University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Prepare for 2010 Season Opener vs. Texas State
8/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 30, 2010
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format 
THE SERIES
• This is the fourth meeting between the two schools.
• Texas State leads the series, 3-0, but the first three games took place in the first three seasons of UH football (1946-48).
• Both assistant head coach Tony Levine and offensive coordinator Jason Phillips coached at Texas State during their career. Levine spent the 1997, 98 and 99 seasons as the wide receivers and tight ends coach and Phillips was the recievers coach in 2002.
• UH is 12-0 vs. Division I-FCS teams.
FOR OPENERS
• This weekend's game marks the 65th season of football at the University of Houston.
• UH is 32-30-2 in season openers and 36-28 in home openers.
• With last year's trip to the Air Force Bowl, the Cougars have been to a school-record five straight bowl games, and six bowl games in seven seasons.
• The Cougars begin the 2010 season with the Conference USA preseason Offensive Player of the Year in quarterback Case Keenum and preseason Special Teams Player of the Year in kick returner Tyron Carrier.
• Houston is the reigning NCAA passing, total and scoring offense champion and Keenum led the nation in passing and total offense in 2009. His individual total offense title was his second consecutive (2009, 2008).
• The Cougars return 42 lettermen and 16 starters from 2009. Seven starters each return on the offensive and defensive sides of the ball with two more special teams starters coming back in 2010.
• Sumlin's teams have been among the least penalized in his two years as a head coach. In 2009, the Cougars ranked eighth nationally in fewest penalties.
• Five of Houston's 2010 opponents went bowling a year ago -- UCLA, SMU, UCF, Southern Miss, Texas Tech.
• Houston became only the third team in NCAA history to have a 5,000-yard passer and three 1,000-yard receivers when it accomplished the feat in 2009. The other two teams are Texas Tech (2002) and Tulsa (2007).
• Case Keenum was only the second quarterback in NCAA history to pass for over 5,000 yards in two different seasons (2008, 2009). The other was Texas Tech's Graham Harrell in 2007 and 2008.
• In 2008, Keenum passed for over 5,000 yards, running back Bryce Beall rushed for over 1,000 and receiver Tyron Carrier caught for over 1,000 yards, marking only the second time in NCAA history. All three players return for the 2010 season.
• UH became the fourth team in NCAA history to have three 1,000-yard receivers when Tyron Carrier, James Cleveland and Patrick Edwards each eclipsed the mark --the other teams were Texas Tech 2002, Hawaii in 2007 and Tulsa in 2007.
• The team's goal for the 2010 season is a Conference USA Championship, which would be the third in the school's history. The previous two were in 1996 and 2006.
• Last season, the Cougars won 10 games. It matched the 10 wins posted in 1976, 1990 and 2006, the second-most in school history. The best win total by a Houston team was 11 in both 1973 and 1979.
EXCITEMENT FOR THE SEASON
• There is a different feel around the University of Houston campus as fans gear up for the 2010 season. The season ticket base for 2009 was approximately 6,300 and one year later that number has increased 85 percent to 10,700 (as of 8/27).
• The student tailgating area sold out of its 36 spaces before the season began, the first time noted in UH history.
LEADING THE WAY
• Head coach Kevin Sumlin returns for his third season at Houston in 2010. In only two seasons, the Cougar coach has established himself as one of the nation's premier collegiate leaders, compiling an 18-9 record and back-to-back bowl appearances.
• He is the only head coach in school history to lead the Cougars to bowl appearances in each of his first two seasons.
• Entering the 2010 season, Sumlin ranks second in school history in career winning percentage and seventh in total wins. However, if the Cougars win in 2010 as many as they have averaged during Sumlin's first two years, he will quickly move into fourth place in the latter category.
• In June, Sumlin was honored by the Black Coaches and Administrators as its Fritz Pollard Male Coach of the Year.
• Sumlin has an undefeated record vs. ranked opponents with wins over No. 5 Oklahoma State in 2009 and over No. 23 East Carolina and No. 24 Tulsa in 2008.
DEFENSIVE CHANGES
Sumlin made changes to the defensive coaching staff during the offseason, bringing in long-time professional and college coach Brian Stewart to serve as defensive coordinator. Stewart spent the past nine years in the NFL ranks, including a three-year stint as defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. He brings with him the 3-4 style, which has differed from the 4-3 run by the Cougars in Sumlin's first two seasons.
HOME SWEET HOME
The Cougars bring an impressive and school-record-tying 15-game home winning streak into their season opener against Texas State on Sept. 4.
That streak ties as the fourth-longest active home winning streak in NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. Only Oklahoma, Boise State and Utah boast a longer home winning streak than the Cougars.
Rk. No. School1. 29 Oklahoma2. 26 Boise State3 17 Utaht-4. 15 Houston 15 Texast-6. 14 Alabama 14 TCU8. 12 Cincinnati9. 11 Florida10. 10 Oregon 10 Troy
ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COUGAR QUARTERBACK
With the 73-14 win over Rice on Nov. 28, 2009, Keenum now has 22 wins as a starter and is ranked third place all-time. He needs only five wins in 2010 to become the school's all-time leader in that category, Kevin Kolb (26, 2003-06). With four wins he will pass Gary Mullins (25, 1969-71).
TOUGH TO BEAT AT THE ROB
Since the 2006 season, the Cougars have taken advantage of playing at home on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
With their 73-14 win against Rice on Nov. 28, 2009 during the regular-season finale, the Cougars improved to 23-2 (.920) record at home in their last 25 games. Even more impressive, the Cougars' margin of victory in those 23 wins is a remarkable 24.0 points per game.
The streak could be much longer if not for setbacks against Louisiana-Lafayette in 2006 and against Conference USA-rival East Carolina in 2007. The Cougars dropped those two games by a combined five points.
QUICK DRAW McGRAW
Linebacker Marcus McGraw returns for his junior season after leading the Cougars' and Conference USA in tackles a year ago. McGraw led the Cougars for the second straight season in 2009 with 156 tackles and averaged 11.1 stops per game, the fifth highest total in NCAA FBS.
He finished the 2009 season with a 23-tackle effort in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl against Air Force. That total tied for the best single-game effort in the nation.
For his impressive efforts, he was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. He enters the 2010 campaign having started each of the 27 games during his first two seasons. McGraw also placed his name among the nation's best defensive leaders. He is on the preseason watch lists for both the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Rotary Lombardi Award.
GOING STREAKING AT ROBERTSON STADIUM
With a 73-14 win against Rice during the regular-season finale on Nov. 28, 2009, the Cougars won their 15th straight home game. The streak ties the longest in school history, set from 1988 to 1991.
Houston has not lost at home since a 37-35 loss to Conference USA-rival East Carolina on Sept. 29, 2007. That loss is the Cougars' only home setback in their last 21 games at Robertson Stadium.
Head coach Kevin Sumlin has never lost in front of the hometown fans during his career, posting an 11-0 record. Here are the Cougars' best home winning streaks and that teams that stopped them:
Streak Year(s) Who Stopped It15 2007- --15 1988-1991 Oct. 5, 1991, 38-21 to Baylor10 1972-73 Sept. 21, 1973, 20-3 to Miami (Fla.)10 1977-78 Nov. 10, 1978, 21-13 to Texas9 1965-66 Nov. 26, 1966, 14-13 to Memphis9 1969-70 Oct. 24, 1970, 31-21 to Alabama9 1971-72 Sept. 16, 1972, 33-28 to Arizona State
STACKING UP AGAINST THE ALL-TIME NCAA GREATS
With back-to-back seasons of eye-popping statistical numbers, senior quarterback Case Keenum has the chance to become the first quarterback in FBS history to have three seasons with at least 5,000 yards passing.
Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell is the only other player in NCAA Division I FBS history with two 5,000-yard passing seasons during his career.
Keenum also is moving up the NCAA FBS all-time charts in several total offense and passing categories. Entering the 2010 season, he is in the Top 10 in most categories or within striking distance of cracking the Top 10.
NCAA FBS Total Offense Career LeadersRk. Player, School Years Yards1. Timmy Chang, Hawaii 2000-04 16,9102. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan 2006-09 15,8533. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech 2005-08 15,5994. Colt McCoy, Texas 2006-09 14,8245. Colt Brennan, Hawaii 2005-07 14,7406. Ty Detmer, BYU 1988-91 14,6657. Case Keenum, Houston 2007- 13,741
NCAA FBS Passing Yardage Career LeadersRk. Player, School Years Yards1. Timmy Chang, Hawaii 2000-04 17,0722. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech 2005-08 15,7933. Ty Detmer, BYU 1988-91 15,0314. Colt Brennan, Hawaii 2005-07 14,1935. Philip Rivers, N.C. State 2000-03 13,4846. Colt McCoy, Texas 2006-09 13,2537. Kevin Kolb, Houston 2003-06 12,9648. Case Keenum, Houston 2007- 12,950
NCAA FBS Pass Attempts Career LeadersRk. Player, School Years Att.1. Timmy Chang, Hawaii 2000-04 2,4362. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech 2005-08 2,0103. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech 1999-02 1,8834. Luke McCown, Louisiana Tech 2000-03 1,7755. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan 2006-09 1,7636. Philip Rivers, NC State 2000-03 1,7107. Chris Redman, Louisville 1996-99 1,6798. Curtis Painter, Purdue 2005-08 1,6489. Colt McCoy, Texas 2006-09 1,64510. Chase Daniel, Missouri 2005-08 1,609-- Case Keenum, Houston 2007- 1,562
NCAA FBS Pass Completions Career LeadersRk. Player, School Years Comp.1. Graham Harrell, Texas Tech 2005-08 1,4032. Timmy Chang, Hawaii 2000-04 1,3883. Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech 1999-02 1,2314. Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan 2006-09 1,1715. Colt McCoy, Texas 2006-09 1,1576. Philip Rivers, NC State 2000-03 1,1477. Colt Brennan, Hawaii 2005-07 1,1158. Chase Daniel, Missouri 2005-08 1,0949. Chase Holbrook, New Mexico State 2005-08 1,08710. Case Keenum, Houston 2007- 1,076
A REPEAT PERFORMANCE
In 2009, the reigning FBS Total Offense and Passing Offense leader made it two years in a row in the Top 10 in both categories. In 2008, quarterback Case Keenum was No. 1 in total offense, ranked second in passing yards per game and ninth in passing efficiency all season.
Keenum became only the seventh quarterback in FBS history to lead the nation in total offense in consecutive seasons, the first since Hawaii's Colt Brennan led the nation in total offense in 2005-06.
If he ranks No. 1 in 2010 in total offense, he will join Louisiana Tech's Tim Rattay (1997-99) as the only quarterbacks to lead the nation in total offense for three straight years.
LOOKING FOR THREE IN A ROW
With all the many great wide receivers that have competed at Houston, junior wideout Tyron Carrier is looking to accomplish a first in school history in 2010. Carrier already has two 1,000-yard receiving seasons during his first two years. With another four-digit yardage total in 2010, the Houston native will become the first player to reach that milestone three times. Legendary wide receiver Elmo Wright (1968-69) is the only other Cougar player with multiple 1,000-yard receiving seasons while wearing the Scarlet and White.
CATCHES STREAK
Junior receiver Tyron Carrier has caught a pass in each game of his college career, 27, which ranks fourth among active receivers in the NCAA.
37 Scotty McKnight (Colorado, Sr.)31 Dwayne Harris (East Carolina, Sr.)28 Jock Sanders (West Virginia, Sr.)27 Tyron Carrier (Houston, Jr.); Greg Salas (Hawaii, Sr.)26 Damaris Johnson (Tulsa, Jr.)25 Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma, Jr.)24 Kito Poblah (Central Michigan, Sr.); Keith Smith (Purdue, Sr.); Doug Beaumont (Louisville, Sr.); Kendall Wright (Baylor, Jr.); Stanley Morrison (Utah State, Jr.); Kris Adams (UTEP, Sr.)22 Bart Johnson (TCU, Sr.); Joe Adams (Arkansas, Jr.)20 Jeff Fuller (Texas A&M, Jr.)
CLEVELAND ROCKS!
Senior wide receiver James Cleveland wasted little time in 2009 in making his impact felt among the Cougars. Cleveland, the 2009 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year, led the Cougars with 104 catches for 1,214 yards and 14 touchdowns despite missing two games due to injury. The Houston native tied a school record with 19 catches and added 241 yards and three scores at East Carolina during the Conference USA Championship game.
With his reception total, he became only the sixth receiver in UH history with more than 100 catches in a single season.If he can equal his triple-digit output from a year ago, he will join former Cougar great (and current offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach) Jason Phillips as the only players in school history with multiple 100-reception seasons.
TAKING IT TO THE HOUSE
As talented as junior Tyron Carrier has been as a wide receiver, he is just as impressive with his abilities on special teams.
In 2009, Carrier led the Cougars and the nation with four kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a 79-yard effort against Air Force during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.
It was the fifth time during his career that Carrier returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He is the only player in school history with multiple kickoff return scores in a single season.
Clemson's C.J. Spiller set the NCAA career record with seven kickoff return touchdowns from 2006 to 2009.
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
In 2009, placekicker Matt Hogan kicked a 51-yard game-winning field goal to lift the Cougars over Tulsa. It was one of his 12 field goals made in as many tries. He scored 76 points in 2009 after beginning the year as the back-up placekicker.
SECONDARY NOTES
Last season, the defensive secondary batted down 62 pass attempts. Among the returners were CB Jamal Robinson with eight, LB Marcus McGraw and safety Nick Saenz with six. Robinson also added five interceptions. With 160 incomplete passes thrown by Cougar opponents, that marks a pass broken up for every 2.5 incomplete.
POSITION CHANGE
With the start of the season, one player will be making a position change in 2010. After competing for three seasons on the defensive side of the ball, senior Isaiah Thompson will make the move to left guard in 2010. In three seasons at nose tackle, Thompson competed in 31 games, racking up 75 tackles and a fumble recovery. In his final game on the defensive line, he tallied a career-high nine tackles against Air Force at the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.
Before fall training camp converted defensive back Jeffery Lewis moved to running back to add depth after some losses at the position left it short-handed. Lewis played in all 14 games as a true-freshman, recording 19 tackles, including one for loss.
GETTING A HEAD START
Two new Cougars used the spring season as a head start for fall training camp. Senior defensive tackle Matangi Tonga (College of San Mateo) and junior linebacker Sammy Brown (Mississippi Gulf Coast CC) wore the Scarlet and White for the first time.
AGAINST OTHER CONFERENCES
Outside of Houston's eight conference games on the schedule in 2010, the Cougars will battle schools from the Pac-10 (UCLA), SEC (Mississippi State), Big 12 (Texas Tech) and Southland Conference (Texas Tech). During head coach Kevin Sumlin's two years at Houston, he has a regular season non-conference record of 5-3 (6-4 including bowl games).
Conference Record Under Sumlin Team (Result, Year)Big 12 2-1 Oklahoma State (L, 37-56, 2008; W, 45-35, 2009) Texas Tech (W, 29-28, 2009)MWC 1-3 Air Force (L, 28-31, 2008; W, 34-28, 2008*; L, 20-47, 2009*) Colorado State (L, 25-28, 2008)SEC 1-0 Mississippi State (W, 31-24, 2009)Southland 1-0 Northwestern State (W, 55-7, 2009)SWAC 1-0 Southern (W, 55-3, 2008)* bowl games
