2013 Houston Cougars football team

The 2013 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston in the 2013 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 68th year of season play for Houston. The season marked the first for the Cougars as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Due to construction of the new TDECU Stadium during the 2013 season, the team played its home games at other locations in Houston.

2013 Houston Cougars football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record8–5 (5–3 The American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDoug Meacham (1st season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorDavid Gibbs (1st season)
Base defenseMultiple
Home stadiumReliant Stadium (5 games)
BBVA Compass Stadium (2 games)
Seasons
← 2012
2014 →
2013 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 10 UCF $   8 0     12 1  
No. 15 Louisville   7 1     12 1  
Cincinnati   6 2     9 4  
Houston   5 3     8 5  
SMU   4 4     5 7  
Rutgers   3 5     6 7  
UConn   3 5     3 9  
South Florida   2 6     2 10  
Memphis   1 7     3 9  
Temple   1 7     2 10  
  • $ – BCS representative as conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The season featured the Cougars’ continued Bayou Bucket Classic rivalry with the Rice Owls. The game again became a non-conference battle due to the departure from Conference USA for the Cougars following the 2012 season. The previous time the two teams met as non-conference foes was during the 2004 season when the Rice Owls was a member of the Western Athletic Conference. The 2013 Bayou Bucket Classic was played at Reliant Stadium.

They finished the season 8–5, 5–3 in American Athletic play to finish in fourth place. They were invited to the BBVA Compass Bowl where they were defeated by Vanderbilt.

Preseason

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Recruits

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For the 2013 recruiting class, Houston attained its highest overall class ranking since 2010, and its second-highest ranking ever by Rivals.com. However, Scout.com only gave Houston its seventh-best overall ranking.

US college sports recruiting information for 2013 recruits
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight 40 Commit date
Markeith Ambles
WR
Yuma, Arizona Arizona Western CC 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 203 lb (92 kg) 4.7 Apr 8, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 83
Demarcus Ayers
WR
Lancaster, Texas Lancaster HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 174 lb (79 kg) 4.44 Feb 4, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Tyus Bowser
DE
Tyler, Texas John Tyler HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 4.60 Feb 5, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 74
Billy Cosh
QB
Annapolis, Maryland Butler CC 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 218 lb (99 kg) N/A Dec 3, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Ty Cummings
K
Southlake, Texas Carroll HS 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) 180 lb (82 kg) N/A Apr 30, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Emerald Faletuipapai
OL
Gardena, California Junípero Serra HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 337 lb (153 kg) N/A Dec 19, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 71
Nomluis Fruge
LB
Houston, Texas Furr HS 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) 193 lb (88 kg) N/A Dec 13, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 68
Donald Gage
WR
Zachary, Louisiana Zachary HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 173 lb (78 kg) 4.45 Feb 1, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 78
Joseph Glenn
RB
Giddings, Texas Giddings HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 199 lb (90 kg) 4.5 Jul 22, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 78
Trevor Harris
DE
Brooklyn, New York ASA CC 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 237 lb (108 kg) 4.5 Dec 19, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
D'Juan Hines
QB
Houston, Texas Dekaney HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 4.5 Jun 22, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Chauntez Jackson
DE
Inglewood, California Inglewood HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 237 lb (108 kg) N/A Jan 16, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 75
Chauntez Jackson
DE
Inglewood, California Inglewood HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 237 lb (108 kg) N/A Jan 16, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 75
Michael Jolivet
DE
Beaumont, Texas Navarro CC 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 247 lb (112 kg) 4.65 Jul 21, 2012  
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 77
John Leday
WR
Port Arthur, Texas Memorial HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 183 lb (83 kg) N/A Dec 17, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
Kent London
DB
Milpitas, California Foothill CC 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 213 lb (97 kg) 4.5 Feb 7, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 73
Tyler McCloskey
LB
Houston, Texas Memorial HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 223 lb (101 kg) N/A Dec 21, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
John O'Korn
QB
Fort Lauderdale, Florida St. Thomas Aquinas HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 207 lb (94 kg) 4.7 Jun 22, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 77
Damien Parris
OL
San Pablo, California Contra Costa CC 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 290 lb (130 kg) 4.9 Dec 16, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 73
Deondre Skinner
TE
Patterson, Louisiana Patterson HS 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 4.9 Jan 13, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 77
Ja'Braylin Thomas
OL
Weimar, Texas Weimar HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 320 lb (150 kg) N/A May 16, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Josh Thomas
OL
Shreveport, Louisiana Evangel Christian Academy HS 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 329 lb (149 kg) N/A Mar 31, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 73
Nick Thurman
DT
Dallas, Texas Lake Highlands High School HS 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 260 lb (120 kg) N/A Dec 17, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 73
Caleb Tucker
LB
Monroe, Louisiana Ouachita Parish HS 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) 225 lb (102 kg) 4.5 Dec 19, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Turon Walker
DB
Pleasant Hill, California Diablo Valley CC 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 4.5 Dec 14, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 75
Greg Ward
CB
Tyler, Texas John Tyler HS 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 4.5 Jun 20, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 76
Javin Webb
RB
Shreveport, Louisiana Evangel Christian Academy HS 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) 187 lb (85 kg) N/A Dec 16, 2012 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPN:    ESPN grade: 70
Zach White
DB
Desoto, Texas Evangel Christian Academy HS 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) 163 lb (74 kg) 4.5 Feb 4, 2013 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247SportsN/A    ESPNN/A   ESPN grade: NR
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 62   Rivals: 50
  • ‡ Refers to 40 yard dash
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Houston Football Commitment List". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  • "Football Recruiting: Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  • "Houston Cougars: Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.
  • "2013 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2013.

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 307:30 p.m.Southern*ESPN3W 62–1326,205
September 711:00 a.m.at TempleAANW 22–1327,328
September 212:00 p.m.vs. Rice*
FSNW 31–2634,831
September 283:00 p.m.at UTSA*FSNW 59–2832,487
October 1211:00 a.m.MemphisESPNewsW 25–1520,103
October 192:30 p.m.BYU* 
  • Reliant Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPNewsL 46–4733,115
October 2611:00 a.m.at RutgersESPNewsW 49–1452,200
October 316:00 p.m.South Florida
  • Reliant Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPNW 35–2322,707
November 96:00 p.m.at No. 21 UCFESPN2L 14–1944,665
November 166:00 p.m.at No. 13 LouisvilleESPNUL 13–2053,027
November 2311:00 a.m.Cincinnati
  • BBVA Compass Stadium
  • Houston, TX
ESPNewsL 17–2420,197
November 2911:00 a.m.SMU
  • Reliant Stadium
  • Houston, TX (rivalry)
ESPN2W 34–023,210
January 412:00 p.m.vs. Vanderbilt*ESPNL 24–4142,717

[1][2]

Coaching staff

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2013 was head coach Tony Levine's second full season in that position
Name Position Alma mater (Year)
Tony Levine Head coach Minnesota (1995)
Doug Meacham Offensive coordinator Oklahoma State (1987)
David Gibbs Defensive coordinator Colorado (1990)
Jamie Christian Special teams coordinator/Inside receivers/Tight ends Central Washington (1999)
Glen Elarbee Offensive line Middle Tennessee (2002)
Ricky Logo Defensive line North Carolina State (1992)
Vernon Hargreaves Linebackers Connecticut (1986)
Brandon Middleton Outside receivers Houston (2004)
Zac Spavital Defensive backs Murray State (2004)
Brian Odom Co-director of sports performance Southeastern Oklahoma State (2004)

Game summaries

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UTSA

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Houston at UTSA
1 234Total
Cougars 7 141028 59
Roadrunners 7 1470 28
Source:[3]



BYU at Houston
1 234Total
BYU Cougars 24 10013 47
UH Cougars 21 1726 46
Sources:

Poll rankings

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Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre123456789101112131415Final
APRVRVRV
CoachesRVRVRVRV
HarrisNot releasedRVRVRVRVRVNot released
BCSNot releasedNot released

References

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  1. ^ 2013 Houston Cougars football schedule Archived 2012-12-08 at the Wayback Machine, Houston Athletics, Retrieved March 6, 2013
  2. ^ Duarte, Joseph (April 18, 2013). "UH Football Schedule Dependent on Texans' NFL Slate". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
  3. ^ "Houston Cougars at UTSA Roadrunners (September 28, 2013)". Statbroadcast.com. Retrieved September 28, 2013.