Football Picked Second in West in C-USA Coaches' Preseason Poll
July 16, 2008
• Watch the CBS College Sports Preview of Houston's Season HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team was picked to finish second in the West Division by the Conference USA head coaches in their annual Preseason Poll, released by the league office Wednesday afternoon. The Cougars earned 59 points in the preseason poll, 13 behind the 72 points of Tulsa, which was a unanimous selection by the coaches to win the West Division. UTEP, which received 42 points, was picked to finish third. UCF, the defending C-USA champion, was picked to win the East Division with 67 points, finishing ahead of East Carolina (60) and Southern Miss (49). The Cougars finished 8-5 a year ago, competing in the Texas Bowl to record the program's third straight bowl appearance. Nearly 50 lettermen, including 15 starters, return in 2008 for first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin, who took over the program in December after an award-winning stint as both co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Oklahoma. Individually, senior defensive end Phillip Hunt and senior safety Kenneth Fontenette were named to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team. The leader of the defensive line in 2007, Hunt racked up team highs of 10.5 sacks and 18.5 tackles for a loss on the way to being named to the All-Conference USA First Team. It was the second straight season that the Fort Worth native earned a place on one of the league's postseason squads. Fontenette was a steady contributor in the secondary in 2007. The Pflugerville native led the Cougars with four interceptions and scored his first collegiate touchdown after picking up a fumble and racing 37 yards to the end zone against Colorado State at Robertson Stadium. The Cougars open their season at 6 p.m., Aug. 30, 2008, when they play host to Southern on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
Offensive Player of the Year Defensive Player of the Year Special Teams Player of the Year First Team Offense First Team Defense
First Team Special Teams
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