2008 Houston Cougars football team
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston
in the college football
2008-2009 season
. It was the 63rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin
whose previous position was as co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners
. He replaced Art Briles
. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium
, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. Competing against the Air Force Falcons
in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl
, the Cougars won their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.
with the Cougars. Two days after Houston was invited to the 2007 Texas Bowl
, Briles immediately departed for the Baylor Bears
head coach position in Waco, Texas
. Cornerbacks coach, Chris Thurmond
was soon appointed interim head coach, and led the Cougars to the Texas Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs
. The Cougars lost to the Horned Frogs 20-13.
In December 2007, the University of Houston hired Kevin Sumlin
, a co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners
as the Houston Cougars head coach.
. Due to Houston's head coach change, Sumlin's ability to recruit before National Signing Day
was shorter than usual, as he was finishing his duties with the Oklahoma Sooners. In early April, it was announced that the Cougars had two other junior college commitments. Kyle Thomas and Nick Thurston, both from California
, came from the City College of San Francisco
. Two other junior college (JUCO) commitments, Clint Leal and Kierrie Johnson, were recruited from Blinn College
. Thomas is expected to join the roster in the Spring, as he still had some coursework to finish in California.
During the off-season, the Cougars went through a large amount of notable coaching staff changes. Former co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners
, Kevin Sumlin
replaced Art Briles
as head coach. Sumlin became the first African-American head coach in Cougar history, and the eighth in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. In his final year
with the Sooners, his offense
was one of the best in the country, averaging 44 points per game.
Dana Holgorsen
came to Houston from the Texas Tech Red Raiders
, where he spent eight years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He serves the Cougars in the same capacity.
John Skladany
replaced Alan Weddell as defensive coordinator. Skladany came from the UCF Knights, a fellow C-USA team. Prior to coaching for UCF, Skladany spent ten years with the Iowa State Cyclones
. Sumlin and Skladany followed through with plans to change the Cougars defensive strategy from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 one.
Leon Burtnett
came from the Washington State Cougars
as linebackers coach. New defensive line coach, Jim Jeffcoat
spent his last four seasons as defensive ends coach for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
. Another new addition to the staff with NFL coaching experience was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Tony Levine, who spent his previous two seasons with the Carolina Panthers
.
s, and concluded with the annual "Red-White Game". The Red-White Game, a home exhibition game between the offensive and defensive players of the Cougars, was a part of festivities held for the University of Houston's "Cougar Fest". A skydive by the U.S. Army Golden Knights
to present the game ball was planned, but was cancelled due to high winds.
The 2008 game marked the first meeting between the Houston Cougars and the Southern Jaguars
. The team plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
(SWAC) as a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The Grambling Tigers, the Jaguars' main rival, fell to the Cougars as part of the their 2006 season schedule 42-22. In 2007, the Cougars finished their regular season by defeating another SWAC opponent, crosstown Texas Southern Tigers.
This marked the nineteenth game between the Cougars and the Oklahoma State Cowboys
who were a member of the Big 12 Conference
. Playing against each other since 1951, the Cougars held a 9-8-1 all-time record against the Cowboys, and the last meeting between the two teams was during the 2006 season. During that meeting, the Cowboys fell to the Cougars 34-25. The Cougars traveled to Stillwater
for the first time since 1986 to compete. Despite leading the Cowboys during the first half of the game, the Cougars eventually lost 56-37. The Cowboys went on to be consistently ranked this season as one of the top 25 teams in the nation.
Another first meeting on the Cougars' schedule was with the Air Force Falcons
. A member of the Mountain West Conference
, the Falcons played football since 1955. The previous season, the Falcons finished with a 9-4 record, while losing to the California Golden Bears
in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
. The game was scheduled to be televised on the CBS College Sports Network as the first of the four nationally televised games for the Cougars season, but was cancelled. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Robertson Stadium in Houston, but due to Hurricane Ike
, the game was played at SMU's
Ford Stadium. The Cougars fell to the Falcons 31-28.
, the Cougars faced them for the fourth time on the road at Hughes Stadium
. The most recent meeting between the teams had been the season before, where the Rams lost to the Cougars 38-27 in Houston. Steve Fairchild
, a former player for the Rams, and the former offensive coordinator and under previous head coach Sonny Lubick
, had taken over as head coach during this season. With a third consecutive loss, the Cougars fell to the Rams 28-25.
team, the East Carolina Pirates
. Last season, after defeating the Cougars 37-35, the Pirates went on to finish with an 8-5 record including a win against #24 Boise State
in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl. The Pirates led the series between the Cougars 8-5. The game was broadcasted on the CBS College Sports Network, and was played at East Carolina's Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
. After beating the #17 Virginia Tech Hokies
during their 2008 season opener, the Pirates gained national attention. This continued in their next week of play, as they defeated the #8 West Virginia Mountaineers
24-3, and became ranked by the AP Poll as #14. Despite an upset by the NC State Wolfpack
the week before, the Pirates were ranked at #23 by the AP Poll when the Cougars arrived in Greenville. Despite predictions that ECU would win the game, the Cougars managed an upset with a large margin of victory. This was the Cougars' first win over a ranked team since 1996, and the first against a ranked team in a road game since 1984.
. With the most recent game between the two teams being last season, the Blazers led the series 4-2. However, the team was defeated by the Cougars, and finished their 2007 season with a 2-10 record, the worst in the school's history. This followed the departure of Watson Brown
to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, and the appointment of former Georgia Bulldogs
and Houston Cougars assistant Neil Callaway
as head coach. The game was televised by the CBS College Sports Network.
members, the SMU Mustangs
faced the Cougars in their twenty-fourth meeting. The first game between the two teams took place during the 1975 season when Houston joined the Southwest Conference, and the teams have regularly played each other since. The Cougars led the series 13-9-1, including a 38-28 win against the Mustangs last season. This season, June Jones
, former Hawaii Warriors
head coach took the same position at SMU. At Hawaii, Jones had gained national attention after the Warriors went undefeated, and were invited to the 2008 Sugar Bowl
. After the win, the Cougars moved up in the Conference USA standings to tie for first with an undefeated Tulsa
in their division.
The Marshall Thundering Herd
played the Cougars for the second time in history during this season. Their last game against each other was played during the 2007 season, where the Thundering Herd was defeated 35-28 in Houston at Robertson Stadium
. This time, Marshall played Houston at home, and won. This marked the first loss for the Cougars in conference play, and dropped them down in conference standings from 1st to 3rd (after Tulsa and Rice). ESPN
broadcasted the game. Houston wide receiver Patrick Edwards
suffered a gruesome broken leg when he collided with an equipment cart at the back of the end zone, though he would return the next season
in a starting role.
traveled to Houston to play the Cougars for the fourteenth time. Playing their first game together in 1968, the Cougars led the series 9-4. The teams had competed against each other each consecutive season since 2002, although Tulane hadn't achieved a win against Houston since that same year. Tulane's head coach Bob Toledo
returned for his second year with the Green Wave. Although not originally scheduled, the game was televised on CBS College Sports, presumably because Houston's TV appearance against Air Force earlier in the season was cancelled. This marked Houston's homecoming game, and was one of the largest attendances for the regular season at Robertson Stadium.
and Houston Cougars faced-off for their thirty-third all-time meeting. Playing together since 1950, Houston had a 17-16 advantage over the Golden Hurricane. In their 2007 season meeting, new coach Todd Graham
led the Golden Hurricane to a 56-7 win over the Cougars. It was the Cougars' largest margin of defeat for the season. Tulsa went on to a 10-4 record in the previous season including a 63-7 GMAC Bowl
game win against the Bowling Green Falcons
. The team held the record for scoring the largest margin in bowl game history. The win was considered an upset
by the nation, as Tulsa was ranked as #24 in the Coaches' Poll and #25 in the AP Poll
. This marked the second time that the Cougars had beaten a nationally ranked opponent in the season (the other being East Carolina); something Houston hadn't done since its 1984 season under College Football Hall of Fame
coach Bill Yeoman
.
After the win, the Cougars were again ranked as first in conference play as Tulsa (5-1) had beaten Rice (5-1), and Houston (5-1) had beaten Tulsa. This made Houston's other two regular season games on the schedule much more significant because if they won both games from this point, they would be allowed to compete in and host the Conference USA Football Championship
.
Although meeting for the first time during the Cougars' inaugural season in 1946, the UTEP Miners
had only met with the Cougars five times in history. As Conference USA foes, the Cougars held a 2-3 all-time record against the Miners, whereas both wins came consecutively during the 2006 and 2007 meetings of the teams. Mike Price
returned as the Miners' head coach this season. After a close game, where Houston lagged behind, the Cougars made a fourth quarter comeback to win the game.
game, the Cougars will meet with Rice at Rice Stadium
as part of the Houston-Rice rivalry
. It will be the 33rd meeting between the two teams, where Houston leads the series 24-9 and have won the last three meetings. During this season, the outcome of the game will have significant influence for the Conference USA West Division title. While Houston remains first in the division, a loss to Rice, and a win for Tulsa
(9-2) against Marshall
(4-7) would mean Tulsa, not Houston would be headed to compete against the East Division champion East Carolina
in the Conference USA Football Championship
. If Rice wins its game against the Cougars, and Marshall wins its game against the Golden Hurricane, then Rice would be the West Division champion. The game was picked up by CBS College Sports after Houston's 70-30 blowout victory against Tulsa.
With seven regular season wins, the Cougars secured bowl eligibility
. On December 7, 2008, the Houston Cougars announced that they had been selected to play in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl
game against Air Force
in Fort Worth, Texas
. This marked the Cougars' fourth consecutive bowl game invitation, and the fifth in six years. The game was a rematch, as the Falcons and the Cougars faced off earlier during the regular season, where the Cougars were defeated. This was the second time in history the Cougars had played a bowl game in Fort Worth; in 2005 the team appeared in the Fort Worth Bowl.
The Cougars defeated the Falcons to win their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. The score was 34-28. The game was televised on ESPN
.
University of Houston
The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of...
in the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
2008-2009 season
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
. It was the 63rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin
Kevin Sumlin
-External links:*...
whose previous position was as co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
. He replaced Art Briles
Art Briles
Arthur Ray Briles is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Baylor University, a position he has held since the 2008 season. From 2002 to 2007, Briles was the head coach at the University of Houston.-Playing career:A native of Rule, Texas, Briles...
. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston. Competing against the Air Force Falcons
Air Force Falcons
The Air Force Falcons are the collegiate athletic teams that represent the United States Air Force Academy, near Colorado Springs, Colorado. The intercollegiate program has 17 men's and 10 women's NCAA-sanctioned teams...
in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl
2008 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was the sixth edition of the annual post-season college football bowl game, and featured the Houston Cougars against the Air Force Falcons on December 31, 2008 at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas and...
, the Cougars won their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.
Previous season
In the 2007 season, the Cougars earned an 8-5 (.615) overall season record and a 6-2 (.750) conference record in C-USA. The 2007 season would be the last for head coach Art BrilesArt Briles
Arthur Ray Briles is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Baylor University, a position he has held since the 2008 season. From 2002 to 2007, Briles was the head coach at the University of Houston.-Playing career:A native of Rule, Texas, Briles...
with the Cougars. Two days after Houston was invited to the 2007 Texas Bowl
2007 Texas Bowl
The 2007 Texas Bowl, part of the 2007-08 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 28, 2007 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas....
, Briles immediately departed for the Baylor Bears
Baylor Bears football
The Baylor Bears football team represents Baylor University in Division I FBS college football. They are a member of the Big 12 Conference. The team plays its home games at Floyd Casey Stadium in Waco, Texas.-History:...
head coach position in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
. Cornerbacks coach, Chris Thurmond
Chris Thurmond
Chris Thurmond is an American football cornerbacks coach for the Kentucky Wildcats and was the interim head coach for the University of Houston Cougars. Thurmond led the Cougars in the 2007 Texas Bowl after Art Briles left before the game to become head coach of the Baylor Bears football team...
was soon appointed interim head coach, and led the Cougars to the Texas Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs
TCU Horned Frogs football
The TCU Horned Frogs football team is the intercollegiate football team of Texas Christian University. TCU competes as a member of the Mountain West Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, but will move to the Big 12 Conference for the 2012 season. TCU began playing football...
. The Cougars lost to the Horned Frogs 20-13.
In December 2007, the University of Houston hired Kevin Sumlin
Kevin Sumlin
-External links:*...
, a co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
as the Houston Cougars head coach.
Recruiting
Twenty players were recruited for the 2008 season. Several higher-ranking recruits were lost when Art Briles left, as they followed the coach to BaylorBaylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. Due to Houston's head coach change, Sumlin's ability to recruit before National Signing Day
National Signing Day
National Signing Day most commonly refers to a day in February, usually on the first Wednesday of that month, which is the first day that a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA, the main governing body for...
was shorter than usual, as he was finishing his duties with the Oklahoma Sooners. In early April, it was announced that the Cougars had two other junior college commitments. Kyle Thomas and Nick Thurston, both from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, came from the City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, or CCSF, is a two-year community college in San Francisco, California. The Ocean Avenue campus, in the Ingleside neighborhood, is the college's primary location...
. Two other junior college (JUCO) commitments, Clint Leal and Kierrie Johnson, were recruited from Blinn College
Blinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
. Thomas is expected to join the roster in the Spring, as he still had some coursework to finish in California.
Coaching staff and changes
Oklahoma Sooners football
The Oklahoma Sooners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Oklahoma . The team is currently a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, Kevin Sumlin
Kevin Sumlin
-External links:*...
replaced Art Briles
Art Briles
Arthur Ray Briles is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Baylor University, a position he has held since the 2008 season. From 2002 to 2007, Briles was the head coach at the University of Houston.-Playing career:A native of Rule, Texas, Briles...
as head coach. Sumlin became the first African-American head coach in Cougar history, and the eighth in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. In his final year
2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2007 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2007-2008, winning the Big 12 Conference Championship for the fifth time in eight years. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops...
with the Sooners, his offense
Offense (sports)
In sports, offense or offence , also known as attack, is the action of attacking or engaging an opposing team with the objective of scoring points or goals...
was one of the best in the country, averaging 44 points per game.
Dana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen
Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at West Virginia University, having succeeded Bill Stewart, who resigned under pressure on June 10, 2011...
came to Houston from the Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech Red Raiders football
Texas Tech Red Raiders football program is a college football team that represents Texas Tech University . The team competes, as a member of the Big 12 Conference, which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association...
, where he spent eight years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He serves the Cougars in the same capacity.
John Skladany
John Skladany
John Skladany is an American football coach who currently serves as a defensive coordinator for the UCF Knights. Skladany previously served as defensive coordinator for the Iowa State Cyclones, Houston Cougars, as well as the UCF Knights. He joined the Cougars in the 2008 pre-season. After the...
replaced Alan Weddell as defensive coordinator. Skladany came from the UCF Knights, a fellow C-USA team. Prior to coaching for UCF, Skladany spent ten years with the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
. Sumlin and Skladany followed through with plans to change the Cougars defensive strategy from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 one.
Leon Burtnett
Leon Burtnett
Leon Burtnett is an assistant football coach at the University of Houston and was the head football coach at Purdue University from 1982 to 1986....
came from the Washington State Cougars
Washington State Cougars football
The Washington State Cougars football team is the intercollegiate football team of Washington State University. The team is a member of the Pacific-12 Conference...
as linebackers coach. New defensive line coach, Jim Jeffcoat
Jim Jeffcoat
James Wilson Jeffcoat, Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League. From 2008 to 2010 he served as defensive line coach for the Houston Cougars football team...
spent his last four seasons as defensive ends coach for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Another new addition to the staff with NFL coaching experience was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Tony Levine, who spent his previous two seasons with the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
.
Staff
| Name | Position | Alma mater (Year) |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Sumlin Kevin Sumlin -External links:*... |
Head coach | Purdue Purdue University Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and... (1986) |
| Dana Holgorsen Dana Holgorsen Dana Holgorsen is an American football coach and former player. He is the current head football coach at West Virginia University, having succeeded Bill Stewart, who resigned under pressure on June 10, 2011... |
Offensive coordinator Offensive coordinator An offensive coordinator is a member of the coaching staff of a gridiron football team who is in charge of the offense. Generally, along with his defensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach... |
Iowa Wesleyan Iowa Wesleyan College Iowa Wesleyan College is a private four-year liberal arts college of the United Methodist Church located Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.Iowa Wesleyan is recognized as a pioneer in higher education in America. Founded in 1842, it ranks as the oldest coeducational college located west of the Mississippi River... (1992) |
| John Skladany John Skladany John Skladany is an American football coach who currently serves as a defensive coordinator for the UCF Knights. Skladany previously served as defensive coordinator for the Iowa State Cyclones, Houston Cougars, as well as the UCF Knights. He joined the Cougars in the 2008 pre-season. After the... |
Defensive coordinator Defensive coordinator A defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach... |
Central Connecticut State Central Connecticut State University Central Connecticut State University is a state university in New Britain, Connecticut, United States.The school was moved to its present campus in 1922... (1972) |
| Jason Phillips | Co-Offensive coordinator | Houston University of Houston The University of Houston is a state research university, and is the flagship institution of the University of Houston System. Founded in 1927, it is Texas's third-largest university with nearly 40,000 students. Its campus spans 667 acres in southeast Houston, and was known as University of... (1988) |
| Leon Burtnett Leon Burtnett Leon Burtnett is an assistant football coach at the University of Houston and was the head football coach at Purdue University from 1982 to 1986.... |
Linebacker Linebacker A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen... s |
Southwestern College Southwestern College (Kansas) Southwestern College is a four-year private college affiliated with the United Methodist Church located in Winfield, Kansas, United States. It was founded in 1885 and graduated its first class in 1889. In addition to its campus programs, it offers online programs.-Academics:The main campus is a... (1965) |
| Jim Jeffcoat Jim Jeffcoat James Wilson Jeffcoat, Jr. is a former American football defensive lineman who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League. From 2008 to 2010 he served as defensive line coach for the Houston Cougars football team... |
Defensive line | Arizona State Arizona State University Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona... (1982) |
| Joe Gilbert | Offensive line | Hamilton (1987) |
| Tony Levine | Special teams | Minnesota University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557... (1996) |
| Clarence McKinney | Running backs | Mary University of Mary The University of Mary is a four year Catholic university near Bismarck, North Dakota.The university is the largest degree granting institution in Bismarck... (1994) |
| Charles McMillian | Defensive backs | Utah State Utah State University Utah State University is a public university located in Logan, Utah. It is a land-grant and space-grant institution and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.... (1995) |
| Zac Spavital | Cornerbacks | Murray State Murray State University Murray State University, located in the city of Murray, Kentucky, is a four-year public university with approximately 10,400 students. The school is Kentucky’s only public university to be listed in the U.S.News & World Report regional university top tier for the past 20 consecutive years... (2004) |
Spring practices
From March 8 to April 12, 2008, the Cougars held Spring practices. In addition to the fourteen practices held throughout this period, the Cougars held two scrimmageScrimmage
A scrimmage, or exhibition game, is an informal sports contest or practice match engaged in for practice purposes which does not go on the regular season record. Scrimmage may also refer to:* Line of scrimmage, in American football and related games...
s, and concluded with the annual "Red-White Game". The Red-White Game, a home exhibition game between the offensive and defensive players of the Cougars, was a part of festivities held for the University of Houston's "Cougar Fest". A skydive by the U.S. Army Golden Knights
United States Army Parachute Team
The United States Army Parachute Team, nicknamed and commonly known as the Golden Knights, is a demonstration and competition parachute team of the United States Army...
to present the game ball was planned, but was cancelled due to high winds.
Schedule
Southern
Southern Jaguars
The Southern Jaguars represent Southern University in NCAA intercollegiate athletics.-Conference affiliation:Southern University's athletic teams participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference which is a part of the NCAA Division I. Football participates in the Football Championship...
. The team plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference
Southwestern Athletic Conference
The Southwestern Athletic Conference is a college athletic conference headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, which is made up of historically black universities in the Southern United States...
(SWAC) as a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The Grambling Tigers, the Jaguars' main rival, fell to the Cougars as part of the their 2006 season schedule 42-22. In 2007, the Cougars finished their regular season by defeating another SWAC opponent, crosstown Texas Southern Tigers.
Oklahoma State
2008 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
The 2008 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represents Oklahoma State University for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision intercollegiate football season of 2008-2009.-Schedule:Source:-Washington State:-Houston:...
who were a member of the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
. Playing against each other since 1951, the Cougars held a 9-8-1 all-time record against the Cowboys, and the last meeting between the two teams was during the 2006 season. During that meeting, the Cowboys fell to the Cougars 34-25. The Cougars traveled to Stillwater
Stillwater, Oklahoma
Stillwater is a city in north-central Oklahoma at the intersection of U.S. 177 and State Highway 51. It is the county seat of Payne County, Oklahoma, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 45,688. Stillwater is the principal city of the Stillwater Micropolitan Statistical...
for the first time since 1986 to compete. Despite leading the Cowboys during the first half of the game, the Cougars eventually lost 56-37. The Cowboys went on to be consistently ranked this season as one of the top 25 teams in the nation.
Air Force
2008 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2008 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Air Force competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference .The team was led by...
. A member of the Mountain West Conference
Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference , popularly known as the Mountain West, is the youngest of the college athletic conferences affiliated with the NCAA’s Division I FBS . The MWC officially began operations in July 1999...
, the Falcons played football since 1955. The previous season, the Falcons finished with a 9-4 record, while losing to the California Golden Bears
2007 California Golden Bears football team
The 2007 California Golden Bears football team represented the University of California, Berkeley in the college football 2007-2008 season. They played their home games at California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California and were coached by Jeff Tedford....
in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl
2007 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2007 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was a college football bowl game that was played on December 31, 2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, USA...
. The game was scheduled to be televised on the CBS College Sports Network as the first of the four nationally televised games for the Cougars season, but was cancelled. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Robertson Stadium in Houston, but due to Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike
Hurricane Ike was the second-costliest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States, the costliest hurricane ever to impact Cuba and the second most active hurricane to reach the Canadian mainland in the Great Lakes Region after Hurricane Hazel in 1954...
, the game was played at SMU's
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
Ford Stadium. The Cougars fell to the Falcons 31-28.
Colorado State
With a 3-0 all-time record against the Colorado State RamsColorado State Rams football
The Colorado State Rams football program, established in 1893, represents Colorado State University and is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the Mountain West Conference under head coach Steve Fairchild...
, the Cougars faced them for the fourth time on the road at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium
Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium is an outdoor football stadium in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the home field of the Colorado State Rams of the Mountain West Conference....
. The most recent meeting between the teams had been the season before, where the Rams lost to the Cougars 38-27 in Houston. Steve Fairchild
Steve Fairchild
-Personal life:Fairchild graduated from Colorado State University in 1980 with a degree in economics.-References:...
, a former player for the Rams, and the former offensive coordinator and under previous head coach Sonny Lubick
Sonny Lubick
Louis "Sonny" Lubick is a former head football coach at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. In his fourth decade as collegiate football coach, the 2007 season marked Lubick's 15th and final year at the helm of a Colorado State program that he built from virtually the ground up...
, had taken over as head coach during this season. With a third consecutive loss, the Cougars fell to the Rams 28-25.
East Carolina
This game was the ninth meeting between the Cougars and fellow Conference USAConference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
team, the East Carolina Pirates
2008 East Carolina Pirates football team
The 2008 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2008-09. and plays their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium...
. Last season, after defeating the Cougars 37-35, the Pirates went on to finish with an 8-5 record including a win against #24 Boise State
2007 Boise State Broncos football team
The 2007 Boise State Broncos football team represented Boise State University in the 2007 college football season. The Broncos, led by second year head coach Chris Petersen, play their home games at Bronco Stadium, most famous for its blue artificial turf surface, often referred to as the...
in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl. The Pirates led the series between the Cougars 8-5. The game was broadcasted on the CBS College Sports Network, and was played at East Carolina's Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Bagwell Field at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium is the on-campus football facility for the East Carolina Pirates in Greenville, North Carolina. The official capacity of the stadium is 50,000, making it the third largest college stadium in North Carolina. The record attendance for the stadium was on October...
. After beating the #17 Virginia Tech Hokies
2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team
The 2008 Virginia Tech Hokies football team represents Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach is Frank Beamer. Prior to the season, the Hokies were expected to be in a rebuilding mode, recovering after the...
during their 2008 season opener, the Pirates gained national attention. This continued in their next week of play, as they defeated the #8 West Virginia Mountaineers
2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team
The 2008 West Virginia Mountaineers football team competed on behalf of West Virginia University during the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by Bill Stewart, who took over after he led the Mountaineers to a 2008 Fiesta Bowl victory over the #3 Oklahoma Sooners as the...
24-3, and became ranked by the AP Poll as #14. Despite an upset by the NC State Wolfpack
2008 NC State Wolfpack football team
The 2008 NC State Wolfpack football team represented North Carolina State University during the 2008 college football season. The team's Head Coach was Tom O'Brien, who began his second season as the Wolfpack head coach with a 5-7 overall record, and a 3-5 conference record at NCSU. N.C...
the week before, the Pirates were ranked at #23 by the AP Poll when the Cougars arrived in Greenville. Despite predictions that ECU would win the game, the Cougars managed an upset with a large margin of victory. This was the Cougars' first win over a ranked team since 1996, and the first against a ranked team in a road game since 1984.
UAB
The third home game was the seventh meeting between the Cougars and the UAB BlazersUAB Blazers football
The University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers college football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , as a member of the East Division of Conference USA . UAB plays its home games at Legion Field, which is located off-campus in Birmingham, Alabama...
. With the most recent game between the two teams being last season, the Blazers led the series 4-2. However, the team was defeated by the Cougars, and finished their 2007 season with a 2-10 record, the worst in the school's history. This followed the departure of Watson Brown
Watson Brown
Lester Watson Brown is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head football coach at Tennessee Technological University, a position he has held since 2007...
to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, and the appointment of former Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia Bulldogs football
The Georgia Bulldogs football team represents the University of Georgia in football. The Bulldogs are a member of the Southeastern Conference and are frequently a top-25 team. The University of Georgia has had a football team since 1892 and has an all-time record of 738–398–54...
and Houston Cougars assistant Neil Callaway
Neil Callaway
-External links:**...
as head coach. The game was televised by the CBS College Sports Network.
SMU
Former Southwest Conference and current Conference USAConference USA
Conference USA, officially abbreviated C-USA, is a college athletic conference whose member institutions are located within the Southern United States. The conference participates in the NCAA's Division I in all sports...
members, the SMU Mustangs
SMU Mustangs football
The SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
faced the Cougars in their twenty-fourth meeting. The first game between the two teams took place during the 1975 season when Houston joined the Southwest Conference, and the teams have regularly played each other since. The Cougars led the series 13-9-1, including a 38-28 win against the Mustangs last season. This season, June Jones
June Jones
June Sheldon Jones, III is the American football head coach for Southern Methodist University.-Playing career:Jones played the quarterback position on three college teams: Oregon , Hawaii , and Portland State . It is during his time at Portland State that he was introduced to the Run and Shoot...
, former Hawaii Warriors
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
head coach took the same position at SMU. At Hawaii, Jones had gained national attention after the Warriors went undefeated, and were invited to the 2008 Sugar Bowl
2008 Sugar Bowl
The 2008 Allstate Sugar Bowl Game was an American college football bowl game. It was part of the Bowl Championship Series for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, and was the 74th Sugar Bowl...
. After the win, the Cougars moved up in the Conference USA standings to tie for first with an undefeated Tulsa
2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
The 2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach was Todd Graham, in his second year at Tulsa. They played home games at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma and competed in the...
in their division.
Marshall
2008 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
The 2008 Marshall Thundering Herd football team represented Marshall University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Marshall competed as a member of the East Division of Conference USA, and played their home...
played the Cougars for the second time in history during this season. Their last game against each other was played during the 2007 season, where the Thundering Herd was defeated 35-28 in Houston at Robertson Stadium
Robertson Stadium
John O'Quinn Field at Corbin J. Robertson Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Houston, located on the campus of the University of Houston. It is the home of the Houston Cougars football and women's soccer teams...
. This time, Marshall played Houston at home, and won. This marked the first loss for the Cougars in conference play, and dropped them down in conference standings from 1st to 3rd (after Tulsa and Rice). ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
broadcasted the game. Houston wide receiver Patrick Edwards
Patrick Edwards
Patrick Michael Edwards is an American college football player. He currently plays for the Houston Cougars of the University of Houston. In 2008, Edwards' gruesome leg injury in the endzone at Marshall gained national notoriety.-Early years:...
suffered a gruesome broken leg when he collided with an equipment cart at the back of the end zone, though he would return the next season
2009 Houston Cougars football team
The 2009 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the college football 2009–2010 season. It was the 64th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by second year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin...
in a starting role.
Tulane
In another conference game, the Tulane Green WaveTulane Green Wave football
The Tulane Green Wave football program is an NCAA Division I FBS football team that represents Tulane University in New Orleans. The team is a member of Conference USA and is led by interim head coach Mark Hutson, who took over on October 18, 2011, when fifth-year head coach Bob Toledo resigned...
traveled to Houston to play the Cougars for the fourteenth time. Playing their first game together in 1968, the Cougars led the series 9-4. The teams had competed against each other each consecutive season since 2002, although Tulane hadn't achieved a win against Houston since that same year. Tulane's head coach Bob Toledo
Bob Toledo
Bob Toledo is a former American football coach and player. Toledo served as the head coach at University of California, Riverside , the University of the Pacific , the University of California, Los Angeles , and Tulane University...
returned for his second year with the Green Wave. Although not originally scheduled, the game was televised on CBS College Sports, presumably because Houston's TV appearance against Air Force earlier in the season was cancelled. This marked Houston's homecoming game, and was one of the largest attendances for the regular season at Robertson Stadium.
Tulsa
The Tulsa Golden HurricaneTulsa Golden Hurricane football
The University of Tulsa's Golden Hurricane football team represents Tulsa in Conference USA. Tulsa is currently coached by first-year head coach Bill Blankenship. The football team was coached by Todd Graham until he accepted the head coaching job at Pittsburgh....
and Houston Cougars faced-off for their thirty-third all-time meeting. Playing together since 1950, Houston had a 17-16 advantage over the Golden Hurricane. In their 2007 season meeting, new coach Todd Graham
Todd Graham
Todd Graham is the head football coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was previously the head coach at the University of Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma.-Playing career:...
led the Golden Hurricane to a 56-7 win over the Cougars. It was the Cougars' largest margin of defeat for the season. Tulsa went on to a 10-4 record in the previous season including a 63-7 GMAC Bowl
GMAC Bowl
The GoDaddy.com Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football bowl game that has been played annually at Ladd Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Alabama since 1999. It currently matches teams from the Sun Belt Conference and the Mid-American Conference, and...
game win against the Bowling Green Falcons
2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team
The 2007 Bowling Green Falcons football team represented Bowling Green State University in the 2007 NCAA football season. The team was coached by Gregg Brandon and played their home games in Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio. It was the 89th season of play for the Falcons. Bowling Green...
. The team held the record for scoring the largest margin in bowl game history. The win was considered an upset
Upset
An upset occurs in a competition, frequently in electoral politics or sports, when the party popularly expected to win , is defeated by an underdog whom the majority expects to lose, defying the conventional wisdom...
by the nation, as Tulsa was ranked as #24 in the Coaches' Poll and #25 in the AP Poll
AP Poll
The Associated Press College Poll refers to weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling sportswriters across the nation...
. This marked the second time that the Cougars had beaten a nationally ranked opponent in the season (the other being East Carolina); something Houston hadn't done since its 1984 season under College Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
coach Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman
Bill Yeoman is a former American football player and coach in the United States. Starting in 1962, he was the University of Houston's head coach, holding the position through 1986. In his tenure, he became the winningest coach in school history, with an overall record of 160–108–8...
.
After the win, the Cougars were again ranked as first in conference play as Tulsa (5-1) had beaten Rice (5-1), and Houston (5-1) had beaten Tulsa. This made Houston's other two regular season games on the schedule much more significant because if they won both games from this point, they would be allowed to compete in and host the Conference USA Football Championship
Conference USA Football Championship
The Conference USA Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of Conference USA. From 1996–2004, the champion of Conference USA was determined by regular season record...
.
UTEP
UTEP Miners football
The UTEP Miners football program is a college football team that represents the University of Texas at El Paso . With a history dating back to 1914, UTEP currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of Conference USA . UTEP currently plays their home games at the Sun Bowl...
had only met with the Cougars five times in history. As Conference USA foes, the Cougars held a 2-3 all-time record against the Miners, whereas both wins came consecutively during the 2006 and 2007 meetings of the teams. Mike Price
Mike Price
Mike Price is an American football coach. He is currently the head coach at the University of Texas at El Paso , a position he has held since 2004...
returned as the Miners' head coach this season. After a close game, where Houston lagged behind, the Cougars made a fourth quarter comeback to win the game.
Rice
In the 2008 Bayou BucketBayou Bucket
The Bayou Bucket Classic is an annual college football game between Conference USA rivals the Houston Cougars and the Rice Owls as a part of the Houston–Rice rivalry. The name of the game is a reference to one of Houston's popular nicknames as the Bayou City...
game, the Cougars will meet with Rice at Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium
Rice Stadium is a football stadium located on the Rice University campus in Houston, Texas. It has been the home of the Rice University football team since its completion in 1950 and hosted Super Bowl VIII in 1974....
as part of the Houston-Rice rivalry
Houston-Rice rivalry
The Houston–Rice rivalry is a crosstown college rivalry between the University of Houston and Rice University. The universities are located approximately five miles from each other in Houston's "Inner loop" area...
. It will be the 33rd meeting between the two teams, where Houston leads the series 24-9 and have won the last three meetings. During this season, the outcome of the game will have significant influence for the Conference USA West Division title. While Houston remains first in the division, a loss to Rice, and a win for Tulsa
2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team
The 2008 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team represented the University of Tulsa in the college football season of 2008–2009. The team's head coach was Todd Graham, in his second year at Tulsa. They played home games at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium in Tulsa, Oklahoma and competed in the...
(9-2) against Marshall
Marshall Thundering Herd football
The Marshall Thundering Herd football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports program of Marshall University. The team represents the university as a member of the Conference USA Eastern division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, playing at the Division 1 Bowl Subdivision...
(4-7) would mean Tulsa, not Houston would be headed to compete against the East Division champion East Carolina
2008 East Carolina Pirates football team
The 2008 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the college football season of 2008-09. and plays their home games in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium...
in the Conference USA Football Championship
Conference USA Football Championship
The Conference USA Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of Conference USA. From 1996–2004, the champion of Conference USA was determined by regular season record...
. If Rice wins its game against the Cougars, and Marshall wins its game against the Golden Hurricane, then Rice would be the West Division champion. The game was picked up by CBS College Sports after Houston's 70-30 blowout victory against Tulsa.
Armed Forces Bowl
Bowl eligible
Bowl eligibility in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision College Football is the standard through which teams become available for selection to participate in postseason bowl games. When a team achieves this state, it is described as "bowl-eligible"...
. On December 7, 2008, the Houston Cougars announced that they had been selected to play in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl
2008 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2008 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl was the sixth edition of the annual post-season college football bowl game, and featured the Houston Cougars against the Air Force Falcons on December 31, 2008 at Amon G. Carter Stadium on the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas and...
game against Air Force
2008 Air Force Falcons football team
The 2008 Air Force Falcons football team represented the United States Air Force Academy in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Air Force competed as a member of the Mountain West Conference .The team was led by...
in Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Fort Worth is the 16th-largest city in the United States of America and the fifth-largest city in the state of Texas. Located in North Central Texas, just southeast of the Texas Panhandle, the city is a cultural gateway into the American West and covers nearly in Tarrant, Parker, Denton, and...
. This marked the Cougars' fourth consecutive bowl game invitation, and the fifth in six years. The game was a rematch, as the Falcons and the Cougars faced off earlier during the regular season, where the Cougars were defeated. This was the second time in history the Cougars had played a bowl game in Fort Worth; in 2005 the team appeared in the Fort Worth Bowl.
The Cougars defeated the Falcons to win their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. The score was 34-28. The game was televised on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.