THE DAILY COUGAR
//////////////////////// INSIDE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012 ®
The Big Board // 8
OVERTIME
//////////////////////////////////////
Under the Helmet: Get to know your Coogs // 9 //////////////////////////////////////// //
Battle for the Bucket Andrew Pate Sports editor
For the UH football program, Saturday’s game against crosstown rival Rice University provides a multitude of opportunities. In addition to seeking the first win of the season, head coach Tony Levine recognizes the history of the rivalry. “It’s definitely not just another game,” Levine said. “It’s unique that we’re right across town. It’s something that the team that comes out on top has that edge about them for the next 12 months.” The Cougars and Owls have met 39 times since 1971, with UH holding a 27-11 all-time advantage. However, since 2008, the Bayou Bucket Classic has made a handful of trips across the city with the home team winning the last four. Redshirt sophomore quarterback David Piland will be facing the Owls for the second time. In his first matchup, Piland threw for three touchdowns, but the game is ultimately remembered for a fumble under center that may have cost the Cougars in the 34-31 loss.
“It’s always a thought in the back of your head,” Piland said. “It definitely stays with you, but it puts that much more on the excitement of this game and preparing for it.” Last season, the Cougars got their redemption in the form of 656 total offensive yards and a 73-34 rout, although Levine suggests that past results in this matchup mean nothing now. “It’s a completely new season, it’s a completely new team and coaching staff on our end,” Levine said. “What happened last year has no effect. The four seasons I’ve been here, they’ve won two and we’ve won two and what happened the year before made no difference the following season.” This year, the Bayou Bucket will be played at Reliant Stadium for only the second time — the first came in 2004 when the Owls edged out the Cougars 10-7. For Levine and his coaching staff, the major stage draws ample anticipation. “It’s always nice playing in a big stadium,” said senior linebacker Phillip Steward. “The pros play there so you feel like you’re a pro when you’re out there.”
Offense pushes tempo, seeks consistency Christopher Shelton Assistant sports editor
The Cougars and Owls will compete Saturday at Reliant Stadium for the Bayou Bucket. UH leads the overall series 27-11. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
sports@thedailycougar.com
For the past three games, UH’s offense has not been where David Piland wants it to be. Piland, the team’s starting quarterback, said the the Cougars must build a new norm to attain their goals. “If you’re day started at 9 a.m., now you need to be up at 5 a.m. and be up here by 6 a.m. In that three hours you can (be) doing stuff up here to get better for the game,” Piland said. “If you have time for lunch you should lunch up here and watch film. If you have extra time after practice, where you would just go home and watch TV, do it up here. ” This year UH’s offense has been up and down, filled with inconsistent bursts. Against Louisiana Tech, the Cougars scored 49 points, with 22 in the fourth quarter. In two other games, UH scored 19 points combined. In all three losses, Piland orchestrated explosive scoring plays to different weapons. In the opening game against Texas State, it was a 64-yard touchdown pass to receiver Larry McDuffey. Amid Piland’s four touchdown passes versus Louisiana Tech OFFENSE continues on page 10
COUGARFLASHBACK UH COUGARS VS RICE OWLS THROUGH THE YEARS. Since 1971, the cross-town rivalry between the UH Cougars and Rice Owls has provided its fair share of games for the ages. The squads have faced off at four different venues including Robertson Stadium, Rice Stadium, Reliant Stadium and the Astrodome. The Cougars hold the all-time series record 27-11. Here are a recap of the five greatest UH victories over Rice in no particular order.
1971
1989
1972 Houstonian
1990
1990 Houstonian
1995
1991 Houstonian
1999
1996 Houstonian
2000 Houstonian
HOUSTON 23, RICE 21
HOUSTON 64, RICE 0
HOUSTON 24, RICE 22
HOUSTON 18, RICE 17
HOUSTON 28, RICE 3
In front of 62,000 at Rice Stadium, UH won the inagural game against the Owls, a year before the Cougars joined the Southwest Conference.
Under the direction of Andre Ware, UH put up the most lopsided victory to date in the rivarly in part to Ware’s 400 passing yards and two touchdowns.
Trailing 22-7 in the third, David Klinger orchestrated two fourth quarter touchdowns and Roman Anderson kicked a 32-yard field goal with 10 seconds left.
In the final game in Southwest Conference history, the Cougars trailed 17-3 before scoring two TD’s and a two-point conversion in the fourth for the win.
After a three-year absence in play following the disbanding of the SWC, UH beat Rice in the first matchup between the two at Robertson Stadium. -ANDRES GARCIA
The Daily Cougar
8 \\ Thursday, September 27, 2012
THEBIGBOARD AP TOP 25 RK
// College football at a glance
C-USA MATCHUPS
TEAM
RECORD
PTS
1 Alabama (59)
4-0
1499
2 Oregon
4-0
1414
Missouri at UCF
3 LSU (1)
4-0
1346
Marshall at Purdue
C-USA
SATURDAY
NETWORK
TIME
EAST
W
L
W
L
FSN
11 a.m. CT
East Carolina
1
0
2
2
BTN
2 p.m. CT
Marshall
1
0
2
2
UCF.
0
0
2
1
4 Florida State
4-0
1340
Louisiana-Monroe at Tulane
CST
2:30 p.m. CT
5 Georgia
4-0
1245
UAB
0
0
0
3
UTEP at East Carolina
KVIA/WITN
6 p.m. CT
6 South Carolina
4-0
1147
Memphis
0
0
0
4
7 Kansas State
4-0
1067
(14) TCU at SMU
FSN
6 p.m. CT
Southern Miss
0
1
0
3
8 Stanford
3-0
1055
(19) Louisville at Southern Miss
CSBSN
7 p.m. CT
WEST
W
L
W
L
9 West Virginia
3-0
1045
Tulsa
1
0
3
1
10 Notre Dame
4-0
1003
SMU
0
0
1
2
11 Florida
4-0
864
UTEP
0
0
1
3
Houston
0
0
0
3
12 Texas
3-0
856
13 USC
3-1
801
14 Ohio State
4-0
633
15 TCU
3-0
616
16 Oklahoma
2-1
611
17 Clemson
3-1
588
18 Oregon State
2-0
451
19 Louisville
4-0
414
20 Michigan State
3-1
348
21 Mississippi State 22 Nebraska 23 Rutgers
4-0 3-1 4-0
246 179 128
24 Boise State
2-1
114
25 Baylor
3-0
92
TV GUIDE
Others receiving votes: Northwestern 89, UCLA 79, Michigan 44, Ohio 40, Virginia Tech 26, Arizona 17, Iowa State 16, Wisconsin 13, Oklahoma State 12, Texas A&M 11, Texas Tech 10, Cincinnati 10, Tennessee 10, Arizona State 8, Louisiana Tech 7, Purdue 5, Miami (FL) 1
SAY WHAT?
You had that opportunity the second game I played. I really wanted to play well and go out and prove that; (I) fumbled the ball on the fourth down (and) it definitely stays with you. — David Piland, redshirt sophomore quarterback talking about making his only start against Rice which resulted in a 34-31 loss at Rice Stadium in 2010
SATURDAY, SEPT. 8
NETWORK
TIME (CT)
Ball State at Kent State
ESPN 3
11 a.m.
Baylor at West Virginia
FX
11 a.m.
Indiana at Northwestern
BTN
11 a.m.
FSN
11 a.m.
Minnesota at Iowa
ESPN 2
11 a.m.
Missouri at UCF North Carolina State at Miami Penn State at Illinois
FSN ESPN U ESPN
11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11 a.m.
Stony Brook at Army
CBSSN
11 a.m.
Arkansas at Texas A&M
SEC Network
11:21 a.m.
Duke at Wake Forest
ESPN 3
11:30 a.m.
Cincinnati vs. Va. Tech (Landover, MD)
ESPN U
2:30 p.m.
Clemson at Boston College
ESPN 2
2:30 p.m.
Idaho at North Carolina
FSN
2:30 p.m.
Marshall at Purdue
BTN
2:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Michigan State
ABC
2:30 p.m.
San Jose State at Navy
CBSSN
2:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Georgia
CBS
2:30 p.m.
Troy at South Alabama
ESPN 3
2:30 p.m.
Arizona State at California
FX
3 p.m.
ESPN
5 p.m.
UCLA at Colorado
Pac-12 Network
5 p.m.
Missouri State at South Dakota State
ESPN U
6 p.m.
South Carolina at Kentucky
ESPN 2
6 p.m.
TCU at SMU
FSN
6 p.m.
Towson at LSU
ESPNU
6 p.m.
Texas at Oklahoma State
FOX
6:50 p.m.
Wisconsin at Nebraska
ABC
7 p.m.
Oregon State at Arizona
PAC-12 Network
9 p.m.
Oregon at Washington State
ESPN 2
9:30 p.m.
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5TH
NETWORK ESPN
6 p.m.
ESPN
9:15 p.m.
2012 stats, UH vs. Rice starters PASSING
Avg.
Yards
TD
Long
Charles Sims
34
4.2
142
2
31
Taylor McHargue
67
5.4
429
5
47
Rec.
Avg.
Yards
TD
RECEIVING
Player
Player
3
0
3
UH edges Owls
RUSHING
Att.
1
1
HOUSTON 45, MINNESOTA 43
TIME (CT)
Utah State at BYU
Player
1
0
1997 Houstonian
Pittsburgh at Syracuse
TEAMLEADERS
0
Tulane
COUGAR FLASHBACK
Middle Tennessee at Georgia Tech
Florida State at South Florida
Rice
Cmp Att. Yards Cmp% TD
Int
Rat
Long
David Piland
98
181
1,040
54.1
5
6
104.9
Dewayne Peace
23
181
1,040
1
30
Taylor McHargue
81
133
927
60.9
7
2
133.8
Jordan Taylor
22
133
927
0
29
The Cougars and Gophers combined for 11 touchdowns and 1,061 yards. Running back Vaughn Innis rushed for 129 yards on 29 carries. Defensively, the Cougars came up with a late stop to force a field goal ultimately securing the victory. Jason McKinley was in his first start with the Cougars and only threw the ball 26 times, completely 17 balls for 310 yards and two touchdowns. Freshman receiver Orlando Iglesias caught eight passes for 161 yards The victory was the first of the season for the Cougars who fell on the road to #16 Alabama and at the Dome against California. — Andrew Pate
Thursday, September 27, 2012 // 9
The Daily Cougar
20 Valencia (SS) 2
23 Stewart (FS) 10 McMillian (CB)
Hayden (CB)
42
90
Steward (LB)
Riser (DE)
92
54
Daniels (LB)
Mbu (DT)
95
49 Mathews (LB)
Scypion (DT)
45
Allen (DE)
DEFE ENSE OFFE ENSE 74
Harper (LT)
64
Cloud (LG)
63
8 27
Spencer (WR)
Forsch (C)
Piland (QB)
9 Peace (WR)
5
UNDERTHEHELMET // Getting to know the Cougars
Favorite Musician:
Lil Wayne Favorite Actor:
Denzel Washington
Charles Sims
Favorite Musician:
Z-RO Favorite Actor:
Halle Berry
D.J. Hayden
Sims (RB)
76
Ashworth (RG)
69
Oragwu (RG)
81 McDuffey (WR)
3 Greenberry(WR)
The Daily Cougar
10 \\ Thursday, September 27, 2012
OFFENSE continued from page 7
was a 74-yard completion to receiver Daniel Spencer. Piland scrambled 86 yards for UH’s lone score in its most recent tussle with UCLA. UH has not been able to supplement big plays with an offense that consistently has rhythm and threatens a defense. Perhaps injuries have kept the Cougars reaching the consistency level they want.
“It’s great to see Charles Sims back as well as Kevin Forsch, Ralph Oragwu and Kent Brooks,” Freshman receiver Andrew Rodriguez is also expected to play. Receiver Ronnie Williams is questionable, to Levine sad. Levine said freshman receiver Deontay Greenberry, defensive backs Trevon Stewart and Colton Valencia will continue to start even with the roster restored to optimum health. The running game could improve on 139-yards rushing against UCLA — 86 of which came on Piland’s touchdown run when the game was
decided — after returning their top two running backs and two starting offensive lineman. Forsch said the offense will benefit from the bye week. “We got a lot better and got everybody healthy,” he said. According to Piland, the open week allowed for greater selfawareness. “We got the bye week, evaluated ourselves and said, ‘this isn’t cutting it,’” Piland said. “And great teams go above and beyond the call. sports@thedailycougar.com
THROUGH THREE GAMES
FEATURING:
2012
QBs
SATURDAY & SUNDAY stadium buffet FREE NY STRIP STEAKS from 12 noon to 5pm MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL SPECIAL 20 for 20!
Free cover for students and guest with UH ID Always Hiring waitstaff, reception and door personnel
www.RitzHouston.com | 10520 Gulf Freeway Houston Tx, 77034 | 713.944.6445
2011
$20 for 20 Buffalo Wings and an Ice cold pitcher of domestic or imported draft beer
RBs
WRs
Piland
Sims
Peace
YARDS : 1,040 TDs : 5 INTs : 6
RU YARDS : 142 TDs : 2 REC : 12
YARDS : 257 TDs : 1 REC : 23
Keenum
Hayes
Edwards
YARDS : 1,119 TDs : 10 INTs : 2
RU YARDS : 146 TDs : 3 REC : 14
YARDS : 289 TDs : 3 REC : 13 -ANDRES GARCIA