University of Houston Athletics
Cougar-Bruin Tilt Set For National TV
5/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 11, 2010
Houston, Texas - With six of its 2010 games already set for national television exposure, the University of Houston football team found out on Tuesday that its Sept. 18 game at UCLA will be picked up nationally by FSN and will be seen locally on Fox Sports Houston.
Kickoff is slated for 9:30 pm CT.
"We are ecstatic our program will appear on national television versus UCLA, a program with rich tradition, terrific coaches and very talented student-athletes," said UH Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades. "It is a great opportunity to showcase our program in one of the best college venues against a quality and nationally recognized opponent."
Houston is facing the Bruins for the first time since 1998 and is making its first visit to the Rose Bowl since 1997. Overall, the Cougars are 2-2 against UCLA.
The Cougars finished 10-4 last season, captured the West Division title of Conference USA and played in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl while sporting the nation's most prolific offense in terms of total offense (563.4 yards per game), passing offense (433.7 ypg.) and points scored (42.2 points per game.) Houston ascended in the national polls in 2009, reaching as high as No. 12 during the season while knocking off three BCS Automatic Qualifying schools (Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State) along the way.
Houston returns 16 starters from last year's squad, highlighted by senior quarterback Case Keenum who was the 2009 Conference USA Most Valuable Player and Sammy Baugh Quarterback Award winner, as well as a finalist for the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award, Manning Award and the Walter Camp Football Foundation Player of the Year. Keenum finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy balloting while becoming only the second quarterback in NCAA history to post two seasons of 5,000-yard passing when he threw for 5,671 yards and 44 touchdowns last fall.
The Cougars also have wide receivers Tyron Carrier, James Cleveland and Patrick Edwards returning-a trio that recorded only the fourth set of 1,000-yard receivers in NCAA history-as well as sophomore running back Charles Sims, who was the 2009 Conference USA Freshman of the Year.
The defense returns seven starters, including junior linebacker Marcus McGraw who racked up 156 tackles last season. Junior safety Nick Saenz also is back, one year removed from his 114-tackle performance in 2009.
The Cougars begin the 2010 season by hosting Texas State on Saturday, Sept. 4, on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
