University of Houston Athletics
[GAME NOTES] Houston vs. Tennessee Tech
8/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
[VIDEO] PRESS CONFERENCE | PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
[VIDEO] FARROW | [VIDEO] COOPER | [VIDEO] MCDONALD
| THE GAME AT A GLANCE | |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 5 |
| Time | 7:00 p.m. CST |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
| Venue | TDECU Stadium |
| Capacity | 40,000 |
| Surface | Synthetic Turf |
| TV | ESPN3 |
| Radio | KPRC 950 AM |
| Live Stats | UHCougars.com |
HITS ON HOUSTON |
« The Tom Herman era of Houston Football kicks off Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Cougars take on Tennessee Tech at TDECU Stadium. Houston is coming off an 8-5 season that culminated with a come-from-behind 35-34 win over Pitt in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl while Tennessee Tech finished 2014 at 5-7. Saturday's game will be nationally broadcasted by ESPN3 and aired on KRPC 950 AM in Houston.
« Saturday's game will mark the first as a head coach for Herman who was officially named the Houston head coach on Dec. 19, 2014, one week after being named the 2014 Frank Broyles Award winner as the nation's top assistant coach. Herman comes to Houston after three seasons as offensive coordinator at Ohio State, where he helped lead the Buckeyes to the inaugural CFP Championship.
« Houston was narrowly picked to finish second in the west division of The American Athletic Conference in a poll of the league's media. 2015 marks the first season for divisions in The American and the first with a conference championship as the league's two division winners will square off on Dec. 5 at the home of the division winner with the best conference record. Each team will play five other opponents from its division plus three cross-division opponents. Houston plays the top two projected teams in the east, Cincinnati and UCF, along with UConn in cross-division games this season.
ABOUT THE COUGARS |
« Twenty-eight full or part-time starters return in 2015 for Houston. The 2014 leaders in rushing, passing, field goals, punting, tackles for loss, sacks and interceptions all return.
« The program welcomed an incoming class of 21 that is comprised of 18 high school student-athletes, one junior college transfer and two four-year transfers. Three of the 21 newcomers enrolled in the program in January for spring workouts - WR Chance Allen, QB Adam Schulz and WR Devin Smith.
« Houston's roster sports 49 upperclassmen and 56 underclassmen. Eighteen players redshirted their first season on campus in 2014.
« Houston's all-time record sits at 406-351-15 since the program started in 1946.
ABOUT THE OPPONENT |
« Entering its ninth season under head coach Watson Brown, Tennessee Tech comes in to Saturday's meeting after finishing the 2014 season with a record of 5-7, its highest win total since winning the Ohio Valley Conference at 7-4 in 2011. The Golden Eagles were picked to finish seventh in the OVC in this season's preseason poll with linebacker Tra'Darius Goff named to the preseason All-OVC team.
« Tennessee Tech is led offensively by junior quarterback Jared Davis who takes over the starting role after splitting starting duties in 2014. Davis threw for 770 yards and four touchdowns while adding two on the ground. The Golden Eagles lost their starting rusher and receiver, but return the second-best in senior running back Ladarius Vanlier (89-494, 5 TDs) and sophomore receiver Brock McCoin (43-517, 2 TDs).
« Defensively, the Golden Eagles are bolstered by the return of Goff who missed the 2014 season with a shoulder injury. The senior led Tennessee Tech in total tackles in 2012 and 2013. Senior linebacker Jay Rudwall was the Golden Eagles' third-leading tackler in 2014 and is the top returning tackler with 101 stops.
« This is the first meeting between the two teams.
TIES WITH TENNESSEE TECH |
« Houston running backs coach Kenith Pope spent four seasons (1991-94) as linebackers coach at Mississippi State, including two years (1991-92) on staff with Watson Brown, who served as the Bulldogs' offensive coordinator.
« Pope also worked with Tennessee Tech's defensive ends/outside linebackers coach Pat Donohoe who served as defensive assistant at Mississippi State after 12 years as Houston's linebackers and special teams coach (1980-92).
DEGREES IN HAND |
« Five Houston seniors entered the season having already earned an undergraduate degree. Alex Cooper, Ben Dew, Earl Foster, Logan Piper and Adam Schultz all completed degree requirements prior to this season.
« Nine additional Cougars will complete their degree requirements this December: Kyle Bullard, Hayden Daniels, Marcus Dillard, Kenneth Farrow, Nolan Frese, Zach Johnson, Cameron Malveaux, Damien Parris and Luke Stice.
2015 PRESEASON HONORS |
« Houston has been well-represented on 2015 preseason national watch lists. As of July 9, three Cougars have been named on prestigious national award lists as Kyle Bullard (Groza Award), Kenneth Farrow (Maxwell Award) and William Jackson III (Bednarik Award) were recognized among the nation's elite.
« Houston had two players named to Phil Steele's Preseason Third Team All-America team in Jackson and long snapper Nolan Frese.
« Dave Campbell's Texas Football Magazine tabbed senior Adrian McDonald as Texas' Best Defensive Back. The veteran Texas prognosticator named two Cougars in McDonald and linebacker Steven Taylor to his All-Texas Preseason First Team, while Trevon Stewart was tabbed Second Team.
« Houston was represented with three Preseason All-American Athletic Conference First Team selections (Farrow, Jackson, McDonald) by Phil Steele with Stewart named to Second Team.
« Athlon Sports' tabbed three (Farrow, Jackson, McDonald) to its Preseason First Team, while Stewart and receiver Demarcus Ayers were named to the Second Team.
ON THE OFFENSIVE |
« Since 2006, only Oregon (59,988) has racked up more offensive yards than Houston who has 58,709 yards in that time.
Rank Team Total Yards (06-present)
1. Oregon 59,988
2. Houston 58,709
3. Texas Tech 56,318
4. Oklahoma 56,038
5. Nevada 54,772
« Houston has scored in 185 straight games dating back to Sept. 30, 2000.
« Twenty-seven Houston scoring drives last season were less than two minutes with 14 less than one minute.
« Twenty-one scoring drives last season lasted four plays or less with four one-play touchdown drives.
« Houston outscored its 2014 opponents by 91 points in the fourth quarter (134-43).
THE WORD ON WARD |
« Named Houston's starting quarterback vs. Memphis last year, Greg Ward Jr. returned to a position he saw action at in 10 games as a true freshman in 2013. After seeing action at receiver and punt returner in the final four games of 2013, Ward moved to the position in spring of 2014 before returning back under center in the fifth game of 2014.
« Ward ranked ninth nationally in completion percentage last season, completing 67.3 percent of his passes, or 177-of-263 attempts.
« He became the 22nd passer in Houston history to throw for at least 2,000 yards in a season, finishing the year with 2,010 yards passing with 573 yards on the ground.
« He first returned to the QB position on Oct. 2 vs. UCF, finishing with 116 yards on 10-of-17 passing.
« In his first career start at Memphis on Oct. 11, Ward rushed for a game-best 95 yards including a 64-yard TD scamper. He finished with 188 yards on 17-of-28 passing including his second career passing TD.
« Ward moved to 2-0 when he led Houston to a win over Temple, finishing with an 88 percent completion rate and 268 yards with two touchdowns on 29-of-33 passing. Temple entered the game sixth nationally and first in The American with a pass efficiency defense of 97.1. Ward ended the night with an efficiency rating of 176.1.
« Ward threw for 336 yards on 30-of-45 passing in Houston's loss to Tulane, his first career 300-yard passing game. He added a second 300-yard game at Cincinnati a career-high 360 yards and two touchdowns on 27-of-45 passing.
« The first five games of the season saw Ward spend time as one of Houston's starting receivers and punt returner before making the switch to the backfield vs. UCF. He had 15 receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown while returning nine punts for 63 yards in the season's first five games.
« Houston added two transfer quarterbacks as part of its 2015 signing class, senior Adam Schulz (Utah) and sophomore Kyle Postma (Trinity Valley Community College).
« Schulz threw for 1,091 career yards and six touchdowns in eight career games with the Utes while rushing for 78 yards on 25 attempts
THUNDER & LIGHTNING |
« Houston's backfield features a thunder-and-lightning combo in seniors Kenneth Farrow and Ryan Jackson.
« The duo helped Houston to its most rushing yards (2,391)
since 2007 when the Cougars rushed for 2,911 yards last season. The two combined for nine 100-yard games in 2014, four more than any other team in The American. 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.
« With his 1,037 rushing yards in 2014, Farrow became the 24th player in Houston history to rush over 1,000 yards in a season and the first since Bryce Beall in 2008 with 1,247 yards. He also became the 14th 2,000-yard career rusher in Houston history and enters 2015 with 2,017 career rushing yards, ranking 14th on the career rushing yards chart.
« Farrow led The American with seven 100-yard rushing games last season with 130 vs. Grambling,113 vs. UNLV, 112 at USF, 116 vs. Tulsa, 110 vs. SMU, 143 at Cincinnati and 103 vs. Pitt. Houston was 6-1 in Farrow's century-mark games.
« He ended the year with four consecutive 100-yard games and enters 2015 ranked fifth nationally with his current streak.
« He ranks 13th in UH history with seven career 100-yard rushing games, nine away from the career record set by Robert Newhouse (1969-71). Houston is 6-1 in the games Farrow eclipses the century mark.
« Farrow led The American with 14 rushing touchdowns including nine in the final four games. The 14 TDs ranked second on the UH single-season charts, just one away from the season record of 15 set by Jackie Battle in 2006.
« Farrow 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 ranks ninth on the Houston career rushing touchdowns chart with 22 career scores with the record of 39 set by Bryce Beall from 2008-11.
« He was just four yards short of capturing The American's 2014 rushing crown, trailing Marlon Mack of USF's 1,041 yards.
« Jackson was seventh in The American last season with two 100-yard games, including a career-high 147 rushing yards vs. UNLV. Jackson owns five career 100-yard games with Houston undefeated when he eclipses the century mark on the ground.
« The two eclipsed the century mark in the same game for a second time in 2014 vs. Tulsa as Farrow rushed for 116 yards vs. the Golden Hurricane while Jackson ended the day with 103 rushing yards. UH enters 2015 with 51 games with two 100-yard rushers. The two also accomplished the feat vs. UNLV with Jackson rushing for 147 yards and Farrow 113 yards.
« The rushing attack will be of importance in 2015 as Houston averaged 246 rushing yards per game in its eight wins, but averaged just 86 yards per game in its five defeats.
« Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. also averaged 44.1 rushing yards per game, gaining 573 yards on the ground on 118 attempts, with Javin Webb averaging 44.3 yards per game in the three games he appeared in 2014.
STEPPING UP ON THE RECEIVING END |
« With the loss of five receivers combining for 77 career starts graduating from the program, Tom Herman will look at a number of options at the receiver spot in his first season at Houston. Junior Demarcus Ayers (11 career starts) and sophomore Steven Dunbar (two career starts) own the group's lone UH starts.
« The 2013 American Athletic Conference Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, Ayers was second on the team last season with 33 receptions for 335 yards and two touchdowns including a pivotal fourth quarter score in Houston's comeback win over Pitt in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Ayers had a break out game at Cincinnati with a career-best 10 receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown.
« 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, as 15 of his 20 receptions on the year resulted in a first down. He came close to doubling his season totals entering the Tulsa game, as prior to Nov. 22 he had nine receptions for 102 yards.
« The group was bolstered in June when Oregon transfer Chance Allen was ruled eligible immediately, entering 2015 classified as a junior with two seasons to play. While at Oregon, Allen pulled in five receptions for 98 yards and one touchdown with action in nine games in 2013 and five games in Oregon's march to the National Championship game in 2014.
« Redshirt-freshmen Isaiah Johnson and Latrell Martin join the mix in 2015 along with true freshman Devin Smith. Sophomores Donald Gage and John Leday look to return to form after missing 2014 with injuries while classmate Linell Bonner was placed on scholarship after a strong spring session.
« The tight end, a position not seen lately on the Houston roster, returns in 2015, led by junior Tyler McCloskey who pulled in two receptions for 16 yards as a fullback in 2014.
TAKE IT AWAY, DON'T GIVE IT AWAY |
« Over the last two seasons, no program has taken the ball away from opposing offenses more than Houston with 73 turnovers forced over 2013-14.
« The 2013 Houston defense led the nation with 43 forced turnovers - 18 fumbles (NCAA best) and 25 interceptions (second nationally). The 2014 edition ranked 11th nationally with 30 turnovers and eighth nationally with 19 interceptions.
« Combined with the hiring of Todd Orlando as Tom Herman's first defensive coordinator, the program's outlook for forcing turnovers is promising. Orlando's Utah State defense ranked eighth nationally with 59 turnovers forced over the last two seasons and tied Houston in 2014 with 30 turnovers forced and 19 interceptions.
« UH has forced multiple turnovers in 28 of its last 34 games. and had a 34-game turnover forced streak end at the season finale at Cincinnati. At the time, it was the longest active streak in the NCAA.
« A nation's best nine players had interceptions for Houston last season with eight accounting for 11 fumble recoveries.
« Adrian McDonald led Houston with eight turnovers - three fumble recoveries and five interceptions. Heading into the UCF game, McDonald had gained a turnover in seven straight games dating back to 2013.
« Three players had at least three interceptions for Houston as Trevon Stewart and Howard Wilson each had three picks along with McDonald's five.
« Houston converted its 30 turnovers into 17 scores, 56.7 percent, leading to 93 points on the year.
« Houston had three defensive touchdowns last season - two fumble recoveries in the end zone (Vincent Hall vs. Grambling and Adrian McDonald vs. Tulane) with one interception returned 29 yards for a TD vs. Tulane.
« If you haven't picked up on it yet, Stewart and McDonald are turnover machines. Stewart led the nation in 2013 with a combined 10 turnovers - interceptions (4) and fumble recoveries (6) while McDonald led The American in 2014 with eight turnovers - five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
« Entering its game vs. Houston, Memphis had just five turnovers in five games before the Cougars forced five turnovers alone (three interceptions, two fumbles). At one point in the second quarter, UH ended three straight Memphis drives with turnovers.
« Temple entered its game vs. Houston having turned the ball over just nine times through five games before the Houston defense forced four turnovers while UH did not have a single turnover offensively.
THIRD WARD DEFENSE |
« The 2014 defense continued to lower the scoring average, finishing with an average of 20.6 points per game, ranking 15th nationally. The defense gave up just 343.3 total yards per game, ranking 20th nationally.
« The Houston airspace was a no-fly zone as the Cougars led The American and ranked eighth nationally with 19 interceptions while ranking 18th nationally in pass efficiency defense at 111.65.
« UH allowed just 37 plays of 20 yards or more to lead the nation, and 16 plays of 30 yards or more, ranking eighth.
« Opponents threw just 27 passes of 20 yards or more, ranking eighth nationally.
« The defense pitched the 38th shutout in Houston history in the second game of the season, blanking Grambling in a 47-0 Houston win.
« With Todd Orlando at the helm for two of the seasons, the Utah State defense has ranked fourth nationally over the last four years, giving up an average of just 3.13 yards per rushing attempt.
« Orlando ranks eighth nationally among defensive coordinators with a third-down defensive percentage of 34.2 percent, allowing just 159 conversions on 465 attempts.
« His Utah State defense has ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense over the last two seasons, ranking 12th in 2014 (19.7 points per game) and seventh in 2013 (17.1). His attacking defense was fourth nationally in 2014 with 49 sacks and second with 114 tackles for loss.
TACKLING MACHINES |
« The 2014 season saw six Cougars account for 17 games with 10 or more tackles.
« Steven Taylor, who was Houston's second-leading tackler in 2014 with 76 stops, enters the season with seven career games with double-digit tackles.
« Trevon Stewart enters the year ranked third nationally among active players with 291 career stops and is one of just five players nationally with multiple seasons with triple-digit tackles.
ANYTHING BUT SECONDARY |
« The secondary group made a name for itself in the takeaway department in 2013, recording 29 of the team's 43 turnovers or 67 percent. And it returns 97 career starts with every starter from 2014 returning.
« The group had 19 of the 30 turnovers in 2014 with interceptions from Adrian McDonald (5), Trevon Stewart (3), Howard Wilson (3), William Jackson III (2), Lee Hightower and Earl Foster while McDonald (3) and Jackson (1) had fumble recoveries.
« Jackson, who was named a preseason All-American by Phil Steele, owns one starting corner role. In 2014, the rangy corner was second in The American with 10 pass breakups, while intercepting two passes, playing in man coverage.
« At free safety, Stewart has started 33 career games, earning FWAA Freshman All-America honors in 2012. The Patterson, La., native led the nation in 2013 with 10 turnovers (six fumble recoveries and four interceptions) and is third among all active players with 291 career tackles.
« A high school quarterback, McDonald led The American in 2014 with eight turnovers (five interceptions and three fumble recoveries) at his strong safety position.
« McDonald needs just three more interceptions and 60 interception return yards to set the Houston career records in both categories.
« Senior Lee Hightower joined the group in 2014 and started the first six games opposite of Jackson before suffering a season-ending leg injury vs. Memphis, the same game, in which the junior recorded his first interception at Houston.
« With Hightower lost for the season, Houston turned to other corners to make their mark including junior Brandon Wilson and sophomore Howard Wilson.
« Brandon Wilson made his first career start at BYU while Howard Wilson saw significant time at nickel back with interceptions vs. UNLV, Temple and Tulsa, receiving his first career start against the latter.
« Sophomore Khalil Williams also made his debut vs. the Owls, coming in at a safety position in the nickel package.
LOOK AT THE LINEBACKERS |
« With the loss of Derrick Mathews (45 career starts) and Efrem Oliphant (29 career starts), junior Steven Taylor (19 career starts) leads the group into a new frontier with a change to the 3-4 defense.
« Taylor owns seven career game with double-digit stops and is the team's returning leading tackler from 2014 with 76 stops on the year. He also led Houston on the year with nine tackles for loss and four sacks.
« Sophomore Matthew Adams moved into the starting lineup after a season-ending injury to Mathews midway thru the year last season and ended the year with three starts, totaling 40 tackles, including 4.5 for a loss.
« Junior Tyus Bowser makes the move from defensive end, where he earned three starts in his first two years, to outside linebacker while senior Luke Stice moves to inside linebacker after earning two career starts at fullback.
« Senior Elandon Roberts had 26 tackles in 2014 and will look to partner with Adams at the inside linebacker positions.
UP FRONT |
« Moving to a three-man front in 2015, the Houston defensive line returns three players with starting experience - senior Tomme Mark (15 career starts), junior B.J. Singleton (11 career starts) and junior Cameron Malveaux (one career start).
« The one career start may be misleading for Malveaux as the Beaumont, Texas, native enjoyed a breakout spring under the new coaching staff, earning the program's spring MVP honors. The 6-6, 270 lb., defensive end had 15 tackles in 2014, but is expecting to greatly increase that number in 2015 with an increased on-field presence.
« Mark and Singleton were a part of a four-man defensive tackle rotation in 2014 and will play along the line in 2015.
« The group was bolstered with the emergence of sophomore Nick Thurman. After seeing action in five games as a redshirt-freshman, the Dallas native provided a jump in the spring of 2015 at defensive tackle.
« Senior defensive tackle Melvin Holland earned a scholarship with his play in the spring and was highly lauded for his work, as was redshirt-freshman Zach Vaughan.
THE BOOK ON BULLARD |
« Senior Kyle Bullard took over as the team's placekicker in the seventh game of 2013 and has held the position ever since, being placed on scholarship in April of 2014. Bullard saw action in seven games in 2013 and connected on all 20 extra-point attempts. Bullard was perfect in his first season, hitting all six field goal attempts including a long of 46 yards at Louisville.
« Prior to this season, Bullard was named to the Lou Groza Award watch list for the second consecutive year. The Boerne, Texas, native was named a semifinalist for the award in 2014.
« He was 16-of-22 on field goal attempts last season and 42-of-47 on extra points. The season ranked seventh on the Houston single-season field goal chart as he ranks ninth on the UH career field goals chart with 22.
« Bullard set a program record with 18 consecutive made field goals last season after connecting on his first 12 of the season. 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 finished fifth among all players in The American with 90 points last season.
« He ranked third in The American with 16 field goals in 2014.
THE OTHER FOOT |
« Junior Ty Cummings holds the starting role as the team's kickoff specialist.
« Cummings had 21 touchbacks on 75 kickoffs last season with an average of 61.7 yards per attempt.
THE PIPER |
« Houston opened 2014 with two punters sharing the duties in Dylan Seibert and Logan Piper before Piper, now a senior, took over the starting role vs. UNLV.
« Piper joined the program in 2013 after two years with the Houston Baseball program.
« Piper had 43 punts on the year with an average of 39.3 yards per attempt. Nineteen resulted in fair catches and 13 landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He ended the year strong with a career-long 60-yard punt vs. Pitt in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
« 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.
THE RETURNS DEPARTMENT |
« At kick returner, Houston junior 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.
« Ayers is currently third on the Houston career kick return yards chart with 1,586 career yards. Ayers needs 119 yards to move into second.
« When Greg Ward Jr. moved to quarterback last season, Ayers took over the punt returner role for the Cougars. He finished the year with five returns for 22 yards.
« Ryan Jackson (3-38), Steven Dunbar (2-14), Javin Webb (1-24) and Tyler White (1-13) are additional returners with kick returns in 2014.
