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Houston Cougars (2000: 3-8) The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I-A teams, be sure to order the 2001 Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.
Coach and programBefore taking over the Houston program last year, Dimel was one of only 10 current Division I-A head coaches to have won at least seven games in every year in his career. In three years at Wyoming, Dimel's teams were 8-5, 8-3 and 7-4.In his first year trying to rebuild the Cougars' football program, however, Dimel left the sideline only three times as the winning coach. He didn't like it. It was his first season as a head coach with a losing record and the first time his team didn't win the conference championship. There were impressive victories over Army and Memphis, and Dimel set the stage for future success by redshirting 25 players. The offensive production of 350 yards per game kept Houston fans dreaming of a return to prominence for their once-storied program. Still, there were those eight losses. Dimel decided before spring practice that changes must be made. "One of our goals is to run the football program much better than we did last season,'' he said. "Both the production and efficiency need to increase in order for us to be a more effective offense." The Cougars return 43 lettermen, including eight offensive starters and six defensive starters. In order to have a winning season, Dimel must find a successor for four-year starting quarterback Jason McKinley, who finished his career with several school records and a nation's-best 41-game starting streak. Dimel doesn't want another losing record. He will move into the 2001 season with one goal: win the Conference USA championship. "We think having six home games is definitely a much better situation to be in rather than the four games we had last year," Dimel said. We feel that should be a big advantage for us. The first goal is to get us into the postseason play, and if we can get through a very tough month of September at .500 or better, I think we have a realistic shot at reaching this goal."
OffenseThe leading candidate to take over for McKinley is sophomore Bubba Teague (6-2, 190), who saw limited action last year as a backup. Because Teague is more mobile than McKinley, Houston may run more rollouts and options.The Cougars will have a three-player battle at running back between senior Leif Penn (5-9, 198) and juniors Chris Robertson (6-1, 220) and Joffrey Reynolds (5-10, 215). Penn finished last season as the Cougars' starter. Reynolds was No. 1 before suffering a toe injury. Robertson may be the sleeper of the group after sitting out 2000 after transferring from Texas. He has the size, speed and strength to be a factor in C-USA. The wide receiving duo of Brian Robinson (6-4, 220) and KeyKowa Bell (5-10, 185) returns ranked No. 2 in the nation in tandem receiving. Add in the return of All-America candidate Orlando Iglesias, a 6-3, 220 senior, and sophomore Brandon Middleton (5-11, 182), both of whom suffered season-ending injuries, and it's easy to understand why Dimel thinks he has the best receiving corps in Conference USA. Bell and Robinson combined for 134 catches and 1,612 yards in 2000. Iglesias caught 59 passes for 750 yards and two touchdowns in 1999 while Middleton's career numbers are 11 receptions for 463 yards and three touchdowns.
Defense and special teamsThe Cougars return only one defensive lineman for the second straight year. Back is senior Lee Ingersoll (6-3, 275), who is being moved from end to tackle this season.Junior college standout Bryan Hill (6-1, 285) and redshirt freshman Kendrick Goss (6-4, 270) have the inside track at tackle and end, respectively, facing competition from senior Robin Tremblay (6-2, 275) and junior-college transfer and former Florida Marlins' farmhand Quantaa Jackson (6-2, 250). A key for the Cougars will be replacing middle linebacker Wayne Rogers. Dimel believes Rogers' successor will be sophomore Justin Davis (6-2, 226), who sat out last season as a partial NCAA qualifier. Four of five backfield starters from 2000 return, led by outstanding senior Jason Parker (5-10, 180). Parker will be starting for the fourth straight year. A year ago, Parker led UH in passes defensed with 15 and was second on the team in interceptions with three. Dimel wasn't pleased with Houston's special teams last year. He wants to solidify the group this year, and must replace Mike Clark, who did the punting and place kicking last season. Freshman walk-on Dustin Bell (6-2, 210) and senior Jeff Patterson (6-1, 205) will compete for the place-kicking job. Patterson was the Cougars' top punter through the first half of the 1999 season.
Bottom lineNot having Teague present for spring drills didn't help solve the problem at quarterback, but Dimel did find out that Robertson could be an adequate starter or backup in the fall. Davis seems to be the answer as to who would replace Rogers at middle linebacker.The season begins on Sept. 1 when Rice invades "The Quinn'' for the season opener. The Cougars then travel to Georgia on Sept. 15 before coming home to play Texas and TCU. If the Cougars get through the first four games at 3-1 or 2-2, Dimel's streak should start once again. He endured his first losing season in 2000, and he didn't like it one bit. |
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