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Page 1: 76.001-082310-Sports

MondayAugust 23, 2010sports MondayAugust 23, 2010

Page 2: 76.001-082310-Sports

The Activities Funding Board at the University of Houston is a student-run financial organization which allocates funds to registered UH student organizations wishing to fund programs and conferences.

For More Information, visit us at www.uh.edu/afbor come by Activities Funding Board, Room 51, University CenterCall: 713-743-5183 Email: [email protected]

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© 2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a Delaware limited liability partnership) or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

It's football season!

GO COOGS!

Get your 2010 Cougar football schedule insert in Wednesday's Daily Cougar!

ADVERTISING PLACEMENT Monday, August 23, 2010 ADVERTISING PLACEMENT Monday, August 23, 2010

2 n Monday, August 23, 2010 SportS The Daily Cougar

By John Brannenthe daily cougar

Last season’s 10-win campaign has senior quarterback Case Keenum eager to lead the Cougars to greater heights this year.

Keenum’s career passing yard-age is at 12,950; Hawaii’s Timmy Chang holds the all-time NCAA record with 17,072 yards. Keenum has two consecutive 5,000-yard seasons under his belt, and one more will easily shatter Chang’s mark.

Records aside, Keenum said there is another number he is more concerned with.

“The only stat that I’m worried about is the win-loss column,“ he said. “We’ll do whatever it takes to get a win. It doesn’t matter who is scoring the touchdowns. Win every game 3-0, that’s fine with me.”

Keenum, who is a legitimate candidate for the Heisman Tro-phy, has been added to a galore of award watch lists. But even with all the attention focused on Keenum heading into his final season, he is quick to credit team-mates for his success.

“Football is a team sport,” he said. “I was watching our receivers work out in the summer and I told

somebody, ‘Man, our receivers make me look good. They make us look good.’ They do a great job at that.

“If it weren’t for those guys none of it would be possible. If it wasn’t for the offensive line, too. It’s a deal where it takes everybody involved to make our machine work.”

A chance for moreHad Keenum opted to go into

the NFL draft after last season, he would have left as one of the most

decorated quarterbacks in UH history. Instead, Keenum stayed, giving himself the chance to pol-ish his legacy even more.

“I do think it’s a great oppor-tunity this year that we have,” Keenum said. “We’re really excited about what we have in front of us. You don’t get to do this very often and it’s exciting to see what’s going to happen.”

Throughout the offseason, Keenum worked to take his game

Quarterback Case Keenum hopes to lead the Cougars to a Conference-USA championship, and finish his collegiate career in style. He is on pace to become the NCAA’s all-time passing leader. | Daily Cougar File Photo

Senior quarterback hopes to lead teamvocally and by example

Player Profile

Keenum poised for super season

KeeNUM continues on page 3

issue CreditsEDITORSJohn BrannenChristopher Losee

PHOTO EDITORKendra Berglund

COPY EDITORSRonnie TurnerJack Wehman

PRODUCTIONBen MuthsSarah Neill

Page 3: 76.001-082310-Sports

The Activities Funding Board at the University of Houston is a student-run financial organization which allocates funds to registered UH student organizations wishing to fund programs and conferences.

For More Information, visit us at www.uh.edu/afbor come by Activities Funding Board, Room 51, University CenterCall: 713-743-5183 Email: [email protected]

Need money for your Need money for your next student event?next student event?Leave the piggy alone and talk to AFB.

need money 3x8 012210.indd 1 8/18/10 12:44:45 PM

5621 Hillcroft Street Houston, TX 77036

(713) 266-6225www.houstoncarstereo.com

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80 100 120 140 160 180

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AMAZINGDEALS!QUALITY

SAME DAYINSTALLATION

10% OFF Any Radio with Two Speakers

CAR ALARMS w/Life Time Warranty ONLY $159.99

- iPOD Adapters for Car Stereos

- Satellite/XM/HD Radio

- Bluetooth Hands-free

- Radar Detectors

- Subwoofers

- Navigation GPS

- Window Tinting

MORE IN STOCK! Contact Us for info!

Action Ahmad

Jawad Ahmad doesn’t wait for success to find him. Every day, he’s showing the world what he’s made of. Every day, he’s feeding his life, his career and his future.

Feed your future at www.pwc.tv

© 2010 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a Delaware limited liability partnership) or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity. We are proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer.

It's football season!

GO COOGS!

Get your 2010 Cougar football schedule insert in Wednesday's Daily Cougar!

ADVERTISING PLACEMENT Monday, August 23, 2010 ADVERTISING PLACEMENT Monday, August 23, 2010

The Daily Cougar SportS Monday, August 23, 2010 n 3

to a higher level, living by the phrase “if you aren’t getting better, you’re getting worse.” He worked with the UH baseball team, learning a stretching routine that will help his arm strength and the velocity of his throws.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin said he feels it is hard to improve upon an already productive career.

“I don’t know how much bet-ter you can be than leading the country,” he said. “If you have a statistic better than that, well I don’t think there is one.

“Obviously he has made strides every year he’s been here. Each year we sit down and we talk about where we can improve as a team and individually, and he’s the first one in the door at the end of the season wanting to know how he can get better. I don’t think there’s anyone that works harder in the offseason than him, not only on the field and weight room but watching video.”

Redshirt crucial to successBecoming an elite signal

caller did not come instantly for Keenum. Like many players, he sat out his freshman year with a redshirt.

“Being redshirted was a big part of me developing as a player,” Keenum said. “Being able to watch Kevin Kolb at that time, and the things he went through. Physically, I had to grow up. I was a skinny little punk when I came in.

“There’s a few players that can come in and contribute as a fresh-man. We’ve had a few of those guys who are extremely talented, but I was not at that time. I had to develop physically and mentally.”

Like Kolb, Keenum said he hopes his leadership will leave the other quarterbacks on the team with a better understanding of the game.

“I’d like to leave them with as much advice as I can,” he said. “Hopefully they’ll see what I do right and what I do wrong. There are a lot of different ways to get the job done, and everybody plays a different way, but I think you can learn things from what went right and what went wrong from everybody’s standpoint.”

Before the Cougars’ first week of practice, Keenum took part in a media blitz to increase the foot-ball program’s notoriety. Keenum went to New York City and the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn., for numerous television appearances and radio interviews.

“It was cool and a lot of fun. It was a different experience for me, but anything to get the name of the University of Houston out there,” Keenum said.

Football pedigreeKeenum’s father, Steve,

excelled as a coach at the high school and college levels. With football being such a strong element in his family history, Keenum said he would like to pursue a career in coaching when his playing days are over.

“It’s in my blood. It’s something I’ve grown up around. I wouldn’t know what I was doing if I wasn’t getting ready for something on Saturdays. I’d like to play as long as they let me, but I think football is something that’s going to be a part of my life for a long time.”

[email protected]

KEENUMcontinued from page 2

We at The Daily Cougar sports desk aim to provide the UH com-munity with the most up to date coverage of UH Athletics. Our priority is fair and informative reporting in all sports on campus.

Not only will we cover games, but getting to know athletes at UH is crucial to us as well. Our goal is to regularly run feature stories so readers can get a better understanding of Cougar student-athletes. Sports tug at people’s most tender heartstrings. Those who participate wow us, and sometimes accomplish superhu-man endeavors. This is why we watch. With profiles, it shows that despite the athletic prowess of

your favorite UH athlete, they are still regular people.

In order to accomplish these wishes, we need help from the UH community. We welcome criticism and strongly encourage students to contribute to our section. As the University seeks Tier 1 status, the Athletics Department is striv-ing to regain national relevance.

If you have any suggestions or want to work for The Daily Cougar, give the sports desk a ring at 713-743-5303, or send us an e-mail.

Good luck this semester, and Go Coogs.

[email protected]

a note from the editors

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4 n Monday, August 23, 2010 SportS The Daily Cougar

faN BUZZ

Fans to play pivotal role for teamBy John Brannen the daily cougar

Thousands of students flocking back to campus for the start of the fall semester signal that football season is fast approaching.

Though last season’s team won 10 games and made a bowl game, the year ended on a sour note with back-to-back crushing losses. In the Conference USA Championship game against East Carolina the Cougars fell short by six points, and in the Armed Forces Bowl, Air Force stomped on the Cougars 47-20.

This year the coaches, players and fans alike are hoping the Cougars become a dominant force on the national level.

Head coach Kevin Sumlin said that support from Cougar nation could play a significant factor in the 2010 campaign.

“It’s very important for us just because we are in the growth stages of our program,” Sumlin said.

“Our fans, as I said last year, I think people take for granted the effect that our fans have on our team. The more people we have here, the louder this place is, and our fans can make it even more difficult.”

Last season, the Cougars defeated the then-No. 5 Oklahoma State Cowboys and followed it the next week with a thrilling victory

against Texas Tech. Robertson Stadium was sold out for the Texas Tech game, and it was the largest audience in the history of the venue with 32,114 people.

Supporters did not show up in full force for the games that did not have as much excitement surrounding them, such as the homecoming game against SMU when 26,889 showed up. The game against Southern Miss ended up being a nail-biter when the Cougars scraped by 50-43. Only 20,125 spectators attended.

Sumlin said he feels this team can create more fanfare with solid play.

“Our players and our coaches, we are all really appreciative of the people that show up regularly and hopefully we are generating some new fans,” Sumlin said.

The football program gave back to the fans this summer, hosting a fan appreciation day Aug. 14. Fans were treated to a scrimmage, and afterward coaches and players signed autographs and took pictures with fans. Despite the blistering heat, fans showed up to get a glimpse of the team.

Quarterback Case Keenum said the fans showing up in masses gives the Cougars an upper hand.

“It’s awesome to see the fans out here like they are, battling the heat,” Keenum said. “We

appreciate them coming out anytime they come out. It’s huge for us. We love playing here at the Rob. It’s definitely a home-field advantage for us.”

UH alumnus and season-ticket

holder Ignacio Salazar said he is looking forward to what he hopes will be one of the most successful seasons in decades.

“This year is going to be a very exciting season. Probably one

you haven’t seen since 1989, and I think you are going to see a lot more fans out than in the past with our offense being No. 1,”

With the success of last season, the Cougars are hoping for a packed house Sept. 4 for the season opener versus Texas State. | Daily Cougar File Photo

faN BUZZcontinues on page 7

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The Daily Cougar SportS Monday, August 23, 2010 n 5

DefeNSive Preview

Defense takes on new philosophyBy Christopher loseethe daily cougar

The UH defense shifting from a 4-3 scheme to a 3-4 marks one of the major transitions the team underwent in the offseason.

“Getting the right people in the right position is the key force mov-ing from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Now, we are going to have to develop some depth,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said.

“The defensive backs that we signed in this class are going to have the chance to compete for some starting jobs or add depth to what I think is a great group of linebackers.”

Under the command of first-year defensive coordinator Brian Stewart, the new defensive front consists of three linemen and four linebackers. The 3-4 philosophy relies on the speed and agility of four linebackers to survey the offense, recognize patterns in pass coverage and hit the gaps against the rush. Pressure created by the linebackers and defensive linemen will allow safeties and cornerbacks to cover receiving sets.

“I like what Coach Stewart is doing as far as disguising coverage and not just sitting there,” Sumlin said. “We are not going to be a bend-but-don’t-break defense. We tried that, and it didn’t work too well, so let’s try something else.”

A catalyst for changeThe defense showed signs of

wear and tear after the team made an eye-opening 8-1 start in 2009. With the final two games of the sea-son having declawed the Cougars’ defense, Sumlin and staff hope to have found an answer for a defense that finished 111th out of 120 Foot-ball Bowl Subdivision programs.

“We kind of got pushed around a little bit, not a little bit, but a lot in the games that we lost going back and looking at it,” he said.

Sumlin said the key losses were motivation for the offseason, but had nothing to do with scheduled practices leading into the 2010 season.

“Last year is last year,” he said. “What you can do is learn from your mistakes and not let them happen to you again. And I think that is all we can ask our guys to do.”

The defense managed, while the offense dominated to propel the Cougars to a season-high No. 12 ranking after beating a top-five team and a 10-4 finish that was the program’s best since 1990.

Sumlin said that one way to look at it was that the defense could not get any worse.

“We are on the right path. I think it (the 3-4 defense) gives to our speed, our linebackers and puts more of them on the field, which is going to help us,” he said.

Listening to the playersReturning to lead the Cougars’

defense is the nation’s fifth leading tackler, Marcus McGraw, who is eager to start his junior season as middle linebacker. McGraw is only one of five returning defensive starters.

He said that this defense should surpass that of last year’s.

With the installation of a new 3-4 front, defensive tackle David Hunter and the rest of the squad are looking to frustrate more offenses in 2010. | Daily Cougar File Photo

“I think we are a lot better,” McGraw said. “I mean we are a little bit more excited about playing a new defense. We are out here learning a little bit more, and we are trying to become a better defense overall.”

McGraw’s veteran role as middle linebacker hasn’t changed, but other players have taken on differ-ent roles.

“For me, I am still playing in the middle, so there is not much of change for me,” McGraw said. “But we do have a few guys that went from defensive end now to playing standup linebacker. So we may have a few people playing different positions.”

Another player in which the defense relies on is defensive end David Hunter and his formidable, 295-pound frame. Hunter, like McGraw, believes that this

DefeNSe continues on page 7

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6 n Monday, August 23, 2010 SportS The Daily Cougar

2O 10

OUTLOOKCOmpiLed by phiLippe Craig

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HoUSToN CoUGarS

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TUlSa GolDeN HUrriCaNe

TUlaNe GreeN wave

UTeP MiNerS

SMU MUSTaNGS

eaST CaroliNa PiraTeS

SoUTHerN MiSS GolDeN eaGleS

MeMPHiS TiGerS

UCf GolDeN KNiGHTS

MarSHall THUNDeriNG HerD

UaB BlaZerS

Outlook: After taking so many lumps last season, Rice will probably take some more on opening week as it welcomes national power Texas to Reliant Stadium. The Owls get a break the following week as they travel to Texas State, but face another Big 12 foe in Baylor two weeks down the line. In C-USA play, facing SMU, UTEP and UH to open the schedule will be tough, but if the Owls can pull out two wins they should be in good shape the rest of the way and bowl eligible by year’s end.Will be a contender if: The lumps the Owls took last season turn into bits of confidence this year.

2009 record: 2-10 (2-6 C-USA)Head coach: David Bailiff, 4th season; 36-37 career (15-22 at Rice) Key losses: WRs Taylor Wardlow, Toren Dixon; FS

Andrew SendejoKey returnees: SS Travis Bradshaw; QB Nick Fannuzi; RB Charles Ross; DLs Cheta Ozougwu, Scott Solomon

Outlook: The Golden Hurricane will know right off the bat if it has what it takes as it travels to East Carolina for an opening-week game against the defending C-USA champions on ESPN2. Things don’t get any easier from there, with Tulsa taking on in-state rival Oklahoma State 13 days later on the road. A three-game stretch against UH (road), UTEP (home) and Southern Miss (road) to close out the season should be tough but not impossible, and if Tulsa can manage to win two of the three, it could find itself back in the C-USA title game for the first time since 2008..

2009 record: 5-7 (3-5 C-USA)Head coach: Todd Graham, 4th season; 33-20 career (26-14 at Tulsa)Key losses: WR Slick Shelley; TE Jake Collums; CB

Kenny Sims; LB Mike Bryan Key returnees: DE Cory Dorris; FS Dexter McColl; WRs Rickey Johnson, Damaris Johnson; QB G.J. Kinne

Outlook: Tulane will get an early idea as to what type of season it’s in for as it faces Ole Miss, UH and Rutgers in Weeks 2 through 4. The Green Wave will dodge LSU this year, but face Tulsa and UTEP on the road to open C-USA play.Will be a contender if: Opponents spend too much time on Bourbon Street the nights before games. About the only thing the Green Wave has to look forward to is playing seven of its 12 games in the friendly comforts of the Louisiana Superdome, but even that may not make a difference. As talented as quarterback Ryan Griffin is, he just doesn’t have the weapons on offense to compete with the more explosive teams in C-USA.

2009 record: 3-9 (1-7 C-USA)Head coach: Bob Toledo, 4th season; 87-95 career (9-27 at Tulane)Key losses: WR Jeremy Williams; RB Andre Anderson;

DE Logan KelleyKey returnees: QB Ryan Griffin; WR Casey Robottom; S Shakeil Smith

Outlook: After opening with a cookie in Arkansas-Pine Bluff at home, the Miners travel to Robertson Stadium to take on the revenge-minded UH Cougars for a nationally televised Friday night game. Closing out the season with road games at Arkansas and Tulsa could close UTEP's coffin or propel it into a December bowl game.Will be a contender if : The switch on defense from a 3-3-5 to a 4-3 base keeps opponents off the field long enough to let the Miners go to work.

2009 record: 4-8 (3-5 C-USA)Head coach: Mike Price, 7th season; 163-160 career (34-38 at UTEP)Key losses: WR Jeff Moturi; DE Aaron King

Key returnees: RB Donald Buckram; QB Trevor Vittatoe; WR Kris Adams

Outlook: Like many C-USA schools, SMU stacked its schedule early and could enter the heart of the C-USA schedule either bruised and battered or tougher for it. After opening the season at Texas Tech, the Mustangs host UAB and Washington State before playing BCS-buster TCU in their back yard. SMU gets UH at home, where the Cougars have struggled in recent years, but faces tough C-USA road games at UTEP and defending champion East Carolina to close out the campaign. Will be a contender if: Head coach June Jones and his young offense can build on a breakout 2009 season, which saw them vie for the C-USA West title late into the year.

2009 record:8-5 (6-2 C-USA)Head coach: 3rd season; 84-57 career (9-16 at SMU)Key losses: RB Shawnbrey McNeal; WR Emmanuel Sanders; DBs Rock Dennis, Bryan McCann

Key returnees: QB Kyle Padron; WRs Cole Beasley, Aldrick Robinson; LT Kelvin Beachum; Des Taylor Thompson, Marquis Frazier

Outlook: The two-time defending C-USA champs have their work cut out for them early, as the Pirates host Tulsa on ESPN2 to open the season and two weeks later travel to Blacksburg, Va., to take on Virginia Tech. Road games at North Carolina and Southern Miss the following two weeks could make or break ECU’s season, but it does avoid West powers UH and UTEP, so a return to the C-USA title game is not out of the question.Will be a contender if: New head coach Ruffin McNeill successfully implements his Texas Tech-style offense while grooming a new signal caller to replace Patrick Pinkney and the defense can find leaders early in the season.

2009 record: 9-5 (7-1 CUSA)Head coach: Ruffin McNeill, 1st season; 1-0 career (0-0 at ECU)Key losses: QB Patrick Pinkney; RB Dominique Lind-

say; LB Jeremy Chambliss; Key returnees: WRs Dwayne Harris, Andrew Bodenheimer; CBs Travis Simmons, Emanuel Davis

Outlook: The Knights have a somewhat favorable schedule this season and did a good job of balancing tough non-conference games (North Carolina State, at Kansas State) with semi-softies (South Dakota, at Buffalo), so by the time they hit league play should have a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses. UCF faces a stiff challenge in the second half, taking on defending C-USA champ East Carolina and UH in consecutive weeks, with the contest against the Cougars a nationally televised Friday night game.

2009 record: 7-6 (5-3 C-USA)Head coach: Larry Fedora, 3rd season; 14-12 career (14-12 at Southern Miss)Key losses: RBs Damion Fletcher, Tory Harison; WR

Gerald Baptiste Key returnees: QB Austin Davis; WR DeAndre Brown; RB Tracy Lampley;

Outlook: As far as league schedules go, Memphis has their hands full with back-to-back home games against UH and Southern Miss, two early favorites to win the West Division. Memphis also travels to UTEP and has consecutive road games against Marshall and UAB before finishing the year by hosting UCF. Things don’t get any easier outside of C-USA play with games at Mississippi State and Louisville on the schedule as well as a home date with in-state rival Tennessee. Overall, it should be a long season for Porter and Co.Will be a Contender if: New head coach Larry Porter can work a miracle.

2009 record: 2-10 (1-7 C-USA)Head coach: Larry Porter, 1st season; 0-0 careerKey losses: RB Curtis Steele; WRs Duke Calhoun, Carlos Singleton

Key returnees: QBs Tyler Bass, Cannon Smith; DE Winston Bowens; LB Jamon Hughes; CB Marcus Ball

Outlook: The Knights have a somewhat favorable schedule this season and did a good job of balancing tough non-conference games (North Carolina State, at Kansas State) with semi-softies (South Dakota, at Buffalo), so by the time they hit league play should have a good idea of their strengths and weaknesses. UCF faces a stiff challenge in the second half, taking on defending C-USA champ East Carolina and UH in consecutive weeks, with the contest against the Cougars a nationally televised Friday night game.Will be a contender if: Someone steps up to fill the void left by quarterback Brent Hodges.

2009 record: 8-5 (6-2 C-USA)Head coach: Geoge O’Leary, 7th season; 86-74 career (34-41 at UCF)Key losses: QB Brent Hodges; DT Travis Timmons

Key returnees: DE Bruce Mill-er; CBs Josh Robinson, Justin Boddie; RB Brynnn Harvey

Outlook: The good news for Holliday and Co. is that non-conference games have no bearing C-USA race, but that doesn’t make Marshall’s opening stretch any easier. The Thundering Herd open at Ohio State and a week later host West Virginia. They close out the non-conference slate with a game at Bowling Green and a home date with Ohio, before playing eight straight against C-USA foes. Marshall dodges UH, but opens league play with games against Southern Miss and East powers UCF and East Carolina, which should go a long way toward determining if it sinks or swims.

2009 record: 7-6 (4-4 C-USA)Head coach: Doc Holliday, 1st season; 0-0 careerKey losses: RB Darius Marshall; TE Cody Slate; CB DeQuan Bembry

Key returnees: WRs Antavious Wilson, Aaron Dobson; RB Martin Ward; DT Michael Janac; DE Vinny Curry; LB Mario Harvey

Outlook: Opening the season against Florida Atlantic should provide an opportunity to fatten up early, but the real death run comes at the end of September. The Blazers take on Tennessee and UCF on the road then face UTEP at home before going back on the road for games at Mississippi State and Southern Miss. If they can keep their head above water during that five-game gauntlet, the Blazers could be bowl eligible in 2010. Will be a contender if: The offensive line can protect new quarterback David Isabelle and head coach Neil Callaway can find some way to replace Joe Webb’s offensive contribution. With Webb basically being the Blazers’ entire offense last season, not many players bring a track record of playmaking ability to the table.

2009 record: 5-7 (4-4 C-USA)Head coach: Neil Callaway, 4th season; 11-25 career (11-25 at UAB)Key losses: K/P Swayze Waters, LB Joe Henderson

Key returnees: WRs Frantell Forrest, Roddell Carter; S Hiram Atwater; TE Jeffery Anderson

Outlook: UH faces tough C-USA road games at SMU and Southern Miss and look to avenge losses at UTEP and UCF when it hosts the Miners and Knights for nationally televised games. As usual, the Cougars stacked their non-conference schedule and will travel to UCLA and Texas Tech and welcome the Mississippi State Bulldogs to Robertson Stadium.Will be a contender if: Its defense finally shows some ability to stop opponents on a consistent basis. While the Cougars put up record offensive numbers, they found themselves in some shootouts they couldn’t win. New defensive coordinator Brian Stewart brings an NFL background to a unit that statistically ranked near the bottom of most catego-ries last season and is changing from a 4-3 to a 3-4, in hopes of utilizing UH’s strength at linebacker.

2009 record: 10-4 (6-2 C-USA) )Head coach: Kevin Sumlin, 3rd season; 18-9 career (18-9 at UH)Key losses: C Carl Barnett; LB C.J. Cavness; CB Bran-

don Brinkley; RB Charles Sims Key returnees: QB Case Keenum; WRs Patrick Edwards, Tyron Carrier, James Cleveland; LBs Marcus McGraw,

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The Daily Cougar SportS Monday, August 23, 2010 n 7

transition complements the athleti-cism of the defense.

“We’ve got a lot of good guys coming in, a lot of good freshman, guys that really added great pieces to the puzzle,” Hunter said.

“I think it’s been a great move for everybody on the defense, and it gives everybody a lot of versatility.”

He said that when the Cougars open their season against Texas State on Sept. 4, fans would see a different defense on the field at Robertson Stadium. The 3-4 scheme has given a different philosophy for a defensive squad that is eager to make a statement this season.

“Collectively as a unit, we are

more together,” Hunter said. “We know where everybody is going to be at, everybody is a lot of closer than we were last (year), so when we get out there on the field every-body is going to see that.”

Newcomers expected to make contribution

The Cougars added much needed talent to their defensive line. The strength and agility of newcomers Matangi Tonga and Sammy Brown provide the support upfront that was absent from last year’s defense.

Tonga will spend his last year of athletic eligibility on the defensive line playing for the Cougars. Tonga came to UH from the College of San Mateo in California. The 6-2 defensive lineman will take on a significant role in the 3-4 set.

Brown arrived at UH coming from Mississippi Gulf Coast Com-munity College where he played linebacker. At 6-3 and 232 pounds, he will remain at linebacker. Brown is in his junior year in eligibility, so his value on the squad is becoming evident.

Sumlin said that his coaching staff has worked hard in recruiting caliber players, such as Brown and Tonga.

“The addition of those four linebackers and Sammy Brown probably being the guy with the most experience from the spring will really help us,” Sumlin said.

“We went out and recruited big-time defensive linemen. I think our three starting defensive linemen are legitimate guys.”

[email protected]

DEFENSEcontinued from page 5

Salazar said.“This year is going to be a real

special year.” Other fans are pumped for the

national recognition UH received during the summer.

Keenum appeared on mul-tiple ESPN programs to rally for support.

“Case’s Heisman candidacy is through the roof. He’s been on ESPN and other interviews as well. He’s got a heck of a shot this year,” alumnus Anthony Bovi said.

Last year when the Cougars were ranked 12th after a 3-0 start, some pundits said that UH could play spoiler and reach a coveted BCS game.

This season, the Cougars have a legitimate chance to win every game on their schedule, which should lead to UH being dis-cussed in the national picture.

.. “They can do it; the defense just has to improve,” Bovi said.

Some of the Cougars away games include a stop at Gerald J. Ford Stadium to play SMU in Dallas, not too far of a trip for Cougar faithful. Even closer is the Cougars October 16 rivalry game against Rice

The Cougars hope to get off to a quick start, with four of their first five games played at home. The season kicks off Sept. 4 against Texas State, and less than a week later, the Cougars host UTEP on Sept. 10.

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FAN BUZZcontinued from page 4

Page 8: 76.001-082310-Sports

AquAtics/sAfetyswim Lessons, scuBA & trips,

Master swim, century club, & first Aid/cPR

OutdOOR AdventuReOutings, Gear shop, educational

Workshops, L.i.f.t. & Resource Guide

fitnessGroup fitness, Personal training,

fitness Assessments, & Martial Arts

fAcuLty & stAffAnnual Golf tournament,

cougar distance challenge & family nights

sPORts cLuBscollegiate non-varsity competition

& Leadership

intRAMuRAL sPORtLeague, individual competition

& tournaments

yOuthMartial Arts, swim Lessons

& family nights

713-743-PLAy www.uh.edu/recreationCampus Recreation reports to the Division of Student Affairs.

PROGRAMS

53-foot climbing Wall

fitness Zone & indoor track

& Much More...Racquetball courts,

Multi-Purpose Rooms

natatorium, Outdoor Leisure Pool, Whirlpools & sauna

child care, Locker Room & showers

Basketball, volleyball, & Badminton courts

Experience it!

ADVERTISING PLACEMENT Monday, August 23, 2010

8 n Monday, August 23, 2010 SportS The Daily Cougar