usf 10.5 dogs against houston

[NewEnglandBull]

Our best running back, marcus shaw, got hurt against cincy and hasnt played since. If he plays and is close enough to 100%, yes i would be concerned.

I dont see him playing tho

Thansk for the update. That's why I read these boards, to find info without having to search all kinds of news reports and to get the fan perspective.

According Tags radio show Shaw will be playing.

[NewEnglandBull]

I agree Mike. If he can play effectively 1/3 of the game I would be happy.

[raptorcj]

Well, of course on paper we've already lost the game, but the two x-factors for us (Shaw's back and White's new) could negate most of that. If White offers us any relief in the passing game, we can keep the ball moving and maybe even...wait for it...score a TD or three. Bottom line for me, if we can keep our D rested then we win. More 3-and-outs or TOs and we're toast--Houston's offense is very respectable.

[JupiterBull]

Any one who actually bets against their alma mater is a total ass hole in my book. No different than wearing UF, FSU, etc. gear while being a student at USF.

I admit...a few years back, when USF was favored over UM, I put $500 on UM to cover.  I just didn't feel good about USF winning.

 

I also looked at it as kinda of a hedge...I wanted USF to win, BADLY!  But as JTrue implies, my bet had no influence on USF's performance.  Still, I didn't like betting against USF, but at 10.5, it'd be hard to NOT pick Houston to cover, especially at home.  White may be a wildcard, and perhaps our D can rattle O'Korn.  I closed my betting account after the UM game, to avoid the tempation of betting, so I'm just weighing in.

[JupiterBull]

One of the most misleading stats in interceptions.  When you D is one of the worst in pass defense, yet leads in interceptions, that often means:  teams are bombing away, and by sheer volume, you get some picks.

 

A classic example is from my 1980s Cowboys.  Everson Walls led the league (or was close) in INTs...but was CONSTANTLY picked on, and team figured they were OK with the occassional pick, if they got the TD scorches in much better numbers.

 

Look, no sane USF fan is bashing Houston...you're favored for a reason.  Our hope is that White can turn in a B or better performance, our D punishes O'Korn (early, often & legally) and that our run game grinds out clock & keeps the D fresh and that our D limits the big plays or long drives (I'd rather get hit on a quick strike TD, than see an 18 play, 80 yard exhausting drive.

 

I see Houston winning by 20+ if we can't accomplish most of the above.  I don't see us winning, unless we handle the above, and some key players rise up (White, Shaw, Davis, Price on O; Lattimore, Lynch, Godwin, Giddens, Cliett...who's been a bit quiet since his injury a few games ago).

 

Houston also has a LOT more to lose.  But I will say, they looked pretty relaxed in the video they posted today re: uniforms. My expectations are low, and I'm hoping that we start putting together some complete games...the wins will follow.

[NTXCoog]

One of the most misleading stats in interceptions.  When you D is one of the worst in pass defense, yet leads in interceptions, that often means:  teams are bombing away, and by sheer volume, you get some picks.

 

A classic example is from my 1980s Cowboys.  Everson Walls led the league (or was close) in INTs...but was CONSTANTLY picked on, and team figured they were OK with the occassional pick, if they got the TD scorches in much better numbers.

 

That may be true sometimes, but when you've allowed 9 passing TDs (4 by BYU) and have 16 INTs, the passing may put up lots of yards, but our opponents aren't scoring with it.  And considering 10 different players have INTs, I don't think any one guy is getting picked on that much.

 

And considering UH has thrown 275 passes, 21 for TDs, with only 4 INTs, and our opponents have thrown 277 passes, 9 for TDs, with 16 INTs, I think the sheer volume argument fails.

[JupiterBull]

 

One of the most misleading stats in interceptions.  When you D is one of the worst in pass defense, yet leads in interceptions, that often means:  teams are bombing away, and by sheer volume, you get some picks.

 

A classic example is from my 1980s Cowboys.  Everson Walls led the league (or was close) in INTs...but was CONSTANTLY picked on, and team figured they were OK with the occassional pick, if they got the TD scorches in much better numbers.

 

That may be true sometimes, but when you've allowed 9 passing TDs (4 by BYU) and have 16 INTs, the passing may put up lots of yards, but our opponents aren't scoring with it.  And considering 10 different players have INTs, I don't think any one guy is getting picked on that much.

 

And considering UH has thrown 275 passes, 21 for TDs, with only 4 INTs, and our opponents have thrown 277 passes, 9 for TDs, with 16 INTs, I think the sheer volume argument fails.

 

You're playing with stats, which is fine.  What that last line DOES suggest is that the Houston QBs/offenses are much better than the offenses that have lined up against Houston's D.  Possible exception of BYU.  Side note, I don't expect our anemic offense to tarnish your D's impressive INT/TD ratio.

 

BTW, off topic:  I see a lot of 3 fingered, quasi-"shocker" hand signs by Houston.  What's the significance?

[JTrue]

They're going to be "shocked" if we find the endzone?

[JupiterBull]

They're going to be "shocked" if we find the endzone?

the cold spell ends Thursday.  Our OL needs to get pissed & nasty, and push people downfield.  We won't win a track meet, but we can win a slugfest.

[NTXCoog]

 

 

BTW, off topic:  I see a lot of 3 fingered, quasi-"shocker" hand signs by Houston.  What's the significance?

 

 

That's our cougar paw hand sign.  Here's the official story from the UH website...

 

Cougar Hand Sign

In Texas, all of the major universities have adopted a hand sign which signifies to all other Texans where your loyalties lie. The Cougar Hand Sign is no different. Although the original hand sign was the "V" for Victory until 1965, events conspired and a new hand sign was adopted. The inaugural football game between University of Houston and University of Texas during the 1953 campaign witnessed the birth of a blood rivalry between the state's two largest universities at that time. However, it also led to the adoption of another Cougar Hand Sign. During her transport from Houston to Austin, one of the fingers on Shasta's paw was severed when the cage door was closed. As the University of Texas partisans and players caught wind of the accident, they mimicked the animal by bending their thumb over the ring finger against their palm. This gesture implied that the Cougars were invalids. The Cougars would go on to lose the game 28-7.

 

The cougar faithful, still mindful of the stinging defeat suffered 15 years earlier, never forgot the taunting that they received. The next time the two teams faced off (1968... a whole 15 years later), UH tied UT 20-20. At that point, the students thought there might be a bit of magic in that sign, and the hand sign was adopted replacing the "V".

 

In 1976, the Cougars first football season in the Southwest Conference, the Coogs & Horns met for the third time ever. The Coogs put a beating on the Longhorns that they have yet to forget 30-0 (a.k.a.the "Dad's Day Massacre") in front of the largest crowd to assemble in Memorial Stadium at that time. That victory ended the Longhorns famed winning streak, and the embarrassment also signaled the end of legendary UT Coach Darryl K. Royal's career. After that victory, the Cougar Hand Sign became firmly entrenched.

 

*Important Note: Only one hand is to be held aloft when making the Cougar Hand Sign.

 

While that is the official story, not everyone believes that is the true origin.  We actually had a challenge issued to find the earliest picture of the hand sign.  I believe the earliest picture was from the mid-1970s.  Definitely nothing from 1968.  It was confirmed that the cougar was injured, so it is possible.

 

Another theory that some say they were taught at freshmen orientation in the 1970s is that the fingers form a "UH" when done correctly.

 

The final theory is that you take the Texas Longhorns hand sign and add the middle finger.  Kind of flipping off UT.  Even if not true, many of us going back to the SWC days like that explanation.

 

Take your pick on which origin story you like, but we do call it the Cougar paw.