Head Coach Art Briles and the Cougars look for histor y to repeat itself in 2007 after claiming the Conference USA Championship with a 10-4 record and an AutoZone Liberty Bowl berth last season. The Cougars have won back-to-back league titles, only twice in program history—1956–57 Missouri Valley Conference and 1978–79 Southwest Conference crowns.

The good news for UH is the return of seventeen starters.

The biggest question of the upcoming season? Who’s replacing Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and four-year starting quarterback, Kevin Kolb. Blake Joseph and Case Keenum went head-to-head during the spring season vying for the QB position. At press time, the challenge for the QB spot is still open.

Houston’s offense is stacked. The Cougars return with three of five offensive linemen along with explosive running back Anthony “Quick Six” Alridge and wide-receivers Donnie Avery and Jeron Har vey. Alridge led the nation, racking up 10.1 yards per carry en route to 956 yards on 95 carries with four of his eight touchdown runs coming from 40 yards or longer. Avery and Harvey combined for 98 receptions, 1,523 yards, and nine touchdowns.

The Cougar defense returns with eight starters including returning All-Conference USA Second-Team performer Phillip Hunt with his team-high eight sacks. The linebacker core is anchored by inside backers Trent Allen and Cody Lubojasky, who finished second and third on the squad in tackles. Former safety standout Rocky Schwartz moves to outside linebacker to join Brendan Pahulu.

For more Cougar Football news and season updates, visit www.uh.edu/athletics.

Houston baseball compiled a 28-28 record with a fourth-place finish in Conference USA. Sophomore outfielder Jimmy Cesario along with freshman pitcher Wes Musick took home All-Conference USA First-Team honors. Cesario also was named C-USA Newcomer of the Year, while sophomore catcher Luis Flores was named to the All-Conference USA Second Team. Outfielder Zak Presley joined Musick on the league’s All-Freshman Team.

Cesario emerged as one of the Cougars’ and C-USA’s most consistent threats. He posted a team-high .352 batting average and headlined UH in hits (77), doubles (13), and on-base percentage (.417). The Louisiana native racked up a 20-game hitting streak—the fifth-longest streak in UH history.

Houston’s track and field program earned a pair of thirdplace finishes during the outdoor season. Senior Ebonie Floyd was selected as Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year after being named an indoor and outdoor NCAA
All-American.

The Houston native won silver in the 100-meters and bronze in the 200 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. At the NCAA Midwest Regional, Floyd clocked the second fastest 200-meter time in the world with a finish of 22.32—a Midwest Regional record. Floyd also won the 100-meters at the Regional and was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association South Central Region Female Track Athlete
of the Year.

Freshman Alex Bentley was named the Conference USA Male Newcomer of the Year after winning the pole vault at the C-USA Championships, clearing a career best 5.06m/16-07.25”. The Tomball native, a Regional qualifier, earned wins at the Texas Invitational and Tom Tellez Invitational during the season.