Issue 01, Volume 77 (Sports)

Monday, August 22, 2011

THE DA D ILY L COU LY OUG OU UGA GAR EDITOR Joshua Siegel E-MAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports

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ediTOr’s nOTe

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Step into the UH Athletics arena My goal for the sports section for the fall is to provide fair and comprehensive coverage of all sports at UH. I want to give my readers a page that looks great and informs them of what is going on in the world of UH athletics. I hope to provide more than just box scores and provide readers with game stories, analysis, profiles Joshua and columns that Siegel give readers the information they need to know and the stories that they cannot find anywhere else.

I want my readers to be informed of all of the stats and important information, but also about who our student-athletes and coaches are as people.

Another wish of mine for the section is to expand the sports section’s coverage into other types of media.

I want to provide news on our website when it breaks and update the events as they develop.

I want The Daily Cougar website to become a top source for news on UH athletics.

This semester we will also be expanding our pregame coverage with a separate publication and podcast called “Overtime.”

The publication will be available to fans during tailgating at Robertson Stadium before home games.

The podcast will run on Wednesdays and will offer an inside look at the important events and games of the week.

The purpose of the sports section is to provide the best coverage of the Cougars.

I am not a cheerleader, and it is not the responsibility of The Daily Cougar to cover the Astros, Dynamo, Rockets or Texans It is a great time to be a Cougar and be a part of this University; it has not always been this way.

This year is the 10 year anniversary of UH’s winless football season. The athletics program has made great strides due to the incredible athletes, coaches and administration in place. I want you to learn their stories.

sTaff Section Editor Joshua Siegel

Production Ben Muths

Contributing Writers John Brannen Ricardo Rivera

Sports Desk Contact Information Email: sports@thedailycougar.com Phone: 714-743-5303

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Wednesday, August 22, 2011

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fOOTBaLL

Cougars aim to reverse fortunes in 2011 After rough season, UH brings back senior-laden squad for another go John Brannen

The Daily Cougar Due to unforeseen circumstances, UH failed to deliver on its high expectations in 2010.

One year later, those same lofty expectations remain intact, but after finishing 5-7 (4-4 Conference USA) words like rebuilding are not being used when describing the 2011 season.

The Cougars will field an experienced squad with 19 seniors.

Numerous players sidelined by injuries in 2010 are seeking redemption — particularly one returning Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback.

“In a lot of ways it’s an interesting year,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “We’ve got a couple guys with new leases on life. A lot of those guys have played in some big ball games and have experienced some big-time success and some hard times last year.”

UH was picked to win in the C-USA West Division in the Tulsa World preseason media poll, receiving 12 out of 24 first-place votes.

Sumlin said he gladly welcomes any buzz for the Cougars.

“To me that’s what you want,” Sumlin said. “I’d rather be in a situation where people expect a lot

out of you. Where fans want to win every game and where there’s some preseason hype, instead of being in a place where no one really cares.

Our players and our coaches have to understand that and embrace that.

“We sold out five of six home games last year, for the first time in a while — we’re looking to sell them all out this year.”

The Cougars are expected to bounce back in large part to the return of senior quarterback Case Keenum. After suffering a seasonending knee injury in the third game of the 2010 season, the NCAA granted Keenum a sixth year of eligibility, allowing a second take for his final season.

His rehab has progressed smoothly and he is expected to return and start in the season opener Sept. 3 against UCLA. “Case is on track and is on schedule,” Sumlin said. “I expect there to be some soreness, because it hasn’t been a complete year. We’re going to be smart with how we do things.

We’re going to move him along, but it’s going to take him some reps.”

Change of pace In the Cougars’ past three home openers they were heavily favored, and won by margins of 52 against Southern, 48 over Northwestern State and 40 versus Texas State.

This season, the Cougars start FOOTBALL continues on page 4

Senior team captains quarterback Case Keenum and linebacker Marcus McGraw return for their final campaigns as college athletes. Both earned spots on the All-Conference USA First Team. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

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FOOTBALL continued from page 3

with one of the most difficult teams on their schedule — UCLA. In the past two years UH played Big 12 South schools Oklahoma State once and Texas Tech twice, and went 2-1. The Cougars beat SEC opponent Mississippi State in 2009 and lost in 2010.

This is the second game of a three-season arrangement with UCLA,The Bruins will be the only team from a BCS conference on the schedule.

“It’s a great test out of the chute,” Sumlin said. “I’m not much for coach speak stuff, but it’s an important game because it’s the first game.

Whether you win or lose a game the year before has nothing to do with next year. There’s different players on the field and sometimes different coaches.”

Sumlin said he understands why some may consider UCLA a revenge game, but last season is a bygone.

“For the fans they’ll carry grudges and resentment, but as a coach it’s the most important game of the year because it’s the first game,” he said.

“Whether we win or lose that game we have 11 more.”

Given the disappointing nature of the sports circuit in Houston, the Cougars have an opportunity to make Robertson Stadium a source of entertainment that the city can root for.

“We’ve got to put the right product on the field that will make our alums, students and the city of Houston proud,” Sumlin said.

“Houston supports a winner. If we can continue to build on some success from a couple of years ago, and

get back to where we were, I think the sky is the limit for us. I’d rather have it that way than walking out and no one being at the game, and people not caring about what’s going on.”

The season begins at 2:30 p.m.

Sept. 3 at Robertson Stadium. It will be televised on Fox Sports Net. sports@thedailycougar.com

The Daily Cougar

sOCCer

UH wants to pick up where it left off Cougars open season with challenging match Joshua Siegel

The Daily Cougar

2011 sCHedULe

UCLA

2:30 p.m.

September 3 Robertson Stadium @UNt

6:00 p.m. September 10

@Louisiana tech 6:00 p.m. September 17

Georgia State

7:00 p.m. September 24 Robertson Stadium

@UtEp

7:00 p.m. September 29

ECU

6:00 p.m. October 8 Robertson Stadium

Marshall

3:30 p.m. October 22 Robertson Stadium

rice

7:00 p.m. October 27 Robertson Stadium

@UAB

6:00 p.m. November 5

@tulane

6:00 p.m. November 10

SMU

TBA November 19 Robertson Stadium

@tulsa

11:00 a.m. November 25

The Cougars will look to carry momentum from the best season in program history with an ambitious out-of-conference schedule.

It starts when they host No. 39 Texas at 7 p.m. tonight at Robertson Stadium.

Last season, the Longhorns were towards the back of the pack in the Big 12 in offense, averaging 1.43 goals per game, but were strong on defense, allowing 0.99 goals per game.

Last season, head coach Susan Bush guided the Cougars to a 12-5-4 record (6-2-3 Conference USA) en route to earning C-USA Coach of the Year honors. The Cougars reached new heights last season by pushing the pace offensively and getting exceptional play from their goalkeepers and defensive units. They ranked No. 34 in the nation in goal differential, plus-23.

Sophomore Cami Koski will be back in the net for the Cougars, along with top defenders Stephanie Derieg and Danielle Munoz.

The goals allowed a conference-best 0.62 goals per game and also had the most shutouts in C-USA. Koski and Munoz both earned spots on the All C-USA Second Team as freshmen.

The Cougars tallied the fourth-

Sophomore midfielder Kylie Cook led a strong group of freshmen in 2010 that helped spur UH’s best season in program history. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar best goal per game in C-USA with 1.71, but lost top goal-scorer Lauri Byrne.

They return many of their top players, including junior midfielder Katelyn Rhodes, and sophomores Sami Sackos, Kylie Cook and Nicole Duarte. Rhodes’ ability to help defensively and facilitate the offense earned her a spot on the 2010 C-USA First Team. Sackos was second on the team in scoring last season as a freshman.

Cook and Duarte each scored three goals and recorded three

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The Cougars’ non-conference schedule will continue this weekend when UH heads to North Carolina to face No. 24 Duke and Bush’s alma mater, No. 3 North Carolina. sports@thedailycougar.com

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Some may discount cross country’s athletic merits because it is not a contact sport.

But few athletes can maintain top speed for a race that lasts anywhere from three to five miles.

“Our athletes are like the modernday version of superheroes,” head coach Ryan Turner said.

“I send my  Transfer Wesley kids out on Ruttoh enters his a two-hour first cross country run once season at UH. every two weeks, how many people can do that? An easy run is six-minute a mile pace, and a tempo run is at 5 minute, 15 second-mile pace.

“Most people couldn’t do that on their best day.”

Turner once knew the feeling of being an energetic collegiate athlete. It was not until he stopped running consistently that he recognized the elite level of fitness required to run cross country.

“In college I thought this is how everybody felt, and what I did was natural,” Turner said.

“Five years later after graduating, I’m walking up steps, and I’m out of breath. That’s how everybody else feels.”

Turner and the Cougars will begin their season Sept. 16 at the Rice Invitational.

UH has four meets before the Conference USA Championships on Oct. 31. The Cougars will head to Waco on Nov. 12 for the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.

In the second meet of the season, the Cougars travel to Joplin, Mo., for the Missouri Southern Stampede. Other competing schools include the Arkansas Razorbacks, who have the most cross country national championships in NCAA history.

The Tulsa Golden Hurricane, the defending men and women’s C-USA champions, will also be in attendance.

“That gives us a chance to run against to really high-quality opponents in the early portion of our season,” Turner said. “We can just kind of gauge our top guys against those teams.”

For the men’s team, Eastern Kentucky transfer and Kenyan native Wesley Ruttoh is expected to perform well immediately. After redshirting last year, Turner is ready to unleash Ruttoh’s talents this season.

“We’re expecting him to become our top man, and to qualify for the national championships,” Turner said. “He has the talent to do that. That’s why we want to run against Arkansas and Tulsa early in the year. Those are people he’s going to have to

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6 n Monday, August 22, 2011

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Offense

Cougars come reloaded with depth, skill rankings

Joshua Siegel

The Daily Cougar Since the coaching days of Bill Yeoman, the Cougars have made a habit of putting points on the board and having one of the nation’s best offenses.

This season should be no different.

“There’s always been a tradition here,” co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Jason Phillips said. “UH has always been a place for a freestyle passing attack and then receivers and quarterbacks coming here and putting up numbers, setting records.

“We’re just continuing the tradition.”

The Cougars return many of the players who made them a top-five offense in the nation from 20072009, including senior quarterback Case Keenum.

“I think this is going to a fun time with a fun team,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said.

Keenum will be armed with many familiar weapons — including a three-headed monster in the backfield and a stable of skilled receivers.

“We’ve had a few guys leave,” Keenum said. “But we play about eight guys, about eight to 10 receivers. That’s a big deal because we need guys to come in and make plays. We’ve got our main guys who have been here awhile, but we have some new faces who are going to make some plays this year.”

Seniors Patrick Edwards and Tyron Carrier are guaranteed starting gigs, but the two others are less assured.

“There are a bunch of guys battling for those last two spots,” co-offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said.

“E.J. Smith had a really good spring. Ronnie Williams has

Senior running back Bryce Beall’s strong 2010 campaign helped land him on this season’s Doak Walker Award watchlist. This year, he’ll have to share carries with senior Michael Hayes and sophomore Charles Sims. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar looked good this camp and then we have Dewayne Peace from junior college, who we’re really excited about.”

Edwards said that he has been impressed with the growth of Smith and Isaiah Sweeney, and Sumlin said that sophomore Darian Lazard is coming along as well.

One receiver who will find a home somewhere on the field is versatile senior Justin Johnson.

“He’s our do-everything guy,”

Kingsbury said. “He’s played a bunch of positions for us and he’ll be a big contributor for us.

“He’s a bigger-type guy. He can block linebackers, but also be effective on routes inside against him. He has some tight end qualities to him, but we can spread him out and let him work.”

There are quite a few mouths to feed in the backfield as well, with senior incumbents Bryce Beall and Michael Hayes and the return of sophomore Charles

Sims.

“We’re going to find a way to get them all on the field at a time,” Sumlin said. “They’re all three of our best offensive players.”

Beall had a comeback year in 2010, rushing for 890 yards on 163 carries, and scoring 12 touchdowns. Hayes was also a hit in his first season. After transferring from Blinn, he gained nearly 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored 10 total touchdowns.

But Sims could be the most

year

yards/Game

rank

2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004

480.5 563.4 562.8 518.5 461.6 456 415.3

11 1 2 4 6 16 33

explosive of the bunch.

“He was here in 2009 and he was Freshman of the Year,” Kingsbury said. “I think a lot of people forgot about him, but he’s going to be fun to watch.”

Sims sat out last season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. As a freshman he rushed for 698 yards and caught 70 balls for 759 yards, scoring 10 total touchdowns.

The Brick Squad is back with a few new faces.

“It’s the same old, just the remixed version,” senior center Chris Thompson said.

Thompson and junior tackle Jacolby Ashworth are the two returning members of the starting unit.

Sophomore guards Ty Cloud, Kevin Forsch, Josh McNeill and freshman Bryce Redmen will compete for time flanking Thompson inside. At right tackle, freshman Rowdy Harper will battle sophomore Ralph Oragwu for playing time.

“We have a roster, O-line-wise, full of depth,” Thompson said. “We can go nine or 10 guys that can just come in and play. Every day I just look at the young guys getting better.

“We lost a couple of guys, good guys, (Jordan) Shoemaker, Isaiah Thompson, Roy Watts, but the Brick Squad name is here to stay and we’re going to carry on.” sports@thedailycougar.com

defense

Stewart tries to make pieces fit UH in need of more stops in second season of 3-4 philosophy Joshua Siegel

The Daily Cougar

An influx of bigger defenders should help the Cougars wrap up offenders before they can escape for big plays. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

Two springs and a full season later, the Cougars are beginning to feel comfortable in defensive coordinator Brian Stewart’s 3-4 scheme.

“If you go back and evaluate where we were last year, the transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 was maybe a little more difficult than I expected,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “It came from a personnel standpoint, where guys fit in different angles attacking in places.”

Stewart said he feels that the Cougars will have more success this year, now that players realize their roles and functions within the system.

“Now they understand,” Stewart said. “It’s a puzzle. It’s all about how the puzzle fits together.”

UH added more pieces to that puzzle in hopes of improving a defense that surrendered 433 yards and 32.2 points per game.

“There are three things that

we were able to address,” Stewart said. “We were small last year. I think we’re bigger. I’d like to think that would make us a better, faster, stronger, bigger defense.”

Last season, the Cougars needed extra defenders to help with pass coverage, and that took away from their ability to defend the run.

“Quite frankly, we gave up too many touchdown passes,” Sumlin said. “Our corners didn’t allow us to load the box. It starts on the perimeter.”

The Cougars addressed their deficiencies in the secondary by importing junior cornerbacks D.J. Hayden and Chevy Bennett, who helped lead Navarro Junior College to the 2010-2011 NJCAA Championship.

“They have a chance to play the ball better,” Stewart said. “I’d like to think that equates to interceptions and less touchdown passes. I think that’s what they’re excited about.

They’re long, they’re not little guys.”

UH will also have two new starters at both safety positions with sophomores Kent Brooks and Colton Valencia. Brooks started one game last season and recorded 11 tackles and forced a fumble.

Valencia played 12 games as a freshman for Texas A&M in 2009.

“Colton’s effort is amazing,” Stewart said. “He makes an amazing effort to get to the ball. He plays hard, and the players respect that from him. They don’t know him as well, but he’s woven himself into a leader. He wants to push the guys, and he’ll work hard. He’ll ask them to work hard too.”

With an improved secondary and understanding of how the defense works, the UH front seven will be able to focus more on creating havoc in the backfield.

“Last year it was tough for us on defense,” senior defensive end David Hunter said. “But things that we can take from last year are that we need to get better at stopping the run, and be more aggressive. and going out there and focusing on making every play.”

New for this season are defensive line coach Carlton Hall from Harvard and linebackers coach Jamie Bryant from Vanderbilt.

“They have reputations as developmental coaches,” Sumlin said.

“With the guys we’ve got coming DEFENSE continues on page 11

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C-Usa OUT LOOk 2O11 WEST DIVISION

Youri Yenga Key returnees: QB Kyle Padron, RB Zach Line, WR Cole Beasley,

2010 record: 10-3 (6-2 C-USA) Head coach: Bill Blankenship, 1st season; (0-0 career) Key losses: RB Charles Clay, WR Trae Johnson

Key returnees: QB: G.J. Kinne, WR/KR/PR Damaris Johnson, CB Marco Nelson

HOUSTON COUGARS son, DT Matangi Tonga Key returnees: QB Case Keenum, WR Patrick Edwards, LB Marcus McGraw

Outlook: UH has a more forgiving schedule than the past two seasons, but nothing is guaranteed. Starting with UCLA, the Cougars will have several opponents that should reveal what they’re made of. A midseason meeting with ECU and the regular-season finale against Tulsa will be formidable conference opponents.

Will be a contender if: Senior quarterback Case Keenum and other key players stay healthy. The Cougars’ final two regular season games are must-wins. They host SMU and travel to Tulsa — and both teams happen to be their biggest competition in the West Division.

UTEP MINERS 2010 record: 6-7 (3-5 C-USA) Head coach: Mike Price, 8th season; 169-167 career (40-45 at UTEP) Key losses: QB Trevor Vittatoe, RB Donald Buckram,

WR Kris Adams Key returnees: DB Trauvan Nixon, LB Jamie Irving, RB Joe Banyard

2010 record: 6-7 (5-3 C-USA) Head coach: Ruffin McNeill, 2nd season; 7-7 career (6-7 at ECU) Key losses: RB Jon Williams, WR Dwayne Harris, LB

Dustin Lineback Key returnees: QB Dominique Davis, WR Lance Lewis, DB Bradley Jacobs

Outlook: ECU looked like the frontrunner in the East in 2010, but some uncharacteristic performances and late-game collapses derailed the Pirates’ chances. ECU’s high-powered offense should keep them in most games, but a suspect defense is known to let opponents hang around late in games.

Will be a contender if: A matchup with UH in October and two late-season showdowns with UCF and Southern Miss. will either propel ECU to the C-USA championship, or send them packing again.

SOUTHERN MISS. GOLDEN EAGLES

2010 record: 8-5 (5-3 C-USA) Head coach: Larry Fedora, 4th season; 22-17 career (22-17 at Southern Miss) Key losses: RB V.J. Floyd, WR Johdrick Morris, DL John

Henderson Key returnees: QB Austin Davis, RB Kendrick Hardy, LB Korey Williams

Outlook: Southern Miss. has a favorable schedule, but the level of competition will be increased as the season progresses. The Golden Eagles overcame tragedy off the field and almost won the East. A distraction-free season could lead them to C-USA glory.

Will be a Contender if: If the Golden Eagles can beat ECU and UCF in a five-day span they would give themselves a fighting chance to make the C-USA title game. Southern Miss. has the potential to emerge from the East Division based off their average schedule.

2010 record: 5-7 (4-4 C-USA) Head coach: Doc Holliday, 2nd season; 5-7 career (5-7 at Marshall) Key losses: QB Brian Anderson, LB Mario Harvey, CB

Donald Brown Key returnees: DB Rashad Jackson, DL Vinny Curry, WR Aaron Dobson

Outlook: The Thundering Herd’s slate of games does not give them much leeway. An ambitious non-conference schedule and a difficult path in C-USA has Marshall on the outside looking in.

Will be a contender if: Marshall finished fourth in its division in 2010. They will need the help of some mishaps by UCF, ECU and Southern Miss. to make a run in the East. A lack of star power will require a cohesive effort from the Thundering Herd.

UAB BLAZERS

RICE OWLS Key returnees: QB Nick Fanuzzi, RB Sam McGuffie, DT Scott Solomon

Outlook: The Owls feel they are better than what their 2010 record indicates. Rice showed glimpses of success last season, but could not put it together to finish above .500. Expectations are higher in 2011, but Rice will not be favored to win many games.

Will be a contender if: It will be an uphill battle, butteams consistently underestimate the Owls; they could end up pulling several upsets.

2010 record: 4-8 (3-5 C-USA) Head coach: Neil Callaway, 5th season; 15-33 career (15-33 at UAB) Key losses: DB T.J. Ballou ,WR Frantell Forrest, WR

Mike Jones Key returnees: QB Bryan Ellis, RB Pat Shed, LB Marvin Burdette

Outlook: UAB’s football team was established in 1991, so it’s a relatively new program compared to other C-USA schools. The Blazers’ highest C-USA finish was third, but they’ve yet to appear in a C-USA Championship.

Will be a contender if: UAB hosts UCF and Southern Miss. and travels to ECU and Tulsa. The Blazers need to win at least two of those games to stay in the thick of the race in the East Division. If the Blazers fall behind they will have to brace for another mediocre season.

MEMPHIS TIGERS

TULANE GREEN WAVE 2010 record:4-8 (2-6 C-USA) Head coach: Bob Toledo, 5th season; 91-103 career (13-35 at Tulane) Key losses: WR Casey Robottom, CB Phillip Davis,

Outlook: Freshman quarterback Jeff Godfrey led Central Florida to a win in the C-USA championship in 2010. UCF shows no signs of slowing down and is the favorite to take the East Division.

Will be a contender if: As long as the Knights win when they are favored to , they will likely reap the benefits of another 10-win season. The biggest tests for UCF come late in the season. Back-to-back games against Southern Miss. and East Carolina late in November will likely determine if UCF wins the East Division or not.

MARSHALL THUNDERING HERD

Outlook: The Miners will need multiple new faces to step up in a big way after losing 25 seniors from the previous season. Former quarterback Trevor Vittatoe kept the Miners in a lot of games, and they will miss his presence in the pocket.

Will be a contender if: The Miners will have to take teams by surprise if they don’t want to finish toward the bottom of the conference standings. With SMU, UH, Southern Miss., East Carolina and UCF on its schedule, UTEP could be less competitive than usual in C-USA.

2010 record: 4-8 (3-5 C-USA) Head coach: David Bailiff, 5th season; 40-45 career (19-30 at Rice) Key losses: DL Cheta Ozougwu, LB Justin Hill

DB Reggie Weems Key returnees: QB Jeff Godfrey, RB Ronnie Weaver, DB Kemal Ishmael

EAST CAROLINA PIRATES

Outlook: It is the first year as a collegiate head coach for Bill Blankenship. He was a respected high school coach in Oklahoma, but time will tell how quickly he can adjust to the college game.

Will be a contender if: Surviving a key stretch with two games in six days against SMU and UCF will be crucial. Tulsa hosts UH in its last game of the season, which may determine which of the two teams represents the West in the C-USA Championship.

2010 record: 5-7 (4-4 C-USA) Head coach: Kevin Sumlin, 4th season; 23-16 (23-6 at UH) Key losses: WR James Cleveland, OT Isaiah Thomp-

2010 record: 11-3 (9-1 CUSA) Head coach: : George O’Leary, 8th season 97-77 career (45-44 at UCF) Key losses: WR Brian Watters, WR Jamar Newsome,

S Alex Wacha Key returnees: QB Ryan Griffin, RB Orleans Darkwa, S Shakeil Smith

Outlook: Four of Tulane’s first five games are winnable. If the Green Wave stumble then, they are likely headed back toward the cellar of the C-USA standings.

Will be a contender if: Tulane gets a crack at Tulsa, UH, SMU and Rice. If they can win the majority of those games they will be in the running. But given the Green Wave’s recent history, they are likely headed toward another sub-.500 season.

2010 record: 1-11 (0-8 C-USA) Head coach: Larry Porter, 2nd season; 1-11 career (1-11 at Memphis) Key losses: QB Ryan Williams, RB Gregory Ray, LB

7

COMPILED BY JOHN BRANNEN

UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Outlook: Head coach June Jones has resurrected SMU football from The “Death Penalty” era in the 1980s. With his passing-oriented offense the Mustangs are viable candidates to take the West Divison. The Mustangs will play an ambitious non-conference schedule against Texas A&M and TCU, and will have an uphill battle facing the best of both divisions throughout their conference schedule.

Will be a contender if: The Mustangs represented the West Division in the C-USA Championship game in 2010; they will have to play the spoiler in several games to keep up in the conference standings. A three-game stretch against UCF, Southern Miss., and Tulsa will make or break the Mustangs’ season.

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE

n

EAST DIVISION

SMU MUSTANGS 2010 record: 7-7 (6-2 C-USA) ) Head coach: June Jones, 4th season; 92-63 career (16-23 at SMU) Key losses: WR Aldrick Robinson, LBs Pete Fleps,

Wednesday, August 22, 2011

Jamon Hughes Key returnees: WR Marcus Rucker, DL Frank Trotter, RB Jerrell Rhodes

Outlook: Memphis is not the best representative for C-USA football. While the Tigers see extensive production on the basketball court, their football program is lagging far behind. They face the gamut of the top C-USA East teams along with an early season matchup with the Mustangs.

Will be a contender if: Players from the Tennessee Titans disguise themselves in the Tigers’ uniforms. Memphis plays the three best teams in its division, and SMU. The Tigers are destined to be a C-USA punching bag in 2011, and for many seasons to come..

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Monday, August 22, 2011

The Daily Cougar

VOLLeyBaLL

Cougars preparing for spike in win total Ricardo Rivera

The Daily Cougar In approaching a typical preseason practice session, head coach Molly Alvey’s game plan is simple: play to win.

With three days until the Cougars open their season against Lipscomb at the Athletics/Alumini Center, the two- and three-a-day practice sessions have left little to the imagination as to the Cougars’ mindset for the upcoming season.

“We’ve got develop a swag,” Alvey said.

In 2010 the Cougars went 19-13 overall, and 13-7 in Conference USA, the most league victories since 1999.

Last season, senior middle blocker Lucy Charuk emerged as an All Conference USA First Team selection.

Not resting on their laurels With the accolades of last year in mind, UH was picked to finish third in the 2011 C-USA Preseason Coaches’ Poll.

Alvey said she is wary about depending on the the Cougars’ past accomplishments.

“There’s a lot of goals we didn’t meet last season,” Alvey said.

“We need to work on a mentality of winning at home. When we’re on the road, it’s getting that first set and staying in a position to win.”

With the hope for the Cougars to repeat last season’s successs and work towards a C-USA title, Alvey has high expectations of her returning seniors.

With several players graduating from the 2010-2011 team, Alvey and her coaching staff are looking to Charuk for leadership.

“I expect a lot from Lucy this year,” Alvey said. “We want her to be a more vocal leader. That means demanding the ball more and being a presence on the floor.”

Charuk spent her offseason earning international experience, playing and training with the Canadian National Team.

Her role as team leader will be a vital part of the Cougars’ efforts toward a conference title, and delivering on the third-place preseason ranking by C-USA coaches.

“My level of play can’t have any drops this year,” Charuk said. “We want to beat at least three of the top 40 teams we’ll play this year.

I’ve got to be consistent every game.”

The Cougars tip their season off at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Athletics/Alumni Center.

With multiple practices a day becoming commonplace for the team, the level of intensity in each scrimmage shows signs that the Cougars are on their way to developing their swag. sports@thedailycougar.com

Senior outside hitter Ingrida Zauere and the Cougars will try to meet higher expectations in head coach Molly Alvey’s second season. UH was picked to finish third in Conference USA by a panel of C-USA coaches. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

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SportS

The Daily Cougar

Wednesday, August 22, 2011

CROSS COUNTRY continued from page 5

race if he wants to be a national qualifier.”

Senior Nate Pineda and junior David Smith took turns leading the Cougars last season. The addition of Ruttoh gives the Cougars a deeper squad. Freshman Yonas Tesfai could also make his presence felt quickly.

“This year it’s going to be neat to see,” Turner said. “We’re going to have three or four guys who could be our top guy.”

Doug Kelley, an 800-meter runner on the track team joined the cross country program for his senior campaign.

He was the 2010 C-USA outdoor champion in the 800, but running cross country  Head coach Ryan is a steeper Turner expects a big distance than season from senior what Kelley is Megan Munoz. used to.

“He’s going to go from running a race that’s half a mile to a five-mile race,” Turner said. “I think what Doug’s going to provide is leadership.

He’s going to be a senior, he’s been successful and he has credibility with the runners.”

The women’s team can also rely on the experience of three seniors in Ciera Johnson, Starla Garcia and team captain Megan Munoz.

Munoz could be poised to make progress in her final collegiate season.

“She had some breakthroughs last year on the track,” Turner said.

“She has that sense of urgency going into her senior year that this is it. Every race is going to be one you won’t have any more.

“When she’s backed up and gets some pressure on her, she tends to excel.”

Junior Kat Ducommun will also be in the mix. She led the team in three of the Cougars’ seven meets in 2010.

In track season, she finished second in the steeplechase at the C-USA championships, and was only a second-and-a-half away from qualifying for regionals.

The unpredictability of the event breaks the monotony of a race that lasts more than seven laps.

“In cross country you’re on the grass, running around trees and making turns,” Turner said. “It’s not like on the track where everything’s an oval and constant. There’s hills and terrain to deal with. Since she does the steeplechase with obstacles that translates well.”

Garcia, Munoz and Ducommun give the Cougars three potential top runners. As long as it’s friendly, Turner said competition among teammates is a healthy dynamic.

“I look at it as a positive having different girls being able to be the number one,” Turner said.

“You have people that are driven and battling for that spot. When you have that one person who is always number one, people start to settle, they get complacent.

“We always want to have competition in anything we do. Even if it’s the first person to the cafeteria, building that internal competition at practice starts to build an inner animal.” sports@thedailycougar.com

Living off campus has huge benefits. Driving to class and parking isn’t one of them. But with the Student METRO Q® Fare Card, you can leave the car behind and receive 50 percent off METRO fares.

Plus, you get five FREE rides for every 50 paid trips.

Who knows, maybe mom was right — those extra minutes studying on the bus might really pay off.

Wait, there’s more!

And the benefits don’t stop there — every METRO Q® Fare Card holder can take part in the Q Star program. Your card offers money-saving discounts and cool freebies at select businesses along the METRORail Red Line.

Free dessert, anyone?

Put the power of the Q to work for you.

Call 713-635-4000 or visit RideMETRO.org today for details.

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Monday, August 22, 2011

Parking and Transportation Services Service Desk: Welcome Center Parking Garage Mon-Fri: 7am-8pm

SportS

The Daily Cougar

Parking 101 An Introduction to Parking on Campus Online, Not In Line

Web: www.uh.edu/parking E-mail: parking@uh.edu Phone: 713-743-1097

From purchasing a permit to finding an available parking space, the Parking and Transportation Services website has has everything you need to develop your transportation plan.

www.uh.edu/parking Mass Transit, Mass Savings Save money. Save time. Save frustration.

Students with a student Q-Card receive a 50% discount off METRO fares and can bypass parking lot congestion. Carpooling lets you share the cost of a permit and gas, plus using the HOV lane is a time saver in rush hour traffic.

Be our fan on Facebook: UH Parking and Transportation Services Follow us on Twitter: @UHParking

www.uh.edu/greencommute More Space for Spaces We’re growing. 5 new lots are open providing over 650 new spaces for parking. And construction is underway on the 2,300 space stadium parking garage. Parking and Transportation is working on additional immediate and long-term solutions to parking on campus.

Parking and Transportation Services welcomes everyone back for another year of progress and success. GO COOGS!

SportS

The Daily Cougar

Wednesday, August 22, 2011

Copy-editing exam Can you be a Daily Cougar Copy Editor? Take this test and bring it to Room 12, UC Satellite (Behind Starbucks) and find out. Please use something other than pencil or black ink to show your corrections.

AnD hEy, no ChEATing!

1.

Volkswagon is only having trouble with one of there new models.

Last season the Cougars allowed 32.2 points per game, 2,505 rushing yards and 28 rushing touchdowns. The Cougars brought in linebackers coach Jamie Bryant and defensive line coach Carlton Hall to shore up UH’s run defense. | Paul Crespo/The Daily Cougar

DEFENSE

continued from page 6

back and the addition of some new guys we’ve got some work to do. But the good news is we’ve got some work to do with some pretty good players.”

Coming off his third straight 100-tackle season, senior Marcus McGraw will lead a solid group of linebackers.

“He makes sure everybody knows where to be, and what to do,” Hunter said.

McGraw will team inside with sophomore Efrem Oliphant, who was an All-Conference USA Freshman Team selection. Senior Sammy Brown and junior Phillip Steward will start at the outside spots.

Brown was active on the edge last season, recording 7.5 sacks and 20 tackles for a loss, the fourt-best per game average in the nation.

The Cougars also added depth with freshman Derrick Matthews and junior college transfer Lloyd Allen. Allen, 6 foot 4 inches, 240 pounds, was a teammate of Brown’s at Gulf Coast Community

College and recorded seven sacks last season.

“Lloyd gives us a chance for some of our different packages that have a bigger guy,” Stewart said.

“I think now we have a chance to have the two big guys, sometimes we can play both of them.”

The defensive line will welcome back sophomore Zeke Riser, who missed last season with a knee injury.

“Getting him back is a really big thing,” Hunter said. “He really helped us out his freshman year.

He was a true freshman and played the whole year, so I’m really excited to see what he’s going to bring to the table this year.”

The defensive linemen rotation will include Hunter and Riser on the ends. Juniors Ameen Behbahanni, Tyrone Campbell and Kelvin King, along with freshmen Eric Braswell and Austin Lunsford will rotate at nose tackle.

“We want to be the best defense in Conference USA,” Hunter said.

“We just need to go out there with that mentality every single day.”

2.

The grand marshal gave his councel to whoever sought it.

3.

Only one of the people who work in the lab is a vetinarian.

4.

He claimed he knows a star athalete who will sign with the school.

5.

He felt bad due to the unhygenic accomodations.

6.

He looks like he can pitch real good.

7.

Travelling acrost the U.S., it’s vastness effected her.

8.

Like I said, he should be like I and do like I do.

9.

He wanted to know if the criteria is valid

10. Joe told his wife Alice he likes his mistress better than her.

11. The hero was presented with an historic award by the Congressman.

12. This is different than and hopefully more preferrable over that.

13. Its easy to see the difference between she and I. 14. We must try and keep up with the Jones.

15. What kind of a woman could like those kind of men.

sports@thedailycougar.com

16. The principle reason for Lopez’ dismissal was because he behaved wierd.

Newsflash: Your resume sucks.

17. Neither her or him know how to play the ukalele.

18. Have you got a receipt for a clam chowder soup which won’t make me nauseous.

Join The Daily Cougar staff and get practical experience in reporting, writing, editing, photography, video, multimedia, online and more. Build your resume,

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THE DA D ILY L COU LY OUG OU UGA GAR

t h e o f f i c i a l s t u d e n t n e w s pa p e r o f t h e u n i v e r s i t y o f h o u s to n s i n c e 1 9 3 4

THE DAILY COUGAR

the official student newspaper of the university of houston since 1934

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Sports

12 n Monday, August 22, 2011

The Daily Cougar

n e i c r e e i p t! x E natatorium, Outdoor Leisure Pool, Whirlpools & sauna

53-foot climbing limbing Wall

Basketball, volleyball, & Badminton courts

combat Room, child care, Locker Room & showers

Racquetball courts, Multi-Purpose Rooms

& Much More...

fitness Zone & indoor track

PROGRAMS AquAtics/sAfety

fitness

swim Lessons, scuBA & trips, Master swim, century club, & first Aid/cPR

Group exercise, Personal training, fitness Assessments, & Martial Arts

OutdOOR AdventuRe

fAcuLty & stAff

Outings, Gear shop, educational Workshops, L.i.f.t. & Resource Guide

Annual Golf tournament

hOuRS sPORts cLuBs

collegiate non-varsity competition & Leadership

intRAMuRAL sPORt League, individual competition & tournaments

yOuth

swim Lessons

Monday 6:00 AM-11:30 PM Tuesday 6:00 AM-11:30 PM Wednesday 6:00 AM-11:30 PM Thursday 6:00 AM-11:30 PM Friday 6:00 AM-8:00 PM Saturday 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM Sunday noon – 11:30 PM

The Department of Campus Recreation reports to the Division of Student Affairs.

713-743-7529 (PLAy)

www.uh.edu/recreation