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THE DAILY COUGAR SPORTS MAGAZINE

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2011

Heisman hope Quarterback Case Keenum is not just a darkhorse Heisman candidate // 2

Bright future A true freshman has been one of the top defensive performers // 7

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Senior quarterback Case Keenum deserves some votes to win the Heisman Trophy as the leader of the NCAA’s top-ranked offense. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar

THE COIN TOSS

Quarterback makes good Heisman Case Anyone who has followed the John No. 11-ranked Brannen Cougars knows senior quarterback Case Keenum is among the most elite players in college football.

It would not be far-fetched for a player of his caliber to be mentioned when talking about the mot prestigious award in all of college sports — the Heisman Trophy.

He may not deserve to win the award, but he certainly has earned an invitation to the ceremony Dec. 10 in New York.

His current statistics would be a dream season for other collegiate quarterbacks.

Keenum has completed more than 74 percent of his passes, and has thrown 37 touchdowns to just three interceptions.

He is just 49 yards away from breaking the 4,000-yard mark for the year, and needs eight completions to become the all-time NCAA leader.

There are a slew of other awards that Keenum is nominated for, and he will collect plenty of hardware for his recordbreaking season.

In 1989, former quarterback Andre Ware is the only player in UH history to win the prestigious accolade.

Even if Keenum did not come home with the trophy, him being recognized as a legitimate candidate would give the University even more of a buzz.

Either way, Keenum will not consider his awards as an individual pat on the back — it will be celebrated as a triumph for the team.

Subtract him from the UH roster, and this is simply not a team capable of going on a 10-game winning streak, which truly measures his value.

Voters should not judge a candidate by the conference he plays in, or the postseason bowl game their team received a bid to.

They should think about what each team would look like without the Heisman candidate.

Take last year, for example.

After his injury the Cougars won three games in his absence while losing six.

Outsiders are skeptical of the Cougars because they do not have the strongest schedule, but there is no denying how impressive Keenum’s numbers are. When describing UH, an often-repeated term is its “video-game offense.”

Keenum is putting the final touches on an achievement-filled career while wearing red and white.

At the end of his football career, he plans on becoming a coach and patrolling the sidelines, just like his father did.

His on-field presence already makes Keenum similar to a coach, and he will probably be well-suited to call plays, hold a clipboard and wear a headset when the time comes.

But before he becomes coach Keenum, he will more than likely wear another team’s uniform before his playing career is said and done.

By no means will he be selected No. 1 overall in the 2012 NFL draft — and probably not in the first round — but he should receive an opportunity to prove himself on the next level.

He has improved his stock with his accuracy and leadership.

When playing in such a high-powered offense like UH has, critics will say his monster numbers are a by-product of the offensive philosophy. Keenum would tell you he is a system quarterback because he can play in any system.

With less than a year to recover from a major knee injury and surgery, Keenum has been able to keep himself out of harm’s way.

He is healthy for the most important part of the season, and pro scouts are not going to ignore his performances.

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STARTINGLINEUP 12

2

Seniors circled in red.

24

Bennett (FS)

Brooks (SS)

Hayden (CB)

55 8

54

McGraw (LB)

10 McMillian (CB)

Mathews (LB)

Brown (LB)

42

97

Braswell (RE)

99

Miller (NT)

95

Steward (LB)

Hunter (LE)

DEFENSE OFFENSE

76

83

3

Edwards (WR)

Ashworth (LT)

64

Cloud (LG)

Johnson (WR)

70

7

63

Thompson (C)

74

Forsch (RG)

Harper (RT)

35

Keenum (QB)

5

88

Carrier (WR)

Smith (WR)

Sims (RB)

TEAM LEADERS Receiving

Passing Player

Comp

Att

Yds

TD

Int

Rtg

Keenum

279

376

3,951

37

3

193.3

Turner

46

73

588

4

1

146.0

Rushing

Player

Pass Defense

Tackles Rec

Yds

Avg

TD

Lg

Yds/G

Player

TOT

TFL.

Sacks

Player

Int

PD

TD

3

10

—

Carrier

69

771

11.2

5

54

77.1

McGraw

99

8.0

2.5

Bates

Edwards

61

1,277

20.9

14

70

127.7

Mathews

75

8.5

1.0

Steward

3

7

4

Johnson, J.

47

705

15.0

7

61

70.5

Brown

67

21.5

9.5

Hayden

2

7

1

Hayes

30

323

10.8

4

54

35.9

Steward

57

7.5

1.5

Mathews

2

3

1

McGraw

1

5

1

Player

Att

Yds

Avg

TD

Lg

Yds/G

Sims

27

392

14.5

3

84

43.6

Brooks

47

0.5

—

Sims

75

658

8.8

9

72

73.1

Smith, E.J.

26

281

10.8

2

52

28.1

Hayden

41

—

—

Hayes

94

553

5.9

7

71

61.4

Peace

13

105

8.1

0

26

15.0

McMillian

39

—

—

Beall

51

297

5.8

7

23

42.4

Spencer

11

160

14.5

2

41

17.8

Valencia

37

1.5

—

Player

FG

FGA

Lg.

Turner

9

70

7.8

2

35

10.0

Williams, R.

8

73

9.1

1

22

7.3

Saenz

37

1.5

—

Hogan

7

9

35

Kicking

Saturday, November 19, 2011

The Daily Cougar

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5

THEBIGBOARD // College football at a glance AP TOP 25 RK

TEAM

RECORD

PTS

1 LSU (60)

10-0

1500

2 Oklahoma State

10-0

1432

3 Alabama

9-1

4 Oregon

C-USA SCHEDULE

C-USA STANDINGS

SATURDAY

NETWORK

TIME

EAST

W

L

W

L

Tulsa at UTEP

CBS Sports Network

2:00 p.m. CT

(22) USM

9

1

5

1

1380

SMU at Houston

Fox Sports Network

2:30 p.m. CT

Marshall

4

6

3

3

9-1

1326

Tulane at Rice

None

2:30 p.m.

East Carolina

4

6

3

3

5 Oklahoma

8-1

1230

East Carolina at Central Florida

Fox Sports Network

6:00 p.m. CT

UCF

4

6

2

4

6 Arkansas

9-1

1217

7 Clemson

9-1

1075

Southern Miss. at UAB

CBS Sports Network

7:00 p.m. CT

8 Stanford

9-1

1071

9 Virginia Tech

9-1

1000

TV GUIDE

10 Boise State

8-1

880

11 Houston

10-0

867

SATURDAY, SEPT. 3

NETWORK

TIME (CT)

Nebraska at Michigan

ESPN

11 a.m.

Wisconsin at Illinois

ESPN2

11 a.m.

Citadel at South Carolina

ESPN3.com

11 a.m.

Louisville at Connecticut

ESPN3.com

11 a.m.

Cincinnati at Rutgers

ESPNU

11 a.m.

Kansas at Texas A&M

Fox Sports Network

11 a.m.

Indiana at Michigan State

BTN

11 a.m.

Minnesota at Northwestern

BTN

11 a.m.

Iowa at Purdue

BTN

11 a.m.

Kentucky at Georgia

ESPN3.com

11:21 a.m.

Georgia Tech at Duke

ESPN

11:30 a.m.

Samford at Auburn

ESPN3.com

Noon

Furman at Florida

ESPN3.com

Noon

Army at Temple

ESPN3.com

Noon

Georgia Southern at Alabama

ESPN

1 p.m.

New Mexico at Wyoming

MTN

1 p.m.

Maryland at Wake Forest

ESPN3.com

2 p.m.

Arkansas State at Middle Tennessee

ESPN3.com

2 p.m.

Tulsa at UTEP

CBS Sports

2 p.m.

Mississippi State at Arkansas

CBS

2:30 p.m.

Clemson at North Carolina State

ESPN

2:30 p.m.

Southern Methodist at Houston

Fox Sports Network

2:30 p.m.

Colorado State at TCU

Versus

2:30 p.m.

Penn State at Ohio State

ESPN

2:30 p.m.

Miami (FL) at South Florida

ESPN3.com

2:30 p.m.

Texas Tech at Missouri

ABC

2:30 p.m.

Navy at San Jose State

ESPN3.com

3 p.m.

Boston College at Notre Dame

NBC

3 p.m.

Utah State at Idaho

ESPN3.com

4 p.m.

UNLV at Air Force

MTN

5 p.m.

LSU at Ole Miss

ESPN

6 p.m.

UCF at East Carolina

Fox Sports Network

6 p.m.

Western Kentucky at North Texas

ESPN3.com

6 p.m.

Vanderbilt at Tennessee

ESPNU

6 p.m.

Virginia at Florida State

ESPN2

6:30 p.m.

Colorado at UCLA

Versus

6:30 p.m.

USC at Oregon

ABC

7 p.m.

Oklahoma at Baylor

ABC

7 p.m.

Boise State at San Diego State

CBS Sports

7 p.m.

12 Michigan State

8-2

767

13 Georgia

8-2

756

14 South Carolina

8-2

706

15 Wisconsin

8-2

676

16 Kansas State

8-2

629

17 Nebraska

8-2

583

18 USC

8-2

564

19 TCU

8-2

402

20 Michigan

8-2

381

21 Penn State

8-2

320

22 Southern Miss.

9-1

250

23 Florida State

7-3

107

24 Notre Dame

7-3

93

25 Baylor

6-3

68

Others receiving votes: Georgia Tech 66, West Virginia 47, Virginia 26, Cincinnati 24, Tulsa 22, Texas 11, Auburn 10, Arizona State 7, Washington 6, Georgia Southern 1

For our University, it is fantastic. Not just for football, but for our city. It is a window to the world for the University of Houston. It is great, especially for recruiting.

It validates what we are trying to do. We want to compete for championships and be a top 25 program.

— Kevin Sumlin, on having ESPN’s College GameDay come to campus.

UAB

2

8

2

5

Memphis

2

8

1

5

WEST

W

L

W

L

(11) Houston

10

0

6

0

Tulsa

7

3

6

0

SMU

6

4

4

2

Rice

3

7

2

4

UTEP

5

5

2

4

Tulane

2

9

1

6

COUGAR FLASHBACK

1988 Houstonian Yearbook

HOUSTON 30 TEXAS TECH 29

Cougars outlast Red Raiders in Lubbock André Ware found current co-offensive coordinator Jason Phillips in the end zone for a three-yard score with 2:03 remaining to give the Cougars a wild win in Lubbock.

The snowy weather didn’t stop either team from strutting their stuff on offense, combining for 943 total yards.

Phillips caught 11 balls for 157 yards. Ware threw for 348 yards and two touchdowns.

The win helped UH lock up an invitation to play Washington State in the Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day. UH would finish 9-3 that season and 5-2 in conference play.

— Cougar Sports Staff

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Freshman linebacker Derrick Mathews is the Cougars’ second-leading tackler with 75.

His 8.5 tackles for a loss is also good for second on the team. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

PLAYER PROFILE

‘Young Pup’ tabbed as future of UH defense John Brannen

THE DAILY COUGAR At the start of the season the Cougars had three definite senior team captains.

Quarterback Case Keenum, wide receiver Patrick Edwards and linebacker Marcus McGraw were all understandable picks for the job.

But while the season was still young, it was a true freshman who rose through the ranks and was added as a second defensive captain.

Freshman linebacker Derrick Mathews quickly established a presence in a defensive backfield that is already filled with talent. Through 10 games he is the second-leading tackler, registering 75, and is second in tackles for a loss with 8.5. He is also tied for second on the team with two interceptions — returning one for a touchdown in the Cougars’ 63-28 win against Marshall on Oct. 22.

Had head coach Kevin Sumlin predicted he would get this level of production from Mathews, the decision to make him a captain would have been an obvious one.

“He’s great,” McGraw said. “From the day he walked in he wanted to play. He didn’t have his mind on a redshirt.

“It took three games and he pretty much had it under his belt.

He knows what everybody expects of him. I treat him like a veteran now.”

Having a lesser-experienced player perform at such a high level has given the Cougars even more motivation to be aggressive.

“He’s just a great all-around athlete, and he pushes everybody around him,” McGraw said. “He pushes the older guys — when you see a young guy work hard it makes you want to work hard. When the young guys see him work hard, they want to be on his level.

“Having a caliber of a player like that on the field, it raises everybody’s level.”

Mathews played at North Shore High School before becoming a Cougar. His career for the Mustangs made Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville try to convince him to take his talents to Lubbock to be a Red Raider.

But fortunately for the Cougars, Mathews chose to stay in Houston.

“Derrick Mathews is really a unique situation,” Sumlin said.

“We felt like in high school he was the best defensive player in town. I think coach Tuberville did too, that’s why he wouldn’t leave him alone until the end. There’s a reason for that. He’s a dynamic player. He is extremely athletic, very very fast MATHEWS continues on page 8

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Mathews’ two interceptions ties him with cornerback D.J. Hayden for the second-most on the team. Before UH, he attended North Shore High School. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

MATHEWS continued from page 7

and has a great grasp of what we’re trying to do. For a guy who just got here, we’ve been really pleased. After the second scrimmage in the fall he moved into the starting lineup, and has continued to progress every week.”

It took time for Mathews to be comfortable with his teammates competitively and socially.

Through the course of the season, his counterparts on defense have embraced him.

“At first when you get here as a freshman you’re kind of quiet, but we opened him up a little bit,” McGraw said. “We welcomed him to the defense, and he’s a fun guy

...you may not be 6 anymore or see 20/20.

to be around. He’s my roommate on travel games. We sit there and talk all the time. We mess with him because he’s ‘in love.’ He has a girlfriend, and we like to joke with him about it.”

With Mathews, McGraw, senior Sammy Brown and junior Phillip Steward the linebacker core has been a strong point for the Cougars. Just Mathews and Steward will return next season, but McGraw said Mathews will continue to excel as long as he relies on what has made him successful thus far.

“I’m not going to say I’ve passed the torch to him,” McGraw said.

“He’s going to come out here and be Derrick Mathews, he’s not looking to be anybody else.”

This is why you should trust the eye care professionals at the University Eye Institute for all your eye care needs.

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To schedule a comprehensive eye examination, please call 713.743.2020 or visit www.uei.uh.edu Open to the public, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Free patient parking accessible from Wheeler St.