Tune’s status for Navy now key storyline
Quarterback’s health situation raises questions
During his weekly press conference, University of Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said quarterback Clayton Tune had issues with “cramps, hamstrings, calves, legs, lower body extremities, I don’t know.”
“He’s fine,” Holgorsen added.
Apparently, Tune was not fine. He did not practice the entire week leading up to Saturday’s game against FCS-level Grambling State.
And something did not seem right when Tune took a hit and lay on both knees late in the first quarter. He was visibly shaken. He put his hands on both sides of his helmet.
Then he signaled to the sideline that he needed to come out of the game. Backup Ike Ogbogu played the rest of the game as the Cougars rolled to a 45-0 win.
The official word at halftime: “Clayton Tune will not return to the game and has an undisclosed injury.”
After the game, Holgorsen disclosed that Tune had been dealing with a hamstring injury he suffered on a long run last week at Rice.
“Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have played him,” Holgorsen said. “He’s a competitive kid and wants to play. He yanked his hamstring last week. You guys saw it. I’m always going to downplay it. It’s not as bad as it was two years ago. Based on going through that, I said you know your body better than anybody. Hindsight, I shouldn’t have played him. That’s my fault. I own that.”
Holgorsen added: “(Tune) will be fine for next week” when the Cougars play Navy in the American Athletic Conference opener.
Ogbogu, a walk-on who had been limited to a handful of snaps since arriving on campus in 2017, did everything he was asked Saturday. He managed the offense to five scoring drives. When in doubt he had two solid options: 1A, handoff to Alton McCaskill (114 rushing yards, two TDs) or 1B, throw to Nathaniel Dell (eight catches, 134 yards, two TDs). He was 14-of-22 for 196 yards.
Perhaps most importantly, he was turnover-free.
“Ike had a really good week of practice,” Holgorsen said. “He’s been waiting for this moment for a while. I just felt a lot more comfortable when Ike went in. Should’ve gone with Ike, but obviously I trust Clayton.”
For those not familiar with Ogbogu’s story: He’s from San Jose, Calif., and had only one scholarship offer out of high school. That offer from Cornell was revoked when the coaching staff left.
He liked the big city atmosphere. The Bauer College of Business was attractive.
“I kind of bet on myself,” Ogbogu said of joining the team under former coach Major Applewhite. “This moment is something I have been waiting for a long time. As a walk-on, it’s not the easiest thing to do. I just kept working and working and working. It’s paying off now.”
As the Cougars prepare for the AAC opener, Tune’s status will be a key storyline all week. By playing Saturday did Tune suffer enough of a setback that could jeopardize his availability for the Navy game?
Only Holgorsen knows the answer.