Ex-UH star Husmann dies of COVID-19
David Husmann, a two-sport athlete at the University of Houston in the early 1970s, died Friday of complications from COVID-19, his daughter announced on Facebook.
Husmann, who played quarterback for two seasons and was a catcher on the baseball team, died after a monthlong battle with the virus, Angie Husmann said.
“He fought valiantly against COVID and the damages it did to his body,” she wrote.
Husmann scored the final touchdown for No. 14 Houston in a 47-7 win over Tulane in the 1973 Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome, completing a thenschool record 11-1 season. The following year he led the team in passing with 524 yards as the Cougars finished 8-3-1 and tied North Carolina State in the Bluebonnet Bowl.
Husmann went on to become a successful high school coach, winning more than 200 games and making 16 playoff appearances as head coach at Schulenburg, Gladewater and Weimer. His Schulenburg teams made three state finals appearances, winning back-to-back titles in 1991 and 1992.
He came out of retirement in August to become athletic director and head coach at Hallettsville Sacred Heart.
Coaches criticize CFP restrictions
Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney both expressed concerns about playing a College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year’s Day if players’ families aren’t allowed to attend.
Kelly even went as far as to say “I’m not sure we’ll play in the playoffs if the parents can’t be there.”
The Rose Bowl announced earlier this month that due to COVID-19-related restrictions put in place by the state of California no fans will be allowed at the game.
The coaches’ comments came during a videoconference call Friday on the eve of the ACC Championship game in Charlotte, N.C., between Clemson and Notre Dame.
“Why would we play if you can’t have families at the game?” Kelly said. “What’s the sense of playing a game in an area of the country where nobody can be part of it?”
Swinney suggested the game should be moved to another location if families aren’t allowed to attend.
Oregon tops USC in Pac-12 title game
Oregon intercepted USC quarterback Kedon Slovis three times, and the Ducks won their second consecutive Pac-12 title with a 31-24 victory.
Oregon likely is heading to the Fiesta Bowl, while USC probably will make its first appearance in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 29 against a Big 12 team.
UAB wins C-USA championship
In Huntington, W.Va., Tyler Johnston III passed for 252 yards and two touchdowns as the Blazers beat Marshall 22-13 to win the Conference USA title.
Ball State captures MAC crown
In Detroit, Drew Plitt threw three touchdowns as the Cardinals upset Buffalo 38-28.
Odds and ends
The Sun Belt Conference championship game between No. 9 Coastal Carolina and No. 17 Louisiana-Lafayette was canceled late Thursday because of a positive COVID-19 test within the Coastal Carolina program. … The Florida State at Wake Forest regular-season finale was canceled because of a positive COVID-19 test among the Seminoles. … Washington announced it has elected not to pursue a bowl bid.