Issue 01, Volume 79 — Sports by The Cougar

The Daily Cougar

SPORTS

EDITOR Christopher Shelton EMAIL sports@thedailycougar.com ONLINE thedailycougar.com/sports

Need for speed Cougarsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; fast-paced style impacts more than just the offense | page 9

Social media means new responsibility UH takes steps to prevent its athletes from embarrassing moments on Twitter | page 14

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Cover Photo ith fall sports nearing, UH athletes are about to pick

up their gear and get back to competition. — Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar

STAFF Section Editor

Copy Editors

Christopher Shelton

Amanda Hillow, Jenae Sitzes

Assistant Editor

Closing Editors

Andrew Valderas

Natalie Harms, Channler K. Hill, Mahnoor Samana

Copy Chief David Bryant

Contact information Email: sports@thedailycougar.com Phone: (713) 743-5303

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Your perfect With 11 seniors, soccer head coach Chris Pfau expects that leadership won’t be a problem. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

SOCCER

Veteran squad hopes its experience leads to wins Reid Ritter Staff writer

This season brings a different venue and conference for the soccer team, but the players are anything but new. Soccer is all about the seniors for the upcoming season — the team’s roster includes 11 players entering their final year of eligibility. Having that much experience and leadership on a team produces both good and bad dynamics, said head coach Chris Pfau. “With that many seniors, everyone wants to be heard and be the leader,” Pfau said. “If the coaching staff does not learn to teach each player how to work with each other and (to be a) team first, we could have 11 players going in 11 different directions.” The team’s experience gives it a chance to excel in the new American Athletic Conference, Pfau said. The Cougars joined the new conference on July 1 and are eager to meet the challenging new opponents they will face. The players and coaches are confronted with a new conference and a different home venue, the

Carl Lewis International Track & Field Complex, and are adjusting to the narrower field in practice. With a veteran group, the Cougars know what it will take to win consistently. “This group wants to win, and I believe they will work together and be great mentors to the underclassmen,” Pfau said. Even if the team is senior-heavy, it’s all good feelings for everyone involved, said senior Goalkeeper Cami Koski. She said that the team’s history together improves its chemistry. “The amount of experienced players we have gives us a leg up, as we already know what to expect out of each other’s work ethic, play style and positioning,” Koski said. Pfau recognizes that the biggest area of help that experience will bring in is the team’s ability to work together. Camaraderie is key for the Cougars. “They have been through everything over the last couple of years and know that if you keep doing the little things each day, the good will outweigh the bad,” Pfau said. sports@thedailycougar.com

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A single red ramp at Hofheinz Pavilion leads from the locker room to Guy V. Lewis Court. Along the way you pass numerous AllAmerican award winners, NCAA championship appearances and other accolades in UH basketball history, which are highlighted on the walls. The closer you get to the court, the louder the sounds get: basketballs bouncing off the hardwood floor, dunks and swishes, whistles ringing off the empty seats and the voice of head coach James Dickey drilling out commands. This summer, the Cougars have been working to improve on the disappointments of last year and strengthen their skills as they tread in the new territory that is the American Athletic Conference, where the history books have yet to be filled and reputation will not be a factor. After averaging 16.9 points last season and shooting 55 percent from the floor, junior forward TaShawn Thomas established himself as one of the top players in Conference USA. Now the 6-foot-8inch athlete has to prove himself in a new conference. With junior guard Joseph Young — the Cougars’ leading scorer last season — transferring to Oregon, Thomas understands his role will be expanded. “I can’t live with the little sophomore mistakes I made last year. I can’t let those happen (any) more,” Thomas said. This summer, Thomas has worked on improving his outside jumper and utilizing his left hand more when competing in the painted area, but his mentality will be the biggest difference, he said. “(Fans will) see more intensity. Last year I felt there were games I took off, where I didn’t play with a lot of intensity,” Thomas said. Alongside him is reigning C-USA Freshman of the Year Danuel House, the 6-foot-7-inch sophomore forward who had a breakout season last year. He started 27 games and averaged 12.4 points per game. House expects this upcoming season to shock a lot of people on the defensive end, where the Cougars struggled last season. UH held the No. 317 scoring defense in the nation last season. However, with the Cougars a step closer to playing in the American, House isn’t afraid of the new competition. “We’re playing basketball. Any

Junior forward TaShawn Thomas, the Cougars’ leading returning scorer, said he will play with more passion this year. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

After averaging 12.4 points per game during his freshman season, coaches are expecting more from to forward Danuel House. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

given night, anyone can win. It’s about who is giving effort and who is playing the hardest,” House said. “I don’t fear no other team — I know with the talent we have, we can match any team in our new conference.” Dickey said he has high

expectations for the pair. “They know they are very good players and both of them are coming back with very good honors, but they know it’s a new year and it’s going to be about work ethic,” Dickey said. sports@thedailycougar.com

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Monday, August 26, 2013 // 5

BRIEFS

UH punter receives preseason recognition The Daily Cougar news services Senior punter Richie Leone picked up another preseason award when he was named a second team All-American by CBSsports.com on Aug. 19. Leone, who was a Ray Guy award finalist in 2011 and 2012, averaged 45.5 yards per punt last season. He begins the season as the nation’s second-best returning punter. Florida punter Kyle Christy narrowly had a higher per punt average (48.8) than Leone. Leone’s tied a UH single-season record and led all Conference USA punters with his 2012 average and was a first team All-Conference USA selection. Rose granted eligibility UH’s point guard position in 2013-14 became more competitive Tuesday when Baylor transfer L.J. Rose was granted a waiver to play immediately. “Family is so important, and this gives everyone in L.J.’s family the best opportunity to watch him play,” said head coach James Dickey in a statement. In June, Rose announced that he would transfer to be closer to his mother, who suffers from lupus. Rose averaged 0.9 points and 1.2 assists per game last season at Baylor. sports@thedailycougar.com

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VOLLEYBALL

Cougars embrace young players Harrison Lee Staff writer

When she talks about her squad and its upcoming season, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something in volleyball head coach Kaddie Plattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice that is enough to create a sense of curiosity, if for only the story lines surrounding the team. Platt has overseen an offseason of acquisitions and, in her mind, improvement despite the loss of key senior starters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel good. I feel that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be in system a lot, which will open up our offense, so Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m feeling confident there. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a whole new league,â&#x20AC;? Platt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I feel like weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve ingrained in them the preparation part of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;this is how we winâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as far as our returners go. Now we just need to get the new players on board. I feel like theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the types that will do that.â&#x20AC;? Sophomore libero and defensive specialist Olivia Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Dell said the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s young players will be an asset this season. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a really good freshman class coming in and the transfers that we have in, and I just think we have a really good base to start off this season with. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll really keep us prepared for this season.â&#x20AC;? With only one senior, something Platt thinks might be a first in her coaching career, changes and tinkering began as early as recruiting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all as part of a quest to shift to a ballcontrol team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our seniors last year were very dynamic hitters â&#x20AC;&#x201D; very athletic and strong. After four years of being a college athlete, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a level of strength and mindset that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve accumulated as far as achievement,â&#x20AC;? Platt said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were these dynamic people. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re that dynamic (now); we are a little bit better at volleyball skills. ... We still have some great athletes, we just needed a little more balance of skill.â&#x20AC;? The squad, which saw their season end in the Conference-USA tournament with a loss to UCF, will face another challenge, although itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one they are more than willing to take on. Like every team at UH, they will face higher competition with the leap to the American Athletic Conference. Defensive specialist Meredith Ware, the teamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lone senior, has optimism about the YOUTH continues on page 13

Monday, August 26, 2013 // 7

The Daily Cougar

TENNIS

Lofty goals fuel fire for tennis team Channler K. Hill Editor in chief

The UH tennis team is composed of two types of players: those who want to compete professionally and those who want to work for a Fortune 500 company. In either case, members of the team see tennis as a launch pad for their future. For junior Elena Kordolaimi, sophomore Maria Andrea Cardenas and freshman Despoina Vogasari, going professional starts with a Women’s Tennis Association ranking. Kordolaimi has dreamed of becoming a professional tennis player since she was nine years old. She decided to compete in professional tournaments in Greece and Egypt to build up her rankings. As of July 29, Kordolaimi is No. 827 in singles, according to the WTA. “This summer has been good for me. For the first time in my life, I got my professional tennis ranking, which I have been trying to get for a while now. This is something that I am extremely happy about,” Kordolaimi said.

After head coach Patrick Sullivan’s first year, UH grabbed a top 10 recruiting class in the nation. | Courtesy of UH Athletics “I would not be able to do it without the help I am getting from (head) coach (Patrick) Sullivan, our strength and conditioning coach and all the people that have helped me and are helping me in Houston Athletics, but also the great teammates I have that support me throughout the season.” In December 2012, Vogasari’s WTA ranking was No. 659; by Aug. 5, she had moved up to No. 519. “(I) played seven WTA $10,000

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tournaments, reached three finals (two singles and one doubles) and actually won one singles and one doubles, totaling three titles in my career so far. (In July) I participated for my fifth consecutive year in the European Junior Championships with the Greek National Team in Klosters, Switzerland,” Vogasari said. In May she participated for the first time in the Fed Cup in Montenegro with her national team.

“Competing with pros is an excellent way to maintain or improve your ranking. It is a measuring stick to let you know where you stand in case you want to pursue a professional career after college,” Vogasari said. “I believe that the college level of tennis is pretty high and with the right organization, motivation and support, (it) may help a player arrive at the next level.” Cardenas will begin her first

semester at UH in the fall after transferring from Auburn. Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, she has traveled throughout Europe and South America, competing in junior tournaments. This summer she traveled to France, Belgium, Germany and Holland in the European International Tennis Federation pro circuit. “The level in the pro circuit is really high, so competing with girls at that level helps me raise my level of play. I would like to continue playing some pro tournaments after I graduate,” Cardenas said. In the past, Sullivan has coached players to realize that their opponent is just as scared and nervous when going into a match. Now he says he’s got a confident bunch of players who face no insecurity or intimidation. “What I love about these girls traveling around the world and getting these experiences (is that) the more you do, the better you get at handling stress and pressure,” Sullivan said. “At the end of the day, it’s just tennis. It’s a game.” sports@thedailycougar.com

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8 \\ Monday, August 26, 2013

AUG. 30

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SEPT. 21 vs. Rice

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GAMEDAY PREVIEW DEFENSE

UH has much to prove on defense Christopher Shelton Sports editor

Junior linebacker Derrick Mathews needs a new nickname. As a baby-faced freshman, the veterans on the team called him “Pup;” however, Mathews was anything but a baby on the field. He started all 14 games and was selected as a freshman All-American during the Cougars’ historic 13-1 season. Becoming a leader Although Mathews is still clean-shaven, he is one of the veteran leaders on the team. Former linebacker Phillip Steward, a defensive leader on last season’s squad, began preparing him for the moment when he would have to step up. “I think a lot, ‘Man, I was just a kid not too long ago,’ and now I’ve grown up to fill the shoes of the Marcus McGraws or the Phillip Steward or Sammy Browns... (Steward) always told me, ‘Big Dog, this is going to be yours,’” Mathews said. “It just came faster than I thought.” Mathews didn’t inherit a Ferrari though — the Cougars had one of the worst defenses in Conference USA last season. They surrendered 36 points per game and were statistically the worst pass defense during conference play. Since legendary coaches Bill Yeoman and Jack Pardee last patrolled the sidelines, UH has been known more for its Air Raid offense than its defense, a fact that is not lost on new defensive coordinator David Gibbs. “Down through the history, Houston hasn’t played very good defense,” Gibbs said. “I think the key for us is to build on what we started in the spring. Have good two-a-day practices, start with Southern and play some decent games and build some confidence as we go.” Youth benefits The Cougars also have to replace two of their best defensive players, Steward and former cornerback D.J. Hayden, who went to play in the NFL. UH returns only four starters from last season’s squad, but Gibbs said the squad’s

youth may be a good thing. “They don’t listen to when people beat them up, and when their confidence is shaken,” Gibbs said. “So they don’t remember last year. They don’t remember that they aren’t supposed to be very good on defense. That works to our advantage.” Defensive line key If the Cougars want to improve their pass defense, it will begin with the defensive line. When UH got pressure on the quarterback, many times the team had to blitz an extra linebacker, which put the secondary in more one-onone situations. The Cougars’ top three quarterback sackers were linebackers. Their leading defensive lineman was Zeke Riser with three, and he transferred to Maryland this off-season. The coaching staff is expecting junior defensive lineman Joey Mbu to add pressure to the middle on opposing signal callers— an element the Cougars didn’t have last season. Sophomore defensive end Eric Eiland, though slightly undersized at 236 pounds, should bring pressure from the outside. In the secondary, sophomore safety Trevon Stewart, a freshman All-American last season, along with senior cornerback Zachary McMillian are established returning starters, but senior defensive back Thomas Bates performed when Hayden was injured . Against the run, the Cougars didn’t fare much better. They were ranked No. 92 in the nation after giving up 192 yards per game. ‘Something 2 prove’ Emblazoned on team T-shirts and wristbands is the slogan “Something 2 prove.” Stewart, the team’s leading returning tackler said the Cougars did not play up to their standards last year. “(A) 5-7 (season record) is not what we were looking for, but you know we have been working hard since the spring. We (alongside the coaching staff ) haven’t taken a day off offense and defense,” Stewart said. sports@thedailycougar.com

SIDELINE REPORT AMERICAN WAY A quick break down of the Cougars’ American Athletic Conference foes Temple: (4-7) Head Coach: Matt Rhule Quick look: The Owls had a down year in 2012, but with a new head coach many are optimistic in Philadelphia. Memphis: (4-8) Head Coach: Justin Fuente Quick look: On offense, Memphis returns redshirt senior quarterback Jacob Karma who passed for 1,895 yards and threw 14 touchdowns. Rutgers: (9-4) Head Coach: Kyle Flood Quick look: Rutgers returns four defensive starters from a team that allowed only 14.2 points per game, which was fourth in the country. South Florida: (3-9) Head Coach: Willie Taggart Quick look: Senior inside linebacker DeDe Lattimore, who has started every game but one since his freshman year, is expected to be a leader on defense. Central Florida: (10-4) Head Coach: George O’ Leary Quick look: UCF’s defense is expected to be stout, as they led Conference USA in scoring defense and passing defense last season.

This season, the Cougars will try to get pressure on the opposing quarterback without blitzing linebackers as much. | Kayla Stewart/The Daily Cougar

Louisville: (11-2) Head coach: Charlie Strong Quick look: Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, a Heisman candidate, and his No. 9 ranked Cardinals are expected to make a run toward the National Championship. Cincinnati: (10-3) Head Coach: Tommy Tuberville Quick look: Senior linebacker Greg Blair ranked 12th in the NCAA for tackles last season and is expected to be the defensive anchor for a talented Bearcat defense. Cincinnati: (7-6) Head Coach: Junes Jones Quick look: Fifth-year senior Garret Gilbert will be expected to carry more of the load on offense than last season after the loss of running back Zach Line graduated.

The secondary was a problem for the Cougars last season, as they statistically had the worst defense in Conference USA. | File photo/The Daily Cougar

Monday, August 26, 2013 // 9

The Daily Cougar

OFFENSE

The pace of progress For Cougars’, benefits of running the Air-Raid offense outweigh costs Andrew Valderas Assistant sports editor

UH fans are trained to know that when the Blaze — an oil field warning siren that was chosen to represent the University’s ties to the petroleum industry — sounds off, the team has crossed the goal line. The Cougars have heard that siren numerous times during a game while putting up lofty figures on the scoreboard. The team’s pace aids their ability to score a lot of points. They snap the ball and score touchdowns at a fast rate, which leads them to hear that siren more frequently. UH has been ranked in the top 10 for touchdowns scored in three of the last five seasons. Offensive identity From 2008 to 2012, the Cougars were labeled the fastest team in college football after running an average of 3.02 plays per minute, including last year’s team with a record of 3.28 plays per minute, according to SB Nation’s Football Study Hall. “It’s a little bit of our brand; it’s

our style and we feel like we can recruit those type of skilled guys to come here, be explosive and get them the ball in space,” said head coach Tony Levine. For years, the Cougars have run the Air Raid offense, a scheme that is primarily run in the shotgun formation and is predicated on the quarterback’s accuracy on short and medium passes as well as the offense’s ability to sustain drives. The Air Raid is designed to run plays and score points at a fast pace while forcing opposing defenses on their heels. If run efficiently, the opposing defense is generally given an insufficient amount of time to shuffle personnel onto the field from the sideline. It is intended to cause confusion and fatigue and give the offense a greater chance of making big plays and scoring points at a fast rate. Fast tempo The fall season will be redshirt junior quarterback David Piland’s fourth season in the Cougars’ fastpaced offense. Piland said the speed of the offense’s plays is an attempt to leave the defense confused and put the offense in a position to strike a big play. “By going fast, the defenses get

slowed down, their defensive line gets tired out, and that’s how we utilize that to get an advantage on offense,” Piland said. “Also, when you see the blitz, you can say to yourself, ‘this is a better play, check into that play and then we’ll go.’” Outside receivers coach Brandon Middleton said the fast pace is designed to open up the offense and force the defense to constantly play on their heels. “(Defenses) are going to lay off a little more out of respect and be more passive and play a ‘bend and don’t break.’ The tempo puts defense more in a base and in a hurry up mode,” Middleton said. “If we figure out the base call, it makes it easier for us to call plays.” However, if not run correctly, this scheme can also serve as a weakness. The Cougars struggled consistently to find an offensive rhythm, with a 41 percent completion rate — their lowest since 2005. It caused them to get off the field faster than anticipated, stop the game clock and put a huge burden on the defense, who may have still been trying to catch their breath from the previous possession. PACE continues on page 13

Top: Sophomore receiver Deontay Greenberry, the Cougars’ first five-star recruit, will move to the inside after a season on the outside. Bottom: After Charles Sims’ unexpected departure from the program, redshirt sophomore running back Kenneth Farrow will get have an increased role in the offense. | File photos/The Daily Cougar

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CROSS COUNTRY

Outpacing pressure Veteran sprinters set standard for younger competitors to follow Jessica Crawford Assistant news editor

Though junior sprinter Yonas Tesfai has had success at UH, he said he doesn’t put too much pressure on himself to perform at a high level. | Courtesy of UH Athletics

Senior runner Drevan Anderson-Kaapa and junior runner Yonas Tesfai are no strangers to pressure, but this cross country season could test more than their physical endurance. In Kaapa’s last year to leave a lasting mark at UH, he hopes to keep from being injured — a problem that has affected him every season since he began collegiate cross country. “Number one goal: stay healthy. (My priorities are) injury prevention and staying on top of my health, being able to consistently train,” Kaapa said. Tesfai has served as a top performer for cross country since he arrived. During his freshman year, he placed third in the mile at the Conference USA Indoor Championships. Last year, he placed 11th in the 8K at the C-USA Cross Country Championships. The pressure is on for him to meet the bar he set for himself with past performances. “I get nervous, but I just (need to) stay positive,” Tesfai said. “We have to be there to motivate the freshmen and other classmates.” Tesfai said he takes a laid-back approach when getting ready for a race.

“We just talk about what the expectation is. The main thing is to have fun with it,” Tesfai said. “We really prepare for it, so whatever happens, happens.” Kaapa does more than motivate his teammates to perform on the trail. He balances school with work and he earns scholarshipwinning grades. “The discipline that it takes to be a distance runner goes across the board. Most of my scholarships come from academics and private donors,” Kaapa said. “As for working, it’s a balancing act. You got to set your priorities straight.” This season, Tesfai’s top priority is to cut significant time from his 8K pace. “My goals are to actually achieve a 23:00 in an 8K, win conference as a team and as an individual and make it to nationals,” he said. The last person to win the championship ran the 8K in 23:32. Tesfai is gunning for the top spot. Kaapa, whom his teammates call “The Machine,” said that cross country brings him more than just the thrill of competing. “The funniest things happen and they only happen during cross country season — just the team bonding and all the fun you have with your teammates,” Kaapa said. sports@thedailycougar.com

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Monday, August 26, 2013 // 13

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better and an opportunity to prove how we’re growing with our program.”

YOUTH continued from page 6

sports@thedailycougar.com

increased competition. “It definitely requires us to be more prepared because we don’t know our competition,” Ware said. “We don’t know the players we would have been playing against three years before. We’re not playing Rice any more or Tulsa.” From her experiences with the returning players to her impressions of the new recruits, Platt is confident in her squad. “We had a strong schedule last year, and I think (the team is filled with) competitors, and they want to have that challenge,” Platt said. “I think they’ll look at it as an opportunity to get

PACE continued from page 9

Pressure on defense The Cougars’ defense was on the field for 35:12 per game and allowed their opponents to convert more than seven third-down conversions per game — in both they were last in the country. Levine said he has seen the fastpaced offense affect his defense in a negative way, which is an issue he and his staff have addressed. “When you practice what we do

Senior defensive specialist Meredith Ware is the Cougars’ lone senior this season. | File photo/ The Daily Cougar

offensively every day, defensively you can get into bad habits because you want your guys to give a great effort, but as soon as the play is over, there’s 11 guys on offense ready to snap the ball again and the defense is trying to hustle back or get coached up. It’s something we have certainly worked on and pointed out,” Levine said. When the Cougars were still a part of Conference USA in 2012, the conference was ranked the second fastest in college football. But when the Cougars enter the American Athletic Conferencce this season, they will face a new batch of teams that will play at different speeds,

including Louisville and Rutgers, who were both one of the 20 slowestpaced college football teams for the last five seasons. To compete in the American, in which the players have more size and strength than C-USA, the Cougars have been focusing on getting bigger and stronger through recruiting. That doesn’t mean the Cougars will abandon the Air Raid though. Levine and the Cougars still expect that touchdowns will trigger the siren many times this season. sports@thedailycougar.com

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14 \\ Monday, August 26, 2013

UNDER REVIEW

UH sends a direct message to its athletes on social media: We’re watching what you post

Home Mentions

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Andrew Valderas Assistant sports editor

ress send with great caution. Whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, student athletes are encouraged by coaches and others to watch what they post or tweet on their accounts. Because of social media, fans are closer than ever to their favorite celebrity actor, athlete or even a former love interest. All it takes for a connection is to simply press “follow.” That closeness has several benefits — it’s easier to galvanize a fanbase or for coaches to reach recruits — but twitter has already cost real world jobs and scholarships. Head coach Tony Levine said the team stopped pursuing three potential 2014 recruits because of inappropriate remarks on social media.

#Newpolicy At the beginning of each year, the communications staff reviews the department’s social media policy with each of the 17 UH teams. Then, each student athlete is required to read and sign the “University of Houston Social Media Policy” contract prior to competing. The contract entails tips and guidelines they are required to follow. It’s designed to ensure their online activities don’t interfere with the responsibilities on their respective team. Cornerback Zachary McMillian is one of 14 seniors for the Cougars and is viewed as one of the leaders. He said he’s confident with his team when it comes to using social network appropriately. “When you don’t have mature people who are you using it, it can be used

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negatively,” McMillian said. “You have to try and continue to show yourself in a positive light and know that it’s not just you and your friends who you’re talking to. You’re talking to a whole lot of people who are watching and looking at you.” At least once every semester, the student-athletes are required to participate in a seminar where coaches and members of the Communications Department speak to them on what is viewed appropriate and not to post anything that may be questionable or draw negative interpretations. “We advise our student athletes that nothing they put on their social media pages is private,” said Jeff Conrod, director of communications. “They should conduct themselves on their social media pages exactly as they would if they were in a press conference filled with media and cameras. Just because they are in their apartment by themselves when they post a message on Facebook, does not mean that their message is going out to just their family and friends. Once you hit “Post” or “Tweet”, the message is out and can’t be brought back quickly or easily.” #Biggerconsequences In addition to the advice presented to them, the student athletes are given disciplinary procedures for violations of the policy and are required to sign. The penalties would either include a written warning, a meeting with the athletic director or expulsion from the team and loss of some or all athletics financial aid. “We talk to our team about (Twitter) all the time. What everybody has to understand is that when I had hair,

we didn’t have Twitter, so it’s something that is relatively new,” Levine said. “I am on Twitter and I’ve posted maybe 300 times in two years and what I will do is type it out and have four people read it before I hit the tweet button to make sure how it will be interpreted. It’s very important; it’s a different day and age, so we educate our players on that.” #Recruitingimpact With the push of a few buttons, communication has never been easier between coaches and recruits. Outside receivers coach Brandon Middleton, a UH receiver from 1999 to 2003, said social media’s ability to expose today’s recruit is the biggest difference between his time as a player and now. Without social media, Middleton said he and the majority of the recruits had to wait until signing day to build a rapport with coaches. Today’s recruits don’t have to wait to learn about their position coaches. Middleton said social media has its pros and cons when it comes to recruiting because it allows coaches to get frequent updates with the player’s posts or tweets. “Everybody is going to say the kid is a good kid, but then they really put themselves on blast and show their true identity is when they don’t think anyone is looking when they are tweeting,” Middleton said. “It also kind of gives the chance for the coach and the player to build a relationship with the player; and because of Twitter and Facebook, that’s why you see players commit to a school as early as they do. “I look at what time they are tweeting. If it’s a school night and you’re up 3 a.m., it raises questions and I get a little

‘lukewarm’ because it tells me if they can’t handle it there (in high school), they can’t handle it at the college level,” he said. Levine said it’s a benefit, but it is also a double-edged sword, as he has already taken action regarding recruits. #Droppedrecruits “We’ve dropped at this point three recruits already based on things they’ve posted on their social media accounts... There are certain things you’re looking for and it gives you an insight into the young man you’re talking about coming into your program,” Levine said. sports@thedailycougar.com

TWEET DECK DAVID PILAND @DavidPiland8 “Blessed to do what I do for another day... Blessed to have the loved ones I have...” ROWDY HARPER @RowdyHarper74 “When times aren’t great I get to come home to my beautiful family and everything’s alright.” JOHN O’ KORN @JohnOKorn5 “If you want to lead the orchestra, you have to be willing to turn your back to the crowd.” DAVID GIBBS @CoachDavidGibbs “Some talk about grinding & getting better. Some just get up & do it.”

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