University of Houston Athletics
Houston, Keenum Featured on CBSSports.com
8/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 10, 2010
Courtesy: CBSSports.com
By Brian Stubits
CBSSports.com Staff Writer
Chew on this for a minute: The University of Houston has as many Heisman Trophy winners as Alabama and Penn State.
However, it has been 21 years since Andre Ware took the stiff-arm.
But it's a different world today. You know that. Every "also-ran" conference program knows that.
When Ware took home the honor in 1989, Houston was a member of the Southwest Conference, a league that included the big boys of Texas that now reside in the Big 12. Now, Houston sits in the non-BCS world in Conference USA, one of three conferences that have yet to put a team into one of the coveted bowls.
Players have challenged for the award in recent years from smaller conferences. Timmy Chang set records at Hawaii; his successor Colt Brennan earned an invite to New York. Nate Davis, DeAngelo Williams, Kevin Smith, Ian Johnson and Alex Smith all finished in the top 10.
But the rule has been clearly stated: Guys from schools like today's Houston don't win the Heisman.
Well that's going to be put to the test again this season.
Case Keenum (along with Boise State's Kellen Moore) will make a push that rivals Brennan's of 2008. All Keenum did in 2009 was lead the nation with 44 passing touchdowns. He's 32 touchdown passes behind Graham Harrell for the all-time record and 4,122 yards behind Chang's yardage mark. So he's one more Keenum-esque season from leaving school with the NCAA's two top passing records.
But perhaps something new for Keenum will be the pressure. It will be a season-long watch as he approaches the records as well as having his name thrown about in Heisman debates. Coach Kevin Sumlin isn't too worried about the effect on his leader.
"He's led the country the last two years in a row, so ... funny, I get that question because for us he's been a leader since he's been here and those expectations, those achievements have come every year," Sumlin said. "So, I don't see it being any different than it has been."
Let's be honest for a minute here. In today's world, Keenum's chances are very slim and about the only way he can gain serious consideration depends entirely on his team. What did Brennan's team do that none of the others did? Go undefeated and earn a berth in the BCS. That's the recipe for a successful Heisman campaign.
And Keenum might have the cast to make it happen.
Back from last year's No. 1 offense are nine starters, including All-Conference USA first-teamer James Cleveland at receiver. So if you thought last year's numbers were unbelievable, wait to see what one more year together produces.
But there's a catch. Offensive coordinator Dana Holgorson is gone, leaving to take the same position at Oklahoma State, so receivers coach Jason Phillips gets the promotion to run the show.
"I don't know that we'll change very much. As I've told people, offensively, I don't know that we've changed very much. And if we were, I wouldn't tell anybody anyway," Sumlin said.
As Keenum himself admitted in a recent interview, though, staying static isn't exactly the best approach.
"On offense we have to evolve and change. Because if you aren't getting better, you're getting worse."
Maybe an increase in the running game is in order to help keep defenses honest?
"We're the No. 1 offense in the country, and it's not because we just throw the ball every down," Sumlin said. "I think our run game has been effective. Can it be better? Yes. But I think we run the ball a bit better than most people give us credit for."
One thing that has not been worthy of praise has been the defense. It's still a puzzle Sumlin is trying to piece together so Houston can reach the goals it wants. The offense could average nearly 700 yards a game and lose one here or there with the nation's 111th-ranked defense, a spot the Cougars held last season.
Enter former Dallas Cowboys assistant Brian Stewart, who is implementing a 3-4 scheme. It's a move Houston is hoping will allow guys like linebacker Marcus McGraw to be better utilized and wreak more havoc.
Putting it mildly, Stewart has his work cut out for him.
"Well, we can't do much worse," Sumlin panned. "I think our style will change from more of a bend-don't-break defense to more of an aggressive look. A little more disguise and getting more speed on the field."
If it all comes together, the Cougars could represent the best Conference USA has seen in a long time, if not ever.
The Cougars showed the nation last season what they are capable of, beating the likes of Oklahoma State and Mississippi State on the road as well as a victory over Texas Tech at home. In other words, they were perfect against BCS teams. So they have shown they can win the tough games. And they'll have their chances again this season with return dates vs. Mississippi State and Tech while adding an early-season visit to UCLA.
It's those pesky C-USA letdowns they have to find a way to avoid.
I asked Sumlin if he sensed his team failed to get up for non-BCS foes the way it did the big schools.
"Well I hope not, I don't sense that," Sumlin responded. "I know it's coach speak, but if we learned anything from last year we have to take it one week at a time and better be ready to play or you'll get beat."
"We feel that if we play our absolute best, we have a chance in every game we play," Keenum said. "We have to continue to play at a high level all season."
If the Cougars do, there's no telling what records and awards Keenum could finish his college career with. Maybe he could give Houston an edge over Alabama again.
