The Houston Cougars football team did what it has done all season long. It followed up a win with a frustrating loss.
the daily #105 | 11/13/2023 | Archives
It was Homecoming at UH, but the Cincinnati Bearcats entered TDECU Stadium and imposed their will against the Cougars. As has been the case far too often for the UH defense, it allowed an opening-drive touchdown drive, capped off by a seven-yard Ryan Montgomery touchdown after UH pursued with an all-out blitz.
Houston matched the score a couple possessions later, but then Cincinnati built up 24-7 lead, and the Cougars looked life-less throughout most of the contest. UH fell to 4-6 and 2-5 in the Big 12. The loss for UH marked the Bearcats’ first-ever win in the conference.
With only two games remaining in the 2023 season, Houston hosts Oklahoma State and travels to UCF. The Knights embarrassed the Cowboys on Saturday afternoon, and UCF proved what it’s capable of doing at home. Not good for the Coogs.
Going back to Big 12 media day at Jerry’s World, Houston athletics director Chris Pezman said a successful season would be being bowl eligible in the team’s first year in the power conference.
With two weeks left, that benchmark is a long shot. What will Houston do if the coaching staff fails to reach it? The fans want heads to roll. To be fair, they’ve wanted heads to roll since week two.
The past couple of games have seen Houston battle with injuries, such as those to Matthew Golden, Chidozie Nwankwo, Jamal Morris, Malik Fleming, and Joseph Manjack IV, but they cannot be used as excuses for the 10 games we’ve witnessed.
The Cougars have had more than enough opportunities to get closer to the six-win total. The loss that stings the most is that week two matchup against Rice. It was a game UH should not have lost and never found itself down 28-0.
Houston could have shocked Texas, but a bad call or two prevented the opportunity. In many ways, it countered the team’s first conference win, which was an extremely fortunate walk-off, Hail Mary win.
As the old saying goes, you are what your record says you are. The Cougars are a 4-6 football team.
If they fail to win six games, there needs to be accountability from the administration. Why? Because that is what big-time programs do. Even when it is a financial disaster. Just look at what the College Station school had to do this past weekend.
