Holgorsen doesn’t mince words on UT’s departure
Left out of the Big 12 — not once, but twice — it’s understandable if the University of Houston has some pent-up frustration.
Coach Dana Holgorsen didn’t hold back Tuesday night in what was the second salvo this month aimed at the flagship University of Texas — and this time Texas A&M — for their perceived roles in which Southwest Conference schools merged with the Big Eight to form the Big 12 in the mid-1990s.
A guest during Holgorsen’s radio show Tuesday night expressed “disappointment” that the departures of Texas and Texas A&M to the Southeastern Conference — the latter more than a decade ago and the Longhorns next summer — made joining the Big 12 a less desirable destination.
“One of the disappointments I have is the conference coming up,” the fan told Holgorsen. “I think everybody when they told you, ‘Oh we want to be in a bigger conference, oh we want to be in a better conference,’ they were assuming the conference would include Texas and Texas A&M. That has since changed and I’m a bit disappointed in that and I’m sure other people are.”
Holgorsen wholeheartedly disagreed, saying that the two schools were among the reasons UH was left out of the Big 12 the first go-around.
“You can have that opinion about Texas and Texas A&M if you want to, but they are the reasons we weren’t in the Big 12,” Holgorsen said. “Those two are the specific reasons why we haven’t been in the Big 12 the last 28 years. Screw them. They can go wherever they want. They don’t want us, and we don’t want them. So move on.”
Evening kickoff a break from heat
A reprieve from tripledigit temperatures comes at a good time as the University of Houston opens the season Saturday.
It will still be hot, with temperatures forecasted in the low- to mid-90s for the 6 p.m. kickoff against UTSA at TDECU Stadium. The feels-like temperature on the stadium’s artificial turf is expected to be well above 100 degrees.
“It’s going to be hot,” Holgorsen said. “Everybody get your minds right for that.”
Holgorsen said the Cougars spent most of preseason camp in the indoor practice facility and on the grass practice fields. During a runthrough last week at the stadium, Holgorsen said the temperature on the turf was 140 degrees around midday.
Other than cooling stations on the sideline and more frequent substitutions, Holgorsen said there’s not much else they can do about the heat.
“They ain’t moving the game,” he said. He noted at last week’s Cage Rage, a preseason event for students at the stadium, the temperature “got comfortable” around 7 p.m.
Ugwoegbu gives scouting report
While at Oklahoma, David Ugwoegbu had a few encounters with a few of his new teammates — quarterback Donovan Smith (Texas Tech) and running back Tony Mathis Jr. (West Virginia). Ugwoegbu was the Big 12’s fourth-leading tackler last season. Any of those tackles on Smith or Mathis?
“Definitely Tony, not Donovan as much,” Ugwoegbu said.
Is Mathis hard to tackle?
“That’s a hard-running running back,” Ugwoegbu said. “I’m excited we’ve got him on our team this year.”
Smith favors a few old school tunes
The Cougars' new starting quarterback is a fan of the classics.
“Just the Two of Us,” Smith began to sing Bill Withers’ 1980 hit song when asked about his pregame music playlist. “Throw it on, relax, get a little vibe. Nothing too crazy. I’ve got a whole playlist full of songs like that.”
Smith, a transfer from Texas Tech who was named the Cougars’ starter at the end of camp, also listens to Drake.
“As game-time gets closer, I kind of naturally ramp up myself,” Smith said. “I don’t really need music to get me going.”
New faces among ‘alphas’ on D
Defensive coordinator Doug Belk called senior linebacker Hasaan Hypolite “one of the alphas” on the team and has been impressed how junior defensive end Nelson Ceaser has grown into a leadership role.
“He brings a lot to the table and has played a bunch of different positions and has a lot of experience,” Belk said of Hypolite, a three-year team captain.
Ceaser was voted a team captain for the first time.
“He’s taken a big step,” Belk said. “We have high expectations for him on the field. Off the field, Nelson is a great person who loves his teammates and loves to compete.”