Houston Cougars @ Oregon Ducks Football Recap

Cougars fall @ Oregon 48-27

The Houston Cougars picked up the 2007 season on Saturday at Autzen Stadium, right where they left 2006 season, with a loss to a BCS school. Much like losses to Miami and South Carolina, the Cougars gave the Ducks all they could handle, including the ball.

Anthony Alridge and redshirt freshman QB Case Keenum accounted for 79% of the Cougar offense with 431 of 545 total yards.

Both QB's saw the field as redshirt sophomore Blake Joseph started, completing 8 of 12 passes for 51 yards. Keenum hit on 14 of 27 passes for 179 and a touchdown.

The difference in a game that saw the Cougars lead the Ducks in almost every staistical category, was 4 turnovers and a blocked punt.

Even after the miscues, the Cougars who had tied the game in the third quarter at 20, were able to pull within a touchdown of the Ducks with 2:23 left in the third, on an 86 yard touchdown pass from Keenum to Alridge.

It was at that point that the defense, which had three sacks to Oregon's one, gave out, and the Ducks scored 14 more unanswered points to seal the victory.

The Cougars, who have a bye this week, next face Tulane at the Superdome in New Orleans on August 15.

Making the case for Keenum or Joseph

As of yet, the Cougars have not agreed to pull me in on the decision making process, but like all the rest of the armchair QB's, I have a few thoughts on who should be named heir apparent to you know who. Keep in mind that prior to the Oregon game I was in favor of Joseph. But what better stage to make a decision than how the two QB's fared in a rowdy stadium, in a season opener, against a BCS opponent? Here are the pros as I see them for both Keenum and Joseph.

Joseph

• More accurate, completing 8 of 12 (67%) to Keenum's 14 of 27 (52%)
• More experienced, having a year more than Keenum
• Has a cannon arm
• Player favorite

Keenum

• Was at the helm for all 27 Cougar points including a TD pass
• Mobile , so far runs the options better than Kolb even
• Gets the ball into the hands of his playmakers
• Was never sacked while Joseph suffered one
• Poised, even when faced with adversity, on a national stage, did not let the crowd or his own mistakes shake him up
• Helped keep the Cougars in the game
• Did I mention he was QB for all 27 Cougar points?

In my humble opinion, adding the Oregon game, a mighty proving ground, to the results each QB was producing in practices and scrimmages, I have to go with Keenum. Even though I saw Keenum manage the offense much better than Joseph or Pena in practice, I just wasn't sold that his play would hold up under fire. He proved me wrong and accounted for 226 (41%) of the Cougar's 545 yards. I rest my Case.

Reason for Houston to be Optimistic

The Cougar's beat themselves and were not outclassed. If they just didn't have the talent, there would be nothing to improve on. Mistakes can be fixed, and as evidenced by Houston's bounce-back in 2006, after three straight losses, there is no reason to think that they won't get better.

Furthermore, regardless of the loss, the Cougars are proving on a national stage that they can play with the big dogs. An announcer during the game astutely pointed out that Houston was 7 points away from an undefeated regular season in 2006.

The final score of the game is extremely misleading. The Cougars led the Ducks in passing yards, total offense, first downs, sacks and tied for third down efficiency.

While many look back to the glory days of Yeoman, Pardee and Jenkins, fans have suffered through a barage of terrible football teams for almost 15 years.

I was hooked on Cougar football as a child when Andre Ware won the Heismann in 1989 and was directly followed by another great QB in David Klingler.

When I attended UH from 2002-2004 I witnessed an 0-11 season. They've come a long way, so take a deep breath and get ready to enjoy an action packed season.