WEEKDAY, MONTH XX 5 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER
Wednesday, November 19 INSIDE PG.XX
Teaser here Headline and here and Conference race closing in INSIDE PG. 6
First, second year players see extensive playing time
UH must make up ground after a tough loss to PG. XX reach the top of the AAC with just three games left Teaser — and it startsHeadline with Tulsa in the home finale This is the teaser text. Dolor aut ut ut faciunte et quidus quia quis explist autesto | PG. 6
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Visit our new University Center Branch, now open! Offers valid through December 31, 2014. TDECU membership required. For full terms/conditions, contact TDECU. Federally insured by NCUA. 1To receive the $150 bonus, you must establish a recurring direct deposit in the amount of $100 or more within 60 days following the new primary checking account opening date. The bonus will be paid to your new checking account the month after a recurring direct deposit has been established on your account. Bonuses are considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. 2APR and benefits are accurate as of November 1, 2014, and are subject to change without notice. To receive $150 bonus, you must refinance your auto from another lender with TDECU and have or open a new primary checking account with a recurring direct deposit. Rate includes 0.25% discount for auto pay. Credit approval and proof of income required. Final rate will be based on your credit score. Required minimum loan amount is $3,000. Offer valid for postcard recipient only and does not apply to existing TDECU auto loans or business auto loans. $150 bonus will be deposited into your new TDECU primary checking account once loan has been funded. 1014-A7600 5033-COU-OT-1119
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2 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
POWER RANKINGS
1
2
UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI
3
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
Photo courtesy of Memphis Athletic Media Relations
Photo courtesy of Cincinnati Athletic Media Relations
BOBBY MCCAIN AND TIGERS' DEFENSE LEADS
GUNNER KIEL'S BEARCAT OFFENSE HAS BEEN ON
KNIGHTS HAVE WON 6 OF 7 AND STAY IN AAC
AAC IN SCORING DEFENSE, AND OFFENSE, HAS
FIRE, OUTSCORING OPPONENTS BY MORE THAN
RACE, PREDICATED OFF THEIR CONFERENCE-
PUT UP POINTS IN FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
DOUBLE IN CURRENT FOUR-GAME WIN STREAK
LEADING DEFENSE IN TOTAL YARDS
4
5
5
6
7
8
File photo/The Cougar
9
10
11
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 3
Campus facilities' impact on recruiting CHRISTOPHER SHELTON
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
@CHRISSHELTONTDC
Before TDECU Stadium was built, Tony Levine was faced with a recruiting dilemma. The Cougars’ head coach took prospective recruits through the sprawling metropolis that the University shares a name with. Then the potential Cougars were given a tour of a diverse campus that’s developing a bustling night life. Finally, they toured the athletic facilities in the Athletic/ Alumni Center. But coach and recruit didn’t go to Robertson Stadium, where the athlete and his family would spend their Saturdays for the next four years. Since UH’s $120-plus million project has been constructed, the recruiting process has been different. Levine said the team has hosted recruits at every game that wasn’t on a Friday and routinely takes potential Cougars to the stadium where they could compete as a collegiate athlete.
Catering to the student-athletes “When you’re talking to families and 17- to 18-year-olds, they’re all motivated by different things. The majority of them are going to ask about your facilities,” Levine said. “Families want to know what kind of venues they’ll be sitting in watching their child play for four or five years. The young men we recruit naturally wanna to see the locker room, see the stadium, see the field.” But for UH, improving its facilities has stretched beyond the football stadium. UH has commissioned a feasibility report to determine whether it should renovate or rebuild Hofheinz Pavilion that will be completed in three months. In September, the University began construction on a $25 million basketball developmental facility, which will feature an improved area for volleyball as well. Plus, UH spent more than $2 million to renovate the turf on Cougar Field before last baseball season and created the Dave Williams Golf Academy in 2012.
Around the state In collegiate athletics, building new and better facilities has become part of the cost of doing business. Just in the Lone Star State, Baylor spent $266 million to construct the 45,000 seat McLane Stadium, while Texas A&M dropped $450 million to renovate Kyle Field. Both opened this year. Even Texas high schools are increasing their spending on stadiums. Katy voters approved the construction of a $58 million football stadium in early November, and
TDECU Stadium, which opened late August, was budgeted for $105 million, but could reach up to$128 before completion . | File photo/The Cougar
Conroe ISD’s Woodforest Bank Stadium was a $49 million project. But the big projects at UH are not without bumps in the road.
'Three quarters of the way' The still yet-to-be-completed TDECU Stadium, which was once budgeted at $105 million, could reach $128 million or more before the project is complete. With the football stadium and basketball development facility going over budget, the University will need to fundraise to attain the funds to renovate or rebuild Hofheinz. A complete rebuild of Hofheinz could cost $10,000 per seat, or $80 million for an 8,000-seat project, Athletics Director Mack Rhoades said. “Do I wish that coming in that we didn’t have to build over $200 million in facility upgrades? Sure I do,” Rhoades said. “But you know what? We have to. And once the practice facility is done, we’ll be about three quarters of the way.” For a University that doesn’t have the expendable income of private universities like Rice University and SMU, or the donors and fanbase of legacy programs like the University of Texas, completing another near-$100 million project could be a chore. Though Rhoades admitted a complete
rebuild of Hofheinz is a “large price tag to tackle,” he expects the donor base to step up. “We have a great group of donors that want this University to be great, our athletics program to be great. They understand that part of that process is we didn’t do anything with facilities in athletics in 20 plus years,” he said. “And now Hofheinz needs to be addressed. And I know that there will be donors and alums that will help us with Hofheinz as well.” For UH, the long-term academic goal is that with better facilities like TDECU Stadium, students will be more engaged on campus, leading to better student success and a more engaged alumni base willing to donate more to the University in the future.
Better facilities = better fan base The facility improvements have already helped UH in the short term. All six of the Cougars’ spring sports reached the postseason, including golf and baseball which were both ranked in the top 10 of their respective sports. The winningest golf program in NCAA history reached the NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year while the baseball program reached a super-regional. Winning at the highest level is required,
though. Many fans judge the success of an athletics department on its two revenue generating sports — men's basketball and football. In men's basketball, the Cougars haven’t been consistently competitive since legendary coach Guy V. Lewis was leading the team to appearances in Final Fours. And in football, the team is 18-16 since former quarterback Case Keenum piloted the Cougars to arguably the best season in program history. Whether the new football stadium helps put UH at the national table consistently, provides more student success or delivers a more engaged alumni base is yet to be seen, but junior defensive back Trevon Stewart said he knows the new stadium has helped recruit talented players to UH. “You want to be in a weight room where they have the equipment to help you get better. (You want) indoor facilities and turf if you need it in case of weather,” Stewart said. “That’s a big deal in recruiting.” Though he enjoyed playing under the palm trees at Robertson and taking the same field as a professional team, his favorite place to play is at TDECU Stadium, with the skyline in the background. He’s sure other athletes will enjoy the atmosphere, too.
4 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
STARTING LINE-UP
STEWART (FS) #23
OLIPHANT (SLB) #50
WILSON (CB) #26
STANSBURY (DE) #72
ADAMS (MLB) #9
MBU (DT) #92
MCDONALD (SS) #16
TAYLOR (WLB) #41
SINGLETON (DT) #93
JACKSON (CB) #3
EILAND (DE) #21
DEFENSE OFFENSE CROSS (LT) #68
DEW (LG) #63
REDMAN (C) #58
BEADLE (WR) #84
AMBLES (WR) #21
HARPER (LG) #74
WARD (QB) #1
COOPER (LT) #60
GREENBERRY (WR) #4
AYERS (WR) #10
FARROW (RB) #35
TEAM LEADERS
POLL
2014 stats, UH vs. Tulsa starters
WORTHY OF THE FOLLOW
PASSING PLAYER
CMP
ATT
YARDS
CMP%
TD
INT
AVG
Greg Ward
103
145
1011
71
6
4
111.7
Dane Evans
213
390
2645
54.6
20
12
264.5
PLAYER
YPA
ATT
YARDS
LONG
TD
G
AVG
Kenneth Farrow
5.38
106
570
55
5
9
63.33
Zach Langer
4.05
167
677
34
3
9
75.2
Head coach Tony Levine
Center Bryce Redman
Inside receivers coach Jaime Christian
Defensive back Earl Foster
RUSHING
@CoachTBush
@Redman_58
@CoachJChristian
@earl30foster
RECEIVING PLAYER
REC
YARDS
TD
YPC
RPG
LONG
AVG
Deontay Greenberry
50
596
4
11.92
5.6
67
66.2
Keevan Lucas
81
1037
11
12.8
8.1
84
103.7
@
Who do you want to see next? use hashtag #tdcunderhelmet or send your suggestions to @thedailycougar
THE BIG BOARD AP TOP 25 RK
TEAM
1 2
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE RECORD
PTS
Florida State (43)
10-0
Alabama (16)
9-1
3
Oregon (1)
9-1
1385
Tulane at East Carolina
4
Mississippi State
9-1
1289
South Florida at Memphis
5
TCU
9-1
1237
6
Baylor
8-1
1232
7
Ohio State
9-1
1167
8
Ole Miss
8-2
1064
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 5
STANDINGS
Saturday
NETWORK
TIME
AMERICAN
W
L
W
L
1476
SMU at Central Florida
ESPNEWS
11 a.m.
Memphis
5
1
7
3
1439
Tulsa at Houston
ESPN3
2 p.m.
Cincinnati
4
1
6
3
ESPN3
2:30 p.m.
Central Florida
4
1
6
3
ESPNEWS
3 p.m.
East Carolina
3
2
6
3
Houston
3
2
5
4
Temple
3
3
5
5
South Flordia
3
3
4
6
Tulane
2
4
3
7
Tulsa
2
4
2
8
Connecticut
1
4
2
7
9
Georgia
8-2
948
10
Michigan State
8-2
941
11
UCLA
8-2
876
12
Kansas State
7-2
868
13
Arizona State
8-2
720
14
Wisconsin
8-2
707
15
Arizona
8-2
695
16
Auburn
7-3
531
17
Georgia Tech
9-2
523
18
Marshall
10-0
383
19
Missouri
8-2
376
20
Utah
7-3
349
21
Nebraska
8-2
291
22
Colordado State
9-1
281
23
Oklahoma
7-3
206
24
USC
7-3
195
25
Duke
8-2
85
Others receiving votes: Clemson 52, Boise State 29, Louisville 29, LSU 26, Minnesota 10, West Virginia 8, Miami (FL) 3, Texas A&M 3, Arkansas 2
Like us on SAY WHAT?
"When you’re talking to families and 17-18 year olds...the majority of them are going to ask about your facilities. Families want to know what kind of venues they’ll be sitting in watching their child play for four or five years. The young men we recruit naturally wanna to see the locker room, see the stadium, see the field." head coach Tony Levine, on the impact of recruiting with facilities
TV GUIDE Thursday- Saturday
Network
Time
No. 12 Kansas State at West Virginia (Thursday)
Fox Sports 1
6 p.m.
North Carolina at No. 25 Duke (Thursday)
ESPN
UTEP at Rice (Friday)
Fox Sports 1
San Jose State at Utah State (Friday)
ESPN2
6:30 p.m. 7 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
Rutgers at No. 10 Michigan State
BTN
11 a.m.
Charleston Southern at No. 9 Georgia
SEC
11 a.m.
Minnesota at No. 21 Nebraska
ESPN
11 a.m.
Eastern Kentucky at Florida
SEC
11 a.m.
Fordahm at Army
CBS
11 a.m.
Northwestern at Purdue
ESPNU
11 a.m.
Kansas at No. 23 Oklahoma
FOX Sports 1
11 a.m.
Penn State at Illinois
ESPN2
11 a.m.
Washington at No. 13 Arizona State
PAC 12
Boston College at No. 1 Florida State
ABC
FLASHBACK
noon 2:30 p.m.
No. 8 Ole Miss at Arkansas
CBS
2:30 p.m.
No. 15 Arizona at No. 20 Utah
ESPN
2:30 p.m.
Louisville at Notre Dame
NBC
2:30 p.m.
No. 14 Wisconsin at Iowa
ESPN2
2:30 p.m.
Maryland at Michigan
BTN
2:30 p.m.
Western Carolina at No. 2 Alabama
SEC
3 p.m.
Stanford at California
Fox Sports 1
3 p.m.
Colorado at No. 3 Oregon
PAC 12
3:30 p.m.
Samford at No. 16 Auburn
ESPNU
6 p.m.
Miami (FL) at Virginia
ESPN2
6 p.m.
Vanderbilt at No. 4 Mississippi State
SEC
6:30 p.m.
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Baylor
FOX
6:30 p.m.
No. 19 Missouri at Tennessee
ESPN
6:30 p.m.
USC at No. 11 UCLA
ABC
7 p.m.
File photo
HOUSTON 62 SOUTHERN 13 Spencer posts versatility vs Southern On Aug. 30 2013, the Cougars and receiver Daniel Spencer (pictured above) opened up 2013 with a dominat win over the Jaguars to start the season by scoring the most points in a game since 2010 against Texas State. Spencer posted game-highs in receptions (9) and receiving yards (102) to go along with his three total touchdowns: two receiving and one rushing — a 45 yard reverse sweep to the end zone on his first-career attempt.
Boise State at Wyoming
ESPN2
9:15 p.m.
Receiver Deontay Greenberry finished with six catches for
Fresno State at Nevada
ESPNU
9:30 p.m.
70 yards and a receiving score, while quarterbacks David
Oregon State at Washington
PAC 12
9:30 p.m.
Piland and John O'Korn threw for a combined 255 yards and four touchdown passes
— Andrew Valderas
facebook.com/thedailycougar
6 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
To become bowl eligible with its sixth win of the season, UH and junior leading receiver Deontay Greenberry will have to find holes in a Tulsa secondary that has currently surrendered the most passing yards in the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars will look to close out the home finale at TDECU Stadium on Saturday afternoon with a win over the Golden Hurricane. | Justin Tijerina/The
5 things to watch ANDREW VALDERAS
OVERTIME EDITOR
@THISISDREW2010
UH, coming off its bye week, will enter Saturday afternoon’s game against Tulsa looking to get back on track after missing a chance to be the sole team at the top of the American Athletic Conference when it fell to Tulane on Homecoming, 31-24. The Cougars abandoned their running game that had been the most significant aspect of their three-game winning streak. Junior running backs Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson combined for just 15 touches against Tulane. Sophomore quarterback Greg Ward ran 18 times while throwing an unnecessary 45 times in the loss. Tulsa (2-8) has lost eight of its last nine, and its only wins are against Tulane (the first game of the season) and winless SMU. Here are five things to watch for in the Cougars' home finale against the Golden Hurricane at TDECU Stadium: 1: UH must follow its winning formula
The 15 total touches for running backs Farrow and Jackson against Tulane won't get it done. In their three prior games, the running game averaged 184 yards per game
while averaging four yards a carry. This offensive identity not only paved the team's way to three straight wins, but the Cougars also gave The Third Ward Defense rest, resulting in nearly 35 minutes time of possession. 2: Defense looks to overcome first mishap of season
The uniforms on Homecoming against Tulane were nice, but they weren't the only things that were throwback. The defense allowed its second-most points of the season and let the Green Wave move the ball with ease. Tulane converted 62. 5 percent of its third-downs (10-16) and controlled the game throughout, complemented with clutch quarterback play and timely runs for first-downs in the trenches. If the Cougars are to become bowl eligible with their possible-sixth win of the season, the Cougars' defense will have to play better than it did against the Green Wave. 3: Beware of Tulsa's passing offense Golden Hurricane receiver Keevan Lucas ranks first in The American in receiving yards (1,037) and touchdown receptions (11). The Golden Hurricane's third-ranked
passing attack in the conference will look to attack the UH secondary and try to match the success that Tulane quarterback Tanner Lee had. Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans will enter Saturday afternoon's game with his 20 touchdown passes to his 12 interceptions. 4: The faster, the better The Cougars are 9-1 after winning the first quarter with Travis Bush as the offensive coordinator, compared to their 1-9 record when they don’t. Numbers don’t lie, and a good start could provide enough momentum to get the team to its sixth win of the season and become bowl eligible with a win over Tulsa in the home finale. 5: Let Ward manage the game, not win it
In the Cougars' three-game win streak before their loss to the Green Wave, quarterback Ward was averaging a combined 39 plays (passing and rushing), which gave the team balance with Farrow and Jackson rushing a relativley equal amount of times. If the Cougars are to achieve its sixth win of the season, it'd be smart to keep Ward in that 40 play-total (passign and rushing), unlike the 63 against Tulane where he threw for a career-high three interceptions.
2014 SCHEDULE
The opposition: Tulsa
A Golden Hurricane win will come down to Evans', offense's ability to make timely plays in trenches
VS. UTSA
L 27-7
VS. GRAMBLING W 47-0
L 33-25
VS. UNLV W 47-14
AT SMU* FRIDAY, NOV. 28, 2014 GERALD J. FORD STADIUM, 11 A.M.
AT CINCINNATI* SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 2014 NIPPERT STADIUM, TBA * DENOTES CONFERENCE GAME
COPY EDITORS Joshua Cochran
PHOTOGRAPHERS Justin Tijerina Caitlin Hilton DESIGN TEAM Jose Cruz Alex Tomic Josue Diaz SALES MANAGER Callista Brown
ABOUT THE COVER
VS. TEMPLE* W 31-10
SATURDAY TDECU STADIUM, 2 P.M.
Cara Smith Christopher Shelton
Junior safety Adrian McDonald returned an interception in a 31-24 loss to Tulane on Nov. 8, and Saturday's game at TDECU Stadium against Tulsa will have implications whether UH can still be alive for the American Athletic Conference title when it's all set and done — photo by Justin Tijerina
AT MEMPHIS* W 28-24
VS. TULSA*
EDITOR Andrew Valderas
CLOSING EDITORS Jenae Sitzes
VS. UCF* L 17-12
VS. TULANE* L 31-24
Overtime is produced by The Cougar, the official student newspaper of the University of Houston. No part of the publication in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the Director of the Center for Student Media. To contact the CSM, call (713) 743-5350.
ADVERTISING TEAM Jose Salazar J.P. Montgomery Alejandra Leon Elizabeth Murphy Alexander Lacamu
AT BYU
AT USF* W 27-3
Wednesday, November 19, 2014 | 7
Contact The Cougar thedailycougar.com It'll be important for quarterback Dane Evans to play well against the Cougars on Saturday if the Golden Hurricane are to walk out of TDECU Stadium with a win . | Photo courtesy of Tulsa Media Relations
ANDREW VALDERAS
OVERTIME EDITOR
@THISISDREW2010
The Golden Hurricane will have their work cut out when they travel to TDECU Stadium to face the Cougars in a matchup both teams are desperate for a win. Tulsa (2-8; 2-4) has lost eight of nine (its wins were against Tulane on opening night and a winless SMU), while UH (3-2; 5-4) is coming off a gut-wrenching, 31-24 defeat to Tulane — which entered the game losers of four of its last five — on Nov. 8 for Homecoming. Had UH won, it would’ve currently been the lone team atop the American Athletic Conference. The Cougars are the heavy favorites, but were also when the Green Wave came to town, and if the Golden Hurricane are to come away with a victory, it’ll be important for them to sustain drives and make timely plays to convert touchdowns
and not field goals. The tandem of quarterback Dane Evans, who has passed for more than 2,600 yards while throwing 20 touchdowns to 12 interceptions, and receiver Keevan Lucus will be crucial in this matchup when it faces the Cougars’ secondary, which includes star junior safeties in Trevon Stewart and Adrian McDonald. Lucus leads The American in receiving yards (1,097) and touchdown catches (11). The Cougars’ junior cornerback William Jackson will most likely be lined up across from the star Golden Hurricane receiver. The last time he was lined up against a receiver of this caliber, Jackson shutdown UNLV star wide out Devante Davis, holding him to just one catch for zero yards in UH’s 47-14 win. UH will become bowl eligible with its sixth win of the season if it can take care of business Saturday at TDECU Stadium.
NEWSROOM 713-743-5360 editor@thedailycougar.com facebook.com/thedailycougar twitter.com/thedailycougar
EDITOR IN CHIEF Cara Smith
713-743-5362 editor@thedailycougar.com Like us on Facebook
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8 | Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Be you. Belong.
MAKE ROOM FOR WE’RE-RIGHTAT-HOME-WITH-$1,000-OFFCLOSING-COSTS COUGARS. With TDECU as the premier financial institution of the University of Houston, all students, faculty/staff and alumni have a partner who wants to share outstanding mortgage deals to make buying a new home easier. Receive up to $1,000 off your closing costs with a loan from TDECU Mortgage. Plus, we guarantee to meet or beat any local competitor’s rate on the purchase or refinance of your home or we’ll give you $250 after closing! And, if you’re a first time home buyer, we can finance up to 103% to help minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Cougars always have a home at U of H, and TDECU will always be your home for financial freedom.
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11/11/14 8:34 AM