Kevin Sumlin

New Cougar Head Coach: Kevin Sumlin

John Royal’s College Football Preview

Houston: Cradle Of Black Coaches

College football is getting a lot of well-deserved heat for its lack of minority head coaches at its highest level, the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division 1-A).Of the 119 coaches at FBS programs, only six are black. And that's in a sport where, safe to say, there are plenty of black player ... More >>

At Least One Football Team In Town Is Supposed To Be Good This Year (Hint: They Don't Get Paid)

​Most of Houston's football focus is going to the Houston Texans, who are once again striving to produce an actual winning season. But there are several other football teams in Houston, and today, one of those teams officially reports for preseason camp.The team in question is the Houston Cougars, ... More >>

Cougars' Run For The Title Begins Saturday

Photo courtesy UH​The start of meaningful football games is finally here, and Saturday night at 6 p.m., the Houston Cougars start their quest to win the Conference USA Title when they take on the Northwestern State Demons of the Southland Conference at Robertson Stadium. The Cougars are starting t ... More >>

Easy Win Over, Now UH Gets Ready For A Top-Ten Team

Photo courtesy UH​The Houston Cougars came out and dominated the Northwestern State Demons last Saturday, scoring on their first five possessions on the way to a 55-7 win. But this week's contest is going to be a bit tougher as the Cougars are traveling to Stillwater to take on the fifth-ranked ... More >>

Coogs Try To Forget About Their Biggest Win In Years

Photo courtesy UH​"Everything just slowed down. It was in slow motion," Houston Cougar running back Bryce Beall told Hair Balls yesterday. "I just told myself, whatever you do, do not drop this ball. When it got in there I just made sure I grabbed it and held on tight and took it to the ground. ... More >>

UH vs. Texas Tech

A promising UH football team looks to repel the Red Raiders

Cougars Better Not Be Looking Past SMU, Sumlin Says

Photo courtesy UH​"We've got our work cut out for us," Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin said yesterday about the team's game with the SMU Mustangs this weekend. And though that's pretty much coaching cliché number one, Sumlin is hinting at the actual truth this time out.The Mustangs, ... More >>

Coogs Grind Out A Relatively Unimpressive Win

Photo courtesy UH​"I still don't think we've played our best football yet," Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin said Saturday night. "To be 6-1,and as a coach, to think that you haven't played your best football yet is pretty encouraging."Sumlin's statements came not long after Houston's 38-1 ... More >>

Coogs Hope To Keep Grabbing Those Turnovers

Photo courtesy UH​"As a team, I still don't think we've played our best game," Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin stated at yesterday's media luncheon. "It's still out there for us. I think we can be better."The Cougars are 6-1 on the season, and if the team's best game is still out there wai ... More >>

Coogs Pull Off a Last-Minute Win, Thanks to Fendi Onobun

Photo by Fred Trask​Case Keenum delivered his standard Heisman-worthy performance. Charles Sims continued his fantastic freshman season. James Cleveland and Patrick Edwards caught key touchdown passes. But the Houston Cougars 50-43 last minute win over the Southern Miss Golden Eagles can, p ... More >>

Title Dreams Are Likely Gone, But Coogs Try To Regroup

Photo courtesy UH​Nobody needs to tell the Houston Cougars that they messed up last Saturday. They're well aware of that fact on their own.But they're now trying to forget about what happened last week while they attempt to do the most important thing in the world: concentrate on Saturday's gam ... More >>

Coogs Roll Easily, Still Have Title Shot

Photo courtesy UH​According to Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin, his team has yet to play a perfect game. Saturday, the Cougars defeated the Memphis Tigers 55-14 in what was easily their most dominating performance of the season.So, coach, was this game perfect?"Now looking at it, it ... More >>

Sports Things To Be Thankful For, And Not Thankful For

​It's that time of year when we start to look back at the events that have happened. And since it's Thanksgiving, I thought I would give a list of sports things for which I'm thankful, as well as listing a few of the turkeys of the year. So...1. I'm thankful for the MLB Network. The network and it ... More >>

Coogs Roll Over Rice And Get Ready For The C-USA Title Game

Photo courtesy UH​The Cougars had only one option on Saturday night. To advance to the C-USA title game, the Cougars had to defeat Rice. In 2008, the Cougars also had only option to take in order to advance to advance to the title game:  beat Rice. The Cougars went on to suffer an embar ... More >>

Coogs' Shot At A C-USA Title On The Line In Front Of A National Audience, Hostile Crowd

Photo courtesy UH​Tomorrow is the day the Cougars have pointed toward since they won the Armed Forces Bowl back on New Year's Eve 2008. Tomorrow is the Conference USA Title Game, and all this season, the Cougar coaches and players have talked of playing in this game and winning the conference.And ... More >>

In Praise Of The Cougars And Kevin Sumlin

​There have been a lot of rumors circulating about Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin. Mostly rumors about him leaving the Cougars to take over as head coach of another, more high-profile college football team. But according to Steve Campbell at the Houston Chronicle, Sumlin is close to signi ... More >>

UH Steps Up With Sumlin Contract Extension; Will The Fans Do Their Part?

Photo courtesy UH​Let's hear it for UH Athletic Director Mack Rhoades. He got one of the nation's hottest coaches, Kevin Sumlin, to put his signature to a new six-year contract which is a rather a good deal for the Sumlin and the Cougars. The deal is for six years and $6.8 million with another ... More >>

Cougar Football Opens With High Hopes For The...Defense?

Case Keenum, your Heisman Trophy is waiting​The Houston Cougars got their 2010 football season underway on Friday, meeting for photos and their first practice while the team held its annual media day. \ Despite a successful 2009 season, the Cougars come into this season wanting to forget las ... More >>

Case Keenum: On Every Award's Watch List

And the Heisman Trophy goes to......​Back during the Cougars media day, head coach Kevin Sumlin was asked about what type of improvement would be seen from quarterback Case Keenum this season. It's kind of trick question because, frankly, if one looks at the UH record book, there's really not much ... More >>

UH Looking For Lots Of Crowd Noise For Tonight's ESPN Game

Bring the noise to Robertson Stadium for ESPN​Strange as it may seem, if things had gone a bit differently in the college career of Drew Bledsoe, Kevin Sumlin might not have ended up in Houston. But strange as it may seem, that's the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.Sumlin's first ... More >>

Coogs Win...With A Running Game?

Bryce Beall ran wild​Football is a game of adjustments. The team that makes the proper adjustments at the right time is usually going to be the team that wins when things are otherwise more or less equal. So it was obvious when, come the start of Friday's Houston/UTEP game, UTEP drove the field ... More >>

UH Seems A Little Testy With The Reporting On Case Keenum

Case Keenum: Info is on a need-to-know basis​UH's Heisman trophy candidate, quarterback Case Keenum, suffered an injury in Friday night's victory against UTEP.What kind of injury? How bad? When will he be back? UH doesn't seem to want you to know.The Houston Chronicle's Cougar beat writer, Steve C ... More >>

UH Tries To Avoid Its History

Deja vu all over again​A long time ago, in a football universe far, far away, the Houston Cougars were a dominant offensive force. Their run-and-shoot offense was putting up huge numbers on college teams nationwide. The team was regularly ranked in the Top 20, and though they had been on a probati ... More >>

UH Takes On Tulane With Some Very Untested QBs

The Green Wave is not expected to bring much storm surge​The Houston Cougars might have lost 31-13 to the UCLA Bruins last week. And they might have lost quarterbacks Case Keenum and Cotton Turner for the season. But as they prepare for Saturday afternoon's home contest versus the Tulane Green Wav ... More >>

UH-Tulane: Beall Overwhelms Waves

Photo by John Royal What if they played a football game and nobody cared?​Early last week, Houston Cougars junior running back Bryce Beall said that it was up to him and the other playmakers to step up in the absence of injured QB Case Keenum and to ease the burden on freshman quarterback ... More >>

The Houston Cougars In Search Of A Back-Up Plan

Nope, not the J-Lo kind of Back-Up Plan​The Houston Cougars are on their bye week. For most teams, this would be a chance to get some rest. To heal some injuries. To relax. To start focusing on the rest of the season. Houston Cougars head coach Kevin Sumlin isn't thinking this way, and his ... More >>

The Coogs Prep For The SEC's Mississippi State Bulldogs

​The Houston Cougars (3-1) won't be changing their offensive identity to suit whoever starts at quarterback this weekend. They are the team they were at game one. Or so said head coach Kevin Sumlin earlier this week. Never mind that a freshman will be starting the game. Never mind that the C ... More >>

Cougars Go The Wile E. Coyote Route

Nope, Wile's not the new UH quarterback​Watching the Houston Cougars lose 47-24 to the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday night was a bit like watching a Wile E. Coyote cartoon. Things got off to a great start as the Cougars got the kick and drove 64 yards in eight plays behind the pinpo ... More >>

Cougars Want To Get Physical, Physical

The Cougars aim to get physical against Rice​Here's the thing about that Houston Cougars loss to Mississippi State last week. The defense was often in the right place, at the right time, to be able to make the play.They just didn't make the plays. They whiffed on tackles. They got blocked at ... More >>

Cougars Seeking To Fill A Void Against SMU

​Heading into tomorrow's game with the 4-3 SMU Mustangs, it needs to be pointed out that the 3-3 Houston Cougars have some issues that need to be addressed. Real issues like the leadership void on the field since Case Keenum's season-ending injury. And a defense that has problem making tackles ... More >>

Coogs: And The Running Game Shall Save Them

Photo by Stephen Pinchback, UH Athletics CommunicationsBryce Beall needs to deliver​Everybody knows how the Houston Cougar offense works. Pass on first down. Pass on second down. Pass on third down. Keep passing until you score or you have to punt. Yes, that's how the Cougars spread offense works, ... More >>

Houston Cougars: Still Knocking On The Bowl-Game Door

Forget Heaven, the Cougars would be happy with a bowl game​The much-maligned Houston Cougar defense held the high-octane offense of the Tulsa Golden Hurricane to only 28 points on Saturday night. But that wasn't enough because the high-octane Houston Cougar offense misfired throughout the ga ... More >>

Cougar Football Is All Over Now

The Cougar season is all over now​The Houston Cougars spoke about the importance of having a good game on Saturday. Not only would a victory over Texas Tech guarantee a bowl game for the Coogs, but it would allow the seniors to go out on a high note.So of course, in a season that has turned ... More >>

Case Keenum and the Favre Rules: Notes from UH Media Day

The Cougars would like Case Keenum to be a bit more like Brett Favre this season.​It's safe to say that the 2010 football season didn't pan out the way the Houston Cougars imagined it would. That team, to be paced by senior QB Case Keenum, was poised to take UH football to the next level with ... More >>

Rice Seeks Win Number One Tomorrow While UH Aims for 2-0

Purdue storms into Rice Stadium tomorrow.​Welcome to week two of the college football season. The Cougars go on the road to North Texas for what should be a sure win while the Owls host Purdue in an attempt for win number one. And if there's ever a week where the Owls are going to defeat a p ... More >>

Cougars Looking to Cage the Bulldogs

The UH coaching staff hopes the team shows up for the complete game against Louisiana Tech.​The Houston Cougars don't want to start off another game like they did last week. A start where the opposition, a clearly lesser school, jumps off to a lead. A start that finds the team struggling to ... More >>

Cougars Pull Off the Huge Comeback Against Louisiana Tech, But Problems Linger

Also known as the story of the Houston Cougars.​The Houston Cougars got the 35-34 win over the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs on Saturday night. They had to come from behind to do so, battling back from a 20-point third quarter deficit and scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter. And despite failin ... More >>

This Weekend in College Football: The Coogs Should Get the Easy Win While The Owls Look to Lose Again

The Pink Panther would probably provide tougher competition to UH than the Georgia State Panthers will​While the Rice Owls (1-1) struggle with the Baylor Bears this weekend, the Houston Cougars (3-0) will be struggling with themselves. It might seem that the Owls have the harder struggle, wha ... More >>

Coogs Should Beat SMU; Rice Should Top Tulane

Hey kids, College GameDay is coming to town​The season has come to this. Two weeks for the Houston Cougars to continue with perfection and reach a goal set this summer. Two weeks for the Rice Owls to gain some redemption for a season gone very wrong. The Cougars acknowledged their possible ... More >>

Kevin Sumlin Has Been Contacted By Arizona State, No Wait He Hasn't...

Kevin Sumlin is a popular man​The internet is awesome. Only on Twitter can you get a reporter (in this case, Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic) to definitively state that University of Houston coach Kevin Sumlin has been offered the Arizona State head coaching job, and then have literally ... More >>

Coogs Versus Southern Miss for All the Marbles

One more win and the Coogs are BCS-bound.​The distractions are there for the 12-0 Houston Cougars, the number six team in the BCS standings. Distractions like which BCS bowl game they're playing. Distractions like which team they're playing in that BCS bowl -- current projections being Michi ... More >>

Five Reasons Kevin Sumlin Should Not Go To A&M

Sumlin comin'​Even as Cougar fans are trying to enjoy their first BCS run, eagerly anticipating a CUSA title tomorrow, they are worried. Texas A&M has fired coach Mike Sherman, and rumors are rampant that the Aggies will go after Sumlin as their next man. You really can't blame Sumlin for mo ... More >>

Turn Out the Lights, the Party's Over, the Coogs' BCS Dreams Are No More

Dandy Don was singing in the third quarter.​It's easy to blame the dual distractions of the BCS and Kevin Sumlin's future when trying to explain the Houston Cougars' (12-1) 49-28 loss to the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (11-2) in the C-USA Title Game on Saturday. It's easy, but it's wrong. It ... More >>

Watch Out Big East, Here Come the Cougars

The Cougars are going to have a new home starting in 2013.​The expansion of the Big East has been a long-expected announcement, especially seeing as how several members of the conference are on the verge of departure. And one of the long-rumored names of this expansion has been the University ... More >>

The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: The Year Just Past In Cougar Sports

John RoyalCase Keenum was the Man of the Year for the Cougars​Yes, it's that time of year. That time of year when I take a look back at the year just past. On Friday, I looked back at the sports year for the Rice Owls. Today, let's take a look at the top 25 events, in no particular order, f ... More >>

Top 10 Sports Moments of 2011

More rings than LeBron James and Chris Bosh combined. ​Think about it: Eliminate the Astros and Houston had a year worthy of holding down multiple spots on this list that encompasses athletic accomplishments both inside and outside of the best U.S. state. 10. The Rise of the Houston Dynamo Th ... More >>

6 College Football Coaching Changes: From Shadiest to Slimiest

UH's departed skipper makes the cut​From status-seeking coaches to wheeling-and-dealing athletic directors, the post-season shake-up of college football head coaches has been a bit curious. The top (lowest?) six moves are ranked here on a scale of shady to slimy ("mildly shady" being a 1 whi ... More >>

Cougars and Lions and Cats and Aggies: Oh My, It's Time For A Little Bowl Action

​There's probably nobody happier to see this college football season come to an end than the players for the Penn State Nittany Lions (9-3), unless, of course, it's the players for the Texas A&M Aggies (6-6). Then again, with the way their hopes and dreams came crashing down to the ground at ... More >>