Seniors resolve to end on high note
Class of 26 a part of big moments in team’s history
Marcus Oliver remembers being a freshman sitting in the back rows of the Carl Lewis Auditorium.
As the years went by, Oliver slowly began to see the progress as he got closer to the front of the room, which hosts team meetings and gatherings for the University of Houston football program.
“Definitely getting up to the front was a hard task with school and football and other things that come into your life,” Oliver, UH’s starting right guard, said. “Eventually I made it.”
As UH closes out the regular season Friday against Navy at TDECU Stadium, it will celebrate a 26-member senior class that has been part of some memorable moments in program history.
From the opening of the Cougars’ 40,000-seat oncampus stadium in 2014, to a 13-win season, American Athletic Conference championship and New Year’s
Six bowl in 2015. Five consecutive bowl appearances. Wins over Power Five opponents Pittsburgh, Vanderbilt, Louisville (twice), Florida State, Oklahoma and Arizona.
“Everybody owes it to those guys,” coach Major Applewhite said. “They’ve done a lot for this program.”
Applewhite said the gesture of reserving seats up front for the seniors is a show of respect for the players who have been around the program the longest.
“At some point you’re going to get down to that row, and you’re going to want the people behind you to play for you,” he said.
Spans three coaches
Only seven fifth-year seniors remain from the 2013 season — wide receiver Linell Bonner, linebacker D’Juan Hines, defensive end Nick Thurman, defensive end Chauntez Jackson, linebacker Nomluis Fruge, wide receiver/kick returner John Leday and linebacker Cameron Doubenmier.
That group has gone through a season (2013) of playing home games in two venues during construction of TDECU Stadium and three coaching changes — from Tony Levine to Tom Herman to Applewhite.
“I’ve been through a lot, seen a lot, here,” Hines said.
The senior class has always won a lot, 36 games to be exact. That ranks second in program history. Wins over Navy (6-4, 4-3 AAC) and in the bowl would match the record set by the 2016 senior class, which featured quarterback Greg Ward Jr., Tyus Bowser, and Brandon Wilson, all playing in the NFL.
“They definitely set the standard,” Oliver said. “If you can at least match the standard, or get above the standard, that’s a win for the program.”
The senior class has had its share of individual accomplishments.
Steven Dunbar and Bonner will end their careers as two of the most productive wide receivers in school history with a combined 350 catches, 4,278 yards and 22 touchdowns. Oliver has played every position on the offensive line except center. Matthew Adams, a captain, has made 24 career starts and been productive at inside linebacker. Hines’ 93 tackles are a career high and on pace to lead the team this season.
Running back Dillon Birden went from walk-on to team captain. Backup quarterback Kyle Postma will be remembered for leading a 20-point, fourthquarter comeback to beat Memphis in 2015. Khalil Williams has been a fixture in the secondary with 24 career starts. Nick Thurman has been a member of a formidable defensive line that has been one of the nation’s
best at stopping the run.
Others like right tackle Na’Ty Rodgers and safety Terrell Williams transferred to UH and became starters.
Bonner recalls a message former coach Levine gave players when they arrived.
“He told us, ‘Look to your left, look to your right. By the time you’re a senior, most of the people are not going to be here,’ ” Bonner said. “That still stays true to this day.”
For Oliver, fighting through four years also gave him the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, All-America defensive tackle Ed Oliver, the last two seasons.
“We made this promise when we were little that we were going to play college football together, and we stuck to it,” Marcus Oliver said. “I’m just thankful every day that he came here and I played alongside him.”
Up-and-down season
Though the season has not gone as expected with a 6-4 record — three of the losses were by a combined 10 points — the Cougars (4-3 AAC) can finish in second place in the AAC West division with a win over Navy.
“We want to go out on the right note and finish the season strong,” Hines said.
That was the message Applewhite gave to the team during a meeting Sunday night. His words were directed at those on the back rows.
“This one,” Applewhite said, “is for the seniors.”