Mutin ‘good to go’ after frightening situation
Linebacker Donavan Mutin has been cleared to play, coach
Dana Holgorsen said Monday, a big boost as No. 24 University of Houston prepares to play fourthranked Cincinnati in Saturday’s American Athletic Conference championship game.
Mutin, a junior from Klein Collins, was taken to the hospital with a head injury after a scary hit in the Cougars’ Nov. 19 game against Memphis. Any decision about Mutin’s status for the rest of the season would be determined by the team’s medical staff, Holgorsen said, and it appears the team captain and inspirational leader has cleared the concussion protocol.
“He’s good to go,” Holgorsen said during a AAC conference call to preview the championship game. “I don’t think there is anything in the world that would keep him out of this game.”
Holgorsen continued to be upbeat about the Cougars’ injury situation, adding “I truly believe we’ll be 100-percent healthy.” Although he did not mention them by name, running back
Alton McCaskill (shoulder) and wide receiver Nathaniel Dell
(head) are expected to play Saturday.
Mutin leads the Cougars with 65 tackles, including two sacks and five tackles for loss, this season.
Holgorsen prefers neutral site for game
It’s understandable why Holgorsen would want to play the AAC championship game at a neutral site, much like the five power conferences.
Not only will the Cougars be greeted by cold weather (temperatures are expected to be in the upper 30s at kickoff ) and a hostile sellout crowd of 40,000, but Cincinnati has one of the best home-field advantages in the nation. The Bearcats have won 26 straight at Nippert Stadium, the second-longest active streak behind Clemson (34).
With both teams finishing 8-0 in AAC play, Cincinnati was awarded host privileges based on the tiebreaker of having the higher College Football Playoff ranking.
“It’s a great opportunity. We’re really looking forward to being able to compete with such a great team at their place,” Holgorsen said. “The other five leagues, they all have neutral sites. I wish it was at a neutral site. If the game was played in Houston, I think (Cincinnati) would say the same thing.
“You would rather a neutral site, as opposed to going and being the visiting team, especially when both teams are 8-0. That’s the cards we are dealt and we’re good with that.”
UH was 6-0 on the road during the regular season.
Praise for defense from impressed rival
Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell said he has been impressed with UH’s defense this season, especially up front.
“I think they do a phenomenal job,” Fickell said. “They are very, very aggressive and play really hard. I’ve loved watching them all year. I think it’s going to be a real challenge for us.”
Under first-year defensive coordinator Doug Belk, the Cougars are tied for third nationally in sacks (43), sixth in total defense (288.6), eighth in rush defense (97.0), 16th in pass defense (191.6) and 19th in scoring defense (19.8).
“I don’t know stats, I don’t look at stats or where they rank, I just know what I see in film,” Fickell said. “Those guys are very aggressive and pose a lot of challenge for us.”
Cincinnati aware of Jones factor
Like other AAC coaches this season, Fickell will have one important question on his mind Saturday: do the Bearcats kick to Marcus Jones?
Jones has four returns (two punts and two kickoffs) for touchdowns this season and is tied for the NCAA record with nine in his career.
“He is electric,” Fickell said. “He is a problem when you are playing against him. He was fun to watch when you weren’t playing against him, but I think that just shows his versatility. You have to know where he is.”
Fickell's future not discussed
At the end of Monday’s conference call, Fickell was asked about interest in the Oklahoma job, which became open Sunday night with Lincoln Riley’s surprise decision to leave for Southern California.
Fickell is considered one of the hot names in college football and has been mentioned for several high-profile jobs. He is considered one of the favorites for the OU job, according to SportsBetting.ag.
As expected, Fickell sidestepped the question.