Cougars Have Chance... Dynamo Miss

Cougars Aren’t There Yet, but Have A Chance




The Houston football Cougars were impressive in handling SMU on Saturday at Robertston Stadium. What you say? Didn’t their offense look almost human for much of the game? Where was the offensive domination they have shown in most games? And didn’t SMU’s quarterback miss on some admittedly low percentage, but open long passes that could have turned things around? Wasn’t SMU playing without its top running back?



The answer to all those questions is, yes. But then look at the final score. It was still 37-7 in favor of the Cougars before a record setting crowd of red. Thirty seven to seven is impressive no matter what almost unreal stats the Cougars normally put up.



Fans should be ready for more of the same or even tougher in the next one (or two…or three) games. The competition is getting much rougher starting Friday night at Tulsa where the Golden Hurricane has disappointed Houston before and where the C-USA division title will be on the line. Then, if the Cougars keep dreams of a “Miracle on Cullen” alive they would have to face their first ranked opponent of the season, Southern Miss in the C-USA championship game. After that? Well, a 13-0 Cougar team finishing strong would be a national factor. We leave it at that for now.


The point is that Houston will have to continue playing well every game. The opposition will be better and things won’t come so easily. SMU turned over the ball including once on the goal line. Houston was strong on defense for the most part although SMU likely should have had at least one or two more TDs. Furthermore the pass rush when not blitzing was giving SMU too much time.



The Cougar offense made some big plays but was not effective making enough little ones. Inside the red zone or when needing short yardage on third down, they were not particularly impressive. They converted some third and even fourth and short situations out on the field, but inside the 20 things were much rougher. Too many Cougar field goals had to be kicked in the first half.

 The late Pat Paulsen (google him, young people) would have said I may be being too, “Picky, picky, picky”, but now that the season is going down the stretch Houston must be even better than they have been so far. And they are 11-0 !



Soccer is a Great Sport, Just Not for Me

I have always been willing to respect those who love the sport of soccer. I will not say negative things about the game by comparing it to other games. I have given it a shot many times. I have watched big games where something was on the line. I have seen the camera shots of the crowd and how passionate the fans seem to be. I respect the skill it takes to control a soccer ball using no hands. I have marveled as some of the plays made by the game’s stars.


I just don’t like the game. Maybe the field is too large. Maybe the players are so distant. (I actually enjoyed the indoor version of the sport and called a couple games years ago. Lots of scoring and shots on goal, but real soccer fans hated it.) Maybe it is nothing more than the concept only being allowed to touch the ball with feet, chest and head when two perfectly good hands are part of the human body. Maybe it is just because it is just too hard to score goals. Maybe it is just because I grew up when soccer—as we call it in this country—was played only by Europeans and South Americans. Residents of the U.S. played baseball, football and basketball. It didn’t matter that “our” sports were played little or none at all in other countries. They were our sports. Soccer, rugby and cricket were all “theirs.”

 Soccer fans shouldn’t be upset with my feelings. I am sure soccer fans don’t all like American football, baseball or hockey either. In this part of the country I hear from football fans who don’t like baseball at all and are indifferent to basketball.


Having said all that I hope soccer—particularly the MLS—turns into a big success in the United States and Canada. The Houston Dynamo have provided Houston soccer fans with good teams including two champions and a runner up in their short history. Next season they will unveil the newest jewel in Houston’s collection of sports palaces downtown near Minute Maid Park. The club has already developed a solid following which will do nothing but improve playing in their new home.


I will be checking scores and no doubt making it to a game or two next year. If the sport itself does not grab one, the atmosphere may. I hope soccer continues to grow on the youth level. It allows for more participation for more youngsters than any sport. On the beginning youth level it does not require great hand-eye coordination to hit a baseball or size to block and tackle in football. It does not require the ability to shoot or dribble a basketball. It requires the ability to run up and down a field and kick a ball. Nearly every kid of both sexes can do that. Size does not matter. Only in baseball, hockey and soccer is there still room for “normal” sized participants on the highest level.


Over time some youngsters develop more skills in the game and move up. Others may move to other sports or out of sports all together as players. Soccer allows everyone a chance to play something. That is one thing I like about the sport.

 Congratulations Dynamo on a strong finish to your season. Maybe if Brad Davis could have played the team could have won a title. But your fans appreciate you. I respect you even if I am unlikely to ever be a season ticket holder.