Volume 81 Issue 17 Football Edition by The Cougar

2015-2016 SEASON IN REVIEW

EVERYTHING IS PEACHY

Peach Bowl Champions. American Athletic Conference Title. 13-1 record. Tom Herman and the Cougars did a little bit of everything in 2015.

2 | Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The 13-1 record under Tom Herman is one of the best marks in NCAA history for a first-year head coach. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

For Cougars, season was oh so sweet Tom Herman and UH finished the year with a win in the Peach Bowl, capping one of the stand-out season in the program's history BRYCE DODDS

SPORTS EDITOR @BRYCEJDODDSTC

The 2015-2016 season is in the books, and as the calendar turns to a new year, we have a chance to look back and dissect just what made the Cougars the dominant team they were in Tom Herman’s first season. Coming from the Ohio State University, Herman brought with him a high level of excitement and great expectations for this team to take the next step, something they delivered on. Herman amassed a great staff of assistant coaches around him and they pushed the team hard from day one, leading many players to say they’ve never practiced as hard as they did under their new coach. The result from the hard work and countless hours in the preseason was visible on the field as the Cougars won their first five games by a combined margin of 101 points. The offense, behind junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr., chugged along at a record pace, as 10 of their 13 wins were by double digits. Ward passed for 2,828 yards, while rushing for 1,108 yards and combining for 38 scores through the air and on the ground. He also had a passing efficiency rating of 148.9 for the season, with just six interceptions against his 17 passing scores.

Senior running back Kenneth Farrow, while spending part of the season injured, still managed to add 958 yards rushing in his final season at UH, adding 12 touchdowns and rushing for an average of 79.8 yards per game. Junior receiver Demarcus Ayers , the favorite target of Ward throughout the year, caught 98 passes on the season for 1,222 yards and six scores, to pair with junior receiver Chance Allen’s 752 receiving yards on 56 grabs for six touchdowns, giving the UH offense a pair of potent wide-out options. While the offense received much of the recognition early on, the defense played a vital part in keeping the Cougars in games throughout the year. Despite shifting into a new defensive system under defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, the defense didn’t miss a beat, as it collected 35 turnovers on the year, 21 interceptions and 14 fumble recoveries. The UH defense ranked second in the nation at the end of the season in turnover margin with a plus-21 mark, one behind firstplaced San Diego State University. The run defense was also one of the best in the country, ranking eighth nationally, allowing just 108.9 yards per game, an average of 3.18 yards per carry. The Third Ward defense even did well putting points on the board themselves, as they added

four defensive touchdowns, good for a tie for eighth in the Football Bowl Subdivision. But all these statistics would be forgotten if the team ended up with another 8-5 season, or worse. Herman and the Cougars made the most of their talent, making a run all the way to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, collecting their first conference title since 2006 and their first American Athletic Conference title. A win over Florida State University in the Peach Bowl cemented what was a banner year for the program, one of the best in program history by almost any standard, and a good introduction for Herman. The Cougars even found their way into the AP Top 10 after their post-season victory, moving up into 8th place after their bowl victory, something that hadn’t happened since 1990. The success on the field was new for many Cougar fans, but Herman and the Cougars will be hoping this isn’t a one-year trend, instead looking to continue this for years to come. Despite losing some offensive and defensive starters, Ward will be returning for the Cougars, and injuries along the offensive line offered some experience and playing time to a number of underclassmen. Allen, the second-leading receiver, will be returning for his senior season, despite the early

Defense played a big part for the Cougars in the Peach Bowl, forcing five total turnovers. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

departure of Ayers. The defense perhaps suffers the biggest losses, as a number of key seniors are departing, including lock-down corner William Jackson III and stand-out safety and Jack Boyz feature Trevon Stewart. But with the strong recruiting push by Herman and his staff to reload the team with a number of four and five-star prospects,

the Cougars should be ready for another run next season, with their sights set on yet another conference title and maybe even another New Year’s Six bowl bid. For now, they will enjoy the fruits of their labors from the season, and enjoy the title of Peach Bowl champions. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 | 3

Cougars outlast Tigers behind backup Postma When the Cougars hosted the University of Memphis Tigers, it was a battle between two of the top teams in the American Athletic Conference. Hope looked slim for UH after Memphis jumped out to an early 20-0 lead, and junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. went out with an injury just before half

on the Cougars first substantial drive. Sophomore backup quarterback Kyle Postma came in and saved the day for UH, combining for 285 total yards and three touchdowns as the Cougars mounted a huge comeback to stay perfect on the season and climb higher in the rankings.

— Photo by Justin Tijerina

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The Cougars played a dominating game against the Florida State Seminoles en route to a win in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl. UH jumped on FSU early, opening up a 21-3 lead before halftime, and coasting to the finish over the ninth-ranked team in the nation. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

Championship season one for the history books MERVIN WRIGHT JR.

STAFF WRITER

A new era of Cougar football has begun, and it couldn't have started any better. Led on the sidelines by Coach of the Year and Bear Bryant Award Finalist Tom Herman, as well as Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award winner junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr., the Cougars had a nearly-flawless football season. On the field, the Cougars had tremendous success, starting with a 52-24 win over the Tennessee Technical University Golden Eagles. UH had its first contest against an FBS opponent when it traveled to take on the University of Louisville, a former conference foe. After a hard-fought game, the Cougars showed they were tougher than they were last year, coming out with a 34-31 victory.

The Cougars built on the momentum that the huge victory over Louisville gave them. UH was able to rattle off a string of six relatively easy victories of at least 14 points each, ending with a 34-0 shutout win over Vanderbilt University on Halloween. The momentum and the luster of the shutout were quickly challenged when the University of Cincinnati Bearcats came into town and gave the Cougars their toughest contest in the conference up to that point. Cincinnati played Houston hard, but Houston’s defense showed why it was one of the best defenses in the country and forced a crucial stop to seal the 33-30 victory. The next week, the Cougars' resiliency was tested like it had never been tested before when the University of Memphis Tigers came in. Houston was

A stout run defense held the Florida State Seminoles to just 16 yards rushing all game.. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

The play of junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. guided the team throughout the season, as he totaled almost 3,000 passing yards and over 1,000 rushing yards to pair with 38 total touchdowns on the season. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

plagued by another slow start, causing it to be down 20-0 in the second quarter. The Cougars stayed tough, even with the loss of Ward at quarterback. Sophomore backup Kyle Postma came in, led a touchdown drive at the end of the half and helped keep the team in the game in the third quarter. With the help of the defense and a few key forced turnovers, the Cougars erased a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit, leading to a 35-34 victory. The Cougars’ next game, however, would prove to be the end of the perfect season. As they traveled to face the University of Connecticut Huskies, they were

defeated 20-17 in a game, where the defense played well, but the offense couldn’t get going behind Postma. UH would come out the next week and play one of their most dominant games, shutting down the United States Naval Academy’s triple option offense and fighting on to a 52-31 victory, securing them a spot in the conference championship. They found themselves locked in a defensive struggle in the championship game against Temple University. The Cougars eventually came out with a 24-13 win and the American Athletic Conference championship, leading to a berth in the Chick-Fil-A Peach

Bowl against Florida State University Seminoles. They also ended the season well on the national stage. The Cougars dominated the Seminoles, causing five turnovers and putting on an offensive show. UH hit FSU hard, jumping out to a 21-3 lead and not looking back, leading to a 38-24 win. The Cougars ended the season looking good in the national picture, finishing ranked No. 18 in the final CFP rankings and eighth in the Associated Press Poll, with some national writers projecting them to be ranked in the Top 10 in the preseason polls for next season. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2016 | 5

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UH captures first conference title since 2006 After an 11-1 record in the regular season and a big win over the United States Naval Academy in the home finale, UH earned the right to host the first-ever American Athletic Conference Championship game. The Cougars came out attacking, forcing early turnovers from the Temple University Owls and scrapping their way to a hard-

fought 24-13 win. Junior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. rushed 17 times for 148 yards and two touchdowns, while junior cornerback Brandon Wilson filled in at running back and rushed 11 times for 70 yards. With the win, Houston earned their first AAC title and earned a bid to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl to end their season.

— Photo by Justin Tijerina

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Wednesday, January 20, 2016 | 7

Head coach Tom Herman took a program that was coming off of a pair of 8-5 seasons and guided them to new heights, and he's continuing that success in recruiting the city of Houston. | Justin Tijerina/ The Cougar

Herman's fast start carries over into recruiting MICHAEL CALDERON

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @MWC0052

Head coach Tom Herman stepped into the position at Houston in 2015 and quickly impressed, with a 13-1 record, a conference title, a bowl victory over a top 10 opponent and multiple accolades in his first year at the helm. While the near-perfect season is impressive, one good season of football doesn't make a legacy for the first-year head coach. From the beginning, Herman said that the recruitment of local talent would be a priority for the coaching staff and a key to the future of the program. So far, the Cougars’ 2016 recruiting class looks to be one of the best in UH history. The efforts of Herman and his staff have turned the school’s recruiting class, ranked 91st a year ago, into the 25th best class in the country, in the first recruiting cycle, according to ESPN. There has been a buzz around the program since Herman signed with UH, helping lure some of the best talent Houston has to offer. The class is highlighted by the commitment of five-star defensive tackle Ed Oliver out of Westfield High School. Oliver is an explosive, high-motor athlete with a knack for disruption, as demonstrated by his 84 tackles, 24 for a loss and seven sacks in 2015.

Fresh off an MVP performance at this year’s Under Armour All-American Game, the highly-sought Oliver has decided to stay home to play his college ball, opening the gate for several other talented players to buy into the H-Town Takeover as well. At the top of the class is a pair of four-star receivers in Tyrie Cleveland, also from Westfield, and Courtney Lark from Bellaire. At 6 foot 3 inches and 6 feet and 1 inch respectively, the duo brings size and all-around skill to the position that should boost the Cougar passing attack. Joining them on offense is another Houston-area star in Manvel High School’s D’Eriq King. After proving himself a potent dual-threat at quarterback for the high-flying Maverick offense, this four-star athlete will look to find a role at the next level. While he may not play quarterback for the Cougars, King brings top-flight athleticism and speed to the field, allowing him to contribute as a returner, receiver or defensive back. The offensive line will also receive an injection of talent from this class, with the signing of former University of South Carolina and junior-college standout Na'Ty Rodgers. A natural left tackle with all of the length, athleticism and quickness necessary, Rodgers will be an ideal fit in both pass protection and run blocking for

UH clinched their first conference title since 2006 with a win over Temple University, adding yet another accomplishment in the young career of Herman. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

the Cougars. Rounding out the class are a slew of three and two-star players with potential to contribute impact, including safety Terrell Williams from Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, safety Collin Wilder from Katy High School, running back Mulbah Car from Reagan High School and quarterback Bowman Sells from Lovejoy High School. The icing on the cake for this impressive haul of talent is the transfer of quarterback Kyle Allen from Texas A&M University.

Widely considered the No. 1 QB in the nation in 2014, Allen could be the future of quarterbacks for the Cougars. Allen led the Aggies to a 5-0 start before struggling midseason and losing the starting job to freshman Kyle Murray in 2015. The sophomore finished the season with 2,210 yards and 17 touchdowns against seven interceptions. Because of NCAA transfer rules, Allen will sit out for 2016, but will return to the field with two years of eligibility left starting in 2017.

Achievements on the field serve in recruiting better talent, helping with on-field production in a cycle that has led to long-term success for the best programs in the country. With the fast start the Cougars had under Herman, they have a chance to build a foundation that could allow UH to eventually overtake the big dogs on the block like the University of Texas, Texas Christian University and Baylor University. sports@thedailycougar.com

8 | Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Peach Bowl win caps historic season for Cougars The Cougars season culminated in a trip to the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, where they faced a tough test against the ninth-ranked Florida State University Seminoles. Despite being underdogs, UH played like the better team for four quarters, taking an 18-point lead into halftime and clamping down on the FSU run game to slow the Seminole offense. Four interceptions by the UH secondary helped deter an FSU comeback in the second half as the Cougars won 38-24.

— Photo by Justin Tijerina

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