The Cougar football team has its sights set on another Conference USA crown, and the media is behind them.
By a 20-vote margin, a panel of 24 columnists and broadcasters (12 of each) predicted that the Cougars will finish first in C-USA West over Tulsa. UH narrowly beat out East Carolina in an 11-10 vote to win the meaningless top ranking.
Led by quarterback Case Keenum, a league-best eight Cougars were named to the All-C-USA first and second teams.
The 2009 preseason Offensive Player of the Year was one of only two unanimous selections to the first team as Marshall tight end Cody Slate took the other undisputed slot.
Three of Keenum’s teammates joined him on the first team: running back Bryce Beall, receiver Tyron Carrier and cornerback Brandon Brinkley.
Four Cougars claimed spots on the second team: center Carl Barnett, receiver Patrick Edwards, linebacker Marcus McGraw and punter Chase Turner earning the nods.
Eight ECU players were selected to the two teams, but the Pirates led the conference with six first-team nominations.
Only four Rice players made the cut – all on the second team.’ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘ ‘
Cougar divers earn more medals
Former UH diver Yulia Pakhalina teamed with UH diver Anastasia Pozdniakova to take bronze in the women’s 3-meter springboard synchronized diving Saturdy at the FINA World Championships in Rome.
Last week, Pakhalina won gold in 1-meter springboard diving.
The duo recorded a combined score of 310.80, while Italy’s Tania Cagnotto and Francesca Dallape’s earned silver with a score of 329.70. China’s Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia scored 348.00 to win gold.
