2012 Houston Cougars football team explained

Year:2012
Team:Houston Cougars
Sport:football
Conference:Conference USA
Division:West Division
Short Conf:C-USA
Record:5–7
Conf Record:4–4
Hc Year:1st
Off Coach:Mike Nesbitt (1st season; game 1)
Travis Bush (interim; remainder of season)
Dc Year:1st
Stadium:Robertson Stadium

The 2012 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 67th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the last for the Cougars as a member of Conference USA as they moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2013. In addition, it was the final season for the team to host its home games at Robertson Stadium as the university announced plans to begin construction on TDECU Stadium in December 2012—following the conclusion of the season.[1] [2] The 2012 season was the first full season under head coach Tony Levine as he took over for Kevin Sumlin after his departure following the 2011 Conference USA Football Championship Game.

At one time it was believed that the 2012 season would be the last for the foreseeable future with a Bayou Bucket Classic matchup against the Rice Owls. Both teams had relied on the game being on their respective conference schedules. However, with the American Athletic Conference move in 2013 for the Cougars, the matchup would have had to have been scheduled as a non-conference game. At the time of the Big East Conference announcement, Rice had its non-conference schedule completely booked for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.[3] In April 2012, the two schools announced that they had come to an agreement to extend the series through the 2013 season. The 2012 and 2013 Bayou Bucket Classics were hosted at Reliant Stadium.[4]

Pre-season

Awards & award watch lists

Jacolby Ashworth

D. J. Hayden

Richie Leone

Charles Sims

Schedule

[9] [10] [11]

Coaching staff

Name Position Alma mater (Year)
Minnesota (1995)
Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Texas State (2000)
Ohio Wesleyan (1993)
Jamie Christian Special teams coordinator/Inside receivers Central Washington (1999)
Lee Hays Texas A&M–Kingsville (1996)
Ricky Logo North Carolina State (1992)
Vanderbilt (1998)
Ken McClintock Running backs Minnesota (1993)
Outside receivers Houston (2004)
Zac Spavital Murray State (2004)
Co-director of sports performance Southeastern Oklahoma State (2004)

Game summaries

Texas State

See also: 2012 Texas State Bobcats football team.

Louisiana Tech

See also: 2012 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team.

@ UCLA

See also: 2012 UCLA Bruins football team. 1st quarter scoring: UCLA – Eric Kendricks 23-yard fumble recovery (K. Fairbairn kick); UCLA – Datone Jones 7-yard pass from Brett Hundley (Fairbairn kick)

2nd quarter scoring: UCLA – Fairbairn 35-yard field goal

3rd quarter scoring: UCLA – Jordon James 12-yard pass from Hundley (Fairbairn kick); UCLA – Fairbairn 23-yard field goal; UCLA – Fairbairn 33-yard field goal

4th quarter scoring: HOU – David Piland 86-yard run (Kenneth Farrow rush failed); UCLA – Steven Manfro 14-yard run (Fairbairn kick)

vs Rice

See also: 2012 Rice Owls football team.

North Texas

See also: 2012 North Texas Mean Green football team.

UAB

See also: 2012 UAB Blazers football team.

@ SMU

See also: 2012 SMU Mustangs football team.

UTEP

See also: 2012 UTEP Miners football team.

@ East Carolina

See also: 2012 East Carolina Pirates football team.

Tulsa

See also: 2012 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team.

@ Marshall

See also: 2012 Marshall Thundering Herd football team.

Tulane

See also: 2012 Tulane Green Wave football team.

Poll rankings

See also: 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings.

Notes and References

  1. News: Amid Big East Celebration, UH Officials Talk New Football Stadium. Sam. Khan, Jr.. Houston Chronicle. December 9, 2011. February 3, 2012.
  2. News: UH Students Vote for Fee Increase to Help Athletics. Sam. Khan, Jr.. Houston Chronicle. February 2, 2012. February 3, 2012.
  3. News: Rice Casts Doubt on Bayou Bucket Game's Future. Joseph. Duarte. Houston Chronicle. December 19, 2011. February 3, 2012.
  4. http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042012aaf.html Houston, Rice Extend Bayou Bucket Series Through 2013
  5. News: UH Offensive Lineman Ashworth on Lombardi Award Watch List. Joseph. Duarte. Houston Chronicle. July 16, 2012. July 16, 2012.
  6. http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/071312aaa.html Hayden Named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List
  7. News: UH Punter Leone Named to Ray Guy Watch List. Joseph. Duarte. Houston Chronicle. July 9, 2012. July 16, 2012.
  8. News: Cougars’ Charles Sims Named to Maxwell Award Watch List. Joseph. Duarte. Houston Chronicle. July 11, 2012. July 16, 2012.
  9. http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-12/conf-usa/2012-houston-cougars-football-schedule.php 2012 Houston Cougars football schedule
  10. http://mattsarzsports.com/Football2012/CUSA Conference USA 2012 TV Schedule
  11. http://www.uhcougars.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042712aaa.html Houston Sets Highly-Anticipated 2012 Football Schedule