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Issue 22, Volume 82

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NEWS

ANOTHER FACE OF WALT WHITMAN

A grad student found a new work of fiction by an iconic poet, contributing to an age of literary rediscovery. | PG. 2

All women welcome Alpha Chi Omega's national office announced a new policy that considers trans women for bids. | PG. 3

OPINION

Pot privileges

Harris County boldly decided to lessen the consequences for those found with small amounts of marijuana. | PG. 5

Chancellor's report Renu Khator's address to the UH system shows the University's improvements on facilites and advising this year. | PG. 8

SPORTS

Goodbye, Hofheinz The last home game in the historic court is coming up for men's basketball, which is also losing key seniors. | PG.10

Throwing heat

The baseball team's pitchers have dominated in the first two weeks of the season, but the offense still struggles. | PG. 11

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Marialuisa Rincon, EDITOR

LITERATURE

A new glimpse of Walt Whitman's creative life The student-discovered work is believed to have been written concurrently with "Leaves of Grass" JASMINE DAVIS

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @JPDAVIS_TDC

Zachary Turpin, an American literature graduate student at the University of Houston, was not expecting to stumble upon his second landmark literary discovery as he browsed the archived journals of famed nineteenth-century author Walt Whitman. At 96 pages, "Life and Adventures of Jack Engle" offers insight into Whitman's mind as he may have concurrently written "Leaves of Grass," the book of poetry for which he is most famous. Many self-proclaimed "Whitmaniacs" believe the 1852 fictional work, which chronicles the adventures of an orphan in New York City, offers a yet-untapped perspective on some of the most pivotal years of Whitman's creative life. "It was utterly surreal," Turpin said. "It's not every day that you can say to yourself, 'I'm the only living person that knows about something,' particularly something so important to American culture." The Walt Whitman Archive is an online compilation of rare, digitized versions of Whitman's journals and published works. The key to the discovery, Turpin said, was the inclusion of names like Jack Engle and Wigglesworth in an outline featured in one of the journals. "What excited me about this particular notebook is that it's full of really odd and unique character names, names you wouldn't really see every day," Turpin said. "For someone who's a digital researcher like I am, these are great, golden keywords and key phrases." Despite the common belief in the literary community that this outline never amounted to anything, Turpin said, the search turned up multiple results, including a literary notice in an 1852 edition of the New York Daily Times. The notice previewed an anonymous story to be published in the paper's following Sunday dispatch. Though there was nothing about the notice that inherently pointed to Whitman, Turpin followed the paper trail until it ultimately led him to the Library of Congress, which houses the only existing copy of that edition. As calmly as he could, Turpin requested to see the first page of the issue. "So while my wife and my

"Life and Adventures of Jack Engle" is the second of Walt Whitman's publications discovered by Zachary Turpin in the last year. | Courtesy of Zachary Turpin

newborn son were sleeping next to me, I was looking at this literary notice, just sort of fantasizing and obsessing and telling myself to calm down, and it was a month after that that the image came in," Turpin said. "And when I opened it, I saw all of those fantastic and unique character names that I’d been hoping for.” It's not every day that a large work is recovered and attributed to a famous author, but this novella marks Turpin's second Whitman discovery in less than a year. "I'm just so happy for Zack," said Karen Karbiener, a professor of Whitman at New York University. "And the fact that he's done it twice — it's like lightning striking twice."

said a pivotal point in the novella occurs in Chapter 19, when Jack Engle pays a visit to the cemetery at New York's Trinity Church. There, Folsom said, Engle considers the graves around him and contemplates the ever-constant flow of life. "It’s here, at this moment, that we can feel Whitman losing interest in fictional plots and beginning to become entranced with how to celebrate and focus on that ever-changing flow of life," Folsom said, drawing a connection to a central theme from "Leaves of Grass." To Wyman Herendeen, the chair of UH's English department at the time of the discovery, this work shares a depiction of the American hero as a layman,

“It's a way to pull back the curtain and see one of these other Whitmans.” Zachary Turpin, American Literate graduate student

Another perspective For Turpin, one of the most significant effects of uncovering "Life and Adventures of Jack Engle" is getting another glimpse of Whitman during a time when, up until recently, everyone assumed he had stopped writing fiction. As a result, Turpin said, the novella and "Leaves of Grass" share a few similar themes. “It’s fascinating to see him working out these ideas about nature and the city — and about the complexity of everyday American life — that are shortly to appear in 'Leaves of Grass,'" Turpin said. “It’s a way to pull back the curtain and see one of these other Whitmans.” Ed Folsom has been co-directing The Walt Whitman Archive for more than twenty years and

an idea also present in "Leaves of Grass." Even across literary forms, Herendeen said, Whitman emphasizes this characterization. "It tells us a little more about his artistic development, about the concept of American heroes, since Whitman conceived of himself as the author of the American epic in 'Leaves of Grass,'" Herendeen said. "His idea of the epic hero is an every man — a common man — as representing American life and individualism." Not only does learning more about Whitman's creative life help us to better understand his work, Karbiener said, but it shows young scholars and authors that perseverance still pays off: Turpin made this big revelation in the literature world as a student, not as someone with

decades of literary scholarship under his belt. Karbiener said there may be a reason Whitman allowed the novella to be forgotten. It's not a great novel, she said, but it shows his creative progression, and that's part of what makes it an interesting find. “For my students, it’s cool to know because artists don’t just get born — they have a long training period,” Karbiener said. “It’s really a great lesson to see how Whitman labored over stuff, and it was not as easy as he would have wanted us to think it was. Whitman’s a great example of how just trying and trying again, and believing in yourself, can actually work.” A 'golden age' One of the most remarkable takeaways from the discovery for Folsom is how widely accessible Whitman and other nineteenth-century authors have become in the digital age. The kind of information Turpin and other scholars use to make these discoveries was once only available to individuals lucky enough to live near an archive, Folsom said. He believes that with digital archiving, we are entering a "golden age of literary discovery." Turpin's discovery, he said, might serve to reconfirm that idea for people. "Zack is one of the most talented and persistent of this new breed of digital archivist, and I’m confident he will uncover many more important documents in the years to come," Folsom said. A work like "Life and Adventures of Jack Engle" reemerging in the present day serves as a reminder that there could be countless more unknown publications waiting to be discovered, Turpin said, and the evidence shows that there are. Everyone knows Whitman as the bearded and easygoing author behind what many believe to be the greatest American book of poetry, Turpin said. Now, readers will have the opportunity to get to know a different Walt. “I think what is encouraging is to see so many readers across the country and across the world picking up Whitman again, or for the first time, and really diving into his work," Turpin said. "As a teacher, there’s nothing better.” news@thedailycougar.com

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NEWS

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Marialuisa Rincon, EDITOR

GREEK LIFE

Alpha Chi Omega embraces trans women MARIALUISA RINCON

NEWS EDITOR @LUCYRINCONB

This August, the Gamma Upsilon chapter of Alpha Chi Omega will open its doors to around 300 women hoping to join their sisterhood, and for the first time, the sorority will officially embrace trans women as potential new members. In a video and letter released Feb. 17, national president Angela Costley Harris said Alpha Chi Omega was adopting a stance on being inclusive to all who live and identify as women, regardless of their gender assigned at birth. “Alpha Chi Omega is made up of real, strong women, and we want to support women,” said Kendall Isola, vice president of recruitment for the UH chapter. “No matter where you come from, what you’re born as — if you have our five membership criteria, you’re welcome here.” Isola’s position requires her to

be in charge of recruitment in the fall and spring when potential new members meet members of every sorority on campus and receive bids based on a mutual selection process. In mid-February, Isola traveled to Indianapolis for recruitment training where Harris addressed trans women in her statement. “This has been an issue that’s been asked about and talked about, and they’ve had a lot of questions,” Isola said. “The president wanted to talk to us about it because it falls under us.” Shortly before the president addressed the women in Indianapolis, all members of the chapter received emails detailing the sorority’s new statement of position. “Over the past year, Alpha Chi Omega has been challenged to re-examine the concepts of sisterhood and sorority through the lens of a quickly changing collegiate landscape,” Harris said

in the video. Before Alpha Chi Omega, three Panhellenic sororities had formal policies stating they welcome trans women: Kappa Kappa Gamma, Sigma Sigma Sigma and — the only one of the three that has a chapter on campus — Delta Gamma. Houston Alpha Chi Omega chapter president Sarah Bullock said that to her knowledge, the chapter has never had a transgender sister, but that any connection felt between an active Alpha Chi Omega and a potential new member where she would feel safe enough to talk about her gender identity during recruitment would be indicative of the connection the PNM has with the chapter. “One of the biggest things about recruitment is that the girls are comfortable in the house,” Bullock said. “I haven’t heard girls open up about it yet, but I’ve heard of girls in other chapters

that aren’t comfortable with it.” On campus and on social media, the response to the sorority’s announcement has been predominantly positive. Though Harris acknowledged in her statement that some sisters might not be accepting of the new policy, she said that to remain relevant, Alpha Chi Omega must embrace the changing collegiate and cultural landscape. “All the conversations I’ve had have been overwhelmingly positive, especially from sorority women,” said Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life Director Jason Bergeron, who also serves as the adviser to Alpha Chi Omega. In a community where queer and transgender students have not always been openly accepted, Alpha Chi’s explicit policy of inclusivity has opened an inroad for non-binary sisters to find the best sorority for them. “The LGBTQ Resource Center

staff is appreciative of Alpha Chi Omega’s recent statement about the progressiveness of their membership as it relates to trans women on campus,” said LGBTQ Resource Center program coordinator Jamie Gonzales in a statement. “This is a great first step to creating a welcoming environment for all on campus and in Greek life.” Isola said the vice president of membership, Kate Rossiello, has reached out to the Women's Gender Resource Center about the possibility of having a representative speak to the chapter and answer any questions about what falls under the edict. “We’re an organization based on women helping women,” Isola said. “It’s time we address it and allow anybody that identifies as a woman to be a part of (Alpha Chi Omega).” news@thedailycougar.com

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Marialuisa Rincon, EDITOR

TRANSPORTATION

Committee: University should foot bill for lost parking, not students TRAYNOR SWANSON

ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR @TRAYNORSWANSON

Students suffering from the rise of parking permit prices might soon see relief if a proposed measure is approved, compensating Parking and Transportation Services for any future spaces lost to construction of other buildings — an issue which contributes significantly to the rise in parking prices. The measure, proposed by Transportation and Parking Advisory Committee Chair Elliot Kauffman, would compensate PTS for any parking spaces lost to other university departments for future non-parking construction. As it stands, when PTS loses a parking lot — its primary source of revenue — it must rebuild replacement spaces. Because PTS is an auxiliary enterprise and receives revenue exclusively from the service it provides, permit-buyers are the ones who

see a price increase. “As soon as you lose parking spots, you have to replace them somehow. You have to build, which costs money. So, there’s lost revenue from not having those spaces to sell parking passes, and when you build, you have to spend money to do it,” Kauffman said. “All those costs increase and get added to parking passes.” PTS Director Robert Browand said that when PTS loses a parking lot to another department, it also loses the revenue associated with that lot. Last year, PTS lost 300 parking spaces when Lot 12B was permanently closed in favor of a new athletic facility. With the oversell rate — the act of selling more permits than there are spaces — included, PTS lost the ability to sell anywhere from 300 to 540 student and economy permits. (SOURCE? Browand said.) What happened to Lot 12B is an example of the impact

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The proposal would compensate Parking and Transportation for spots lost to construction projects. | Jasmine Davis/ The Cougar

campus development has had on parking over the last 10 years. Since then, PTS has lost 3,809 parking spaces to non-parking projects and gained a total of 6,725 spaces, Browand said. The lack of compensation means PTS paid for 3,809 parking spaces

twice. “You have a hierarchy of departments where one continually gets the shaft, and that’s Parking and Transportation,” Kauffman said. TPAC Vice Chair Andrew Bahlmann said that this dilemma plaguing PTS has a negative impact on students. “What you’ll see is there’s less parking on campus. The oversell rate will have to be higher, and your time spent trying to find a spot on campus will continue to increase,” Bahlmann said. Kauffman’s proposal uses a formula to compensate PTS 150 percent of the construction cost of any parking spaces permanently lost. The construction value of a gravel parking space at the Energy Research Park is $1,000 per spot; the value of an asphalt parking space ranges from $3,383 to $3,800 per space depending on whether or not the paving is on an existing gravel lot; and parking garages cost $17,500 per spot. UH has a limited area to build outward, Kauffman said, meaning any future parking projects will have to be garages, which have the most expensive parking permit. An annual garage pass costs nearly $200 more than a student permit. “Building costs money, and when you lose parking spaces, that’s just salt in the wound,” Kauffman said. “Students, faculty and staff don’t realize why (the price increase) is happening. They just know PTS is in charge of parking, and we hate parking, so this must be their fault.” The models TPAC used to create the compensation formula were based on colleges in

different states, Browand said at the meeting. Those states’ appropriations bills do not necessarily have the same requirements for public universities as those in Texas. Thus, the measure could not yet be voted on. According to Article III Section 6 of the 2016-2017 General Appropriations Act, educational and general funds appropriated to public universities by the state cannot be spent on auxiliary services. UH, a public institution which receives the majority of its funding through state funds, cannot subsidize an auxiliary service like parking. There is a possibility, however, that private donor money could be used to compensate PTS's losses. “Until we see donors or we see corporations putting money into garages or putting their names on garages or investing into our auxiliary services on campus, we’re stuck with students, faculty and staff footing the bill,” Bahlmann said. “On some level or another, do students pay for this? Yes. Absolutely. That’s the only way to pay for PTS, basically.” The measure, Kauffman said, is important because it would directly compensate PTS. He said he believes that some variation of his proposal will be approved by May, with one possibility being to get PTS put on a list of represented departments whenever a new construction project is proposed. “I don’t want their land to get taken away from them and then have to pay out of their own pocket for something they had no say in,” Kauffman said. news@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | 5

713-743-5304

OPINION

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opinion@thedailycougar.com

HARRIS COUNTY

Thomas Dwyer, EDITOR

CARTOON

Kim Ogg blazes trail on marijuana

he Harris County district attorney, the mayor of Houston, Houston Police Department chief and Harris County sheriff announced that law enforcement in Harris County will no longer arrest or cite anyone in the jurisTHOMAS diction found DWYER with less than OPINION EDITOR four ounces of marijuana. District Attorney Kim Ogg’s new policy does not involve jail

or prosecution as a consequence for anyone found with less than four ounces of marijuana as long as they attend a four-hour drug education course. There will be no record or citation of the event so long as the violator attends the course. If they fail to attend, a warrant for their arrest will be issued and the usual procedures will ensue. The ultimate goal of this policy is to lessen the strain on local courts and jails caused by tough, mandatory minimum sentences for possession of marijuana. Even HPD chief Art Acevedo is on board with it.

Incoming District Attorney Kim Ogg's new policy does not involve jail or prosecution for any marijuana offenders found with less than four ounces as long as they attend a drug education course. | Katie Santana/The Cougar

So far, Ogg has gotten blasted by several other Texas public servants at various levels. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Montgomery County DA Brett Ligon have both voiced their disapproval with Harris County’s new stance. Both have a point: That there is a proper way to go about changing laws, and taking the matter into her own hands is not one of them. Ogg’s program, while implemented in an unconventional method, has a lot of potential to unclog courts and jails of offenders who would otherwise not have any reason to be in jail, besides being in possession of marijuana, which is a Schedule I substance according to the Food and Drug Administration. Ever since the war on drugs began decades ago, the general idea has been to “get tough on drugs” with measures like minimum sentencing for possession being taken. The point of harsh sentences on drug possession was to deter U.S. citizens from using in the first place or to hypothetically set them straight with an unreasonable sentencing. These laws have given life altering sentences to many Americans. Some of them, besides the fact that they were smoking something declared illegal, are not violent and do not hurt others. Laws are important and should be followed. That said, isn’t the purpose of laws to ensure that people live peacefully alongside each other? Locking up marijuana users who are not dangerous to anyone else is a senseless waste of taxpayer money and state resources. Law enforcement should target enablers of drug use, like dealers. This new program does exactly that. Police won't be obligated to go after users. They will be able to nail the root of the problem.

TAKE

Failing, fake news draws last straw

Furthermore, marijuana should not be that high on the city’s list of priorities, with worse drugs like synthetic cannabinoids (more commonly known on the streets as kush) having life threatening effects on users. Suppliers should always be a higher priority in the eyes of law enforcement than users. If they can be isolated and taken care of, users will not have a supply. As long as the state is not on board with lessening the consequences of minor drug offenses, Harris County’s program will be only a stopgap measure. It’s one thing for an entire state to have a differing policy from the federal government, but it’s another thing for a local government to act in direct opposition to it’s state leaders. Whether the program actually will make a difference is up in the air. It officially kicks in March 1. Instead of taking the Lt. Gov. Patrick's approach and coming in

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hot right off the bat, state leaders should wait and see how the policy performs before criticizing or taking action against it. I’d rather live with stoners than pay taxes for them to appear in court and then get locked up. This is more than a call to “legalize it, bro.” It’s a call to save taxpayer money. There is no gain in locking up people who smoke marijuana but otherwise lead successful, productive lifestyles that contribute to our society. There is actually a loss that equates to about $25 million in this county alone in doing so. Ultimately, the state needs to reexamine its policy toward marijuana. Is it really worth pursuing users? Kim Ogg and the rest of the leaders in the county have set a bold precedent. Opinion editor Thomas Dwyer is a broadcast journalism sophomore and can be reached at opinion@ thedailycougar.com.

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OPINION

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PUZZLES

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR IN CHIEF

Trey Strange

MANAGING EDITOR

Alex Meyer

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Leah Nash WEB EDITOR

Emily Burleson NEWS EDITORS

Marialuisa Rincon Jasmine Davis Traynor Swanson SPORTS EDITORS

Leonard D. Gibson III JD Smith

OPINION EDITORS

Thomas Dwyer Jorden Smith ARTS EDITORS

Karis Johnson Karin Keller Julie Araica PHOTO EDITORS

Justin Cross Ajani Stewart SENIOR STAFF

Erin Davis Erin Fehres Dana Jones Emily Lincke Camille Mullery Katie Santana Peter Scamardo

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.

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Chancellor and President Renu Khator's annual report details the strides the University made in advising this year. | Courtesy of UH Media Relations

CAMPUS

Chancellor's report boosts UH

he University of Houston has become the school of choice for almost 44,000 students because of the bold actions University leaders have taken. “If one word could characterize this past year, it would be boldness. Boldness of our expectations but more DELANEY CATLETTSTOUT importantly, SGA COLUMNIST boldness of our actions,” said Chancellor Renu Khator in her 2016 presidential report. The report summarized the progress our university made in the past year. In 2014, the University established the UHin4 program. UHin4 gives students increased advising and financial stability since they are given a set tuition lock for their four enrolled years. This year 70% of the largest incoming freshman class in the University's history chose to sign up for the innovative program. Not only is the University breaking enrollment records, it is holding the institution and its faculty to incredibly high standards. In 2016 18 of our faculty members are National Academy Members. Dr. Kenneth Brown’s studies in anthropology can be seen daily by those from all over the world when they visit the wellrenowned Smithsonian. To meet high standards, the University continues to develop and build new infrastructure. Students studying natural sciences will have a new

building to call home in 2017, the basketball arena is undergoing a remodeling thanks to Chairman Tilman Fertitta. There is a new science wet lab located in the Energy Research Park. Not only do we think we are bold and innovative, the media thinks so too. The University of Houston was selected to be in the international spotlight as the host of the Republican Presidential Debate. This brought press from all across the nation to our campus and the eyes of the world were upon us. Like always, the University did not disappoint. The Univesrity's impression in the media did not stop there, it were featured in over 51,000 stories; some of which were from Forbes, U.S. News, USA Today, The New York Times and more. The University of Houston is in the spotlight and this is its time to shine. With the 2016 presidential report, one can see the University is in a position to make ground breaking decisions that benefit the institution and the students. We see 2017 is off to a good start with the innovative choice from the Provost's office to make a push toward open source textbooks. This is the house that innovation has built and we are not afraid to be bold. With more bold steps in the right direction the University of Houston will be nobody's second choice and students from across the nation will want to be a cougar. Delaney Catlettstout is a political science senior and can be reached at opinion@

ACROSS 1 Opposite of enjoyed 6 Ryan Gosling film “___ Land” 10 Wound’s protective cover 14 Likely to be hosed? 15 Colossal, film-wise 16 Rubber band in the gutter? 17 When Nugent rocks in the sewer, he changes the lyrics to ... 20 Stable particle with a positive charge 21 It may occur pretrial 22 Bar mitzvah VIP 25 Hearty swigs 26 Large section of an atlas 30 “Where ___ should I look?” 32 Composition for an orchestra plus soloist 35 Entices 41 Large batting cages are needed in the sewer because sluggers need ... 43 Any group of nine 44 Exciting hot-rod event 45 Hindu dress 47 Store below decks 48 Make a mess in the tub 53 Disinfectant brand 56 Relatively flat highland 58 Sounded, as a large bell 63 A sewer activity with

pursuits, captures, escapes, etc. is a ... 66 New Testament’s final word 67 Difficult burden 68 Herb oft-used in Indian food 69 Jerk 70 King, to his subjects 71 Uses a microwave DOWN 1 Huge stringed instrument 2 “It’s ___ cry from ...” 3 Long-time Yugoslav leader 4 Opening for “while,” a long while ago 5 Ambience feature 6 Sheepish meadow 7 Mentally quick 8 Chinese fruits with brittle coverings (var.) 9 Need painkillers 10 Cubic cordwood measure 11 Type of service or war 12 “___ you ashamed of yourself?” 13 Frigid water hazards 18 Letters studied in biochemistry 19 Like the Beatles in their heyday 23 Makes wagers 24 Thing to do after a shampoo, sometimes 26 Unit to plow 27 Not long from now

28 29 31 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 46 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 57 59 60 61 62 64 65

Part of, as a plan Topmost position Mountain in Sicily Approximation from the cockpit Window treatment parts It runs when broken Where modernday Vikings explored “Fall” header Mexican food order, sometimes Entree served in a bowl Eye part Seniors, one year later Paintapplication option Camel’s cousin Like many breakfast cereals Needed a shower in the worst way 36-Down maker Covert ___ (spy missions) If you’re this, you suck Big fusses over trivial things A fit of shivering or shaking Tibetan priest Give off Places for lions “Days of ___ Lives” Function

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | 9

713-743-5303

thedailycougar.com/sports

SPORTS

sports@thedailycougar.com

Leonard D. Gibson III, EDITOR

FOOTBALL

Sneak peek: New players, staff highlight spring practice PETER SCAMARDO

SENIOR STAFF WRITER @PLSCAMARDO2

For the Cougars on the football team, their 2017 season starts on March 6. That is the first of the 15 days dedicated to spring training. While it's not officially the season, and not even the preseason, this time together is when the Cougars form bonds that will lead them to victories in the fall. Spring football will culminate on April 15 with the Red & White Game. This game will be the first time students get to see quarterback Kyle Allen in a Houston jersey. There will also be several new faces on the defensive side of the ball as five defensive starters have either graduated or declared for the NFL Draft. Finally, it will be a sneak peek into how Head Coach Major Applewhite and his staff will call the season. One of the newest additions to Applewhite’s coaching staff is

The Red & White Game on April 15 will be an exhibition match between two teams of Cougars. | Justin Tijerina/The Cougar

Chris Scelfo, the new offensive line coach. Scelfo joins the Cougars following an eight year stint as the tight ends coach for the Atlanta Falcons. While there, he was a major key in the success of All-Pro Tight End Tony Gonzalez in Atlanta. Scelfo brings with him expe-

rience of coaching in both the NFL Playoffs and collegiate football. His nine seasons at the University of Tulane ended with him as the second winningest coach in the program's history. Plus it showed his character as he coached the team through

the chaos of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The Red & White Game also presents an opportunity for head coaches from local high school teams to see what the Cougars are up to. Director of High School Relations Tim Teykl and Director of Player Personnel

Bobby Merritt are the two new additions who have this responsibility. Teykl comes to the Cougars following 26 years as the head coach at B.F. Terry High School in Rosenberg. Teykl’s award winning coaching stint saw him become the winningest coach in the history of B.F. Terry High School and Lamar Consolidated I.S.D. His 16 playoff berths puts him in position to have great repertoires with the coaches around the state. Merritt comes to the Cougars following a one year stint as Director of Football Recruiting at Tennessee. Before that he spent 12 years in the NFL in the college scouting department, first with the Detroit Lions and then with the Houston Texans. His experience of knowing how an NFL personnel office works has him ripe for the same position with the Cougars. sports@thedailycougar.com

10 | Wednesday, March 1, 2017

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In the past 48 years, Hofheinz Pavilion has been the site of 536 men's basketball victories including 45 straight from Jan. 30, 1982 to Feb. 1, 1985, and 32 seasons with at least 10 wins. | The Cougar Archives

BASKETBALL

Cougars say goodbye to seniors, Hofheinz Pavilion LEONARD D. GIBSON III

SPORTS EDITOR @LEONARDDGIBSON

This Sunday will be special not only for the seniors graduating from the University of Houston but for the history of the entire program. Hofheinz Pavilion is set to be renovated and renamed following the conclusion of the regular season. With a $20-million dollar gift, the largest individual donation to UH Athletics, Tilman Fertitta has earned the naming rights for the basketball arena. When it reopens for the 2018 season, it will be named the Fertitta Center. While Judge Roy Hofheinz’s name won’t be attached to the basketball arena anymore, there will be a statue of him and a plaza named in his honor. Hofheinz Pavilion saw countless names and legends pass through its doors, including head coach Guy Lewis and members of Phi Slama Jama, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon and Clyde “The Glide” Drexler. During the 1982-83 and 1983-84 seasons, Hofheinz played host to the No. 1 ranked college basketball team in the nation. All in all, 27 NBA players played for the Houston Cougars at Hofheinz Pavilion. Three were named to the Hall of Fame, and Drexler was even a part of the famed “Dream Team” that won gold in the Olympics in 1992. In the University of Houston’s 90 year history, Hofheinz Pavilion has been a part of 48 of those years. The last basketball game

to ever be played there will be on Sunday at 3 p.m. Along with the closing of Hofheinz, Houston fans will also be saying goodbye the senior class. A total of five seniors will be leaving, with only eight players returning next year. Of the five Cougars leaving, four are either centers or forwards.

Damyean Dotson Guard, 2014-2017 While Dotson may not have been with the Cougars for his first two years as he played for Oregon, he has made his presence known for the two seasons he has played wearing red and white. In the 2015 season, he was the only Cougar to start in every game. He was also one of only three players to rank in the American Athletic Conference’s top-11 leaders in both scoring and rebounding. This current season, however, he has made a more noticeable impact. With two games left to play, he’s put up 504 total points, 59 more than his previous season high of 445 last year. He’s also averaging 18 points per game whereas last year he was averaging only 13.9. In the latter part of this season, he has enjoyed putting up multiple 30-point-plus games. Along with redshirt junior Rob Gray, they have proven to be the offensive machines driving the Cougars’ score up. Without him next year, somebody new will have to step up and help relieve some of the pressure off Gray.

Danrad “Chicken” Knowles Forward, 2013-2017 It’s a big jump from the Bahamas to Houston, but Knowles has definitely made his presence known. Standing at 6’10” he and redshirt senior Kyle Meyer are the tallest players on the squad. His 7’1” wingspan has made him a menace in the paint. His sophomore season was his most dominant by far. He led the Cougars in blocked shots with 42 and pulled down 180 rebounds. He did this all while putting up 316 points as a bonus. This season, he’s put up 220 points, 27 blocks and 106 rebounds. He’s leading the Cougars in Offensive rebounds with 53. Next year, the Cougars will be looking much shorter with Knowles graduating

Kyle Meyer Center, 2015-2017 The other big man on the team is graduating as well. Meyer has only been with the Cougars for two seasons, but he’s been an important presence for the Cougars defensively. His junior year, Meyer was one of only five Cougars to compete in all 32 games. He also tied for second on the team with 20 blocks. So far in his senior year, he may not have as many blocks with 11, but he’s pulled down 10 more rebounds. With two games remaining, he’s already surpassed his playing time from last year as well.

Damyean Dotson, one of the keys to the Cougar offense, will play his last game at home as a Houston Cougar at 3 p.m. Sunday. | Ajani Stewart/The Cougar

Bertrand Nkali Center, 2014-2017

Xavier Dupree Forward, 2015-2017

Nkali may not have been the star player for the Cougars, but he has added some much needed depth to the frontcourt. If Knowles or Meyer had a bad game, Nkali would step in to relieve them. Without Nkali, the frontcourt’s depth will suffer.

What was said for Nkali can also be said for Dupree. The two of them gave the frontcourt the support it needed if the two starters struggled. sports@thedailycougar.com

Wednesday, March 1, 2017 | 11

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BASEBALL

Pitchers dominate, offense struggle in first two weeks J. D. SMITH

ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR @JDSMIITH_08

Heading into the 2017 season the mantra for Cougar baseball has been a simple one: Get back into the playoffs after missing last year and head to Omaha. Now two weeks into the season the No. 25 Cougars have amassed a 5-2 record, good for third in the American Athletic Conference. While the offense has sputtered at times, the pitching staff has been one of the best in the NCAA.

Throwing heat Coming off a 2016 campaign where the Cougar pitching staff ranked No. 2 in the nation in ERA, the Cougars are again relying heavily on their arms to carry them. They are boasting a 1.74 ERA through seven games, leading the AAC and ranked No. 5 in the NCAA. The staff is led by junior left hander Seth Romero. One of the top prospects heading into April’s draft, Romero has made his presence known this season, averaging 18.51 strikeouts per nine innings, good for second in the nation. His 24 total strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings also ranks third in the county. Coming into the season as the unquestioned ace, Romero took a different approach after being suspended to start the 2016 campaign. He dropped over 20 pounds and has taken more of a leadership role among the team, knowing that the younger members are looking to him as a guide. Though he has a career-high 3.09 ERA through two games, he has the ability to make this season one of the best for a Cougar pitcher, with a big chance coming Friday against Top 10 ranked Cal State Fullerton. Romero is just one of many key pieces though as senior southpaw John King has been nearly unhittable so far. He is currently holding opponents to a .190 average, while leading the team with a 1.12 ERA in 16 innings after a complete game, seven strikeout gem on Sunday. In the bullpen, freshman left hander Brayson Hurdsman leads the team with a 2-0 record in two appearances. The St. George, Utah native hasn’t allowed an earned run this season, holding opposing batters to a .095 average wit six strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. As good as their staff has been

though, the Cougars are going to need some run support if they are going to win games.

Timely hitting needed There has been no shortage of hits from the Cougar lineup so far. As a team they are hitting .325/.400/.444 while leading the AAC with 79 total hits and averaging over 10 hits per game. The problem goes deeper as those hits have only turned into 37 total runs. They are currently ranked below the top 150 in the nation in scoring, averaging only 5.3 runs per game The Cougars have not gotten the timely hits when they needed them. They currently rank in the middle of the pack in the AAC when it comes to hitting with runners in scoring position. They have left 64 runners on base and they rank next to last in the conference when it comes to grounding into double plays. In addition, they have made too many outs on the base paths, being picked off twice and caught stealing three times. Reigning American freshman play of the year Joe Davis has been in a slump to start the season, hitting .290 with only three extra base hits and zero home runs. He has already grounded into three double plays, after totaling only eight in 59 games last season. Newcomer Jake Scheiner currently leads the Cougars in seven offensive categories, hitting .423/.467/.769 with two home runs and seven RBIs. The junior college transfer is the only hitter above .400 wit ha near-even split of six singles and five extra-base hits. Defensively, the Cougars have had some problems so far. They have a conference-high 14 errors and have only turned three double plays. Opponents are 5-9 against them when it comes to steals, while Cougar catchers rank next-to-last in the AAC with two passed balls. Overall, this is a team that has the potential to be one of the best in the country at season’s end if they can put everything together. Through two weeks they have shown that the pitching staff is as advertised but need to that with some run support and timely hitting. If all of it comes together a trip to Omaha and the College World Series isn’t out of the question. sports@thedailycougar.com

Despite amassing a conference-high 79 hits, the Cougars have turned those into only 37 runs. | File Photo/The Cougar

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