2012 Houston Cougars football team

2012 Houston Cougars football
Conference	Conference USA
Division	West Division
Record	5–7 (4–4 C-USA)
Head coach	Tony Levine (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Mike Nesbitt (1st season; game 1) Travis Bush (interim; remainder of season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	Jamie Bryant (1st season)
Base defense	4–3
Home stadium	Robertson Stadium

2012 Conference USA football standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
East Division
UCF xy		7	–	1					10	–	4
East Carolina x		7	–	1					8	–	5
Marshall		4	–	4					5	–	7
Memphis		4	–	4					4	–	8
UAB		2	–	6					3	–	9
Southern Miss		0	–	8					0	–	12
West Division
Tulsa xy$		7	–	1					11	–	3
SMU		5	–	3					7	–	6
Rice		4	–	4					7	–	6
Houston		4	–	4					5	–	7
UTEP		2	–	6					3	–	9
Tulane		2	–	6					2	–	10
Championship: Tulsa 33, UCF 27
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant Rankings from AP Poll

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

Recruits

College recruiting information (2012)
Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40^‡	Commit date
Jacob Abels OG	Sugar Land, Texas	Austin HS	6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	N/A	Apr 9, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
Steven Aikens OLB	Arlington, Texas	Seguin HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	200 lb (91 kg)	N/A	Mar 28, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 70
Rex Dausin QB	San Antonio, Texas	Warren HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	4.70	Jan 28, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Deontay Greenberry WR	Fresno, California	Washington Union HS	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)	184 lb (83 kg)	4.50	Jan 29, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 80
Blake Herman OT	Needville, Texas	Needville HS	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	290 lb (130 kg)	5.10	Mar 9, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Donald Hopkins DT	Lago Vista, Texas	Lago Vista HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	270 lb (120 kg)	4.90	Jan 15, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 80
Jarrett Irving WR	Spring, Texas	Dekaney HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	175 lb (79 kg)	4.45	Jul 8, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 70
Ryan Jackson RB	Angleton, Texas	Angleton HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	180 lb (82 kg)	4.50	May 28, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
William Jackson S	Houston, Texas	Wheatley HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	178 lb (81 kg)	4.50	Jan 27, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Thaddeus LaGrone OLB	Allen, Texas	Allen HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	204 lb (93 kg)	4.53	Jan 25, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 74
Mac Long OT	Edna, Texas	Edna HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	276 lb (125 kg)	N/A	Apr 21, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 79
Cameron Malveaux DE	Hamshire, Texas	Hamshire-Fannett HS	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	4.80	Aug 16, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Tomme Mark DT	Lufkin, Texas	Lufkin HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	258 lb (117 kg)	4.85	Nov 22, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 76
Xavier Maxwell WR	Humble, Texas	Blinn (JC)	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)	177 lb (80 kg)	4.50	Jan 30, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Adrian McDonald CB	Lawton, Oklahoma	Eisenhower HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	4.50	Jan 31, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 67
Larry McDuffey WR	Galena Park, Texas	North Shore Senior HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	4.45	Sep 15, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
Devin Parks RB	Edna, Texas	Edna HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	166 lb (75 kg)	4.40	Nov 9, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Andrew Rodriguez WR	Allen, Texas	Allen HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	170 lb (77 kg)	4.50	Jan 28, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Bryan Singleton DE	Destrehan, Louisiana	Destrehan HS	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	248 lb (112 kg)	4.80	Dec 1, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 78
Trevon Stewart CB	Patterson, Louisiana	Patterson HS	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	4.50	Jul 30, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 75
Steven Taylor MLB	Cedar Hill, Texas	Cedar Hill HS	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.70	Jan 21, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Terrence Taylor RB	Diboll, Texas	Diboll HS	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	205 lb (93 kg)	4.50	Mar 10, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 74
Davonte Thomas S	Houston, Texas	Eisenhower HS	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	181 lb (82 kg)	4.50	Mar 24, 2011
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN: N/A   ESPN grade: NR
Jontrey Tillman WR	Baldwin, Louisiana	West Saint Mary HS	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)	173 lb (78 kg)	4.40	Jan 29, 2012
	Star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN:   ESPN grade: 74
Overall recruiting rankings:
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "2012 Houston Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012. "2012 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved July 23, 2012.

Awards & award watch lists

Jacolby Ashworth

• Lombardi Award watch list^[5]

D. J. Hayden

• Jim Thorpe Award watch list^[6]

Richie Leone

• Ray Guy Award watch list^[7]

Charles Sims

• Maxwell Award watch list^[8]

Schedule

^[9][10][11]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 pm	Texas State*	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	CSS	L 13–30	32,207
September 8	7:00 pm	Louisiana Tech*	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	CBSSN	L 49–56	29,142
September 15	9:30 pm	at No. 22 UCLA*	Rose Bowl Pasadena, CA	Pac-12 Network	L 6–37	53,723
September 29	2:30 pm	vs. Rice	Reliant Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry)	FSN	W 35–14	32,718
October 6	6:00 pm	North Texas*	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	CSS/CSNH	W 44–21	25,476
October 13	11:00 am	UAB	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	FSN	W 39–17	25,242
October 18	7:00 pm	at SMU	Gerald J. Ford Stadium University Park, TX (rivalry)	FSN	L 42–72	16,459
October 27	3:30 pm	UTEP	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	CSS/CSNH	W 45–35	27,433
November 3	11:00 am	at East Carolina	Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium Greenville, NC	FSN	L 28–48	45,455
November 10	4:00 pm	Tulsa	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry)	CBSSN	L 7–41	25,827
November 17	11:00 am	at Marshall	Joan C. Edwards Stadium Huntington, WV	CSS/CSNH	L 41–44	18,831
November 24	2:30 pm	Tulane	Robertson Stadium Houston, TX	FSN	W 40–17	25,402
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

Coaching staff

Head coach Tony Levine began his first full season in that position for 2012

Name	Position	Alma mater (Year)
Tony Levine	Head coach	Minnesota (1995)
Travis Bush	Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks	Texas State (2000)
Jamie Bryant	Defensive coordinator	Ohio Wesleyan (1993)
Jamie Christian	Special teams coordinator/Inside receivers	Central Washington (1999)
Lee Hays	Offensive line	Texas A&M–Kingsville (1996)
Ricky Logo	Defensive line	North Carolina State (1992)
Carlton Hall	Defensive line	Vanderbilt (1998)
Ken McClintock	Running backs	Minnesota (1993)
Brandon Middleton	Outside receivers	Houston (2004)
Zac Spavital	Cornerbacks	Murray State (2004)
Brian Odom	Co-director of sports performance	Southeastern Oklahoma State (2004)

Game summaries

Texas State

See also: 2012 Texas State Bobcats football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bobcats	14	13	0	3	30
Cougars	10	0	3	0	13

Statistics	TXST	HOU
First downs	23	15
Total yards	444	326
Rushing yards	248	115
Passing yards	196	211
Turnovers	1	2
Time of possession	43:09	16:51

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Texas State	Passing	Shaun Rutherford	19/25, 196 yards, TD
	Rushing	Marcus Curry	14 rushes, 131 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Isaiah Battle	5 receptions, 75 yards
Houston	Passing	David Piland	17/44, 211 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Charles Sims	13 rushes, 77 yards
	Receiving	Larry McDuffey	2 receptions, 73 yards, TD

Louisiana Tech

See also: 2012 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	14	7	21	14	56
Cougars	6	14	7	22	49

Statistics	LT	HOU
First downs	38	40
Total yards	598	693
Rushing yards	245	113
Passing yards	353	580
Turnovers	0	2
Time of possession	28:07	31:53

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Louisiana Tech	Passing	Colby Cameron	34/52, 353 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Tevin King	13 rushes, 112 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Myles White	5 receptions, 74 yards
Houston	Passing	David Piland	53/77, 580 yards, 4 TD
	Rushing	Charles Sims	21 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Daniel Spencer	7 receptions, 157 yards, TD

At No. 22 UCLA

See also: 2012 UCLA Bruins football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	0	0	6	6
No. 22 Bruins	14	3	13	7	37

Statistics	HOU	UCLA
First downs	14	29
Total yards	388	567
Rushing yards	139	247
Passing yards	249	320
Turnovers	6	5
Time of possession	18:40	41:07

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	David Piland	28/60, 249 yards, 5 INT
	Rushing	Kenneth Farrow	13 rushes, 74 yards
	Receiving	DeWayne Peace	10 receptions, 103 yards
UCLA	Passing	Brett Hundley	27/42, 320 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Johnathan Franklin	25 rushes, 110 yards
	Receiving	Steven Manfro	7 receptions, 78 yards

Vs. Rice

See also: 2012 Rice Owls football team and Bayou Bucket Classic

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	7	7	14	7	35
Owls	0	0	7	7	14

Statistics	HOU	RICE
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Rice	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

North Texas

See also: 2012 North Texas Mean Green football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mean Green	0	14	7	0	21
Cougars	17	14	10	3	44

Statistics	UNT	HOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
North Texas	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

UAB

See also: 2012 UAB Blazers football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Blazers	7	3	0	7	17
Cougars	10	6	20	3	39

Statistics	UAB	HOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UAB	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At SMU

See also: 2012 SMU Mustangs football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	7	7	14	14	42
Mustangs	14	14	31	13	72

Statistics	HOU	SMU
First downs	30	20
Total yards	560	384
Rushing yards	115	119
Passing yards	445	265
Turnovers	9	2
Time of possession	41:18	31:11

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing	Crawford Jones	17/33, 252 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Charles Sims	17 rushes, 54 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Charles Sims	7 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TD
SMU	Passing	Garrett Gilbert	23/38, 265 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Zach Line	22 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Darius Johnson	9 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD

UTEP

See also: 2012 UTEP Miners football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Miners	0	7	7	21	35
Cougars	14	21	10	0	45

Statistics	UTEP	HOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
UTEP	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At East Carolina

See also: 2012 East Carolina Pirates football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	7	7	14	28
Pirates	14	14	3	17	48

Statistics	HOU	ECU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
East Carolina	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Tulsa

See also: 2012 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Golden Hurricane	3	14	7	17	41
Cougars	0	0	0	7	7

Statistics	TLSA	HOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulsa	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

At Marshall

See also: 2012 Marshall Thundering Herd football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cougars	0	10	14	17	41
Thundering Herd	10	21	7	6	44

Statistics	HOU	MRSH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Marshall	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Tulane

See also: 2012 Tulane Green Wave football team

	1	2	3	4	Total
Green Wave	0	7	10	0	17
Cougars	17	3	7	13	40

Statistics	TULN	HOU
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Turnovers
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Tulane	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Houston	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. Khan, Jr., Sam (December 9, 2011). "Amid Big East Celebration, UH Officials Talk New Football Stadium". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
2. Khan, Jr., Sam (February 2, 2012). "UH Students Vote for Fee Increase to Help Athletics". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
3. Duarte, Joseph (December 19, 2011). "Rice Casts Doubt on Bayou Bucket Game's Future". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
4. Houston, Rice Extend Bayou Bucket Series Through 2013, UH Athletics, Retrieved April 28, 2012
5. Duarte, Joseph (July 16, 2012). "UH Offensive Lineman Ashworth on Lombardi Award Watch List". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
6. Hayden Named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. Houston Cougars, July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
7. Duarte, Joseph (July 9, 2012). "UH Punter Leone Named to Ray Guy Watch List". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
8. Duarte, Joseph (July 11, 2012). "Cougars' Charles Sims Named to Maxwell Award Watch List". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
9. 2012 Houston Cougars football schedule, FBSchedules.com, Retrieved February 3, 2012
10. Conference USA 2012 TV Schedule Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Matt Sarz Sports, Retrieved March 2, 2012
11. Houston Sets Highly-Anticipated 2012 Football Schedule, University of Houston Athletics, Retrieved April 27, 2012