The 2012 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 67th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the last for the Cougars as a member of Conference USA as they moved to the American Athletic Conference in 2013. In addition, it was the final season for the team to host its home games at Robertson Stadium as the university announced plans to begin construction on TDECU Stadium in December 2012—following the conclusion of the season. The 2012 season was the first full season under head coach Tony Levine as he took over for Kevin Sumlin after his departure following the 2011 Conference USA Football Championship Game.
At one time it was believed that the 2012 season would be the last for the foreseeable future with a Bayou Bucket Classic matchup against the Rice Owls. Both teams had relied on the game being on their respective conference schedules. However, with the American Athletic Conference move in 2013 for the Cougars, the matchup would have had to have been scheduled as a non-conference game. At the time of the Big East Conference announcement, Rice had its non-conference schedule completely booked for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. In April 2012, the two schools announced that they had come to an agreement to extend the series through the 2013 season. The 2012 and 2013 Bayou Bucket Classics were hosted at Reliant Stadium.Houston, Rice Extend Bayou Bucket Series Through 2013, UH Athletics, Retrieved April 28, 2012
Pre-season
Recruits
Awards & award watch lists Jacolby Ashworth Lombardi Award watch list
D. J. Hayden Jim Thorpe Award watch listHayden Named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List. Houston Cougars, July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
Richie Leone Ray Guy Award watch list
Charles Sims Maxwell Award watch list
Schedule 2012 Houston Cougars football schedule, FBSchedules.com, Retrieved February 3, 2012Conference USA 2012 TV Schedule , Matt Sarz Sports, Retrieved March 2, 2012Houston Sets Highly-Anticipated 2012 Football Schedule, University of Houston Athletics, Retrieved April 27, 2012
Coaching staff
Name Position Alma mater (Year) Tony Levine Head coach Minnesota (1995) Travis Bush Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks Texas State (2000) Jamie Bryant Defensive coordinator Ohio Wesleyan (1993) Jamie Christian Special teams coordinator/Inside receivers Central Washington (1999) Lee Hays Offensive line Texas A&M–Kingsville (1996) Ricky Logo Defensive line North Carolina State (1992) Carlton Hall Defensive line Vanderbilt (1998) Ken McClintock Running backs Minnesota (1993) Brandon Middleton Outside receivers Houston (2004) Zac Spavital Cornerbacks Murray State (2004) Brian Odom Co-director of sports performance Southeastern Oklahoma State (2004)
Game summaries
Texas State
Statistics TXSTHOU First downs 23 15 Total yards 444 326 Rushing yards 248 115 Passing yards 196 211 Turnovers 1 2 Time of possession 43:09 16:51
Team Category Player StatisticsTexas State Passing Shaun Rutherford 19/25, 196 yards, TD Rushing Marcus Curry 14 rushes, 131 yards, 2 TD Receiving Isaiah Battle 5 receptions, 75 yardsHouston Passing David Piland 17/44, 211 yards, TD, INT Rushing Charles Sims 13 rushes, 77 yards Receiving Larry McDuffey 2 receptions, 73 yards, TD
Louisiana Tech
Statistics LTHOU First downs 38 40 Total yards 598 693 Rushing yards 245 113 Passing yards 353 580 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 28:07 31:53
Team Category Player StatisticsLouisiana Tech Passing Colby Cameron 34/52, 353 yards, 2 TD Rushing Tevin King 13 rushes, 112 yards, 3 TD Receiving Myles White 5 receptions, 74 yardsHouston Passing David Piland 53/77, 580 yards, 4 TD Rushing Charles Sims 21 rushes, 65 yards, 2 TD Receiving Daniel Spencer 7 receptions, 157 yards, TD
At No. 22 UCLA
Statistics HOUUCLA First downs 14 29 Total yards 388 567 Rushing yards 139 247 Passing yards 249 320 Turnovers 6 5 Time of possession 18:40 41:07
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing David Piland 28/60, 249 yards, 5 INT Rushing Kenneth Farrow 13 rushes, 74 yards Receiving DeWayne Peace 10 receptions, 103 yardsUCLA Passing Brett Hundley 27/42, 320 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing Johnathan Franklin 25 rushes, 110 yards Receiving Steven Manfro 7 receptions, 78 yards
Vs. Rice
Statistics HOURICE First downs 30 17 Total yards 608 343 Rushing yards 247 69 Passing yards 361 274 Turnovers 3 1 Time of possession 29:13 30:47
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing David Piland 26/43, 361 yards, 2 TD, INT Rushing Charles Sims 24 rushes, 158 yards, 3 TD Receiving Larry McDuffey 8 receptions, 100 yards, TDRice Passing Driphus Jackson 17/35, 272 yards, 2 TD Rushing Charles Ross 13 rushes, 52 yards Receiving Sam McGuffie 6 receptions, 119 yards, 2 TD
North Texas
Statistics UNTHOU First downs 25 35 Total yards 483 623 Rushing yards 231 302 Passing yards 252 321 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 34:28 25:32
Team Category Player StatisticsNorth Texas Passing Derek Thompson 20/38, 252 yards, 2 INT Rushing Brandin Byrd 19 rushes, 96 yards Receiving Ivan Delgado 4 receptions, 85 yardsHouston Passing David Piland 31/41, 321 yards, 2 TD Rushing Charles Sims 21 rushes, 210 yards, TD Receiving Dewayne Peace 9 receptions, 83 yards, TD
UAB
Statistics UABHOU First downs 21 32 Total yards 374 561 Rushing yards 35 181 Passing yards 339 380 Turnovers 2 1 Time of possession 26:22 33:38
Team Category Player StatisticsUAB Passing Austin Brown 20/43, 302 yards, TD, INT Rushing Greg Franklin 5 rushes, 50 yards, TD Receiving J. J. Nelson 6 receptions, 106 yardsHouston Passing David Piland 32/44, 362 yards, TD Rushing Charles Sims 26 rushes, 128 yards Receiving Shane Ros 7 receptions, 114 yards, TD
At SMU
Statistics HOUSMU First downs 30 20 Total yards 560 384 Rushing yards 115 119 Passing yards 445 265 Turnovers 9 2 Time of possession 41:18 31:11
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Crawford Jones 17/33, 252 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Rushing Charles Sims 17 rushes, 54 yards, 2 TD Receiving Charles Sims 7 receptions, 114 yards, 2 TDSMU Passing Garrett Gilbert 23/38, 265 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT Rushing Zach Line 22 rushes, 113 yards, 2 TD Receiving Darius Johnson 9 receptions, 110 yards, 2 TD
UTEP
Statistics UTEPHOU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsUTEP Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
At East Carolina
Statistics HOUECU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Rushing Receiving East Carolina Passing Rushing Receiving
Tulsa
Statistics TLSAHOU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsTulsa Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
At Marshall
Statistics HOUMRSH First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Rushing Receiving Marshall Passing Rushing Receiving
Tulane
Statistics TULNHOU First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Turnovers Time of possession
Team Category Player StatisticsTulane Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving
References