University of Houston Athletics
Bowl Game Notes: Houston vs. Pittsburgh
12/28/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, January 2 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. CST |
| Location | Fort Worth, Texas |
| Venue | Amon G. Carter Stadium |
| Capacity | 45,000 |
| Surface | Natural Grass |
| TV | ESPN |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | UHCougars.com |
Armed Forces Bowl |
« The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl will mark the third all-time meeting between Houston and Pitt. The two schools have split the previous two meetings with Houston claiming a 42-35 overtime win in Pittsburgh on Sept. 14, 1996, and Pitt owning a 35-24 win in Houston on Sept. 13, 1997.
« The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl marks Houston's 23rd bowl appearance and its ninth bowl game in the last 12 seasons. Houston has split its last two bowl games with a 30-14 win over Penn State in the 2012 TicketCity Bowl and a 41-24 loss to Vanderbilt in the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl. The Cougars are 9-12-1 all time in their previous 22 bowl appearances.
« Houston enters the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl with a record of 7-5 including a mark of 5-3 in The American Athletic Conference. Pitt enters the game with a 6-6 record and a 4-4 mark in the ACC.
About the Cougars |
« Twenty-eight full or part-time starters return in 2014 for Houston. The 2013 leader in every major stat category, outside of punting and field goals (Richie Leone), returns for the Cougars as well.
« The program welcomed an incoming class of 27 that is comprised of 23 high school student-athletes, one junior college transfer and three four-year transfers. Two of the 27 newcomers enrolled in the program in January for spring workouts - QB Bear Fenimore and OL Carter Wall.
« Houston's roster sports 54 upperclassmen and 58 underclassmen. Fourteen players redshirted in 2013.
« Fifty-seven players saw action in Houston's opening game of the season including 17 making their UH debut.
TDECU Stadium |
« The University of Houston and TDECU, the largest credit union in the Houston area, announced a naming rights gift on July 8, 2014, that rebranded the brand new, state-of-the-art Houston Football Stadium as TDECU Stadium.
« A 10-year, $15-million commitment from TDECU secured the naming rights with the University of Houston through June 16, 2024.
« The University of Houston broke ground on the state-of-the-art stadium that sits on the location of Houston's former home, Robertson Stadium, on Feb. 8, 2013.
« The 70-year old Robertson Stadium was torn down in December 2012 just two weeks after Houston's final home game of the year.
« Designed by Page and DLR Group to showcase the Houston skyline in the northwest corner of the stadium to remind all visitors and television audiences that UH is the University of Houston, the stadium was constructed by Manhattan Construction, a well-known firm in Houston having constructed both Reliant Stadium, home of the NFL's Houston Texans, and BBVA Compass Stadium, home of MLS' Houston Dynamo.
« With seating available for at least 40,000, TDECU Stadium provides Houston fans an exciting gameday experience including 5,000 premium seating options and a stylish 12,400-square foot club space overlooking the field of play on the stadium's south side.
« Views exclusive to the club area give those fans an opportunity to watch team members travel from the locker room to the field.
« Twenty-six premium suites, each containing 12 outside padded arm chairs, four inside bar stools and an entertainment area, span from end zone to end zone on the south side with 42 loge boxes each containing four seats located throughout the stadium.
« Four open-air party decks and two open-air party suites at different locations throughout the stadium offer Houston Football fans spectacular views of the game while providing a comfortable and unique experience to entertain family and friends on game day.
« Houston's state-of-the-art 5,000-square foot home locker room is located at the southeast corner of the stadium next to the Bert F. Winston Band and Performance Center, a 39,089-square foot building on the east end of TDECU Stadium housing the Spirit of Houston Band Recital Halls and classroom spaces, gallery multi-purpose area and UH Athletics Ticket Office.
« Located 25 feet below the main stadium concourse, the field of TDECU Stadium is a state-of-the art synthetic turf designed to host a multitude of events, including but not limited to, high school football games, band practice, specific UH intramural events, etc.
« A 360-degree concourse with an uninterrupted view of the field on 67 percent of the concourse include both audio and video broadcast systems throughout the concourse.
« An east-to-west orientation gives fans and television audiences a spectacular view of the downtown Houston skyline while also keeping in line with the University's grid system and creating a more efficient parking. Sun and shade studies were also conducted to improve the best level of comfort for Houston fans and not affect student-athletes.
« A state-of-the-art HD, LED, wide screen video board located on the west end of TDECU Stadium, just to the left of the stadium's pressbox, housed one level about suite level with seats for 70 working media along with a press dining area.
Degrees in Hand |
« Seven Houston seniors entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Eric Braswell, Jeremiah Farley, Rowdy Harper, Bryce Redman, Shane Ros, Daniel Spencer and Jon Witten all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Five additional Cougars completed their degree requirements in December: Wayne Beadle, Randall Hollimon, Joey Mbu, Emeka Okafor and Efrem Oliphant.
On the Offensive |
« Since 2006, only Oregon (58,884) has racked up more offensive yards than Houston who has 58,233 yards in that time.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 58,884
2. Houston 58,223
3. Texas Tech 56,318
4. Oklahoma 55,763
5. Nevada 54,559
« Houston has scored in 184 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« UH opened 2013 by scoring in the first 32 quarters of the season and was the nation's last team to be held scoreless in a quarter before UCF posted a first-quarter shutout on Nov. 9.
« Twenty-five Houston scoring drives this season have been less than two minutes with 13 less than one minute.
« Twenty scoring drives this season have lasted four plays or less with four one-play touchdown drives.
« Houston has outscored its opponents by 72 points in the fourth quarter (105-33).
Explosive Plays |
« From 2010-12, Houston trailed just Oklahoma State in explosive plays of 20 yards or longer with 254 to OSU's 261.
« UH ended 2013 with 106 explosive plays on the season including 20 touchdowns.
« Demarcus Ayers led the team with 27 explosive plays including two touchdowns. Ayers had 23 kick returns and four receptions over 20 yards. Deontay Greenberry was second with 19 receptions of 20 yards or more.
« Greenberry led Houston with five touchdowns of 20 yards or longer each while Spencer was second with four long TDs.
« Houston's 18 offensive plays of 40 yards or longer and seven plays of 60 yards or longer led the American in 2013.
« This season, Houston has 76 explosive plays with 14 explosive touchdowns.
« Ayers leads Houston this season with 12 explosive plays followed by Greenberry with 10 and three players (Ryan Jackson, Greg Ward Jr. and Kenneth Farrow) with nine explosive plays each. Greenberry owns the longest play of the season, a 67-yard reception vs. Grambling.
« Markeith Ambles pulled in the longest play of the 2014 season with an 89-yard catch-and-run from Ward against Cincinnati. The score is the fifth-longest pass in Houston history.
« Ward owns the season's longest rush with a 64-yard TD scamper at Memphis.
« Ward was involved in five of Houston's seven explosive plays vs. Memphis with two explosive rushing attempts and three explosive passing plays.
Offensive Coaching Changes |
« Entering his third season at Houston, Travis Bush was elevated to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator and shifted back to leading the program's quarterbacks in January. Bush, who coached the running backs in 2013, served as the program's interim play caller and quarterbacks coach for the final 11 games of 2012 and also called Houston's plays in the 2014 BBVA Compass Bowl.
« Houston added three offensive assistants this offseason in Dan Hammerschmidt (running backs), Tony Jeffery (outside receivers) and Gordy Shaw (offensive line). The three have a combined 70 years of coaching experience.
« Hammerschmidt will call plays for Houston in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, a change from a regular season that saw Bush call plays for Houston.
Batman |
« The Houston receiving corp took a major hit on Oct. 7 when Daniel Spencer, a huge fan of Batman, suffered a torn ACL during practice.
« To honor Spencer, Deontay Greenberry will be switching to the No. 4 jersey for the remainder of the year.
« The senior finished his career ranked 13th in Houston history with six 100-yard receiving games in his career. Spencer was tied for third in The American with four 100-yard games last season.
« Spencer was 246 yards from becoming the 12th player in Houston history to eclipse 2,000 yards receiving in a career and finished his career with 1,754 career receiving yards, a number that ranks 17th on the UH career chart.
Stepping Up on the Receiving End |
« With the loss of two starting receivers in Daniel Spencer (injury) and Greg Ward Jr. (move to quarterback), other receivers on the Houston squad have moved into more prominent roles. Markeith Ambles replaced Ward in the starting lineup while Wayne Beadle moved up into Spencer's role.
« The 2013 American Athletic Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, Demarcus Ayers led Houston with a career-high seven receptions for 90 yards vs. UCF and 10 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown at Cincinnati.
« Stepping into the starting lineup vs. Memphis, Ambles responded with his second career touchdown at Houston with a 25-yard grab from Ward in what would turn into the game's winning score with 13:34 remaining in the game.
« The senior followed that up with six receptions, tying a career best, for a season-best 96 yards vs. Temple.
« Ambles ended the year with TDs in three of the final four games with scores vs. Tulane (19 yards), vs. Tulsa (25 yards) and at Cincinnati (89 yards). Ambles ended 2013 with a breakout game vs. Vanderbilt, exploding for six receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown.
« Walk-on Wayne Beadle led Houston with five receptions for 38 yards at USF. Three of Beadle's five receptions vs. the Bulls resulted in first downs. The senior followed it with six receptions for 65 yards, both career bests, vs. Tulane.
« True freshman Steven Dunbar broke out vs. Tulsa with a career-best seven receptions for 150 yards, also a career best. All seven receptions resulted in Houston first downs. Dunbar almost doubled up his season receiving totals entering the Tulsa game, as prior to Nov. 22 he had nine receptions for 102 yards.
Thunder & Lightning |
« Houston's backfield features a thunder-and-lightning combo in juniors Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson. The two helped Houston to 399 yards on the ground vs. UNLV as UH fell just one yard short of its first 400-yard rushing game since 1985.
« The duo has helped Houston to its most rushing yards since 2007 when the Cougars rushed for 2,911 yards. The two have combined for eight 100-yard games, three more than any other team in The American.
« Farrow led The American this season with six 100-yard rushing games this season with 130 vs. Grambling,113 vs. UNLV, 112 at USF, 116 vs. Tulsa, 110 vs. SMU and 143 at Cincinnati. Houston is 5-1 in Farrow's century-mark games.
« Farrow led The American with 12 rushing touchdowns including seven in the final three games. The 12 TDs rank sixth on the UH single-season charts as he sits just three away from the season record of 15 set by Jackie Battle in 2006.
« The junior tied The American's single-game rushing touchdown record and placed his name along three others (Bryce Beall, Anthony Aldridge, Joffrey Reynolds) in a tie for second in Houston single-game history with four rushing TDs vs. Tulsa. The total was one short of the single-game record set by Antowain Smith vs. Southern Miss on Nov. 9, 1996.
« Farrow notched his first career 100-yard rushing game vs. Grambling including a career-long 55-yard run on the game's first play, and one TD. The junior was named to The American's weekly honor roll as he averaged 10 yards a carry on the night.
« Farrow needs 66 yards for the 24th 1,000 rushing yard season in Houston history and the first since Bryce Beall in 2008 with 1,247 yards. He is 86 yards away from becoming the 14th 2,000-yard career rusher in Houston history.
« He is still alive in The American's 2014 rushing crown, trailing the current leader Marlon Mack of USF, who is not bowl eligible by 107 yards. Farrow leads his next closest competitor, Brandon Hayes of Memphis by 32 yards.
« Jackson is second in The American with five career 100-yard games, including a career-high 147 rushing yards vs. UNLV. Houston is 5-0 in games that Jackson eclipses the century mark on the ground.
« The two eclipsed the century mark in the same game for a second time this season vs. Tulsa as Farrow rushed for 116 yards vs. the Golden Hurricane while Jackson ended the day with 103 rushing yards. UH now has 51 games with two 100-yard rushers.
The Line on the Line |
« Two of Houston's most experienced players anchor the line in RG Rowdy Harper and C Bryce Redman, both seniors. Harper has started 51 consecutive games, every game of his career. The 51-game streak ties for the nation's second-longest starting streak among offensive linemen and with a 52nd start in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, Harper will rank second in Houston history behind the 53 from Marcus McGraw (2008-11). Redman has started the last 31 games at center, taking over early in 2012 and never looking back.
« Houston welcomed three new starters to its offensive line in LT Travis Cross, RG Ben Dew and RT Alex Cooper, all juniors. Cross (Oklahoma State) and Dew (Hawaii) both transferred to Houston this season while Cooper enters his fourth season with the Cougars. Cooper has provided depth along the line for the last two seasons, recording one start in 2013 as a jumbo tight end.
« After a switch from Damian Parris to Cross at LT, the same five have started every game since for Houston.
« The starting line sports an average height of 6-4 with an average weight of 300 pounds.
The Third Ward D |
« Houston ranked third nationally among most improved scoring defenses in 2013. In giving up 21.8 points per game, Houston allowed 14.2 points less per game than 2012.
« The scoring defense output was the lowest in 14 years since the 1999 defense held opponents to 19 points per game.
« This year's version is continuing to lower the scoring average, entering the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl with an average of 19.5 points per game, which is 11th nationally. With an improvement by a half point, it would be the lowest scoring defense since the 1989 squad held its opponents to an average of 13.6 points per game.
« The defensive side is giving up just 334.6 total yards per game, ranking 19th nationally.
« The Houston airspace is quickly becoming a no-fly zone as the Cougars lead The American and rank sixh nationally with 19 interceptions while ranking 18th nationally in pass efficiency defense at 111.71.
« On average this season, the Houston defense is forcing 4.42 three-and-outs per game, a number that is fourth in The American.
« UH has allowed just 35 plays of 20 yards or more, ranking sixth nationally, and 16 plays of 30 yards or more, ranking 14th.
« Opponents have thrown just 26 passes of 20 yards or more, which ranks seventh nationally.
« Houston held two straight opponents to less than 100 rushing yards in wins over Temple (98) and USF (76) for the first time since October of 2007. The last time UH held an opponent under 100 rushing yards for three straight games was 2000.
« The defense pitched the 38th shutout of Houston history in the second game of the season, blanking Grambling in a 47-0 Houston win. The Tigers are averaging 34.1 points per game against all other opponents.
« Temple entered its game vs. Houston averaging 38.2 points per game and led an average of 37.6 minutes per game. The Houston defense held the Owls to just 10 points, its previous low of 24 coming vs. Navy, and never allowed Temple to lead in the game.
A Look at the Linebackers |
« Derrick Mathews is the defense's most experienced player with 45 career starts. Unfortunately, Mathews collegiate career was ended after suffering a torn ACL vs. Memphis. The senior posted triple-digit tackles in his first three seasons including 116 stops in 2013. Mathews finished his career with 400 career tackles and 43 career tackles for loss.
« He ended his UH career fifth on Houston's career tackles chart and sixth on the UH career tackles for loss chart. He had six career forced fumbles, ranking sixth on the Houston career chart, and 16 sacks. Turnover wise, Mathews added four career interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He broke up 14 passes in his career.
« With Mathews' injury, Efrem Oliphant, a veteran of 48 career games with 28 career starts, moved to the middle linebacker spot. Oliphant is second in The American and ranks 11th nationally with an average of 10.9 tackles per game.
« Oliphant is second on the Houston squad with 8.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks this season.
« Oliphant recorded his first career interception in the second quarter of Houston's win over Memphis before sealing the victory with a second interception with just 1:02 remaining in the game.
« Strongside linebacker Steven Taylor had 10 tackles at Cincinnati, his seventh career game with double-digit stops and third of his season. Taylor recorded his third career sack in the win over Memphis and finished third on the Houston team with six tackles on the night.
« Taylor was named The American's Defensive Player of the Week after leading UH with seven tackles against Temple while forcing and recovering a pivotal Temple fumble in his own endzone.
« Taylor doubled his season sack total with two sacks vs. SMU and leads Houston with four sacks on the year.
« True freshman Matthew Adams moved into the starting lineup on the weakside with his first career start at USF. He had a career-best 11 stops including 2.5 for a loss vs. Tulane. Adams also posted one of four sacks at BYU, forced a fumble vs. Grambling and had four tackles vs. UNLV.
« Adams recorded his second sack and forced fumble of the season vs. SMU when he nailed Mustang quarterback Garrett Davis from the blindside, forcing a fumble that Gavin Stansbury would recover.
The Book on Bullard |
« Junior Kyle Bullard took over as the team's placekicker in the seventh game of 2013 and holds the position in 2014 after being placed on scholarship in April. Bullard saw action in seven games in 2013 and connected on all 20 extra-point attempts. Bullard was perfect in 2013, hitting all six field goal attempts including a long of 46 yards at Louisville.
« The junior is 16-of-22 on field goal attempts and is 39-of-43 on extra points this season. He currently ranks seventh on the Houston single-season field goal chart with his 16 and ninth on the UH career field goals chart with 22 field goals.
« His program record streak of 18 consecutive made field goals came to an end in the first quarter of Houston's win at Memphis. Bullard had passed the previous record of 16 straight from Matt Hogan (2009-10) vs. UCF.
« Bullard was named a Lou Groza Award Star of the Week following his performance vs. UCF, finishing the game with a career-best four field goals including a career-long of 51 yards.
« With his four field goals vs. UCF, Bullard recorded the sixth multi-field goal game of his career and the fourth of 2014. The game also marked his second career game with multiple field goals of at least 40 yards or longer.
« He is fourth among all players in The American with 87 points this season.
« He is 30th nationally and second in The American with his 16 field goals this season.
The Other Foot |
« Ty Cummings has taken over the starting role as the team's kickoff specialist. As a freshman, Cummings had five kickoffs for an average of 60.8 yards per game including one touchback.
« Cummings has 21 touchbacks in 71 kickoffs this season with an average of 61.7 yards per attempt.
Returns Department |
« At kick returner, Houston sophomore Demarcus Ayers was named The American Athletic Conference's Co-Special Teams Player of the Year in 2013 as a true freshman after finishing the year with 37 kick returns for 1,021 yards and The American's best average return of 27.6 yards, a number that ranked 12th nationally. He had a return of at least 40 yards in six games.
« With 1,021 yards, Ayers set the Houston freshman record and was just 153 yards away from the UH single season record. He was second in the nation with 12 returns over 30 yards in 2013.
« After coming close several times, Ayers finally broke a return for a touchdown against BYU, returning a first-quarter kick 95 yards for Houston's first score of the day.
« Ayers is currently third on the Houston career kick return yards chart with 1,536 career yards. Ayers needs 169 yards to move into second.
« With Greg Ward Jr.'s move to quarterback, Ayers has also taken over the punt returner role for the Cougars.
« Against Tulsa, Markeith Ambles and Ryan Jackson took over the starting roles at kick returner with Jackson recording three returns for 38 yards. True freshman Steven Dunbar also returned one kick for five yards.
The Piper |
« Houston opened the year with two punters sharing the duties in juniors Dylan Seibert and Logan Piper before Piper took over the starting role vs. UNLV.
« Piper joined the program in 2013 after two years with the Houston Baseball program.
« Piper had 38 punts this season and an average of 39.1 yards per attempt. Sixteen have resulted in fair catches and 11 have landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He had a career-long 54-yard punt vs. UNLV in his first career start and tied it vs. Tulane.
« He had his best game of the year at USF, finishing with a career-best 46.2 average including a 53-yard punt with two landing inside the Bulls' 20-yard line.
« Seibert, an Oklahoma transfer, has served as Houston's holder the last two seasons.
« Seibert had 13 punts for an average of 42.3 yards per punt with one downed inside the 20 and two fair catches forced before Piper took over the starting role.
