THIS is why the Big XII(X) should be a non-starter for you. It's a conference on the outs, ran by a school (Texas) that doesn't have any concern for the conference as a whole.
Stay away from UT-Austin, far away. What seems like a good idea really isn't. Face it, with lesser facilities and budget you won't be able to compete with the OU and UT-Austin's of the world. Sure, maybe in the 70's and 80's you could, but this is a different football landscape in a different world for College sports. A move to the Big XII(X) is not athletic Nirvana, it's athletic suicide.
What to do now?
Start having conversations with the Big East. Not only are those school's budgets and facilities much more in line with yours, but you also have a travel partner (and instant rival) in TCU that will ease the costs.
Leave the Big XII(X) disintegration to UT-Austin, let them own it and have fund doing it.
Go East young people, and prosper out there.
Showing posts with label Cewwwgs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cewwwgs. Show all posts
Goodbye Sumlin. (UPDATED)
There's nothing official yet but given the number of college football coaching vacancies (or soon to be vacancies) there's little chance Kevin Sumlin will be the head ball coach for Houston next year.
Last year I suggested that the University get their succession plans in order, keep a coach in the system in the manner of Boise St. after Dan Hawkins or TCU after Francione. It doesn't appear that they did this.
The problem now is that it appears that Holgerson is going to get a much better offer than UH can provide. Thus endeth the run?
Boy was I wrong.
When Florida hired former Texas D-coordinator Will Muschamp it became pretty clear that the coaching dominoes were not going to fall as I initially thought. Now Miami has selected Al Golden, and it appears that Gus Malzahn is heading to Vandy and I don't see either Temple or the O-coordinator position at Auburn being of interest to Sumlin so.......
He's going to get a chance to fix this mess it appears.
Last year I suggested that the University get their succession plans in order, keep a coach in the system in the manner of Boise St. after Dan Hawkins or TCU after Francione. It doesn't appear that they did this.
The problem now is that it appears that Holgerson is going to get a much better offer than UH can provide. Thus endeth the run?
Boy was I wrong.
When Florida hired former Texas D-coordinator Will Muschamp it became pretty clear that the coaching dominoes were not going to fall as I initially thought. Now Miami has selected Al Golden, and it appears that Gus Malzahn is heading to Vandy and I don't see either Temple or the O-coordinator position at Auburn being of interest to Sumlin so.......
He's going to get a chance to fix this mess it appears.
Two things UH must change...
It was uglier than the score suggested. Last night's 31-13 humbling by UCLA wasn't just a loss that will knock Houston out of the Top 25, it was an egg-laying on a National stage that will set an image of the Cougars in the minds of the national media that's going to linger for a long time.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. This was the year that the Cougars were supposed to ARRIVE, the year that they joined TCU and Boise St. as the "B(C)S busters" fans feel they should be. Unfortunately they're missing two key ingredients, things that must change if they want to have long-standing success going forward.
Defense - It was bad enough that the Bruins running back was running over Cougar defensive linemen like they were unanchored tackling dummies, then you had to suffer the indignity of the quarterback carrying a Cougar cornerback five yards into the end-zone for a score.
The Cougars need to find, and develop, a defensive identity in the worst way. The "hot knife through butter" strategy they're currently using isn't going to cut it when real teams are on the schedule. UCLA was a bad Pac-10 team, and they physically dominated the Baby Cougar defense. Mad Dogs? Try whipped puppies. The Cougar defense was too slow, too weak, and in too poor of position on several plays to have any credibility. How many times did UCLA QB Prince fake the hand-off and run around an abandoned edge for a big gain? Too many. The line can't stop the run, the linebackers are out of position and the secondary couldn't cover if you gave them a blanket.
What people often forget is that TCU and Boise St. both have violent defenses that play with discipline, speed and reckless abandon. UH has none of that. That needs to change.
Referendum - Yesterday's loss didn't mean that UH football is dead in the water, it didn't mean that the Cougars are not a good team, and it wasn't a referendum on the future of UH football. These are all things that UT-Austin and aTm fans are clogging up the comments of newspapers and message boards all over Houston. Cougar fans need to learn to ignore this. Last night's game was only a referendum on the program if Robertson Stadium is half-full next Saturday. If Cougar fans give up, if the nay-sayers convince people to quit on the team, if the "fire Kevin Sumlin" idiots are allowed to hold sway? Then yes, UH football is in trouble. If one loss is enough to shut-down Cougar Nation then perhaps a move to D1-AA should be examined.
A loss is a loss it sucks, but it doesn't have to mean that the program is lost for good. The best way to ensure the continued success of Cougar football is to fill Robertson Stadium on Saturday, and then ignore the screams of fans from other schools. While I'm not a Cougar fan, I do pull for them. Mostly because I attended a school in their system and they're the 'home town' school The Cougars have a chance to do some good things this year still. Maybe not as much as they wanted too, but some good things. Fan support will be key.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. This was the year that the Cougars were supposed to ARRIVE, the year that they joined TCU and Boise St. as the "B(C)S busters" fans feel they should be. Unfortunately they're missing two key ingredients, things that must change if they want to have long-standing success going forward.
Defense - It was bad enough that the Bruins running back was running over Cougar defensive linemen like they were unanchored tackling dummies, then you had to suffer the indignity of the quarterback carrying a Cougar cornerback five yards into the end-zone for a score.
The Cougars need to find, and develop, a defensive identity in the worst way. The "hot knife through butter" strategy they're currently using isn't going to cut it when real teams are on the schedule. UCLA was a bad Pac-10 team, and they physically dominated the Baby Cougar defense. Mad Dogs? Try whipped puppies. The Cougar defense was too slow, too weak, and in too poor of position on several plays to have any credibility. How many times did UCLA QB Prince fake the hand-off and run around an abandoned edge for a big gain? Too many. The line can't stop the run, the linebackers are out of position and the secondary couldn't cover if you gave them a blanket.
What people often forget is that TCU and Boise St. both have violent defenses that play with discipline, speed and reckless abandon. UH has none of that. That needs to change.
Referendum - Yesterday's loss didn't mean that UH football is dead in the water, it didn't mean that the Cougars are not a good team, and it wasn't a referendum on the future of UH football. These are all things that UT-Austin and aTm fans are clogging up the comments of newspapers and message boards all over Houston. Cougar fans need to learn to ignore this. Last night's game was only a referendum on the program if Robertson Stadium is half-full next Saturday. If Cougar fans give up, if the nay-sayers convince people to quit on the team, if the "fire Kevin Sumlin" idiots are allowed to hold sway? Then yes, UH football is in trouble. If one loss is enough to shut-down Cougar Nation then perhaps a move to D1-AA should be examined.
A loss is a loss it sucks, but it doesn't have to mean that the program is lost for good. The best way to ensure the continued success of Cougar football is to fill Robertson Stadium on Saturday, and then ignore the screams of fans from other schools. While I'm not a Cougar fan, I do pull for them. Mostly because I attended a school in their system and they're the 'home town' school The Cougars have a chance to do some good things this year still. Maybe not as much as they wanted too, but some good things. Fan support will be key.
Back off the ledge Cougar fans
So, your team got housed by UTEP and ChronBlog's resident UT flack is piling it on (while somehow, curiously, morphing this into a win for UT). Your B(C)S buster hopes got buried under and avalanche of Miner offense and you still can't find 3 out of 4 lost helmets.
It's going to be OK.
Let's look at the facts:
1. This years Cougars are a young lot, with several underclassmen starting on defense. This situation was made worse by last week's injury of your defensive leader.
2. Conference games on the road are hard to win. I don't care which conference you're talking about.
3. UH has a target on their backs. Get used to this. Fair or not you're the targeted team in C-USA now.
The one concern that I had was that I heard too much talk of lost helmets and no respect from the pollsters, and very little talk about UTEP. Not only from the media, but from your coaching staff as well. When you overlook a team like UTEP, with a prolific offense and a good coach, you end up losing by 17 in the National spotlight.
The good news is the season's goals are still in reach. I refer, of course, to the goals that were there before the season began. Conference USA is still out there for the taking, as is a berth in the Liberty bowl against an SEC team. The B(C)S dream was all fool's gold, the odds are stacked against too many teams, especially with Boise State an almost certain lock to get the nod. (never mind that TCU is probably the better team)
So, come down off the ledge will 'ya?
Now is not the time to worry about one loss on a 12-game schedule. Don't worry about what the Longhorns are saying, they never make sense anyway.
And hey, at least you're not Baylor.
UPDATE: Houston falls out of the Top 25 - Which illustrates just how ridiculous the polls really are this year. College Football is the best football in the land, but the ranking systems are fatally flawed.
It's going to be OK.
Let's look at the facts:
1. This years Cougars are a young lot, with several underclassmen starting on defense. This situation was made worse by last week's injury of your defensive leader.
2. Conference games on the road are hard to win. I don't care which conference you're talking about.
3. UH has a target on their backs. Get used to this. Fair or not you're the targeted team in C-USA now.
The one concern that I had was that I heard too much talk of lost helmets and no respect from the pollsters, and very little talk about UTEP. Not only from the media, but from your coaching staff as well. When you overlook a team like UTEP, with a prolific offense and a good coach, you end up losing by 17 in the National spotlight.
The good news is the season's goals are still in reach. I refer, of course, to the goals that were there before the season began. Conference USA is still out there for the taking, as is a berth in the Liberty bowl against an SEC team. The B(C)S dream was all fool's gold, the odds are stacked against too many teams, especially with Boise State an almost certain lock to get the nod. (never mind that TCU is probably the better team)
So, come down off the ledge will 'ya?
Now is not the time to worry about one loss on a 12-game schedule. Don't worry about what the Longhorns are saying, they never make sense anyway.
And hey, at least you're not Baylor.
UPDATE: Houston falls out of the Top 25 - Which illustrates just how ridiculous the polls really are this year. College Football is the best football in the land, but the ranking systems are fatally flawed.
See Red
It was a big win on a big stage for the Cougars, one that long-time program supporters never stopped believing, in the quiet places of their hearts, would come to Cullen Ave. again. Sure there were the requisite 'heartbreak' moments (How many of the Cougar faithful thought "Oh no" after the questionable penalty that nullified an interception?) but in the end this Cougar team, coached by Kevin Sumlin, put to rest all of the ghosts of Cougar past and gave the school its biggest football win possibly ever.
Yes, during the Run n' Shoot days, there were big wins over the University of Texas. In the meaningful games however, games against Hurricanes or blitzing Aggies or Catholics led by Joe Montana, UH often came up just a little short under the bright lights of the National glare. UH has always been just on the edge of the National football conscience, just outside of the periphery, just off the radar.
All of that has changed this season, first with the win over OSU in Stillwater and then against the Wiley old Pirate on National TV in a game that pundits were salivating over. All of this changed because of a coach named Sumlin, a quarterback named Case and a pack of fast, very fast, young talent that's got something UH football has lacked for decades: Discipline.
Make no mistake about it, these are not the same Cougars you saw unprepared for games during the Art Briles era. Teams that were more likely to shoot themselves in the foot in big games than score touchdowns. This is a team whose strength is forged in the kiln of Coach Jackson's strength program, whose game plan has been designed by one of the best coaches in the College game.
Yes, this success is about the players, but it's also about Kevin Sumlin, a coach who's certain to be coveted at the end of the year by big-time programs with big-time budgets. It's about a University that's learned what it means to win, or what it takes to build a winner. UH isn't a 'helmet team' but they are a good team. Probably a top-ten team in the Country.
The fruits of this win will probably be a national ranking in the 12-14 range, which is too low. I have them in the 9-10 range, although I heard Mark May of ESPN put them at five last night. That's heady stuff for a team that, just a few years prior, was playing in front of 15,000 fans and had people wondering if D-1A was in their immediate future.
Next up is the Conference-USA schedule, games that won't have the hype or cache of the OSU and Tech games, but games that are going to be of heightened importance if UH wants to really cash in and take the B(C)S by storm.
Yes, during the Run n' Shoot days, there were big wins over the University of Texas. In the meaningful games however, games against Hurricanes or blitzing Aggies or Catholics led by Joe Montana, UH often came up just a little short under the bright lights of the National glare. UH has always been just on the edge of the National football conscience, just outside of the periphery, just off the radar.
All of that has changed this season, first with the win over OSU in Stillwater and then against the Wiley old Pirate on National TV in a game that pundits were salivating over. All of this changed because of a coach named Sumlin, a quarterback named Case and a pack of fast, very fast, young talent that's got something UH football has lacked for decades: Discipline.
Make no mistake about it, these are not the same Cougars you saw unprepared for games during the Art Briles era. Teams that were more likely to shoot themselves in the foot in big games than score touchdowns. This is a team whose strength is forged in the kiln of Coach Jackson's strength program, whose game plan has been designed by one of the best coaches in the College game.
Yes, this success is about the players, but it's also about Kevin Sumlin, a coach who's certain to be coveted at the end of the year by big-time programs with big-time budgets. It's about a University that's learned what it means to win, or what it takes to build a winner. UH isn't a 'helmet team' but they are a good team. Probably a top-ten team in the Country.
The fruits of this win will probably be a national ranking in the 12-14 range, which is too low. I have them in the 9-10 range, although I heard Mark May of ESPN put them at five last night. That's heady stuff for a team that, just a few years prior, was playing in front of 15,000 fans and had people wondering if D-1A was in their immediate future.
Next up is the Conference-USA schedule, games that won't have the hype or cache of the OSU and Tech games, but games that are going to be of heightened importance if UH wants to really cash in and take the B(C)S by storm.
The foul stench of success. (I guess)
Red Whine by flickr user DRB62 used via a creative commons liscense.First off: A hearty congratulations to the UH football team. It was a good win against a team that I had beating them soundly when I was putting together the records this year. Now the question becomes whether or not this team can handle properity. Obviously Oklahoma State could not. Whether or not UH can will depend mightily on the coaching staff*, and the character of the current crop of players.
However, if wouldn't be a UH win if there wasn't a fair amount of grousing from the fanbase....(from the comments of the story)
LloydBentsen wrote:
Is this some sort of joke? Houston is ranked lower than OSU? Houston is unranked in the Coaches' Poll?
and
It_is_so_simple wrote:Unfortunately comments like that only detract from the win, and lead to the perception of the Cougar faithful as living with a perpetual case of the sore ass.
I can't believe Miami is higher than Coogs!
Here are the facts:
1. Despite the big win UH is nowhere near the front of many people's College football mind. Especially the pundits. Now, granted, it's fair to question the impartiality (and reality-basis) or ANY poll based on that fact, but until there's a playoff there's no way today's sportswriters can be expected to keep tabs on every D-1 (sorry no FBS, or FCS here) team in the country. Houston hasn't been there, they haven't done that, and most voters are probably waiting to see if they can do it again.
2. The polls are, in large part, based on what voters think teams can do, especially this early in the season. In the eyes of most voters, Okie State is still a better team than UH, just one that lost a game in an upset. Those of us who follow UH understand that the 'fluke' factor in this win was relatively small as far as upsets go. 9 out of 10 times Michigan beats Appelachian State, OSU maybe beats UH 6 out of 10 times, if that.
3. The coaches poll is worthless. It's name is even a misnomer since it's filled out by each University's SID while the coach works on the gameplan. That it's held up as some standard of relevency in the bizarro-world that are the B(C)S rankings only goes to show you just how messed up the current system is.
You want respect UH fans?
Go out and beat Tech, beat Tulsa and beat East Carolina and you'll have a heaping amount of it.
Of course, if you win those you might end up in a B(C)S bowl and be the subject of Richard Justice's ire instead of his praise.
Hey, it could happen.
*Note to AD Rhodes: You had better start to get your coaching succession plan in line today. It's not likely that Sumlin is going to be around much, if any, longer after the end of this season. This week is an off-week and Sumlin will have a little time. I'd talk about a raise, and also about having him prep one of the assistants to take over the ship once he departs.
University of Houston 2009-2010 Football outlook
(Image via Flickr user army.mil used via a creative commons license)The good news, for Houston Cougar fans, is that I foresee the Cougars playing in a bowl this year. The bad news is that I don't think it will be the Liberty Bowl. It most certainly won't be a B(C)S bowl, at least not this year.
The reason for my concern is defense. Namely, the baby Coogs are talented, but green. For Cougar fans intent on reviving the silly "mad dogs" defensive moniker a more appropriate tag might be "mad puppy" this year. They've got some experience at linebacker and in the defensive backfield, but overall this defense is going to be young. Were the schedule not so front-loaded this wouldn't be such an important issue.
Offensively expect more of the same from Houston. They return all of their key skill-position players a year older and more familiar with coach Kevin Sumlin's system. Keenum and Beall should have huge years. For the most inspiring story Google Patrick Edwards to see what that young man is coming back from (warning: not for the faint of heart).
The Schedule:
Week 1: Northwestern State Robertson Stadium - Northwestern State isn't expected to beat Sam Houston State this year. Go tailgate, drink heavy and don't worry about falling asleep during the second half. This game will be long over by then.
Prediction: UH 47 NWSt 3
Week 2: Oklahoma State Stillwater, OK - The Pokes have too much firepower and just enough defense to win a shootout. Should be televised locally for those of you who don't want to travel to Stillwater. For those of you that do? Stop by Eskimo Joes.
Prediction: OkSt 52 UH 35
Week 3: Bye week. The Cougars will need it.
Week 4: Texas Tech Robertson Stadium - It would have been better for the Cougars to get Captain Leach and the Tortilla Pirates in game 1 or 2, before they get the timing down on that offense. As it is Houston should be on the downside of another shootout. Make sure to search Tech fans before they enter the stadium.
Prediction: Tech 42 UH 28
Week 5: University of Texas - El Paso, El Paso,TX - A week after chasing the Tortilla Pirates around UH gets the high-flying offense of the Miners. After this game UH's defense could be the among the lowest rated in the Country and still look pretty good.
Prediction: UTEP 35 UH 32
Week 6: Mississippi St., Starkville, MS - Finally, an offense that doesn't resemble an air-raid. Miss. St. is a physical, middle-of-the-road SEC team that UH should outrun. Expect pathetic "S-E-C" chants from Bulldog fans when they find themselves down in the 4th quarter.
Prediction: UH 42 Miss St 17
Week 7: Tulane: New Orleans, LA - Basically a glorified scrimmage for the Cougars as Tulane has been terrible the last few years and is showing little signs of improvement. I predict the defense starts to "get it" this week.
Prediction: UH 38 Tulane 3
Week 8: SMU: Robertson Stadium - After three weeks on the road this home game is going to be raucous (by UH standards that is). At this point the team's record might turn some off, but good things are on the horizon.
Prediction: UH 52 SMU 17
Week 9: Southern Mississippi: Robertson Stadium - Now on TV. This has the potential to be one of the games of the year in C-USA. It won't be. Defense gets it, and the offense is too good.
Prediction: UH 38 USM 14
Week 10: University of Tulsa: Tulsa OK. - This will be the game of the year in C-USA, at least in the Western division. Tulsa needs a QB, and that should propel the Cougars to the win.
Prediction: UH 47 TU 45
Week 11: University of Central Florida: Orlando, FL - After reeling off five straight the Cougars are confident, and just better than UCF. You'll have to listen to the radio to keep up with this game however, or on the ticker below whatever, more compelling, game you're watching on TV.
Prediction: UH 49 UCF 21
Week 12: Memphis, Robertson Stadium - Now your Cougars are on a roll. The Freshman aren't playing like Freshman any longer and the offense and defense are clicking on all cylinders. Memphis is supposed to be better this year, but still not good enough. And besides, Sumlin > Briles(who couldn't figure out how to consistently beat the Tigers)
Prediction: UH 42 UM 17
Week 13: Rice, Robertson Stadium - Ah the rivalry game that UH doesn't want to admit as a rivalry. Too bad too, because Rice is regaining respectability. Fortunately for Cougars fans the Owls lost too much last year. If UH is motivated (and they should be because the Western Championship should be on the line) then this game shouldn't be close.
Prediction: UH 42 Rice 10
Overall Regular Season Record: 9-3 1st place C-USA West.
I'll talk more about the C-USA championship game in a later post. For now though I think its safe to say that the Cougar train is starting to pick up some momentum. Here's the deal. I think this team is two years away from being really good. As in: "potential B(C)S Buster/undefeated record" good. What this means is that the new AD had better start to get his succession plans squared away for when the big colleges come after Sumlin. Having a coach on staff to take over the reins only makes sense for non-B(C)S programs who are going to have their coaches snapped up by big programs if they have success. As a matter of fact, I'd make it something that was contractual.
If you look at the sucess of the big non-B(C)S schools such as Boise State and Texas Christian you see a "system" in place that carries on well after the original coach that led them to prominence is gone. UH had better start thinking about that now. I've every confidence that Kevin Sumlin would be more honorable than was Art Briles when he leaves, but you still need to have a plan in place for recruiting etc.
After a rough start this should be a fun year Cougar fans, how long these winning ways last is up to your new AD.
UH reportedly finds Maggard's replacement
KRIV's Mark Berman got the scoop (Anyone surprised by that?)
Good luck with that.
FOX 26 Sports has learned that University of Akron athletics director Mack Rhoades will be named the next AD at the University of Houston.We here at 3CB wish Rhoades all the luck in the world. He's heading into a job where the majority is apathetic, and the few that are interested closely resemble Republicans in their desire to run out every casual fan who doesn't pass a purity test. He's also going to have to deal with a local media that's ambivilent (or, in the case of some hostile)
The school will make the announcement official at a news conference scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday.
UH narrowed its search to two finalists Wednesday. The other finalist was USC senior associate AD Dr. Brandon Martin.
Rhoades has been the athletics director at Akron since 2005.
Rhoades, 43, led the way for the Zips to build a $55 million on-campus football stadium.
And Rhoades didn't just concentrate on football at Akron. He also enhanced the facilities for other Zips sports programs including basketball, baseball, softball, and track.
Good luck with that.
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