could careless if the NBA locks out, folds and goes away for ever.

So right now I'm keeping myself entertained with soccer.  I watched the Gold Cup, some of the women's World Cup and the Dynamo. 

At the very least I'm looking forward to college football and the Return of Case Keenum to my Houston Cougars.

No blog entry for a while because really not much to blog about.

Houston Cougars Basketball - Fall 2010/Spring 2011 Signees

Recruiting - the life blood of college sports.  Cougars head coach James Dickey continues to build his squad with nine total scholarships to give in the fall and spring signing periods.  The 2010-11 class features five freshman, two junior college transfers and one NCAA Division 1 transfer.  The Cougars have one more scholarship to give by May 18.

Fall 2010
Jonathan Simmons (Smiley H.S./Midland J.C.)
Jherrod Stiggers (Terrell H.S.)
TaShawn Thomas (Killeen H.S.)
J.J. Thompson (Irving H.S.)
Joseph Young (Yates H.S.)

Spring 2011
LaRon Barnes (Desoto H.S., Stonewall, LA)
Leon Gibson (Navaro J.C.)
J.J. Richardson (Pitt/Smiley H.S.)

This page entry is a work in progress.  I'll be adding highlights, stats, news and other news on the recruits as time permits.

Joseph Young - Guard, Freshman

Yates High School, Houston, TX

Young originally signed a national letter of intent with Providence but later asked for a release.  Providence refused the release when Young decided to transfer to Houston.  He sat out the 2010-11 season but was able to practice with the team.  He will still have four years of eligibility when he starts play in 2011-12.

Links

University of Houston Player Bio

ESPN U 100 Player - Bio

Browns Get One Over On Falcons

In the boldest move of the 2011 draft, the Atlanta Falcons traded a boat load of picks to the Cleveland Browns for WR Julio Jones.

Why do I think the overpaid?  The Falcons need more defensive help than offensive help.  To wit, last year's playoff loss to eventual champs Green Bay Packers.  The offense already features RB Michael Turner, QB Matt Ryan, WR Roddy White and TE Tony Gonzales.

Further proof the trade is all wrong?  SI.com's resident hack Peter King defends the pick.

Unless the Falcons win the Super Bowl in the next three years this trade can wreck the franchise for a few years.  A team can't give up that many draft picks and not feel the pinch down the road.  If they do win a title, the all is vindicated.

That's my opening salvo on the draft. 

Houston Cougars - 2012 Recruit Terrence Taylor

Terrence Taylor of Diboll High School
RB - Junior
Class of 2012
Verbally committed to Houston

Career Stats

	Rushing				Receiving
Year	Att	Yds	Avg	TD	No	Yds	Avg	TD
2010 (Jr.)	170	1,224	7.2	22	4	162	40.5	2
2009 (So.)	232	1,276	5.5	14	8	93	11.6	0
2008 (Fr.)	29	279	9.6	3	-	-	-	-

Highlights from Hudl.com: Terrence Taylor Highlights

More Highlights:


Diboll High School vs. Athens High School Terrence Taylor Highlights