THE DAILY COUGAR
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 , 2012 ®
OVERTIME
COVER STORY //////////////////////
LEVINE’S VISION The Cougars’ first-year head coach focuses on long-term
//////////////////////// INSIDE
Turnover woes cost Cougars // 3 //////////////////////////////////////
Hayden steps into leadership role // 5 ////////////////////////////////////////
The Daily Cougar
2 \\ Saturday, October 27, 2012
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EDITOR’S NOTE
Young Cougar squad replicates election season flip-flopping At the peak of election season, all the flip-flopping done by the Cougars football this season seems appropriate. After dropping the first three games of the season, UH Andrew stormed back, Pate showcasing the hope and change we all were looking for — then in a pivotal conference road game against SMU, fell flat on its face. “Thursday night was extremely disappointing,” head coach Tony Levine said. “When you play an opponent and you turn over the ball nine times, you rarely, if ever, give yourself a chance to win.” A young group of players have tried to fill the shoes of a veteran squad who produced the greatest season in school history a year ago. The Cougars’ starting offense consists of only one senior, and nine freshmen have taken the field in total. One message the head coach tried to make clear, though, was that the progression of the program is on par, despite the 3-4 record which opened the 2012 season. Along with coaching a young team, the biggest issue is eliminating the penalties and turnovers, as evidenced by last week’s loss to the Mustangs. “That’s a game you can learn from,” said quarterbacks coach Travis Bush. “It wasn’t them just totally whooping our (butt) and us playing horribly bad. We had a handful of really bad plays that were crucial in the ballgame.” Which version of the team shows up this week is anyone’s guess. Throughout the past seven games, we’ve seen the good and the bad, and the ups and the downs. However, if anyone can come back from a miserable 30 point defeat to an in-state rival, it is this year’s Cougars.
THE DAILY COUGAR
OVERTIME SECTION EDITORS Andrew Pate Christopher Shelton COPY EDITORS Aryan Baktash Samantha Wong COVER PHOTO Nine Nguyen PRODUCTION Andres Garcia Farah Hasnie
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L, 56-49 @ UCLA
L, 37-6 RICE (RELIANT STADIUM)
W, 35-14 NORTH TEXAS
W, 44-21 UAB
W, 39-17 @SMU
L, 72-42 UTEP
Oct. 27 @EAST CAROLINA
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Nov. 10 @MARSHALL
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Saturday, October 27, 2012 // 3
The Daily Cougar
Turnovers cost Cougars in losing season
The Cougars have thrown 13 interceptions through seven games this season. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
Christopher Shelton Assistant sports editor
Nine turnovers and a 30-point loss to SMU baffled head coach Tony Levine. “I’ve never been a part of that or seen that before, where they score four offensive touchdowns from the end of the second quarter to less than three minutes into the third quarter and the game goes from being 14-14 to 45-14. The game got away from us in a short amount of time,” Levine said. The Cougars said they hope to
respond better to adversity this week. Quarterbacks coach and play caller Travis Bush said the team will continue to stay positive on the sideline. He said UH will try not to compound mistakes by committing others. Bush said there are positives to take away from the loss to SMU. He said the Cougars made some good plays that showed up on the game tape. “You show them, especially from this film. I think eight turnovers in the game, we are still down by 17 and they went through the third. After all of that, we are still in a position to have a chance to win the game,”
Bush said. Redshirt sophomore quarterback David Piland was taken out of the game with a head injury but will play this week against UTEP. He was cleared to play on Tuesday after passing all the necessary concussion tests. Piland said the turnover margin is key to victory. “It’s just one of those focus issues. Dropping a punt or the special teams deals — we are going to have that cleaned up,” Piland said. “We have to do a better job of, one, taking care of the ball, and two, overcoming adversity. We will do a better job of that this week.”
The Daily Cougar
4 \\ Saturday, October 27, 2012
Levine guides youthful squad Andrew Pate Sports editor
Following the departure of former head coach Kevin Sumlin, Tony Levine took the helm with the Cougars on Dec. 22. After defeating No. 22 Penn State in the Ticket City Bowl, Levine confronted the challenges of being the man in charge. The Daily Cougar caught up with Levine to get his thoughts on the season seven games in. The Daily Cougar: How would you evaluate your first seven games as head coach this season? Tony Levine: One thing about being a head football coach, or a head coach of any sport, is building a successful program and maintaining its consistency, which is a process that takes time. It’s something that does not happen overnight, and we’re working extremely hard every day. In establishing that consistency, while you’re focusing on the present, you’re also spending a great deal of time on the future — the recruiting aspect of it. A lot of people are not pleased with our current record of 3-4, and I would be at the top of that list, but I like where the direction of our program is headed in the immediate future and in the long-term. TDC: At what point did you know you wanted to be a head coach? TL: I’ve always wanted to coach. I determined I wanted to be a head coach when I got into coaching. In my first year coaching, I was a high school assistant, and our head ninth grade coach as a 22-year old — really that gave me my first taste of coaching. That’s when I knew I wanted to be a head coach.
TDC: Talk about your coaching staff and what it was like putting together a staff for the first time. TL: It was one of the toughest things to do as a head coach. You’ve got to hire nine full-time assistants, half a dozen graduate assistants and quality control coaches, a strengths coach and a strengths staff, a support staff, director of player personnel, director of football operations and a director of recruiting. What made it difficult, in no particular order, what that I was not looking to hire my friends. I wanted people who were the best for our program, people who wanted to be here, men who had great character and I thought were great teachers. If they were married, they were great husbands. If they had kids, they were great fathers and they would care a lot about our program. I think the guys we’ve got in our program all fit those parameters. TDC: Mentally, as a head coach, what helps you keep a positive attitude through the long days and tough times? TL: What I look to — and I told this to one of my assistants today — is number one, being around our players and their energy, enthusiasm and outlook is something very positive on a day-to-day basis. Then, knowing what the future is going to look like. When I say future, I mean immediate future, as in a month from now, and distant future as in a year, two years or three years from now. People that follow our program, while they want instant gratification, you know we are going to be successful — it’s going to be in the near future and consistently in the not so distant future.
First-year head coach Tony Levine has compiled a 4-4 record dating back to his hiring on Dec. 22. In his first game as head coach, the Cougars defeated No. 22 Penn State, 30-14 in the Ticket City Bowl. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
Head coach Tony Levine speaks to his team following the conclusion of Wednesday’s practice. The Cougars’ primary focus against UTEP will be eliminating turnovers. | Nine Nguyen/The Daily Cougar
Saturday, October 27, 2012 // 5
The Daily Cougar
Hayden provides senior leadership Assistant sports editor
Before he was fist-pumping in the end zone for scoring a 75-yard interception return last week, senior corner D.J. Hayden was thinking of ways to make a big play. “They were running hitches all game. I told Zach (McMillian) if they do another hitch, I’m going to jump it,� Hayden said. “I looked at the quarterback the whole time. He was about to throw the hitch. I caught it and took it to the house.� Though the Cougars lost the game 72-42, Hayden’s interception gave them a chance, cutting a 24-point SMU lead to 17. Hayden said he knew the team needed energy. Hayden’s size allows him to make plays, said defensive backs assistant coach Zac Spavital. “He’s a big physical guy, so when teams want to isolate receivers we can put him on that receiver and we can match him up one to one. He has the ability to cover guys up and he’s big and strong, so he can go up against the small guys and he can go up against the big guys,� Spavital said. Since transferring from Navarro
Junior College last year, Hayden caused 10 turnovers. Hayden is on pace to intercept more passes this season. Throughout the past seven games, Hayden had two interceptions. Last season, he had two interceptions and forced five fumbles, including one in each team’s final five games. Schematically, Hayden and junior corner Zachary McMillian’s ability to play man-to-man allows the defense to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and stop the running game by putting an extra safety in the box, Spavital said. Against Louisiana Tech, Hayden locked up against Quinton Patton — who has nine touchdowns this season and was named to the 2011 Biletnikoff Award Watch List — to four catches for 36 yards. North Texas receiver Brelan Chancellor averaged 20 yards per reception. Hayden held him to four catches for 44 yards. “It allows us to put another guy in a box of safety and be able to help us stop the run a little bit just knowing that we have guys on the outside that can man-up receivers without any help from the top,� Spavital said. Hayden said he hopes his impact
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Time management–School/Life balance
Mon. 11/5 @ 11AM
Tues. 11/6 @ 3PM
11
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Wed. 11/14 @ 11AM
Thurs. 11/15 @ 1PM
12
Boosting memory
Tues. 11/20 @ 2PM
Tues. 11/20 @ 4PM
13
Reducing test anxiety
Tues. 11/27 @ 5PM
Fri. 11/30 @ 4PM
14
Overcoming procrastination
Mon. 12/3 @ 3PM
Thurs. 12/6 @ 4PM
15
Coping with finals
Tues. 12/4 @ 3PM
Wed. 12/5 @ 1PM
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too just like they will,� Hayden said. “I try to help them as much as I can on and off the field. I just try to be a big brother.�
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like McMillian and freshman safety Trevon Stewart. “They look at me almost like their role model. I make mistakes
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at UH extends longer than his twoyear tenure. Though he said he’s not perfect, he tries to influence younger players in the secondary
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D. J. Hayden makes a hit against UAB as Phillip Steward looks on. | Rebekah Stearns/The Daily Cougar
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The Daily Cougar
6 \\ Saturday, October 27, 2012
THEBIGBOARD AP TOP 25 RK
// College football at a glance
C-USA MATCHUPS
TEAM
RECORD
PTS
1 Alabama (59)
7-0
1499
2 Oregon
7-0
1424
Southern Miss at Rice
3 Florida (1)
7-0
1380
Memphis at SMU
C-USA
SATURDAY
NETWORK
TIME
EAST
W
L
W
L
CBSSN
12 p.m. CT
UCF
3
0
5
2
TW TEXAS
2 p.m. CT
East Carolina
4
1
5
3
Marshall
1
2
3
4
4 Kansas State
7-0
1333
Navy @ East Carolina
FCS
2:30 p.m. CT
5 Notre Dame
7-0
1241
Southern Miss at Rice
CBSSN
7:00 p.m. CT
6 LSU
7-1
1172
7 Oregon State
6-0
1106
8 Oklahoma
5-1
9 Ohio State
8-0
10 USC
6-1
944
11 Florida State
7-1
872
Houston
2
1
3
4
Tulane
1
2
1
6
UTEP
1
3
2
6
Rice
0
4
2
6
Memphis
1
2
1
6
UAB
0
3
1
6
Southern Miss
0
3
0
7
1065
WEST
W
L
W
L
1028
Tulsa
5
0
7
1
SMU
2
1
3
4
12 Georgia
6-1
745
13 Mississippi State
7-0
739
14 Clemson
6-1
713
15 Texas Tech
6-1
653
16 Louisville
7-0
620
17 South Carolina
6-2
591
18 Rutgers
7-0
539
19 Stanford
5-2
300
20 Michigan
5-2
421
21 Boise State 22 Texas A&M 23 Ohio
6-1 5-2 7-0
258 252 181
24 Louisiana Tech
6-1
106
25 West Virginia
5-2
76
Others receiving votes: Toledo 49, Texas 33, Wisconsin 31, TCU 29, Nebraska 24, Penn State 18, North Carolina State 13, Oklahoma State 12, Arizona 7, UCLA 7, Tulsa 6, Arizona State 5, Northern Illinois 5, Cincinnati 3
SAY WHAT?
A lot of people are not pleased with our current record of 3-4, and I would be at the top of that list, but I like where the direction of our program is headed in the immediate future and in the long-term.” — Tony Levine, UH head coach on the direction of the program
TV GUIDE SATURDAY, OCT. 27
NETWORK
TIME (CT)
Tennessee at South Carolina
ESPN
11 a.m.
Iowa at Northwestern
ESPN2
11 a.m.
Kentucky at Missouri
ESPNU
11 a.m.
Temple at Pittsburgh
ESPN3
11 a.m.
Ball State at Army
CBSS
11 a.m.
Indiana at Illinois Northern Illinois at Western Michigan Ole Miss at Arkansas
BTN ESPN3 SEC/ESPN3
11 a.m. 11 a.m. 11:21 a.m.
NC State at North Carolina
ESPN3
11:30 a.m.
Maryland at Boston College
ESPN3
1 a.m..
Utah State at UTSA
ESPN3
2 p.m.
Colorado at Oregon
Pac-12
2 p.m.
UCLA at Arizona State
FX
2 p.m.
BYU at Georgia Tech
ESPN3
2 p.m.
Florida vs. Georgia
CBS
2:30 p.m.
Texas Tech at Kansas State
FOX
2:30 p.m.
USC at Arizona
CBS
2:30 p.m.
Tennessee at Georgia
ESPN2/ABC
2:30 p.m.
Duke at Florida State
ESPNU
2:30 p.m.
Kent State at Rutgers
ESPN3
2:30 p.m.
Boise State at Wyoming
CBSS
2:30 p.m.
Ohio at Miami (Ohio)
ESPN3
2:30 p.m.
Michigan State at Wisconsin
ABC/ESPN2
2:30 p.m.
Purdue at Minnesota
BTN
2:30 p.m.
Eastern Michigan at Bowling Green
ESPN3
2:30 p.m.
North Texas at Middle Tennessee
ESPN3
2:30 p.m.
Ohio State at Penn State
ESPN
3:30 p.m.
Washington State at Stanford
Pac-12
5:15 p.m.
Texas A&M at Auburn
ESPNU
6 p.m.
Syracuse at South Florida
ESPN3
6 p.m.
Massachusetts at Vanderbilt
ESPN3
6 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at New Mexico State
ESPN3
7 p.m
Notre Dame at Oklahoma
NBC
7 p.m.
Michigan at Nebraska
ESPN2
7 p.m.
Mississippi State at Alabama
ESPN
7:30 p.m.
Oregon State at Washington
Pac-12
9:15 p.m
11 players. 100 yards. 140 characters at a time. Follow @thedailycougar for live game updates
COUGAR FLASHBACK
1990 Houstonian
#16 HOUSTON 95, #20 SMU 21
Cougars rout SMU On Oct. 21 1989, Andre Ware led an offensive attack that nearly put up 100, defeating SMU by 74 points. Ware set five NCAA records in one half of play finishing with 517 yards passing. In one quarter, Ware finished with 340 yards and five touchdowns. In total, the quarterback set 26 NCAA records in 1989. The Cougars also set a Las Vegas record too. The pregame 59 1/2 point spread was the largest seen of its time. — Chris Shelton
Saturday, October 27, 2012 // 7
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)
44 Pulliam (DE)
DEFE ENSE OFFE ENSE 74
19
64
Harper (LT)
Cloud (LG)
58
Redman (C)
8
Piland (QB)
76
Ashworth (RG)
69
Oragwu (RT)
81 McDuffey (WR)
3 Greenberry (WR)
88 Maxwell (WR)
Ros (WR)
5
TEAMLEADERS
Sims (RB)
UNDERTHEHELMET
2012 stats, UH vs. UTEP starters
// Getting to know the Cougars
Hobby
Goal
Favorite Movie
Time with family
Stay tight with team
Forrest Gump
PASSING
Player
Cmp Att. Yards Cmp% TD
Int
Rat
David Piland
202
334
2,264
60.5
10
9
121
Nick Lamaison
110
212
1,361
51.9
10
5
116.6
Kris Johnston
RUSHING
Player
Att.
Avg.
Yards
TD
Long
Charles Sims
122
5.71
697
6
53
Nathan Jeffery
94
4.4
433
0
71
FIND A BETTER JOB.
RECEIVING
Player
Rec.
Avg.
Yards
TD
Long
Daniel Spencer
36
14.19
511
3
74
Jordan Leslie
40
15.4
618
4
61
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The Daily Cougar
8 \\ Saturday, October 27, 2012
THEOPPOSITION UTEP seeks to salvage season against Cougars Edwin Delgado UTEP Prospector
After a much needed homecoming win, the Miners will attempt to get their first road win of the season against the Houston Cougars Oct. 27, at the Robertson Stadium. “It is the most important game that we are playing, there is no question about it,� UTEP head coach Mike Price said. “Everyone is going to play as hard as they can and as long as they can. I’ll guarantee it.� The Cougars lead the series between the two schools 5-4 all-time, and 5-2 since UTEP joined Conference USA in 2005. The Miners won a crucial game at
home Oct. 20 against Tulane to keep their bowl aspirations alive and they are seeking to get back-to-back victories for the first time in 2012. For a second straight week, senior quarterback Nick Lamaison only played one half as he re-aggravated a hamstring injury. During his one half of play he completed 11 of 16 attempts for 157 yards and two touchdowns, both to senior wide receiver Mike Edwards. The Cougars are coming off a nine-turnover performance against SMU, which they lost 72-42. The toughest challenge the Miners will face is the Cougar offense, which is the third best offense in the country in passing yards averaging
364 per game. “They pass an awful lot, they are going to run the offense a lot, they ran 97 plays in the game and got beat by 30 points,� Price said. “We would have to score more than 24 points to beat Houston I would think, but I don’t know how I’m going to do that.� Houston sophomore starting quarterback David Piland is now in charge of the offense and so far he has completed 60 percent of his attempts for a total of 2,264 yards and 10 touchdowns, but he had to leave the game with an injury and is uncertain if he will be able to play against the Miners. The backup quarterback for the Cougars, senior Crawford Jones has
a 50 percent completion average and has thrown for 252 yards so far. For Price, regardless of who is the signal caller, he wants play similar to how SMU played Houston defensively. “SMU came after them and blitzed a lot and knocked their quarterback out of the game, and put heated pressure in the next two backups,� Price said. “It doesn’t make a difference (if Piland plays) we have to put pressure on him, mix up the coverage on him and all quarterbacks, some people think the senior backup (Jones) is better.� UTEP will have to keep up with Houston’s no-huddle offense, which Price said runs a play nearly every 14
Examine the Evidence M aking the decision to attend law school is huge. Deciding which one to go to can be intimidating. Our program offers:
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We rest our case.
seconds. “They are a big play offense we have to take angles,� Price said. “I think it’s going to be very difficult to play man defense with them because if they break it, it’s going to go for a long way.� The Cougars are averaging 174 rushing yards per game. Running backs junior Charles Sims and freshman Kenneth Farrow have combined for 921 yards and 10 touchdowns. “We need to win this game, we need to win in Houston,� Price said. “We need to save our season and this game is going to save it, every play in our playbook will be available. You are going to see everything we do. We are going to give it our very best effort.�
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