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Issue 14, Volume 82
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The final stretch
With a chance to pull off a major upset against No. 3 Louisville, The Cougars might push back into the rankings. | PG. 9
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Emily Burleson, EDITOR
FACULTY
Classical studies, honors professor talks UH research on national radio Multilinguist, mentor of students contributes to NPR's 'The Engines of Our Ingenuity' program ELENA ESPITIA
CONTRIBUTING WRITER @LENA_MOLNIJA
Richard Armstrong was in Virginia, sitting in his car, listening to the radio when he heard a five-minute segment on National Public Radio called “The Engines of Our Ingenuity.” The feature caught Armstrong's attention. He wondered about the broadcasting location. Then John Lienhard, the engineering professor running the show, said the University of Houston. That was the first time Armstrong had heard about UH. Now a professor and staple figure in the Honors College, his voice airs on the same program he heard years ago on NPR. "I think part of the work that we do as a university is to act like a sort of memory cell to allow this dialogue for the human species to continue," Armstrong said. During his childhoood in Michigan, Armstrong never visited Texas. He followed his passion for humanities to the University of Chicago, where most of his classmates were studying the sciences. He earned his master's and doctorate at Yale University. Armstrong recalled his experience at the University of Chicago as demanding but integrated. Undergraduates there were required to spend a year in each division including the physical sciences, social sciences and humanities. The requirement helped Armstrong build a sense of how those fields are interconnected. “During discussion sections, he effectively combined humor, audacious commentary and personal narratives to draw the class even deeper into antiquity and encourage us to formulate our own views of the world around us,” said Victor Yau, Armstrong’s former student. Armstrong followed his passion for antiquity and translation studies when he became a professor of classical studies and classical and modern languages at UH in 1995. Throughout his academic career, he has learned to speak Latin, Greek, Biblical Hebrew, French, Italian, German,
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ABOUT CSM
After first hearing about the University of Houston through Houston Public Media's nationally syndicated "The Engines of Our Ingenuity," Richard Armstrong is now an associate professor of classical studies who contributes to the program. The "third generation academic" also speaks nearly a dozen languages and teaches in the Honors College. | Ajani Stewart/The Cougar
Spanish, Provencal, Catalan and a few more languages. “I’m a third-generation academic, so it’s the family business,” Armstrong said. “My grandfather was a professor of speech and dean at Northwestern University, and my father was a professor of education at Western Michigan University."
the territory of working in the classical department for so long because of all the study abroad opportunities the department offers. “Dr. Armstrong's encouragement and personal mentorship culminated in me winning three fully-funded intensive language study abroad opportunities through the
“I think part of the work that we do as a university is to act like a sort of memory cell to allow this dialogue for the human species to continue.” Richard Armstrong, Associate Professor of Classical Studies
Outstanding mentor After 21 years of teaching, Armstrong has taken on other responsibilities. He recently became the coordinator of international studies, which works to get students in study abroad programs through competitive scholarships. Armstrong said that the administrative role came with
Critical Language Scholarship, Houston Scholars Fellowship and Boren Scholarship during my first two undergraduate years,” Yau said. Aside from his administrative duties, Armstrong values his role as a mentor for both students and new professors. He said he relies on his past experience to look at both sides
of an argument and has no trouble relating to their pains. For this reason, Armstrong does a lot of mentoring. “I’ve been at different levels of the faculty, which is one of the reasons why I have a lot of sympathy and understanding for what it’s like to be non-tenured track faculty,” Armstrong said. Jonathan Zecher, a professor in the Honors College, said Armstrong was his favorite colleague. Armstrong mentored Zecher when he started teaching at UH and still continues to. “Something that stands out about Richard Armstrong is his integrity,” Zecher said. “As a colleague, when he promises that he’ll do something he does it and he brings a lot of creativity to projects.” Armstrong also shares his knowledge of antiquity with the rest of the Houston community and other communities in the nation by working on “The Engines of Our Ingenuity.” Armstrong laughed as he
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recalls how he first heard about UH. In 2006, John Lienhard had a few questions for one of the program's episodes and got referred to Armstrong. Lienhard liked what he contributed, Armstrong said, and asked him to be a guest contributor. Armstrong still broadcasts and said that, as someone who is impressed with the program, he is honored to be involved with “The Engines of Our Ingenuity.”
A 'joy' on air “The Engines of Our Ingenuity” airs on News 88.7, which is licensed by UH and is produced by Houston Public Media. Lienhard created the program in 1988 with the purpose of educating by having guest contributors discuss their fields of study. The program is syndicated nationally on NPR and “tells the story of how our culture is formed by human creativity.” “Each episode is the work of the person you hear voicing it on the radio,” said Paul Pendergraft, the former producer for “The Engines of Our Ingenuity.” “They determine the subject and create the essay.” Each essayist who is writing for the program creates and edits their own piece. Lienhard also wanted the writer to voice the feature to give the essay a more organic feel and keep the intent genuine. Lienhard is retired, but “The Engines of Our Ingenuity” now has more than 3,000 broadcasts. Armstrong has contributed more than 40 radio features, and the latest one was aired in August. “John (Lienhard) once told me, ‘You’ll get sick of it before it gets sick of you,’" Armstrong said. "You’ll have to decide when enough is enough because there is a sort of endless need for that content.” Pendergraft said that Armstorng's essays blended his knowledge with his gifted writing style, which gives them the feel of a personal story rather than a simple essay. The majority of Armstrong’s features tie classics and modernity with topics about antiquity, history and architecture. “I must say it was a total joy working with him,” Pendergraft said. “His scripts were always cleverly written and wellsupported with interesting and factual details.”
Pendergraft said that Armstrong does a flawless job at using his academic credentials and life experience to highlight culture and creativity, which is
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the purpose of the broadcast. Armstrong chalked up his love for his career to his quality interactions with students and colleagues.
NEWS
news@thedailycougar.com
Emily Burleson, EDITOR
“At every level of my job, I have quality interactions with people,” Armstrong said. “If you’re simply very, very happy with your interaction with
people, that really does color the quality of the rest of your days.” news@thedailycougar.com
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Emily Burleson, EDITOR
STUDENT LIFE
LGBTQ leaders enter new 'saga' VALERIA DOMINGUEZ
STAFF WRITER
@ VALERIAA413
Meet the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Squad. Although UH is the second-most diverse campus in the country, six students — through the group — seek to celebrate diversity in a new way. “College is the first time some people discover who they are," said accounting junior Oscar Alvarez, a squad member. "We want people to know this campus is a safe space even if the outside feels marginalized." The SAGA Squad, one of the few inclusive LGBTQ groups on campus, is primarly based in the LGBTQ Resource Center. Members can be seen studying, sharing meals and conversing in the common area. As to why members chose to call themselves a “squad” instead of board members, the founders said they picked a different name because difference is what they stand for. “Our goal is to create a safe
space and encourage inclusion on campus," said Jamie Gonzales, the program coordinator of both the LGBTQ Resource Center and SAGA Squad. "Students learn to create outreach and educate others on topics of this community." Gonzalez said a vision for the leadership team always exists at the Resource Center, which has only been on campus for six years. This year, that vision was finally realized through the hiring of a program coordinator. Gonzalez has overseen and encouraged the team’s launch. “Our goal is to create a safe space and encourage inclusion on campus," Gonzales said. "Students learn to create outreach and educate others on topics of this community." The SAGA Squad's membership ranges from freshmen to seniors with a common goal of improving the UH experience through fostering inclusion on campus. When applications for membership positions opened in October, students displayed a high level of interest.
Around 25 applicants were interviewed. Six were chosen at the end of the process. “One of the reasons I joined is to spread inclusion to many parts of campus, including my fraternity,” said geology freshman Austin Hodges, who is also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. The squad members view their job as ambassadors whose goal is to spread awareness of the center and the resources it provides. After selections in September, the squad began creating outreach possibilites and events on campus. They also offer weekly counseling for students and lead monthly discussions groups based on topics such as politics, the experience of coming out and family issues. “The fact that we have resource centers for women and for LGBTQ is a really big deal," said Rashad Moody, a liberal studies senior and SAGA Squad member. "The center reflects the diversity of the school." news@thedailycougar.com
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Cara Murray's thesis project for the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design was intended to show students they can utilize an otherwize empty space between that college and the Fine Arts Building. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
CAMPUS
Art, architecture collide in public thesis project KAYLEE DUSANG STAFF WRITER
Master of architecture graduate Cara Murray presented her master’s project, titled Blurred Line, between the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and the Fine Arts Building on Nov. 4. Unlike most thesis presentations, Murray's lasted an entire week. She designed and constructed a structure strung with thousands of strings that filled a space between the two buildings. Murray received an undergraduate degree in art sculpture. The thesis developed from her interest in art installations and the connection they have with architecture. “There is so much similarity between architecture and art as far as creativity,” Murray said. “Our buildings don’t really make this space a place of community, but with the trees and everything else, it could really be a great park space.” Murray placed benches throughout the site to urge and convince students to take advantage of the underused space between the buildings. To spur community involvement and bring students together, Murray also organized events such as a yoga class, movie night and games throughout the week. “The whole installation was to kind of create a dialogue between architecture students and art students since we never mingle with each other, but our disciplines are so related,” said Monica Rivas, a master of architect graduate who taught a small yoga class at Blurred Line. Murray was pleased to see students show up at the events
and use their leisure time at the site when the events were over. By placing a GoPro camera and drone at different parts of the site, Murray could, without being present, watch the activities and see the impact of her project. “I took an underutilized space, and I changed people’s perception of it,” Murray said. “It made people realize this space could be used differently.” Dietmar Froehlich, an associate professor in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design, said Murray's project was interesting and ambitious — and that it picked up on a sort of lost tradition of installations. Even though there are still installations held in the architecture and art buildings, Murray's is one of the first in years to be displayed outdoors. “This has really taken the campus,” Froehlich said. “Making something for the students and people to walk through gives them a little bit of excitement and a different kind of perception of spaces that could be used.” Murray hopes students and professors see that this space can be used for curriculum or as an effort to make a place for themselves. “It makes people question what architecture can be versus what an art installation can be,” Murray said. “But through the installation, I created these different spaces and walls and roofs and ceilings to try and create space as architecture.” Blurred Line was on display throughout last week and will be taken down before Friday. news@thedailycougar.com
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OPINION
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Frank Campos, EDITOR
What it means: If electoral college votes actually represented an equal proportion of the U.S. population, one electoral college vote would represent about 233,787 voters in the presidential election of 2016. However, each state varies in vote power. The state with the fewest people per electoral vote have the highest vote power. For example, one electoral college vote in Wyoming represented only 82,914 people in the 2016 presidential election, which is much less than the average amount.
One Wyoming voter has roughly the same power as three New York voters.
Note: Maine (ME) is represented in purple because the state allows for its electoral votes to be split. Source of states' populous vote numbers: Associated Press Leah Nash | The Cougar
ELECTION
Electoral College system preserves flawed tradition
T
he people have spoken, and we have overwhelmingly chosen Donald Trump to be our next president. But is that really true? A closer look will show FRANK that for the CAMPOS second time OPINION EDITOR in 20 years, U.S. Constitution's, and not the people, chose our president. Hillary Clinton is currently winning the popular vote with 60,274,974 votes compared to
Donald Trump’s 59,937,338. If this lead holds, Clinton will join fellow Democrat Al Gore, who was defeated by a George W. Bush in 2000. The Electoral College is a complicated system that was created in the 1787 by the Framers of the Constitution. The presidential election is actually a three-part process, which includes the Electoral College, because our Founding Fathers couldn’t decide between election by the people or by the government. It was much different back then. After the 12th Amendment,
however, it became the system we know today. The other argument for the Electoral College, back then, was the lack of knowledge by voters in rural areas. News and information at the time was mostly available to people who lived in higher-population areas, and the Framers wanted to make sure that the voices in the rural areas counted, too. Others speculate, accurately, that slavery played a major role in the division of votes and the Electoral College. Yes, the Constitution is something we follow on a
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daily basis, with laws and amendments that where created long ago, but really? Do we really think we can make an argument for those in the most rural areas? Of course, there are people all over the country that live in places cut off from the world, but that is absolutely by choice. There are thousands of communication forms and transportation methods available to us in 2016 that would blow Benjamin Franklin’s mind. Don’t think we haven’t tried to change anything either. Over the past 200 years, there have been more than 700 proposals
introduced in Congress to alter or remove the Electoral College. Yet, here we sit, shocked at something that should have been changed long ago. All 50 states decide their governor by popular vote. Do you want to know why? Because it makes sense. You can try to explain it to me 100 ways, but the reality is that we should just elect whoever gets the most votes. What an unorthodox thought. Opinion editor Frank Campos is a media production senior and can be reached at opinion@thedailycougar.com
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PUZZLES
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EDUCATION
Commuters should take on-campus involvement seriously
O
ACROSS 1 Word with “-ARama” 5 Parting words 9 Errand runner 14 Common cosmetics ingredient 15 Prefix for “dynamic” 16 Caterpillar, initially 17 Turkish currency 18 Car wash supply 19 Had a home-cooked meal 20 Wild fights 23 Forest denizen 24 Breakfast staple 25 “___ I care!” 27 Do more origami work 30 Visible blight 33 Geller with the spoons 34 Bear that’s not really a bear 37 Indication of police action 38 Fail to see 40 Flounder in water 42 Easy dupes 43 Group of eight 45 Place for a barbecue 47 Romanian currency 48 Parents and some poker players 50 Car front
52 “Big Brother” host 53 Very pale 55 Brain of a PC 57 Feature of a disorderly fight 62 Certain shooting iron 64 Aquarium growth 65 Doing nothing 66 Like Santa’s workers 67 Department store section 68 Exciting star 69 Some bridge seats 70 Young winged god of the Greeks 71 Happy and appreciative DOWN 1 With no need to part? 2 Miscellaneous assortment 3 No longer new, as clothing 4 Primitive shelter 5 Bridgetown’s place 6 Decade makeup 7 Grain bane 8 “Eh” 9 Spectacles 10 Horse’s nibble 11 Wild melee 12 There is no good in it 13 Captain or general, e.g.
Frank Campos, EDITOR
21 22 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 35 36 39 41 44 46 49 51 53 54 55 56 58 59 60 61 63
Egg part Mary ___ cosmetics Egyptian goddess Bit of gossip Longtime “All My Children” character Brawl ingredients Point to the right? Drive away Follow, as a consequence High mountains Hawaii’s Mauna ___ Window frame Elaborate Catholic ritual Intensifies Black-and-white cookie Biochemistry abbr. What six outs constitute Freud contemporary Music-score sign Ship workers Carpet feature Everyone has one Heroic person, to some Edible seaweed Honey-based drink On, as a candle
n-campus involvement at UH is almost non-existent, and commuters play a role in that. I'm also a commuter traveling from the Galleria to campus every day. I know some students that commute from as far out as Waller. That said, what is the incentive for students to stay on campus after class? Hours of traffic? I think not. What students don't realize is that From classroom participation to events around campus, UH holds many opportunities for stubeing on campus is dents to participate and take advantage of the college experience. | Justin Cross/The Cougar essential to success in the classroom as well as with finding a job after tute for working in person. When There is also the International graduation. students meet together and work Student Organization, which is on a project, a lot of the discussion meant to aid international students Your presence is important and brainstorming are based off of with the same processes while Keep in mind that there is a major participation and body language. overcoming the difficulty of adjustdifference in "passing" classes or When meeting in person, it is ing to a new country. getting a "decent" job. There are simply more efficient and effective These organizations exist for also outliers in this trend, but, for for the specific project you all may students and typically meet after the most part, the best companies be working on. classes or at night. Unfortunately, out there hire attendance is also light because those who are Student organizations students do not want to stay after, academically Moving past the classroom, refussit in traffic or get home after 9 p.m. successful and ing to stay on campus because of I must encourage commuters to involved on the commute can hurt your career. accept the fact that this is necescampus. Looking at Houston alone, being sary. There are the country's fourth-biggest city students who and having millions of people, the Involvement with benefits JOHN never show job market is competitive. UH may be a ‘commuter’ school, BRUCATO up for class, It is no longer marketable to have but it is not Houston Community COLUMNIST but resign solely good grades. You need to College. This is a Tier One Univerthemselves get involved on campus to get that sity with massive resources, and to submitting online homework ‘dream’ job. plenty of events going on all day because attendance is not manAn article featured on the job long. datory. This is one of the most hosting site Monster.com discusses It is our responsibility as detrimental things for your acathe most important things for colstudents to develop a contagious demic career. lege students to apply to get a job culture and pride that can scream By not showing up to class, you after graduation. The list mentions “University of Houston!” around will miss the essential student-pronetworking, using the campus’ the world. fessor interaction that has the career services office and sticking If this plea doesn’t sink in, potential to greatly help you down to the internet. consider this: Each student pays a the road. In order to network, students tuition to have access to everything What happens when you need must be face-to-face with other that this University has to offer. You a letter of recommendation for students, faculty and professionals are doing yourself a disservice by graduate school or a job? If the on campus during events. There are not taking advantage of them in professor doesn’t know you, they career fairs, student organizations your brief time attending UH. cannot write the letter. Addiand faculty advising sessions that Companies are not looking for tionally, when it's time for group all enhance networking with likestudents who drive to school, go projects, you will likely not know minded peers. Unfortunately, since to class and go home, which has anyone and will be in the group commuters not wanting to hang the equivalent of a worker who will that is missing a member or two. out on campus, these events often simply clock in, work their eight Has anyone ever had a group have scarce attendance. hours and go home. member for a project who does litUH has a portal on Blackboard Companies are looking for stuerally nothing because they refused dedicated to student organizations, dents who take on leadership and to meet on campus to work with which can be social, professional or initiative and, most importantly, the group? I know I have. academic. For example, there is the have pride in themselves. While there is current technolEconomics Society that is geared Opinion columnist John Brucato is a ogy like Skype and Groupme that toward economics students to economic senior and can be reached allows us to work together from a develop themselves professionally, at opinion@thedailycougar.com distance, there is no direct substiacademically and socially.
Wednesday, November 16, 2016 | 7
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EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF
Trey Strange
MANAGING EDITOR
Bryce Dodds
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Leah Nash
CHIEF COPY EDITOR
Nguyen Le
NEWS EDITORS
Emily Burleson Alex Meyer Marialuisa Rincon SPORTS EDITORS
Reagan Earnst Jonathan Valadez
OPINION EDITORS
Frank Campos Thom Dwyer ARTS EDITORS
Karis Johnson Greg Fails PHOTO EDITORS
Justin Cross Ajani Stewart SENIOR STAFF
Julie Araica Caprice Carter Bruce Chao Jasmine Davis Peter Scamardo Jorden Smith
STAFF EDITORIAL The Staff Editorial reflects the opinions of The Cougar Editorial Board (the members of which are listed above the editorial). All other opinions, commentaries and cartoons reflect only the opinion of the author. Opinions expressed in The Cougar do not necessarily reflect those of the University of Houston or the students as a whole.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR The Cougar welcomes letters to the editor from any member of the UH community. Letters should be no more than 250 words and signed, including the author’s full name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Anonymous letters will not be published. Deliver letters to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar.com; send them via campus mail to STP 4015; or fax to (713) 743-5384. Letters are subject to editing.
GUEST COMMENTARY Submissions are accepted from any member of the UH community and must be signed with the author’s name, phone number or e-mail address and affiliation with the University, including classification and major. Commentary should be limited to 500 words. Guest commentaries should not be written as replies, but rather should present independent points of view. Deliver submissions to N221, University Center; e-mail them to letters@thedailycougar. com; or fax them to (713) 743-5384. All submissions are subject to editing. The Cougar is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press.
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OPINION
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Frank Campos, EDITOR
POLITICS
Students should now form their own political agenda
W
e don’t know what the future holds. A host of us did not foresee the election to turn out the way it did. We’re shocked. Now many, including our fellow students, are terrified at the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency and wondering what will happen to them, their family, or their friends. They have legitimate reasons to be afraid. Trump, among other things, called for a ban on Muslim immigrants, the overturning of libel laws that protect journalists and a more invasive police force. He also claimed that global warming is a Chinese conspiracy and demanded the mass deportation of millions of immigrants living in the country illegally. DOUGLAS Since VAN election night, COLUMNIST there have been hundreds of violent and race-driven attacks. Some were from self-identified Trump supporters. This will directly affect more than a few students at UH. The question that confronts all of us is will we defend our neighbor’s right to be here, to live here freely without violence or coercion? While Trump is notoriously inconsistent in his political positions, we cannot wait to see what will happen. There's a second question that we have to ask, though. What should we do? The Democratic Party appears to be cracking at its edges, utterly humiliated by losing to a racist, alleged sexual predator and supposed billionaire. It lost spectacularly on federal and local levels across the country. Whether the Democrats will remain a viable electoral party seems debatable. The Democratic Party has only its leaders to blame. According to the voter turnout from each election since 2008, the Democratic popular vote has decreased dramatically from more than 69 million to 59 million in this election. It is not that more people came out to vote for the Republicans than usual. Rather, significant numbers of the Democratic Party's normal constituency are losing, or have lost, faith in the Democrats. More than 90 million people did not vote in this recent election. Relying on the traditional channels of opposition to the
Republican Party might not work. Progressives, liberals, radicals and those who are not OK with Trump’s plans need to think creatively in this moment. We need to think outside of the box and develop strategies to win in a changed political situation. The futures of those around us and the President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-Elect Mike Pence. | Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons future of the environment might depend enough. While they can make If we remain frustrated observon it. important symbolic gestures ers of politics, we continue to be For those to whom politics has and create an atmosphere where slaves to someone else’s agenda. been a spectator sport, it is time Trump appears less legitimate Not only is the Democratic Party's to leave the bleachers and enter than he already does, we need a agenda, as a tremendously diverse the field. new game plan. and majority-female student Tens of thousands are proLet's begin a protracted discusbody, is not in our interests, it is testing across the United States, sion on campus on how we can also failing. including Houston. That preempwin in the future and not settle We should figure out what our tive opposition is vital, and it for the well-worn tracks that have agenda is and act on it together. should continue. Everyone who led us to failure. Students should Opinion columnist Douglas Van is a does not want a future in Trump's write essays, organize debates, communications junior and can be nation should be in the streets study the political situation and reached at opinion@thedailycougar. right now. work together to craft a different com Protests, however, will not be political path.
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Frank Campos EDITOR
CARTOON
Trump finally drains the swamp of Washington
Tamor Khan | The Cougar
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SPORTS
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Reagan Earnst, EDITOR
FOOTBALL
Cougars' offensive struggles continue despite win JONATHAN VALADEZ
ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @JONOUNSEEN
There was hope that the bye week would make the Cougars more like the team that started the year rather than the one that appeared fatigued and stumbled through October. At the start of the game, Tulane University Green Wave used a squib kick to try to catch the Cougars off guard, a tactic that they used at every opportunity during the game despite having only a 20-percent success rate.
Nimble Cardinals The Green Wave tried the squib five times and recovered the ball just once. The deepest the Cougars started a drive after a kick was at their own 34-yard line. They also began a drive after a Green Wave kickoff in Tulane territory twice and another on their own 49-yard line. Although each Tulane kickoff resulted in good field position, the Cougars were unable to capitalize. They averaged zero yards on all four drives after the kickoff with their longest drive going just four yards on the opening kickoff. UH was still able to put up 30 points on the board, though, despite stalling on 11 drives. The point total was the second-lowest of the season behind the 16 they scored on Southern Methodist University in a lopsided defeat. The Cougars scored all but two points in the first half. They were also ineffective in the second when they had to rely on senior quarterback Kyle Postma as the lead under center. Starting senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. left before the end of the first half with a shoulder injury, but returned at the beginning of the fourth when Postma was sacked hard. After the game, head coach Tom Herman said that Ward was injured when he spiked the ball to stop the clock. Since Ward did not hear a whistle to call the play dead, he jumped on the ball because he thought it was considered live and then had someone fall on him. The Cougars’ October woes could carry into November as Ward’s status remains unclear. UH is also entering a short week with a Thursday game against the University of Louisville Cardinals, one of the nation's top teams.
Despite early preseason hype, redshirt sophomore running back Duke Catalon has struggled with injuries and consistency throughout the year. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
The Cougars will have to rely on their ground game, which has been lackluster throughout the season. Even if Ward suits up against the Cardinals, he’ll likely play at less than 100 percent and had trouble connecting on longer throws even before the injury. Ward is the Cougars’ leading rusher, but is only averaging three yards per carry. It’ll be hard for Ward to make plays with his legs if he’s not at full health, meaning that the running backs will have to step up. This may be tough for a group that has under-performed this year.
Beware opponent's defense While Ward deals with his injuries, redshirt sophomore running back Duke Catalon has yet to live up to the preseason hype. Catalon gained a measly 50 yards on 20 carries against Tulane, and 70 percent of his yards came on just two carries. During the game, Catalon rushed for either no yards or a loss on eight of his carries. This season, Catalon is averaging a subpar 68.5 yards per game. The Green Wave is 50th in the country versus the run, so the Cougars should have been able to move the ball more effec-
tively. Junior Dillon Birden took over during Catalon’s absence, but has faired only slightly better. Birden has managed to find the end zone six times this season, which leads all runners not named Ward. Birden was only given three carries against the Green Wave even as Catalon struggled against Tulane’s defense. Now, UH has to play against a Louisville defense that is sixth in the nation versus the run and that has only given up three rushing touchdowns in 10 games, which is how the Cougars get the majority of their points. It is up to offensive coordinator Major Applewhite to get creative with his run packages for the Cougars to beat, or at least stay within the Cardinals' striking distance. The way the Cougars have been playing mediocre football against average teams isn’t going to cut it when they take the field Thursday. Houston has a shot at pulling off a major upset if they can come together and play like they did in the opening month. The talent is still there. sports@thedailycougar.com
For the second consecutive year, backup quarterback Kyle Postma recieved playing time against the Tulane Green Wave. | Courtesy UH Athletics
Head coach Tom Herman improved to 21-3 in his head coaching career with the victory over Tulane Saturday afternoon. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
10 | Wednesday, November 16, 2016
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Despite playing linebacker through his high school career, senior tight end Tyler McCloskey (right) has become one of the most trusted blockers on the Cougars' offense. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar
FOOTBALL
Tight end proving versatility by closing season 'strong' PETER SCAMARDO
SENIOR STAFF WRITER @PLSCARMARDO2
He was largely overlooked as just a two-star linebacker recruit coming out of high school. Then, his career did a complete turn upon arriving at the University of Houston. Since coming to UH, senior tight end Tyler McCloskey has spent his entire career on the offensive side of the ball. A converted fullback in his first two seasons on the team, McCloskey started just four games and was underused. McCloskey's playing time and responsibility increased when head coach Tom Herman and offensive coordinator moved him to the tight end position. “To play tight end, you go to be able to run routes, catch the football and be a physical blocker,� McCloskey said.
“(We do that) in order to go fast, so we can get in a four wide spread and still have the six blocking-man service to go fast.� McCloskey had no problem with the position change, which is the third in his career. Since the move, the senior has rendered himself as a reliable check-down man for senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. In nearly every game, McCloskey’s name can be heard — not necessarily for a highlight-reel play — but for the play that the offense needs to sustain momentum. Before the transition, McCloskey had no experience blocking at the line of scrimmage, running routes or even catching footballs. Tight end and fullbacks coach Corby Meekins helped McCloskey learn the intricacies of the
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position when both spent time watching films or training in the weight room. The Houston native has since caught numerous first-down passes in clutch situations, provided hard blocks on passes and runs as well as touchdowns against the University of Oklahoma and twice against the University of Cincinnati. McCloskey's humble nature and leadership on the field earned him the position of team captain prior to the season — a title given to only four players. He has taken the responsibility to heart. “Last year, I was just trying to get lined up right on every single play, make sure I did my job,� McCloskey said. “As it got farther along and I learned more about the position, my assignment sort of became second-nature. I absolutely tried to become more vocal, leading by example and telling guys what to do and how we do stuff around here, but then also following through with my actions.� In his four years on the team, McCloskey has seen all the twists and turns that the Cougars have gone through. Despite losing two games, the senior has kept himself composed and focused on the the
In addition to the leadership McCloskey brings to the team, the senior has caught three touchdowns in 2016. | Ajani Stewart/The Cougar
next game. Consequently, his mentality has rubbed off on his teammates and helps them make sure they are playing to the best of their ability week in and week out. “For myself, I’m just trying to make the most of it,� McClo-
skey said. “I realize this is the back end of the season and I’m trying to soak everything in, but really as far as the team (the goal is) just to finish strong. We’ve still got so much to play for.� sports@thedailycougar.com
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TRACK
Trio of recruits ready to run with the Cougars
Track and field recruits Simiyah Samuels (left), Brianne Bethel (middle) and Brittney Bethel (right) chose the University of Houston because of the elite coaching staff at the school. | Courtesy of UH Athletics
PETER SCAMARDO
SENIOR STAFF WRITER @PLSCAMARDO2
Recruiting, one of the most important aspect of college athletics, is an endeavor with which the track and field team has no trouble. With former Olympic gold medalists Leroy Burrell, Carl Lewis and an experienced staff overseeing the program, coaches have an easy pitch to get the fastest runners to Third Ward. “We wanted to make sure we went after sprinters,� said Will Blackburn, associate head coach. “That was one of our biggest needs, jumpers as well. So about a year ago, we decided that those were the two areas we had to get the most.� The 2016 women’s track recruiting class is expected to be one of the most dominant in UH's history and rival the men’s from last season. The men's team, with Amere Lattin, Brian Bell, Marcus McWilliams and Mario Burke, won both indoor and outdoor championships last season and broke multiple records. Although they will have big spikes to fill, this season's freshmen women could enjoy even more success than last year’s men. Last year, Blackburn and the rest of the coaching staff recognized that several of the women’s athletes would be graduating. They needed a strong recruiting class to replenish the team. The staff went to work and set a goal of having one of the best women’s recruiting classes in the nation, one that would help attain more recruits in the following years. That’s exactly what they accomplished. The class has been spearheaded by the signing of Cypress Springs High School alumna Samiyah Samuels.
Samuels has shown that she is ready for the big stage. She recently competed at the Junior World Championships and won gold in the long jump at the 2015 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships. Samuels' most remarkable accomplishment, however, was competing in Eugene, Oregon, at the U.S. Olympic Trials last July despite being just weeks out of high school. While Samuels missed the chance to represent her country in the Rio Olympics, the experience has reshaped her focus for the better. “Going to the Olympic Trials as a high-school athlete was a real eye-opener,� Samuels said. “What I thought were my dreams are now becoming my goals and my accomplishments. I used to say I dreamed of going to the Olympic Trials or I dreamed of becoming an Olympian, but now it’s actually a ( feasible) goal.� Besides Samuels, other bright spots in the women’s recruiting class include Brianne and Brittney Bethel, identical twin sprinters from the Bahamas. The sisters said that the recruiting process is long and stressful, and that several top schools were looking at them. However, it was a meeting with assistant coach Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie — herself a five-time Olympian from the Bahamas — that convinced them to come to Houston. “She actually showed us that she really cared and wanted us to be the best,� Brianne Bethel said. “Other coaches wanted us just so we could compete. No other coaches seemed like they wanted us to get better and make us a better person as both an athlete and a student.� The desire for long-term success
is a common theme among all the new recruits, and something that nearly all UH track and field coaches have experienced. Both Samuels and the Bethel twins are being looked at to continue competing after their time at
the Cougars. All three share hopes of winning a conference title and earn trips to both the indoor and outdoor nationals for their individual events. “I feel really good (about this
squad),� Samuels said. “We have some top people from other countries who are going to be coming in and they’re going to be a part of something special.� sports@thedailycougar.com
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The Cougars donned a new helmet design as they defeated the Tulane University Green Wave 30-18 Saturday in front of a nearly soldout crowd of 36,552 at TDECU Stadium. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
Senior Greg Ward Jr. improved his career record as the starting quarterback to 26-4 and helped the Cougars triumph over Tulane Saturday. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
Senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. accounted for three total touchdowns on Saturday, two through the air and one on the ground, bringing his career total to 38 rushing touchdowns. | Justin Cross/The Cougar
At halftime, University of Houston President and Chacellor Renu Khator (right) crowned the 2016 homecoming king and queen. | Justin Cross/The Cougar