End Zone Facility Gets Approval

The Board of Regents has approved the Facility and Construction Committee's motion to move ahead on the End Zone Facility initiative. UH has been preparing for this moment for at least the last three years. For the athletic program this is a very big project -- much larger than any in the past.

When the Athletics/Alumni Center was built, John Moores (’70, J.D. ’75) gave the funding and said to go ahead and build the facility. This project will take much more in terms of planning and fundraising. This $38 million plus facility must appeal to a broad constituency. Currently there is $12 million in documented pledges.

The new facility will be named for Wilhelmina Robertson Smith.

An architect and contractor have not yet been selected. UH is now in the process of planning the groundbreaking.

Sumlin Names Keenum His Opening Day Starter

University of Houston head football coach Kevin Sumlin announced that sophomore Case Keenum will be the Cougars' opening-day starter at quarterback against Southern University on Aug. 30. Keenum had been in an ongoing battle with junior Blake Joseph to see who would be named the No. 1 quarterback.

"This was a decision that needed some time to make," Sumlin said. "These two guys battled their hearts out during the spring, off-season and over these past two weeks. As a staff we feel Case has earned the right to be the starter, and he is the guy we're going with on opening day."

The consensus 2007 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Keenum started seven games last season and played in all 13, finishing his rookie campaign by establishing a Houston record for completion percentage in a season (68.5). Keenum threw for 2,259 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for nine additional scores as well as 412 yards on the ground.

Keenum had at least one rushing or passing touchdown in every game except for one, and was an Honorable Mention, Freshman All-America by two media outlets. He threw for a career-high 335 yards and one touchdown against TCU in the 2007 Texas Bowl.

Joseph was the 2007 opening-day starter and played in 11 games last season, including five as the starter. He threw for 1,324 yards and nine touchdowns, adding 109 yards and one TD on the ground. Joseph posted a career-high 318 yards passing in UH's 56-48 win over Rice in the annual Bayou Bucket cross-town clash.

Athletics Department to Work with Star of Hope Mission Again in 2008

For the second straight season, the University of Houston football program will team with Star of Hope Mission in the Thanks for Giving Campaign presented by Administaff.

Non-perishable food items will be collected at every Cougar Football home game, beginning with the season opener at 6 p.m., Saturday against Southern on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.

Donations can be delivered at the Star of Hope truck, which will be parked in the tailgate area just outside of Gate 7. An additional drop-off location will be located at the student entrance, which is now located at Gate 10 at the stadium.

"We will continue to ask our fans through this football season to donate food for this great cause as we continue to play a small role in giving back to the community," UH director of athletics Dave Maggard said. "

The University of Houston Athletics Department will match donations of five non-perishable food items or more with a discount voucher. That voucher will be good for discounted tickets or Cougar Authentic merchandise.

Bags for collecting non-perishable food items will be distributed to fans at home games, Cougar talk shows and in the Athletics/Alumni Center.

Once the items have been collected, the Athletics Department will present the food to the Star of Hope Mission at halftime of the regular-season finale against Conference USA rival UTEP at 4 p.m., Nov. 22. The presentation will be a part of "Coogs for Charity Day" at Robertson Stadium.

A year ago, Cougar fans and sponsors donated nearly six tons of food.

Supporting sponsors of the Campaign include Smart Financial Credit Union, Wells Fargo, New York Life, Irma's Southwest Grill, Fabenco, Tallowood Baptist Church, Houston First Baptist Church and Halliburton.

The Star of Hope Mission ministers to more than 900 people every day with food, clothing, shelter and structured recovery programs. The organization touches the lives of more than 7,000 homeless people each year, including more than 1,600 children.

"The Star of Hope Mission is an excellent organization aiding those in need in the city of Houston," Maggard said. "We have seen first hand the organization benefit through our participation in food drives to help those who are do not have the means to help themselves."

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