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Football Fan Appreciation Day Set for Aug. 10 Fans can catch an early glimpse of the 2008 University of Houston football team and meet the coaches and players during Fan Appreciation Day on Aug. 10 at the Yeoman Fieldhouse inside the Athletics/Alumni Center. Head coach Kevin Sumlin, the coaching staff, and the 2008 Cougars will be on hand to speak with fans during the annual preseason event. The fun begins when the doors open at 12:45 p.m. While they wait for the Cougars to arrive, fans can take part in a variety of fun activities, including a 20-yard shuttle race, field-goal kicking from 20, 25 and 40 yard distances and accuracy passing through a tire. Fans also will have the chance to play as the Cougars or against the Cougars in College Football 2009 by EA Sports on a PlayStation 3. At 1 p.m., the pep rally begins with the arrival of the Cougar team. After a rousing introduction by director of athletics Dave Maggard, Sumlin will look ahead to the upcoming season. The Cougar Band and members of Cougar spirit groups also will be on hand to provide a festive atmosphere. Fans also can pick up 2008 schedule cards and free team posters. Following Sumlin's preview, fans can eat free pizza, talk with, receive autographs from and take photos with the Cougar coaches and players. Free pizza will be provided by Double Dave's Pizzaworks with free drinks from Coca-Cola. The Athletics Ticket Office also will be open during the event for fans who wish to purchase their season tickets. Season-ticket plans are available starting at $95. The Cougars open their season at 6 p.m., Aug. 30, when they play
host to Southern on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. Shamblin Named C-USA Female Athlete of the Year
A three-time C-USA Pitcher of the Year, Shamblin finished her senior season with a 36-5 record and a 0.94 ERA, both UH single-season records. She led the Cougars to back-to-back C-USA regular season titles and the program's first appearance in an NCAA Super Regional. Shamblin was named a Second Team NFCA All-American and was an All-South Region First Team selection. During her senior campaign, she pitched two perfect games and had 18 shutouts. She was also a Top-10 Finalist for the USA Softball Player of the Year. Shamblin was named the C-USA Pitcher or Hitter of the Week 16 times, tying the league record. She currently plays softball for the Akron (Ohio) Racers of the National Pro Fastpitch softball league. Shamblin becomes the fourth Cougar and first softball player to win the award. She joins Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis, the Male Athlete of the Year, as the recipients of this year's award. Other UH award winners include Ebonie Floyd (track and field), Chandi Jones (women's basketball) and Brad Lincoln (baseball). Football Picked Second in West in C-USA The University of Houston football team was picked to finish second in the West Division by the Conference USA head coaches in their annual Preseason Poll, released by the league office. The Cougars earned 59 points in the preseason poll, 13 behind the 72 points of Tulsa, which was a unanimous selection by the coaches to win the West Division. UTEP, which received 42 points, was picked to finish third. UCF, the defending C-USA champion, was picked to win the East Division with 67 points, finishing ahead of East Carolina (60) and Southern Miss (49). The Cougars finished 8-5 a year ago, competing in the Texas Bowl to record the program's third straight bowl appearance. Nearly 50 lettermen, including 15 starters, return in 2008 for first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin, who took over the program in December after an award-winning stint as both co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oklahoma. Individually, senior defensive end Phillip Hunt and senior safety Kenneth Fontenette were named to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team. The leader of the defensive line in 2007, Hunt racked up team highs of 10.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss on the way to being named to the All-Conference USA First Team. It was the second straight season that the Fort Worth native earned a place on one of the league's postseason squads. Fontenette was a steady contributor in the secondary in 2007. The Pflugerville native led the Cougars with four interceptions and scored his first collegiate touchdown after picking up a fumble and racing 37 yards to the end zone against Colorado State at Robertson Stadium. The Cougars open their season at 6 p.m., Aug. 30, 2008, when they play host to Southern on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. The team will compete in front of a television audience at least
four times during the 2008 season, the Conference USA office announced.
The Cougars will be showcased on CBS College Sports National Sept.
13, Sept. 27, and Oct. 9. ESPN2 will show the Oct. 28 game. 2008 C-USA FOOTBALL COACHES PRESEASON POLL
For the latest UH scores and athletics news, visit www.uh.edu/athletics. |
Former University of Houston softball pitcher Angel Shamblin was
named the 2007-08 Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year announced
by League Commissioner Britton Banowsky. The award, voted on by
the league's Directors of Athletics, is based solely on athletic
achievement during the academic year. 