THE DAILY COUGAR
T H E
O F F I C I A L
S T U D E N T
Issue 8, Volume 79
N E W S PA P E R
O F
T H E
U N I V E R S I T Y
Monday, September 9, 2013
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ANALYSIS
Red-zone woes could cause loss UH made eight trips inside the Temple 20-yard line, but came away with only one touchdown Andrew Valderas Assistant sports editor
Today, college basketball teams routinely play games between high ranked teams in NFL stadiums on national television. The list of stadiums that have hosted the Final Four in recent history read like Super Bowl destinations, but that wasn’t the case before Lewis gave legendary UCLA coach John Wooden a call. In 1968, Lewis’ Cougars took on the Bruins in a battle of top-ranked unbeaten teams at the Reliant Astrodome, which was called the Houston Astrodome, home to the Houston Astros and Oilers at the time. It was the first nationally televised college basketball game and would eventually become known as the “Game of the Century.” UH won 71-69, but all of college basketball benefited. “The fact that he was a visionary — the game versus UCLA in the Astrodome is something
When sophomore running back Ryan Jackson rushed for an 8-yard touchdown with a minute remaining in the game, it was a long time coming. Jackson’s nifty run made it a two-possession game and solidified the Coug a r s’ 2 2 - 1 3 win at Temple on Saturday. However, their other seven red zone possesJackson has s i o n s w e re two consecutive just hard to games with more watch. than 100-yards During rushing. each of their previous visits to the red zone, the Cougars’ offense left too many points on the field. The Cougars were scoring three points instead of seven. In three trips to the red zone, UH came away with no points. Senior kicker Richie Leone converted five field goals and missed only one from 35 yards on the first possession of the game. Two drives in the second half ended with the Cougars turning the ball over. Sophomore running back Justin Hicks got stuffed inside the Temple five-yard line on fourth down and freshman quarterback John O’Korn fumbled at the Temple six-yard line when the Cougars had a chance to take command of the game. When the season began, Leone added more responsibilities to his plate, but no one assumed the offense would depend on him this much, at least this soon. “I have said a number of times publicly that Leone is the best punter and kicker in the nation, and I’m glad he’s in our program,”
LEWIS continues on page 8
RED continues on page 5
Former coach Guy V. Lewis led the Cougars to 27 consecutive winning seasons during his 30 year tenure at UH. | 1970 Houstonian
MEN’S BASKETBALL
How sweet it is Almost 30 years after he coached his last game, Guy V. Lewis received the sport’s highest honor Sunday: the legend was enshrined into the Hall of Fame among family, friends Christopher Shelton
When Elvin Hayes wheeled his former coach to the podium, Guy V. Lewis was surrounded by familiar circumstances. Aside from family and a large contingent of the UH administration, Lewis was flanked by his three most-accomplished players — Hayes, Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler — and members of the audience who waved Lewis’ trademarked polka dotted towels in the air. Lewis doesn’t speak much after strokes in recent years and a diagnosis of the neurological disorder aphasia, but he was all smiles sitting next to Hayes during a pre-recorded Hall of Fame induction speech.
The famed coach garnered one of the loudest responses from the crowd when he was officially enshrined. “We were all screaming. It was a proud moment,” said President Renu Khator, who made the trip to see the induction in person. “There were tears in a lot of people’s eyes; it was definitely an emotional moment. I can see the emotions — I can feel the history.” Lewis became an official member Sunday in Springfield, Mass. along with nine-time NBA All-Star Gary Payton, seven-time NCAA Final Four coach Rick Pitino, four-time NCAA Final Four coach Jerry Tarkanian, five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley, NBA All-Star Bernard King and three-time National Coach of the Year Sylvia Hatchell and five directly elected members.
Long overdue It was an emotional moment for UH students, fans, administration and Lewis’ family, who have waited almost 30 years for him to become a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame since he retired in 1986.
Visionary Though Lewis attained a high level of success in his three decades as head coach at UH — nearly 600 victories and five Final Four appearances — his skills as a forward thinker set him apart from other coaches of his era.
Sports editor
Guy V. Lewis visited campus this spring to celebrate his selection into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. | File photo/The Daily Cougar