Houston Faces Southern Miss for C-USA Championship. What Does It Mean?

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2011 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (December 2, 2011) On the night before thebiggest game in recent football history, questions abound about what it allmeans; win or lose, for the Houston Cougars?

When the No. 6 Houston Cougars (12-0, 8-0 C-USA) hit the fieldat Robertson Stadium at 11:00am to face the No. 23 Southern Miss Golden Eagles (10-2,6-2 C-USA) they will be looking at completing their best regular season inschool history.

The Cougars will be facing their first ranked opponent ofthe 2011 season in Southern Miss.

The Golden Eagles have lost two games this season; Marshall (26-21)on Sept. 10 and UAB (34-31) on Nov. 17.

Houston and Southern Miss have met 13 times previously, withthe Golden Eagles holding the edge 8-5.

The game notes issued by the University of Houston AthleticCommunications Office states the following facts and statistics:

·       Houston makes its third appearance in theConference USA Championship Game and will be hosting for the second time.

·       UH is 1-1 in the C-USA title tilt, with that wincoming in 2006 (34-20) vs. Southern Miss at Robertson Stadium. Houston fell atEast Carolina in 2009 (38-32).

·       Houston owns a 4-3 series lead vs. Southern Missat home, but the Golden Eagles own an 8-5 advantage in the series overall.

·       Houston has won three consecutive at RobertsonStadium vs. USM.

·       Head Coach Kevin Sumlin is 1-1 vs. SouthernMiss, including a 50-43 win in 2009 at Robertson Stadium.

·       Houston looks for its 13th win on the season,which would extend this season’s school record total. Houston is also lookingfor its 13th consecutive win, which would also extend the school’s longestwinning streak.

·       A 13th win by Houston would be tied for thesixth highest win total of the modern era.

In addition to these stats; many issues arise depending onthe outcome of the game.

Let’s look at a few of these issues individually.

If Houston beats Southern Miss and gets a bid to a BCS bowlgame, what will the status of head coach Kevin Sumlin be?

His name has already been floated around as a potentialreplacement at numerous jobs, including Arizona State and Texas A&M.

I do not think the University of Houston would want to loseSumlin at this point. He is too much of an asset to the university and I dobelieve university administration will go the any lengths to keep him.

If the Cougars advance to a BCS bowl game, it would be, morethan likely the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

That would be the biggest and most prestigious bowl game appearancein school history.

With the game being played in New Orleans, hundreds if notthousands of Cougar fans would hit the road for the Big Easy.

Can you imagine the majority of the Superdome filled with screaming,red and white clad Cougar fans?

The game would be nothing more than a post-season home gamefor the Cougars.

As a result of the C-USA championship and the BCS bowl game appearance,the Cougars could be expected to use the momentum of 2011 to next season andbeyond.

Many things ride on today’s game, but the only issue on themind of the Cougar players and their staff is beating Southern Miss.

If they accomplish that feat, the rest will take care ofitself.