University of Houston Athletics
Camp Set To Open For Cougars
8/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Houston football team officially will open fall camp tomorrow, when the entire roster meets at 3 pm in the Athletics/Alumni Center. The Cougars will practice for the first time on Monday, August 4, at 5 pm on the UH Practice Fields.
Entering his first season as the head coach of the Houston program, Kevin Sumlin will welcome 48 lettermen and 16 starters from last season's squad that captured a West Division co-championship, won eight games and played in its fourth bowl game in the last five seasons. Even with the excitement of college football building in the air, Sumlin has a calm demeanor and reserved tone about his first preseason camp as a head coach.
"Both the coaches and players are excited about tomorrow," Sumlin said, "because as football coaches, we really haven't been around them as per NCAA rules. But, the strength coaches have, and (head strength and conditioning coach) Larry Jackson has done a great job with them, and they look good.
"They look like they are in shape and much stronger. We'll see how much they got done (during the summer workouts) on Monday at practice."
Despite losing speedsters Anthony Alridge and Donnie Avery from the 2007 team that finished 8-5 and battled TCU down to the wire in the Texas Bowl, the Cougars have a four veteran offensive linemen (Carl Barnett, Michael Bloesch, SirVincent Rogers and Sebastian Vollmer) and tight end Mark Hafner back, as well as the quarterbacking duo of Blake Joseph and Case Keenum, who was the consensus selection as the 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
The defensive is highlighted by the return of defensive end Phillip Hunt, who led the league in sacks and was second in tackles for loss. The 2008 consensus preseason pick is joined on the defensive line by Ell Ash and Tate Stewart, both who started last season. The entire secondary returns with the senior-safety tandem of Kenneth Fontenette ('07 C-USA Second Team) and Ernest Miller.
The 2008 season begins on Saturday, August 30, at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium, when the Cougars play host to Southern University in a first-ever battle between the two schools.
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