Here we are on the eve of the Hawaii Bowl having not played a game in 29 days. Even so, it’s been an active December 2017 for the Houston Cougars. How active? I have a top 10 list! (Plus a few other semi-relevant notes).
1). December 1st: Case Keenum named NFL Offensive Player of the Month for November. Case threw 7 TDs while leading the Vikings to a 3-0 month.
Vikings Case Keenum named NFC Offensive Player of the Month – Sports Spectrum https://t.co/sqTuZ9yc2q
— LockShields (@LockShields) December 1, 2017
2). December 3 – AD Hunter Yurachek announces that Cougar Football is headed to the 808:
. @UHCougarFB is proud to accept an invitation to play Fresno State in the Hawaii Bowl on December 24th. #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/cvjvpAJpEQ
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) December 3, 2017
3). December 4th – Yurachek makes another announcement just 2 days after Arkansas Chancellor flew to Houston to take in Arkansas/UH in MBB:
Jennifer, myself and our family are excited to officially join the Arkansas Razorback family. #WPS https://t.co/hoMXUBdmNu
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) December 4, 2017
4). December 7 – Ed Oliver becomes the first-ever Cougar to win the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman in the sport.
Our 2017 winner. Ed Oliver of @UHCougarFB … first sophomore winner! pic.twitter.com/Q1PiSPli3v
— Outland Trophy (@outlandtrophy) December 8, 2017
5). December 10 – Cougar OC Brian Johnson, an “up-and-coming” coach, takes a demotion to head to Florida:
Florida has hired Houston offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, one of the nation's top up-and-coming coaches, to join Dan Mullen's inaugural staff in Gainesville. https://t.co/SoUgRQvohX
— Josh Emery (@mmajosh) December 10, 2017
6). December 12 – President Khator and Tilman Fertitta reel in former football team captain and current Cal Athletics COO Chris Pezman as the new AD.
Great moment…announced today our new Athletic Director, Chris Pezman, a Cougar and a winner!! pic.twitter.com/uTorc2SnzV
— Renu Khator (@UHpres) December 12, 2017
7). December 14 – Ed Oliver makes history again, becoming 8th Consensus All-American in UH history.
Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver named consensus All-American https://t.co/a2bVkzx2Uh via @houstonchron
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) December 14, 2017
8). December 20 – At 3:01 Hawaiian time, the Coogs begin the process of signing 21 recruits in the first-ever early signing period.
Who is next? #NSD has officially arrived …
Follow along here & at https://t.co/nGAzS0zZLz as we meet the newest members of the #HTownTakeover. #GoCoogs pic.twitter.com/vEEPbNDER7
— Houston Football (@UHCougarFB) December 20, 2017
9). December 21 – Major Applewhite became a viral sensation for his smooth dance moves.
https://twitter.com/opieapplewhite/status/944584980746956800
10). December 24 – The University of Houston battles California State University, Fresno in the Hawaii Bowl. It will mark UH’s 3rd game in the islands and first since Christmas night 2003.
Who's excited for this matchup between @FresnoStateFB & @UHCougarFB?! Only ONE DAY left until kickoff! #HawaiiBowl pic.twitter.com/lTgmBviGpf
— SoFi Hawai'i Bowl (@HawaiiBowl) December 23, 2017
And a few other December 2017 Cougar-related notes:
- Former UH QB and current USC head coach Clay Helton led his Trojans to the Pac-12 Championship and a match-up with Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.
- His brother, former UH QB Tyson Helton, has been named the Offensive Coordinator at Tennessee.
- Former UH head coach Dana Dimel was hired as the new head coach at UTEP.
UH really needs a win in the Hawaii Bowl. A 7-5 season would look like a regression to the Tony Levine years. Here’s to ending December 2017 with a win and onto a happy 2018.
