Whether they win or lose on Saturday night in Lubbock, the Houston Cougars have some major issues to address when they get back to Houston.
If they win, the Cougars must hope they get offered a bowl game so they can continue the season and add to their five straight bowl appearance.
If they lose, they must begin preparing for the 2011 season. That preparation must begin early on Monday morning.
With the season ending injuries of Case Keenum and Cotton Turner, the 2010 season did not progress as head coach Kevin Sumlin, his staff or many of the fans and alumni thought it would.
The Cougars were picked to win the West Division of Conference USA and to play in the Liberty Bowl as conference champs.
However, the trip to Los Angeles on Sept. 18 to play UCLA wiped most of those hopes and desires right out of the minds of many, or, at least to some extent, diminished them.
The Cougars have other issues to deal with in addition to their quarterback woes.
A defensive line that seems like, at times, cannot put pressure on even the weakest quarterback or running back is an issue that must be addressed right along with the quarterback issue.
Houston loses five starters on offense (Roy Watts-RT, Jordan Shoemaker-C, Isaish Thompson-LG, Kierrie Johnson-WR, James Cleveland-WR) and four starters on defense (Jamal Robertson-CB, Jacky Candy-SS, Matangi Tonga-NG and Devin Mayes-CB).
All of these positions have backups who are underclassmen, but that does not mean that they will fill these spots adequately.
In addition, Turner could be back vying for a job as starting quarterback. If Keenum is successful in his bid for a sixth season, then the Cougars could be set for a return to the days of yore.
Personally, I do not think that Keenum will be back. His college football playing days are over. He could have led the Cougars to another run at the conference championship. That job will be left up to David Piland, Terrance Broadway or Cotton Turner.
As far as the defense, the coaching staff has a great deal of work ahead of them.
As I have stated in previous articles, a team cannot hope to win consistently by simply outscoring their opponents.
A team must have a solid defense in order to win. The Pittsburgh Steelers have proven that in the professional ranks time and time again.
Being that Sumlin played linebacker at Purdue, he should understand the need for a strong defense.
However, Sumlin must coach the players he recruited and or inherited from former head coach Art Briles.
Next season will be Sumlin’s fourth year at the helm of the Houston Cougars. With very few exceptions, the majority of his players will be a result of his recruitment.
He needs to make sure that his first and foremost goal for the spring is to recruit defensive players that can compliment the Cougars’ high powered offense.
Whether they win or lose Saturday night against Texas Tech, the Cougars have a very large plate of woes that they need to deal with.
After all, anything can happen in the game of football which is why the coaches make the big bucks.
The fans expect them to win. The alumni expect them to win. The administration expects them to win.
If a team does not win, they do not fire the players, they fire the coach.
Legendary head coach Bum Phillips, who was the defense coordinator for the Cougars in 1965-1966, said it best.
“There are only two kinds of coaches: those that have been fired and those who are about to be fired."
Please do not take this as a suggestion or a desire on my part for Sumlin to be fired. He has done a tremendous job of putting Houston back on the path to football greatness.
However, the “powers that be” make those decisions, and they can be as fickle as the fans.
Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten
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