the daily cougar: overtime

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011

Picking CottonBehind UH’s great quarterback is

another great quarterback // 4

Perfect gameHigh octane offense keeps the ball

safe, in the right hands // 5

THE DAILY COUGAR SPORTS MAGAZINE

2 ■ Saturday, October 22, 2011 The Daily Cougar

THE DAILY COUGAR SPORTS MAGAZINE

section editorsJohn BrannenJoshua Siegel

copy editorsJack Wehman

cover photoBrianna Leigh Morrisonlogo designLana Flores

page designBen Muths

ABOUTOvertime is produced by The Daily Cougar, the o� cial student newspaper of the University of Houston. It publishes for every home foot-ball game. No part of the publication in print or online may be reproduced without the written consent of the director of the Student Publications Department.

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Homecoming has special feel

John BrannenMost of the current students

at UH were not even teenagers when the Southwest Conference crumbled in 1994.

Many are not aware that UH has been fighting for the chance to prove itself nationally again for more than 15 years.

The Cougars lost the luster of competing in a respected athletic conference, but life in Conference USA has not been a cakewalk either.

In 2001, under the direction of head coach Dana Dimel, the Cougars suffered a winless sea-son going 0-11.

After five years of progression, the Cougars won a C-USA cham-pionship in 2006 with Kevin Kolb at quarterback and Art Briles as the coach. One extreme to the other.

There is still unrest in confer-ence realignment, but it appears UH found some stability. Unlike

another Texas school, UH did not have to court another conference to receive an offer.

It has taken multiple athletic directors, years of recruits and a variety of head coaches, but it appears UH will be able to compete for higher stakes.

If the Cougars win their conference this year, nothing is guaranteed as far as BCS bowls go. Those days will be finished as a Big East member.

“I feel a lot of the same pride that everybody in Houston and at the University should feel,” quarterback Case Keenum said.

“We’ve been part of some-thing that’s been pretty great for the past few years. There’s been a lot of excitement, but there’s more to come.”

Lucrative television deals and building and renovating venues are important parts, but success in sports does more than that. The accessibility of a conference like the Big East will expose the University to prospective stu-dents across the country.

For example, today’s game is on Comcast Sports Southwest. If viewers do not subscribe to Comcast, then they will either be stuck clicking refresh on a phone

or computer, listening to a radio broadcast or having to watch it elsewhere.

Those nuisances could be on the verge of ending.

There will still be gripes and inconveniences.

Some loyal fans may not be able to make the trips for match-ups on the road.

The Big East also has to prove it will be strong enough to get a new BCS contract once the original expires in 2014.

It is entirely plausible that the Cougars can immediately com-pete in the Big East in all sports. But until at least 2013, UH is a member of C-USA.

Big East competition is pos-sibly in the not-so distant future, but UH making itself more attractive now would solidify the Big East’s decision.

If the Cougars are beating Marshall comfortably, there is a chance chants of “Big East” are belted out throughout Robertson Stadium.

Nothing is for certain at this point in conference realignment or on the field.

But there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic instead of the alternative.

THE COIN TOSS

FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

@UNTW: 48-23

@UAB 6:00 p.m. November 5

@Tulane 6:00 p.m. November 10

@Tulsa 11:00 a.m. November 25

@Louisiana TechW: 35-34

UCLAW: 38-34

SMUTBA November 19

ECUW: 56-3

Rice7:00 p.m. October 27

Georgia StateW: 56 - 0

@UTEPW: 49-42

Marshall3:30 p.m. October 22 Robertson Stadium

...you may not be 6 anymore or

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“On the Corner of Calhoun and Wheeler”To schedule a comprehensive eye examination, please call 713.743.2020 or visit www.uei.uh.eduOpen to the public, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Free patient parking accessible from Wheeler St.

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WWW.LAS.UH.EDU/LSSSchedules for specific course tutoring hours

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The Daily Cougar Saturday, October 22, 2011 ■ 3

Cornerback Zach McMillian and o� ensive tackle Rowdy Harper were used as models of the Cougars’ homecoming uniforms. | Joshua Siegel/The Daily Cougar

UH wears throwback uniforms to pay tributeCougar Sports Services

“It’s really the fi rst time we’ve done this since I’ve been here,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “This represents a little bit more than just a uniform. You look back at this helmet, at the tradition — it’s a way that can excite our fans on a homecoming weekend. As a football team, it’s a way to pay tribute to an era. It was an era of success, a time where winning was expected. That’s

what happened, and coach Yeoman did a great job.

“It’s really an honor to put on the throwback uniform this weekend; it also happens to be a time where we’re back in those conversa-tions nationally. Hopefully this is something our fans can feed off of, I think our players are feeding off of. It’s exciting for me to run out there Saturday, particularly on homecom-ing with a lot of people coming back to see the new things at the University.”

www.thedailycougar.comStay in touch.

...you may not be 6 anymore or

see 20/20.

This is why you should

trust theeye care

professionals at the

University Eye Institute

for all your eye care needs.

“On the Corner of Calhoun and Wheeler”To schedule a comprehensive eye examination, please call 713.743.2020 or visit www.uei.uh.eduOpen to the public, Monday - Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Free patient parking accessible from Wheeler St.

ROOM N 109 COUGAR VILLAGE

AccountingBiology

ChemistryComputer Science

EconomicsEngineering

EnglishForeign Language

FinanceMathematics

PhysicsStatistics

Monday - Thursday9 am – 8 pmFriday9 am – 3 pmSaturday - Sunday1 pm – 4 pm

Monday - Tuesday10 am – 7 pmWednesday-Thursday10 am – 6 pmFriday10 am – 3 pm

FALL/SPRING SUMMER

www.las.uh.edu

HOURS

COURSES

LEARNING STRATEGIESWorkshops:

Time Management Test AnxietyOver Procrastination And many more...

Counseling:Individual assessments and individual

instructions in learning strategies

WWW.LAS.UH.EDU/LSSSchedules for specific course tutoring hours

www.survey.uh.eduStudent Satisfaction Survey

NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) for selected Freshmen and Seniors

www.eval.uh.eduComplete Course Evaluation online for selected courses.

SURVIVE MIDTERMS?

GET FREE TUTORING ON CAMPUS.

Follow President Khator: Twitter.com/UHPres www.uh.edu/president


Cotton Turner has been e� cient on the � eld, completing 67 percent of his passing attempts. Turner has scored one passing and one rushing touchdown. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar

PROFILE

Turner’s duties go beyond fieldJoshua SiegelTHE DAILY COUGAR

The Cougars’ wild 49-42 win over UTEP was an exhausting game that came down to the final drive.

When the Cougars arrived back on campus in the wee hours of the morning following bus and plane trips, most players looked forward to sleeping in and recu-perating from the shootout.

Senior quarterback Cotton Turner’s day was just beginning.

“I took the LSAT on Oct. 1,” Turner said.

“It was kind of crazy.“We get back at 4 in the

TURNER continues on page 9

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Senior receiver E.J. Smith and the Cougars lead the NCAA in total o� ense and passing yardage. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar

Mistakes minimal for UH’s hurry-up o� ense John BrannenTHE DAILY COUGAR

The Cougars’ body language suggests a team that is sure of itself, but not overtly arrogant.

The offense is productive enough that UH is a threat to win each game it plays. Having that security has rightfully given the No. 20/21 Cougars a sense of pride, while still having a hunger for greater success.

“We’ve all got confidence,” senior quarterback Case Keenum said. “I feel like I’ve had the best mindset going into each game than I’ve had since I’ve ever played.

“We’re just having fun out there — it’s a lot of fun there, and we need to keep doing that.”

If UH wants to keep the good times rolling on the field, they need to look no further than the first six wins for instruction.

The Cougars have been stingy on offense — as in, they have not been generous to opposing defenses.

Giveaways hard to come by for opposition

Keenum threw two intercep-tions that added some extra drama to a 35-34 win against Louisiana Tech.

Backup quarterback Cotton Turner threw a meaningless interception in garbage time against North Texas.

The Cougars have fumbled the ball eight times, and lost it on five occasions — but some of those are the fault of special teams.

Coughing up the ball is never convenient for an offense, but it could be worse.

UH has showed discipline, and has not had outstanding problems with penalties either.

The key to error-free football has many prongs to it.

“That’s a lot of things,” Keenum said.

In the Cougars’ 56-3 win against East Carolina, Keenum would sail the ball over defend-ers and it would hang for what seemed like a minute.

But every time Patrick Edwards or another Cougar receiver would snatch it out of the air before it reached the palms of a defender.

“Making good decisions, receivers making plays,” Keenum said.

“That’s one thing we always stress, that when the ball is in the air, the receivers think it’s their ball.

“They know it’s their ball — if they catch it or not, the other team is not going to get to it. They do a great job of that.”

The offensive line, better known as the Brick Squad, has (for the most part) kept Keenum out of danger. He has been sacked a total of eight times for a loss of 73 yards.

“The offensive line does a good job of keeping me out of pressure situations that force bad decisions,” Keenum said.

“That’s been one of our goals to eliminate turnovers as much as possible.”

Room to growThough the UH may average

a staggering 47 points per game, Keenum said improvement is still necessary.

“I don’t know if we’ve played as well as we could have yet,” Keenum said. “I think that’s encouraging. We’ve still got foot-ball in front of us, and we still haven’t played our best football yet.

“You can go through any of the films and there’s times where we get stopped, and quite a few times where we stop ourselves, whether it’s mental mistakes, penalties or bad checks or my part. Whatever it is, I think that’s the things we can work on. I still think we can get even better as we go along.”

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STARTINGLINEUP Seniors circled in red.STARTINGLINEUP

DEFENSE

OFFENSE

59 King (RE)

76 Ashworth (LT)

83 Edwards (WR) 35 Carrier (WR)

64 Cloud (LG)

3 Johnson (WR) 88 Smith (WR)

70 Thompson (C)

7 Keenum (QB)

25 Beall (RB)

63 Forsch (RG) 74 Harper (RT)

99 Miller (NT) 95 Hunter (LE)

54 Mathews (LB)55 McGraw (LB)

42 Steward (LB)8 Brown (LB)

12 Bennett (FS) 20 Valencia (SS)

2 Hayden (CB)10 McMillian (CB)

TEAM LEADERSPassing

Rushing

Player Comp Att Yds TD Int Rtg

Keenum 170 238 2,309 17 2 174.8

Turner 29 43 286 1 1 126.3

Player Rush Yds YPC TD Lg Yds/G

Hayes 61 364 6.2 6 71 60.7

Beall 50 286 5.8 6 23 47.7

Sims 37 255 6.1 5 40 51.0

Welford 9 38 4.2 1 9 6.3

Player Rec. Yds YPC TD Lg. Yds/G

Carrier 39 456 11.7 2 54 76.0

Edwards 37 642 17.4 5 58 107.0

Johnson, J. 28 408 14.6 4 55 68.0

Hayes 22 223 10.1 2 54 37.2

Smith, E.J. 21 252 12.0 1 52 42.0

Sims 12 179 14.9 1 84 35.8

Peace 8 76 9.5 0 26 19.0

Spencer 7 90 12.9 0 20 18.0

Williams, R. 6 57 9.5 1 22 9.5

Player TOT TFL. Sacks

McGraw 55 5.0 2.5

Mathews 45 5.5 1.0

Brown 44 14.0 5.5

Steward 30 5.5 1.5

Valencia 29 1.0 —

McMillian 27 — —

Brooks 26 0.5 —

Daniels 21 2.5 —

Hunter 19 4.0 0.5

Player Int PD BU

Bates 3 4 7

Steward 2 2 4

Mathews 1 1 2

McGraw 1 2 3

Hayden 1 3 4

Player Ret Yds Lg.

Hogan 5/6 35 29/29

Receiving Tackles

Kicking

Pass Defense


THEBIGBOARD // College football at a glance

COUGARFLASHBACK

1950 Houstonian Yearbook

HOUSTON 27, HARDIN-SIMMONS 27Cougars, Cowboys play to deadlock

This day in UH history was so long ago that fi nishing a game with a tie was still allowed.

In 1949, the Cougars battled the Hardin-Simmons Cowboys to a 27-27 tie. UH was led by 284 rushing yards and six touchdowns that were all scored in the running game.

Gene Shannon, Max Clark, Bill Bidwell and Carl Mittag were among the players who scored touchdowns. The defensive stand-outs were Bill Butler, Bill Moeller and Buck Miller.

Under head coach Clyde Lee, the Cougars would fi nish their 1949 campaign with a record of 4-5-1.

— Cougar Sports Staff

AP TOP 25RK TEAM RECORD PTS

1 LSU (41) 7-0 1452

2 Alabama (11) 7-0 1411

3 Oklahoma (6) 6-0 1372

4 Wisconsin 6-0 1252

5 Boise State (1) 6-0 1218

6 Oklahoma state 6-0 1186

7 Stanford 6-0 1164

8 Clemson 7-0 1064

9 Oregon 5-1 1020

10 Arkansas 5-1 946

11 West Virginia 5-1 778

12 Kansas State 6-0 762

13 Nebraska 5-1 748

14 South Carolina 6-1 690

15 Michigan State 5-1 610

16 Virginia Tech 6-1 597

17 Texas A&M 4-2 467

18 Michigan 6-1 442

19 Auburn 5-2 374

20 Georgia Tech 6-1 281

21 Houston 6-0 238

22 Washington 5-1 221

23 Illinois 6-1 207

24 Arizona State 5-2 144

25 Georgia 5-2 144

Others receiving votes: Penn State 130, Notre Dame 107, Southern California 87, Baylor 19, SMU 19, Texas 12, Cincinnati 4, Southern Mississippi 4, Wake Forest 3, Rutgers 2

TV GUIDESATURDAY, OCT. 22 NETWORK TIME (CT)Oklahoma State at Missouri FX 11 a.m.

North Carolina at Clemson ESPN 11 a.m.

Illinois at Purdue ESPN2 11 a.m.

Cincinnati at South Florida ESPN3.com 11 a.m.

Jacksonville State at Kentucky ESPNU 11 a.m.

Northern Illinois at Bu� alo ESPN3.com 11 a.m.

Indiana at Iowa BTN 11 a.m.

Arkansas at Ole Miss ESPN3.com 11:21 a.m.

Boston College at Virginia Tech ESPN3.com 2 p.m.

Louisiana Tech at Utah State ESPN3.com 2 p.m.

Auburn at LSU CBS 2:30 p.m.

Air Force at Boise State Versus 2:30 p.m.

Nebraska at Minnesota ABC/ESPN2 2:30 p.m.

Texas A&M at Iowa State ABC 2:30 p.m.

Georgia Tech at Miami (Fla.) ESPN 2:30 p.m.

Maryland at Florida State ABC/ESPN2 2:30 p.m.

Temple at Bowling Green ESPN3.com 2:30 p.m.

North Carolina State at Virginia ESPNU 2:30 p.m.

Ohio at Akron ESPN3.com 2:30 p.m.

Fresno State at Nevada ESPN3.com 3:05 p.m.

Penn State at Northwestern BTN 6 p.m.

Army at Vanderbilt ESPNU 6 p.m.

Miami (Ohio) at Toledo ESPN3.com 6 p.m.

Tennessee at Alabama ESPN2 6:15 p.m.

USC at Notre Dame NBC 6:30 p.m.

Texas Tech at Oklahoma ABC 7 p.m.

Wisconsin at Michigan State ESPN 7 p.m.

Washington at Stanford ESPN 7 p.m.

Middle Tennessee at Florida Atlantic ESPN3.com 7 p.m.

New Mexico at Hawaii ESPN3.com 11 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 27 NETWORK TIME (CT)Rice at Houston Fox Sports Network 7 p.m.

Virginia at Miami (Fla.) ESPN 7 p.m.

N. Alabama at W. Alabama ESPN3.com 7 p.m.

Augustana at Minn. State Mankato CBS Sports 7 p.m.

C-USA SCHEDULESATURDAY NETWORK TIMEMemphis at Tulane Fox College Sports 2:30 p.m. CT

East Carolina at Navy CBS Sports 2:30 p.m. CT

Marshall at Houston CSS 3:30 p.m. CT

Tulsa at Rice FSN 6:00 p.m. CT

SMU at Southern Miss. CBS Sports 7:00 p.m. CT

Colorado State at UTEP N/A 6:00 p.m. CT

EAST W L W L

Marshall 3 4 2 1

East Carolina 2 4 2 1

Southern Miss. 5 1 1 1

UCF 3 3 1 1

Memphis 1 6 0 3

UAB 0 6 0 3

WEST W L W L

SMU 5 1 3 0

Houston 6 0 2 0

Tulsa 3 3 2 0

UTEP 3 3 1 2

Rice 2 4 1 2

Tulane 2 5 1 2

C-USA STANDINGS

YOUR AD COULD HAVE BEEN HERE SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT FOR COUGAR FOOTBALL. Don’t miss the next opportunity. Call 713-743-5340 to � nd out more. THE DAILY COUGAR®

SAY WHAT?

“I’m glad that it’s � nally come to fruition, that we’ve actually seen our hard work formulate. Basically, we just want to continue what’s been going on and depend on each other. We feel like we played as a team — as one complete unit.

— Sophomore cornerback Zach McMillian on the Cougars’ dominating 56-3 performance


HEISMANRADARJOHN’S PICKS

DARKHORSE DARKHORSE

JOSH’S PICKS

COURTESY OF UH ATHLETICS

1AndrewLuck

C/A YDS TD/INT129/181 1,719 18/3

Rating YPA Comp %180.5 9.5 71.3

QUARTERBACK | STANFORD (6-0, 4-0)

1

2 2KellenMoore

RussellWilson

C/A YDS TD/INT151/191 1,729 21/4

C/A YDS TD/INT95/128 1,557 14/1


ATT YDS TD24 182 2

QUARTERBACK | BOISE ST (6-0, 1-0) QUARTERBACK | WISCONSIN (6-0, 2-0)

3TrentRichardson

ATT YDS TD132 912 15

REC YDS TD15 179 0

RUNNING BACK | ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0)

3AndrewLuck

4 4BrandonWeeden

C/A YDS TD/INT189/260 2,098 16/8


QUARTERBACK | OKLAHOMA ST (6-0, 3-0)

5CaseKeenum

C/A YDS TD/INT170/238 2,309 17/2


QUARTERBACK | HOUSTON (6-0, 2-0)

5

DRobertGriffin III

C/A YDS TD/INT142/182 1,950 22/2

ATT YDS TD72 295 2

QUARTERBACK | BAYLOR (4-2, 1-2)

DSammyWatkins

REC YDS TD46 728 8

ATT YDS TD20 127 0

RECEIVER | CLEMSON (7-0, 4-0)

SIMON WARBY | THE STANFORD

DAILY

COURTESY OF UH ATHLETICSCOURTESY OF UH ATHLETICS

C/A YDS TD/INT129/181 1,719 18/3


QUARTERBACK | STANFORD (6-0, 4-0)

KellenMoore

CaseKeenum

C/A YDS TD/INT151/191 1,729 21/4


QUARTERBACK | BOISE ST (6-0, 1-0)

TrentRichardson

ATT YDS TD132 912 15

REC YDS TD15 179 0

RUNNING BACK | ALABAMA (7-0, 4-0)

C/A YDS TD/INT170/238 2,309 17/2


QUARTERBACK | HOUSTON (6-0, 2-0)

KENT GIDLEY | ALABAMA ATHELTICS

BOISE STATE SPORTS INFORMATION


morning on Friday. I get up here at 9 a.m. and start cramming, which apparently you’re not sup-posed to do. I had about a month to study for it, and I’m taking 12 hours. It was pretty hectic.”

Turner had never considered law as a profession before last year. After suffering a season-ending fractured collarbone against UCLA, he was put in an unfamiliar situation.

“Last fall, when I was injured and wasn’t playing, it was the first time since fifth grade that I wasn’t playing football,” Turner said. “So I had a lot of time to think. It was the first time think-ing about life without football.

“I had a lot of time to think about academics and what I wanted to do. I looked into law school, and my grandpa was a lawyer. I talked to him, and it got the ball rolling to where I got pretty interested in it. I made the final decision in the summertime that that’s what I wanted to pursue.”

Being able to make a differ-ence in people’s lives is another draw for Turner.

“I like helping,” Turner said. “I like the underdog story. I want to stick up for the little guys because I was a walk-on.

“I just like the idea of being able to help people because people get in trouble or need someone to stand up for them. I just think having that law degree, you have the power to really do something for them. I’m really interested in that.”

When he isn’t on the field for the Cougars or in the classroom, Turner also doubles as a father to his three-year-old daughter, Kennedy.

“It’s really rewarding,” Turner said. “It was difficult to balance football, school and being a dad, but I mean I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“She is my world, and she loves going to the games that she can stay up for. Fatherhood is the most rewarding thing. You

don’t ever think about it until it happens.”

Before walking on with the Cougars and playing at Blinn Junior College, Turner starred at Dulles High School, earning 23-5A District Player of the Year as a junior.

In the summer entering his senior season, Turner noticed a small, skinny kid holding his own with the Vikings varsity receiv-ers — current UH starting corner back Zach McMillian.

“He’d be out there competing with them before he was on var-sity or anything, before he was even in high school,” Turner said. “He would be holding his own — like man, this kid can play. Then it made me feel pretty old when he came here last summer, and I saw him now trying to cover Patrick Edwards. He was a hard worker then and he’s obviously a hard worker now.”

Having fully recovered from last season’s injury, Turner has completed 67 percent of his passes for 286 yards and a touch-down in three appearances.

Being the backup quarter-back, Turner’s playing time is sporadic, but he must always be ready.

“It’s the old cliche, ‘You always have to prepare like you’re the starter,’” Turner said. “We learned last year, you never know when your number is going to be called.

“I look at it as, if I do have to go in, I do want to be ready and I have a bunch of guys who are preparing their butts off, and I’m not going to slouch just because I don’t think I’m going to play. I always have in my mind, ‘I could play. I could be in.’ For the sake of the seniors and the team, you don’t want to let anybody down.”

In the midst of an undefeated season, Turner is proud to wrap up his collegiate career in his home town.

“It’s very cool. Especially the way we’re getting the city of Houston involved and recruiting local players.

“It’s cool to have people you grew up with and family able to come to all of the games and close to home.”

TURNERcontinued from page 4

Senior quarterback Cotton Turner juggles responsibilities as a student, athlete and father. He recently took the LSAT. | Brianna Leigh Morrison/The Daily Cougar

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11 players. 100 yards. 140 characters at a time.


In � ve starts, SMU Senior quarterback J.J. McDermott has helped lead the Mustangs to � ve straight wins after replacing Kyle Padron. | Courtesy of SMU Athletics

COMMENTARY

SMU worthy opponent for UH

The Cougars had a bye week to heal their wounds, but even if they weren’t playing there was one game that impacted them directly.

Central Florida and SMU dueled in Dallas on Oct. 15 in what was a

rematch of last season’s Confer-ence USA Championship game. What seemed to be a matchup of two evenly-matched squads ended up being a decisive 38-17 Mustangs’ victory.

The Knights either led the nation or were close to the top in most defensive rankings before the loss.

Last season they topped SMU in the C-USA title game, but in 2011 it appears that UCF will have to fight to win the East division.

The picture is a little more complicated with East Carolina, Marshall and Southern Miss. all still in the mix.

UH is better off not looking ahead, and is adamant about treating each game in a methodi-cal fashion.

However, the Cougars will be favored against Marshall and its next three opponents: Rice, Alabama-Birmingham and Tulane.

JohnBrannen

SMU continues on page 11

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November 11, 3-6pm, November 12, 9am-3pm

The poster session will highlight some of Houston’s most innovative university students and the work they’ve done to benefit the community.

To participate in the competition, register by Wednesday, October 26 at http://rcel.rice.edu/EHF

• Addresses challenges that face our local community in the three “E’s”: Energy, Education and Entrepreneurship

• Involves local leaders from industry, academia and government

• Includes student-led discussion panels and a student poster competition involving multiple universities

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Earn Cash,

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In what could potentially be the last home game of the season, the Cougars and the Mustangs will square off on Nov. 19 in what could potentially represent a semifinal to the con-ference championship on Dec. 3.

These are the two clear-cut contenders in the West — UH is 6-0 and the Mustangs are 5-1, and both teams remain unde-feated in conference play.

After a season-opening loss to Texas A&M, the Mustangs have proved they mean business by winning five straight, including victories over the UTEP Miners, and at the time a nationally-ranked TCU.

Head coach June Jones has resurrected his program after decades of recovering from the NCAA death penalty.

Jones, formerly the sideline boss at Hawaii, uses a pass-oriented offense that utilizes multiple receivers.

The Mustangs don’t run the exact same set as UH, but it is easy to see why the two could be considered similar.

Last season, the Mustangs had Kyle Padron at quarterback, and he was expected to be the starter this year.

The junior threw two quick interceptions against the Aggies, and since has been replaced by senior quarterback J.J. McDermott.

He has shined as a starter, and has the second-highest passing yardage total in C-USA after Case Keenum.

McDermott, a product of Cinco Ranch High School in Katy, completes 58.6 percent of his passes, and has thrown for 1,840 yards and 10 touchdowns.

UH may have its three-headed

monster at running back with Bryce Beall, Michael Hayes and Charles Sims, but the Mustangs boast the conference’s leading rusher.

Junior Zach Line has a stature more fit for a fullback. He is able to run over tacklers with ease, and has a nose for the end zone with 13 touchdowns.

Forgiving scheduleThe Cougars’ remaining slate

of games could give them an upper hand.

SMU will have another monu-mental test against Southern Miss. today, and faces Tulsa and Navy before coming to Houston.

The Golden Eagles and the Golden Hurricane are both capable of giving the Mustangs a scare.

But even if SMU stumbles before in the next three weeks, records will be irrelevant come Nov. 19.

The Cougars have been more lucky with their scheduling, and SMU will be the biggest chal-lenge to UH in the C-USA West Division.

Success against SMUHead coach Kevin Sumlin has

a 3-0 record against the Mustangs, and the Cougars have beat SMU in fi ve straight contests.

The last time the Cougars lost to the Mustangs was a 29-24 loss on Nov. 19, 2005, at Robertson Stadium.

This might be the deepest roster SMU has fi elded in years, and the Cougars’ recent history is plenty of reason to get SMU fi red up.

With UH and SMU among the schools to receive invitations to join the Big East, this could develop into UH’s most identifi able rival.

But in 2011, the Cougars and Mustangs can only focus what is in the present — and that’s ruling the roost in C-USA.

Last season the Cougars beat the Mustangs 45-20 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas. The year before UH won 44-38 at Robertson Stadium. | File Photo/The Daily Cougar

SMUcontinued from page 10

The Guild ShopHouston’s No. 1Re-sale shop

2009 Dunlavy Streetwww.theguildshop.org

M-F 9:30- 3:30Sat 10-2Sat 10-2

Finish your Christmas

shopping before exams begin.

Everything for family and friends.

RICE CENTER FOR ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Don’t just think about doing something, help your local community!

PARTICIPATE – LEAD – TAKE ACTION!

A conference for students that:

Poster competition with cash prizes:

For more information go to rcel.rice.edu/EHF

Rice University, Duncan Hall, McMurtry Auditorium

November 11, 3-6pm, November 12, 9am-3pm

The poster session will highlight some of Houston’s most innovative university students and the work they’ve done to benefit the community.

To participate in the competition, register by Wednesday, October 26 at http://rcel.rice.edu/EHF

• Addresses challenges that face our local community in the three “E’s”: Energy, Education and Entrepreneurship

• Involves local leaders from industry, academia and government

• Includes student-led discussion panels and a student poster competition involving multiple universities

P H A R M A C E U T I C A L R E S E A R C H S E R V I C E S

N O V U M 3320 Walnut BendHouston TX 770421-800-586-0365GoNovum.com

Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services is one of the world’s largest companies in testing generic medications.

We’re looking for healthy participants, 18 years or older, to be a part of our research studies. Our facilities offer a comfortable overnight stay as well as outpatient opportunities.

Novum Pharmaceutical Research Services is one of the world’s largest companies in

Earn Cash,

while you study

As a research participant, you can earn money while you study, write your papers, read, or even play video games.

Your friends can participate too!

Tweet your Cougar fan photos @thedailycougar Tweet your Cougar fan photos @thedailycougar

Red in the face ... and proud?


HOMECOMING PARADE

11:00AM - 1:00PM TODAY2011 HOMECOMING FIREWORK PRESENTATION AFTER THE GAME

For info and more highlights, check outwww.uh.edu/homecomingFunded by your SFAC fees

PARADE2011 HOMECOMING FIREWORK

E GAME

For info and more highlights, check out

homecoming sked SATURDAY COLOR 5x14 102011.indd 1 10/20/11 4:15:49 PM

the daily cougar: overtime

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