Tulsa was a much-needed win for this program and will keep the Cougars out of the bottom spot in the AAC West. But it was one of the ugliest wins in recent memory. Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly from beyond the Tulsa box score:
The Cougars scored just one offensive TD in the game, an occurrence unseen since the Las Vegas Bowl in 2016. Scoring one TD in a win hadn’t been done since the Temple game in 2013. That Day, Richie Leone kicked 5 field goals to go along with Ryan Jackson’s rushing TD.
Incidentally, the offense scored one TD several times in that 2013 season: in addition to Temple, the Doug Meacham offense scored just once in the Cincinnati and Louisville games. Of course, to open the next season UH scored just once in the worst-loss in school history.
The 27 yards of sacks ties for the most the Cougars have had since the 2016 Louisville game.
Dane Roy has averaged 46.87 yards per punt this season and will likely set the all-time UH record on Saturday. In 2012, Richie Leonie averaged 45.50 ypp – the current school record.
Going back to the 2000 season, Roy’s 2019 punt average is the 43rd-best among all punters in FBS.
Our Tulsa Reaction podcast discussed the excellence we’ve seen from special teams as well as the defense’s great game and encouraging season.
The Cougars did not throw a TD pass at Tulsa. You have to go back to Tulane 2017 to find the last time UH didn’t throw for a touchdown.
But it’s not exactly rare against Tulsa: UH didn’t throw a TD pass at Tulsa in 2017, either. Or at home in 2016. Or there in 2015. And only one in each of 2014 and 2012 (the teams did not play in 2013). To be fair, D’Eriq King threw three TDs vs. Tulsa in 2018.
The last time UH threw a passing TD at Tulsa? Eight years ago today – 11/25/11 – when Case Keenum threw 6 of ’em. Keenum’s day included more passing TDs than all seven Tulsa games combined since then.
The Cougar defense gave up -1 rushing yard to Tulsa. That’s the lowest number since playing Memphis in 1998.
By our count, 12 guys have started on the OL this season and only two have started more than four games. Josh Jones started nine times at LT while Gio Pancotti has started 9 games and has done so at LG (6), RG (2), and RT (1). The lineups have been all over the place.
Have started a game on the OL:
J. Jones
B. Jones
K. Murphy
J. Murphy
Williams
Bardwell
Pancotti
Wooten
Freeman
Paul
Banes
Boatman
Does UH lead FBS in OL starters?
Unless the Cougars get a win over Navy, they will go winless at home vs. FBS programs. It would be just the fourth time the Coogs have done that since 1949. The others? 2001 (0-11), 1994 (1-10), and 1986 (1-10). Not good company.
We’ve been tracking Dalton Witherspoon’s consecutive-makes streak for the last month. Saturday, Witherspoon tied Roman Anderson’s 1988 record for most consecutive FGs in a season (13). On Sunday, Roman saw our tweet and congratulated Dalton.
My sincere congratulations to you Dalton @Witherspoon47 on your success. Your
dedication and focus has led you to this success. Stay focused this week and set a new record. Very best wishes for your future achievements. Keep going, onward and upward. Well done.
– Roman #14K— roman anderson (@romanganderson) November 24, 2019
We are obligated to mention that the school record for consecutive field goals is held by GoCoogs contributor Matt Hogan, who made 16 over two seasons (2009-2010).
A Veer subscriber points out that the 2019 team has the most road wins (3) for a team not over .500 since 1985. That team went 4-7 with wins at Louisville, TCU, and Rice.
UH’s 231 yards of offense is the least number of yards since the Vegas Bowl in 2016.
UH had just 12 first downs against Tulsa. That’s the fewest first downs since the Birmingham Bowl following the 2013 season.
This team needs 13 points against the Middies to pass the point total from the 2017 team. That 2017 offense was the worst scoring UH team since 2004.
Navy would need to score 131 points for UH to give up as many points as they did in 2018. UH would need to give up 96 points to Navy in order to give up more per game than the 2018 team. Hashtag Progress.
This is the third time this season that UH has had under 300 yards (UConn, Memphis). And the 100 passing yards is the lowest total since Greg Ward threw for 89 yards on a windy day in 2014 at USF in 2014 (won the game 27-3).
With his 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, Marquez Stevenson joins Brandon Wilson and Tyron Carrier as the only players with multiple kickoff returns in the same season. Carrier had four in the 2009 season.
Carrier is tied with three others for the most KO returns for a TD in a career (7) and is #2 in both kickoff returns for TDs in a season (4) and all-time kickoff return yards.
Dane Roy now has the most punt yards in UH history at 9,874 (9,029 metres).
Dane Roy now has the most total punt yards in UH history. #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/7Fpr9oakyT
— GoCoogs.com (@gocoogs1) November 24, 2019
He is now 91st in total yards among all punters in FBS since 2000. With an average game vs. Navy, he will jump another dozen to 15 players or so on that list.
The Cougars are 53-19-1 (73%) in regular-season home finales. UH is 32-11 (74%) in games when the season ends at home.
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