SB Nation Houston - Houston Vs. Marshall: Case Keenum Now All-Time NCAA Total Offense Leaderhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46691/houston-fave.png2011-10-24T17:29:47-05:00http://houston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/22713522011-10-24T17:29:47-05:002011-10-24T17:29:47-05:00Cougars To The Big East? Houston's Board Of Regents Approve Chancellor To Stay Or Leave C-USA
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<p>With conference realignment the soup du jour, Houston's Board of Regents have made a decision to uplift the Cougars into big-time college football. Per the Associated Press:</p>
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<p>Houston regents will meet Thursday to authorize the school chancellor to negotiate a move to a new conference. #cougars #cusa #bigeast - <a href="http://twitter.com/AP_Top25/status/128578652072980481" target="_blank">@AP_Top25</a> via Twitter</p>
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<p>Per <a href="http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/skhanjr/~SwycY">Sam Khan of the Houston Chronicle</a>:</p>
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<p>Exact wording regarding conference affiliation on<a href="http://search.twitter.com/search?q=+%23UH" target="_blank"> #UH</a> BOR meeting agenda: "Approval is requested to delegate authority to the Chancellor to negotiate and execute a contract for athletic conference affiliation and to negotiate and provide notice of contract cancellation as necessary."</p>
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<p>So what does all of this mean?</p>
<p>The Cougars have given their leadership permission to leave Conference-USA and make a deal to give their football program a promotion. Houston could have to wait as soon as a few weeks or as long as a few months due to their status in pecking order. The SEC will have to decide if Missouri will be the 14th member of their conference and the Big 12 will have to decide if Missouri leaves, then who will replace them. West Virginia? BYU?</p>
<p>Houston could look to supplement what TCU was thought to bring to the Big East when it initially signed last year, before reneging on their agreement and joining the Big 12 a few weeks ago.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/24/2511644/cougars-to-the-big-east-houstons-board-of-regents-approve-chancellorEddie Maisonet2011-10-24T15:00:49-05:002011-10-24T15:00:49-05:00Case Keenum, Ryan Tannehill Named 2011 Davey O'Brien Award Semifinalists
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<p>After leading Houston to a 7-0 record and becoming the NCAA's career leader in total offense this weekend, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a> QB <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15573/case-keenum">Case Keenum</a> is beginning to receive some national acclaim, <a href="http://blog.daveyobrien.org/2011/10/24/2011-davey-obrien-semifinalists/">as he was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien award</a>, given to the top college QB in the country.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1163421/index.htm">given the huge numbers of college QB's coming from the Texas high school ranks in recent years</a>, he's joined by a few Big 12 QB's: Texas A&M's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/8646/ryan-tannehill">Ryan Tannehill</a>, Oklahoma's Landry Jones, Texas Tech's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37972/seth-doege">Seth Doege</a> and Baylor's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35519/robert-griffin-iii">Robert Griffin III</a>.</p>
<p>Tannehill, after taking over the QB job as a junior last season, has emerged as a star in his own right, completing 65.3% of his passes for 2,005 yards with 16 TD's and 5 INT's this season. CBS Sports <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2012">currently has him</a> as the No. 8 senior prospect in the country among all positions, and first as among QB's, as Stanford's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/37738/andrew-luck">Andrew Luck</a> is still only a redshirt junior.</p>
<p>Keenum, meanwhile, is viewed more skeptically by NFL scouts due to his size, his age as a sixth-year senior as well as his level of competition in a non-BCS conference. CBS Sports <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/TSX/2012_QB">has him as the No. 10 senior QB in the country</a>, behind such luminaries as East Carolina's Dominique Davis.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/24/2511303/case-keenum-ryan-tannehill-named-2011-davey-obrien-award-semifinalistsJonathan Tjarks2011-10-22T19:09:35-05:002011-10-22T19:09:35-05:00Houston Vs. Marshall Score: Case Keenum Sets NCAA Record In A Route, 63-28
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<p>The <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars" class="sbn-auto-link">Houston Cougars</a> kept their dominating streak alive for another week and improved to 7-0 by easily defeating the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd" class="sbn-auto-link">Marshall Thundering Herd</a> 63-28. Prior to this game some Marshall players wanted to <a href="http://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/21/2505422/Marshall-Thundering-Herd-Injure-Case-Keenum-Classless/in/2271352" target="_blank">take out Keenum by injuring</a> him so that they could see the backup. Well, Marshall did get to see Cotton Turner who is Keenum's back up, but it was due to how well Keenum was performing and not for taking him out.</p>
<p>In this game Keenum surpassed former Hawaii quarterback Timmy Chang to become the all-time total yards leader in NCAA history. Chang had 16,910 yards and Keenum surpassed that in the first half and ended up with over 17,000 total yards once he came out of the game.</p>
<p>On the day Keenum was nearly perfect by completing 24-for-28 passes for 376 yards and six touchdowns. One stat that is more amazing than Keenum's line is that Houston only held the ball for 17:42 and managed to put up 63 points.</p>
<p>Houston is now 7-0 and puts their undefeated record on the line against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/rice-owls" class="sbn-auto-link">Rice Owls</a>.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/22/2507456/houston-marshall-case-keenumJeremy Mauss2011-10-22T18:57:56-05:002011-10-22T18:57:56-05:00Case Keenum Is New NCAA Career Leader In Total Offense
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15573/case-keenum">Case Keenum</a> is in the process of having yet another amazing game, and in today's game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd">Marshall Thundering Herd</a> he surpassed former Hawaii Warrior quarterback Timmy Chang to become the all-time total offense leader. Keemum came into Saturday's game with 16,781 yards to Chang's had 16,910 total yards and Keenum surpassed that amount early in the first half of this game.</p>
<p>The game is still in progress, but Keenum has been given the fourth quarter off after throwing 24-for-28, 376 yards and six touchdowns. Once Keenum surpassed the17,000 total career yards amount and he is on pace to have his third 5,000 passing yard season of his career.</p>
<p>As for the actual game, Houston is routing the Marshal Thundering Herd 63-28 late in the fourth quarter. As for Marshall's players who wanted to see the backup at Houston did get their wish and are facing backup Cotton Turner, but it was not due to injury as some Herd players hinted at prior to this game.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/22/2507316/case-keenum-ncaa-passing-recordJeremy Mauss2011-10-21T14:39:01-05:002011-10-21T14:39:01-05:00Marshall's Goal: Injure Keenum
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<p>Let me make a potentially radical disclaimer before I get into the meat of what has been said. I believe that every team Houston has faced since Case Keenum's injury has been aware of his hurt knee, and eager to take any shot at him, within the confines of the rules.</p>
<p>Saturday's opponent, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd" class="sbn-auto-link">Marshall Thundering Herd</a>, are taking things a step too far, however. Apparently, looking to injure Keenum is <a target="_blank" href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Marshall-targets-Case-Keenum-for-an-early-exit?urn=ncaaf-wp8405">a major part of their game plan</a>.</p>
<p>The last time these two teams played, the stupidity of Marshall's band and gameday operations crew allowed for a Houston player to suffer an injury so horrendous that his subsequent return to football could make the most hardened cynic believe in miracles. So you'd think that maybe Marshall's team would be a little bit hesitant to speak out about attempting to injure any Houston players on Saturday. You'd think that having a little bit of class would convince you not to say that sort of thing. You'd think your coaches would warn you against giving the opposing team any kind of bulletin board material like that. You'd think that saying something that moronic would be avoided, because on the off chance they succeed in injuring Keenum, Conference USA and the NCAA would probably come down heavier in terms of suspensions if you've let them know beforehand that you did it on purpose.</p>
<p>You'd probably think all of these things. Apparently you've never encountered a force as stupid as a Marshall football player, because you'd be wrong.</p>
<p>Yes, this week, players on Marshall's defense were saying things like, "Putting out the quarterback is a real big deal for us", and, "We do want to find out who the backup quarterback is every game", specifically mentioning Keenum's accolades, and how helpful it would be to take him out.</p>
<p>Now, I get paid a little bit of money by this here website to write as objectively as I can about sports. But I'm still a fan. And as a fan, part of me wants to wish injury on Marshall's players in return, or make some bold claim that the 32,000 red-clad maniacs in Robertson Stadium on Saturday would see to it that any Herd player dumb enough to take a cheap shot on Keenum wouldn't make it back to West Virginia.</p>
<p>But I'm not going to do that. I'm just going to say that what goes around, comes around. Maybe there's a reason that Marshall's lone post-season appearance since they joined Conference USA is a spot in the ever-prestigious Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl.</p>
<p>Enjoy your continued and well-deserved mediocrity, Marshall.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/21/2505422/Marshall-Thundering-Herd-Injure-Case-Keenum-ClasslessDustin Rensink2011-10-21T13:52:01-05:002011-10-21T13:52:01-05:00Marshall Preview: Do Herd Have Enough Offense To Stay Close?
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<p>Patrick Edwards and Houston look to avenge not only an upset loss from 2008, but Edwards' nearly career-ending injury suffered in that game.</p> <p><b><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/marshall-thundering-herd">Marshall Thundering Herd</a> (3-4, 2-1 C-USA) at <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a> (6-0, 2-0 C-USA)</b></p>
<p><b>Kickoff: Saturday, October 22nd, 3:30 PM Central</b></p>
<p><b>The Line: Houston by 23.5</b></p>
<p><b>All-Time Series: Tied 1-1 (Cougars 1-0 in Houston)</b></p>
<p>Houston enters Saturday's game with an extra week to prepare for Marshall, coming off of a bye week. While the Cougars have won all six of their games this year, UH's most recent performance, a 56-3 dismantling of East Carolina, was the first game where they didn't have a glaring weakness to shore up moving forward.</p>
<p>The two weeks to game plan might not really be accurate, however. Up until this past weekend, Houston would have been looking at trying to stop a Marshall offense with drop-back passer <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/135021/rakeem-cato">Rakeem Cato</a> under center. During the Herd's win over Rice on Saturday, they switched primarily to scrambler <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/79580/a-j-graham">A.J. Graham</a>.</p>
<p>Over the last few years, mobile quarterbacks have been the worst nightmare of Cougar defenses. But Sumlin brought in new linebackers coach Jamie Bryant this year, with one of his primary objectives being shoring up that aspect of Houston's D. The Coogs haven't given up a 100-yard rushing game to opposing QBs this year, and have allowed fewer than 50 rush yards to opposing quarterbacks every week since week one.</p>
<p>In his <a href="http://www.herdzone.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/101811aac.html" target="_blank">weekly press conference</a>, Marshall coach Doc Holliday (yep, that's really his name) said that the staff would look to "take advantage of what both these kids can do", meaning we will likely see both Cato and Graham get some snaps.</p>
<p>But rotating quarterbacks isn't going to change the fact that Marshall isn't a team with a lot of talent on offense. They haven't scored more than 26 points in a game yet, and have reached the 20-point plateau just twice. Houston, on the other hand, has had a 20-point <i>quarter</i> in every game so far this year.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Marshall has the confidence to enter every game feeling they have a chance to win. Their struggles on offense didn't prevent them from beating East Division favorites Southern Miss earlier this year, and didn't prevent them from knocking off Big East foe Louisville on the road. That's because of their big-play defense.</p>
<p>Marshall's basic defensive stats don't jump out at you - 4.0 yards allowed per carry, and 7.4 yards allowed per pass attempt puts them just barely on the good side of average. But their 17 turnovers forced lands them in the top 10 in the country, and their 67 tackles for a loss (led by defensive end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/15781/vinny-curry">Vinny Curry's</a> 17) is not only the nation's best mark, it puts them <i>nine</i> ahead of second-place Illinois.</p>
<p>It will definitely be a match-up of strength vs strength, as you may have heard that the Cougars are pretty good on offense. Their 604 yards per game gives them better than a 50-yard advantage over second place. Their average of 436 passing yards per game makes them the only team above the 400 mark. And they've averaged just a hair under five yards per carry, to boot.</p>
<p>As for preventing those big plays, Houston has turned the ball over just eight times, putting them nationally in the top 25 in that category, and have been tackled for a loss less than five times per game, good for a top-30 mark in Division 1-A football.</p>
<p>Ultimately, while I respect Marshall's defensive unit, and I expect the Herd offense to do their best to run time off the clock and limit the number of possessions Houston gets, I would be surprised if the Cougars don't still find a way to score in the 30s, at least. And if that happens, not only would it be extremely uncharacteristic for Marshall's offense to manage enough points to stay close - dare I say it - it would be a huge letdown from what we have reason to expect of the Cougar defense, as well. Looking at the 23.5-point line, I think the Vegas oddsmakers have it about right.</p>
<p>And oh yeah. Do you think Cougar wide receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/36274/patrick-edwards">Patrick Edwards</a> might have the team a little bit fired up for this game? Let's just hope Marshall was smart enough to leave the band at home.</p>
https://houston.sbnation.com/houston-cougars/2011/10/21/2505136/Houston-Cougars-Marshall-Thundering-Herd-2011-Preview-FootballDustin Rensink