Houston Still Capable without Keenum

Tulsa players and coaches talked about Houston's still-prolific offense.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 12:01 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Nov 8, 2010 10:31 PM CDT

Grant Belcher
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

TULSA, Oklahoma – Every time Tulsa and Houston hit the football field, it’s bound to be an exciting matchup.

This year, however, the Houston Cougars might have a little different look to them.

Not only did Houston lose one of the best offensive coordinators in the country in Dana Holgorsen over the offseason, but also one of the most productive quarterbacks in NCAA history in Case Keenum.

Keenum tore his ACL in the third game of the season against UCLA and will miss the rest of the season.

His accolades and statistics are almost too many to list, but should Keenum seek a sixth year of eligibility, he would have a chance to set a large number of NCAA career passing records.

Tulsa coach Todd Graham said the loss of Keenum changes Houston’s look a bit but doesn’t make the Cougars any less potent on offense.

“They have a big, huge, physical offensive line,” he said. “I think they are a different team in that they can run the football extremely well. Michael Hayes has been a load at running back for them.”

Defensive back Charles Davis knows the Houston offense all-too-well. He has been at Tulsa since 2006 and has seen more than his fair share of Houston and Keenum.

“They always have a good offense,” Davis said. “They have really good talented receivers and good guys who can make plays. Our job this week is just to keep everything in front of us like we have.”

The implications on the Tulsa-Houston matchup are always huge. Every year since Tulsa joined Conference USA, either the Golden Hurricane or the Cougars have represented the West Division in the C-USA Championship Game.

Tulsa wide receiver Damaris Johnson, who is creeping up on some NCAA marks of his own, said the rivalry is certainly an intense one.

“Every time we play them, it’s always a good game,” Johnson said. “It’s a brutal game. Those guys come out with a mentality like they want to win and we do too.”

Even with Keenum out, Houston has posted 40 or more points in five of six games.

Graham said the Cougars’ big numbers are a testament to the overall quality of their offense.

“Everybody understands the significance of (Keenum’s) role in the team, but you have to give the other guys around him some credit,” Graham said. “They have a special group, it's not just one guy.”