American college football season
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.[1] [2] 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.[3] 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 .[4]
Pre-season [ ]
Recruits [ ]
show US college sports recruiting information for 2012 recruits
Name
Hometown
High school / college
Height
Weight
40‡
Commit date
Jacob Abels OG
Sugar Land, Texas
Austin HS
6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
290 lb (130 kg)
N/A
Apr 9, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 75
Steven Aikens OLB
Arlington, Texas
Seguin HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
200 lb (91 kg)
N/A
Mar 28, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 70
Rex Dausin QB
San Antonio, Texas
Warren HS
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
4.70
Jan 28, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Deontay Greenberry WR
Fresno, California
Washington Union HS
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
184 lb (83 kg)
4.50
Jan 29, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 80
Blake Herman OT
Needville, Texas
Needville HS
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
290 lb (130 kg)
5.10
Mar 9, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Donald Hopkins DT
Lago Vista, Texas
Lago Vista HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
270 lb (120 kg)
4.90
Jan 15, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 80
Jarrett Irving WR
Spring, Texas
Dekaney HS
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
4.45
Jul 8, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 70
Ryan Jackson RB
Angleton, Texas
Angleton HS
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
4.50
May 28, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
William Jackson S
Houston, Texas
Wheatley HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
178 lb (81 kg)
4.50
Jan 27, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Thaddeus LaGrone OLB
Allen, Texas
Allen HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
204 lb (93 kg)
4.53
Jan 25, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 74
Mac Long OT
Edna, Texas
Edna HS
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
276 lb (125 kg)
N/A
Apr 21, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 79
Cameron Malveaux DE
Hamshire, Texas
Hamshire-Fannett HS
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
4.80
Aug 16, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Tomme Mark DT
Lufkin, Texas
Lufkin HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
258 lb (117 kg)
4.85
Nov 22, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 76
Xavier Maxwell WR
Humble, Texas
Blinn (JC)
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
177 lb (80 kg)
4.50
Jan 30, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Adrian McDonald CB
Lawton, Oklahoma
Eisenhower HS
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
4.50
Jan 31, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 67
Larry McDuffey WR
Galena Park, Texas
North Shore
Senior HS
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
165 lb (75 kg)
4.45
Sep 15, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 75
Devin Parks RB
Edna, Texas
Edna HS
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
166 lb (75 kg)
4.40
Nov 9, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Andrew Rodriguez WR
Allen, Texas
Allen HS
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
4.50
Jan 28, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Bryan Singleton DE
Destrehan, Louisiana
Destrehan HS
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
248 lb (112 kg)
4.80
Dec 1, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 78
Trevon Stewart CB
Patterson, Louisiana
Patterson HS
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
4.50
Jul 30, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 75
Steven Taylor MLB
Cedar Hill, Texas
Cedar Hill HS
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
4.70
Jan 21, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Terrence Taylor RB
Diboll, Texas
Diboll HS
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
4.50
Mar 10, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 74
Davonte Thomas S
Houston, Texas
Eisenhower HS
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
181 lb (82 kg)
4.50
Mar 24, 2011
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : N/A ESPN grade: NR
Jontrey Tillman WR
Baldwin, Louisiana
West Saint Mary HS
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
173 lb (78 kg)
4.40
Jan 29, 2012
Recruiting star ratings : Scout : Rivals : 247Sports : N/A ESPN : ESPN grade: 74
Overall recruiting rankings:
‡ 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:
Awards & award watch lists [ ]
Jacolby Ashworth
D. J. Hayden
Richie Leone
Charles Sims
Schedule [ ]
[9] [10] [11]
Date Time Opponent Site TV Result Attendance September 1 7:00 pm Texas State * CSS L 13–3032,207
September 8 7:00 pm Louisiana Tech * Robertson Stadium Houston, TX CBSSN L 49–5629,142
September 15 9:30 pm at No. 22 UCLA * Pac-12 Network L 6–3753,723
September 29 2:30 pm vs. Rice Reliant Stadium Houston, TX (rivalry ) FSN W 35–1432,718
October 6 6:00 pm North Texas * Robertson Stadium Houston, TX CSS/CSNH W 44–2125,476
October 13 11:00 am UAB Robertson Stadium Houston, TX FSN W 39–1725,242
October 18 7:00 pm at SMU FSN L 42–7216,459
October 27 3:30 pm UTEP Robertson Stadium Houston, TX CSS/CSNH W 45–3527,433
November 3 11:00 am at East Carolina FSN L 28–4845,455
November 10 4:00 pm Tulsa Robertson Stadium Houston, TX CBSSN L 7–4125,827
November 17 11:00 am at Marshall CSS/CSNH L 41–4418,831
November 24 2:30 pm Tulane Robertson Stadium Houston, TX FSN W 40–1725,402
*Non-conference game HomecomingRankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game
Coaching staff [ ]
Head coach
Tony Levine began his first full season in that position for 2012
Game summaries [ ]
Texas State [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bobcats
14
13
0
3
30
Cougars
10
0
3
0
13
Louisiana Tech [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Bulldogs
14
7
21
14
56
Cougars
6
14
7
22
49
@ UCLA [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
0
0
0
6
6
#22 Bruins
14
3
13
7
37
1st quarter scoring : UCLA – Eric Kendricks 23-yard fumble recovery (K. Fairbairn kick); UCLA – Datone Jones 7-yard pass from Brett Hundley (Fairbairn kick)
2nd quarter scoring: UCLA – Fairbairn 35-yard field goal
3rd quarter scoring: UCLA – Jordon James 12-yard pass from Hundley (Fairbairn kick); UCLA – Fairbairn 23-yard field goal; UCLA – Fairbairn 33-yard field goal
4th quarter scoring: HOU – David Piland 86-yard run (Kenneth Farrow rush failed); UCLA – Steven Manfro 14-yard run (Fairbairn kick)
vs Rice [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
7
7
14
7
35
Owls
0
0
7
7
14
North Texas [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Mean Green
0
14
7
0
21
Cougars
17
14
10
3
44
UAB [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Blazers
7
3
0
7
17
Cougars
10
6
20
3
39
@ SMU [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
7
7
14
14
42
Mustangs
14
14
31
13
72
UTEP [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Miners
0
7
7
21
35
Cougars
14
21
10
0
45
@ East Carolina [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
0
7
7
14
28
Pirates
14
14
3
17
48
Tulsa [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Golden Hurricane
3
14
7
17
41
Cougars
0
0
0
7
7
@ Marshall [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
0
10
14
17
41
Thundering Herd
10
21
7
6
44
Tulane [ ]
1
2
3
4
Total
Green Wave
0
7
10
0
17
Cougars
17
3
7
13
40
Poll rankings [ ]
Ranking movementsLegend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.
Week
Poll
Pre
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Final
AP
RV
Coaches
RV
Harris
Not released
Not released
BCS
Not released
Not released
References [ ]
^ Khan, Jr., Sam (December 9, 2011). "Amid Big East Celebration, UH Officials Talk New Football Stadium" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved February 3, 2012 .
^ Khan, Jr., Sam (February 2, 2012). "UH Students Vote for Fee Increase to Help Athletics" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved February 3, 2012 .
^ Duarte, Joseph (December 19, 2011). "Rice Casts Doubt on Bayou Bucket Game's Future" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved February 3, 2012 .
^ Houston, Rice Extend Bayou Bucket Series Through 2013 , UH Athletics, Retrieved April 28, 2012
^ Duarte, Joseph (July 16, 2012). "UH Offensive Lineman Ashworth on Lombardi Award Watch List" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved July 16, 2012 .
^ Hayden Named to Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List . Houston Cougars, July 13, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2012.
^ Duarte, Joseph (July 9, 2012). "UH Punter Leone Named to Ray Guy Watch List" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved July 16, 2012 .
^ Duarte, Joseph (July 11, 2012). "Cougars' Charles Sims Named to Maxwell Award Watch List" . Houston Chronicle . Retrieved July 16, 2012 .
^ 2012 Houston Cougars football schedule , FBSchedules.com, Retrieved February 3, 2012
^ Conference USA 2012 TV Schedule Archived July 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Matt Sarz Sports, Retrieved March 2, 2012
^ Houston Sets Highly-Anticipated 2012 Football Schedule , University of Houston Athletics, Retrieved April 27, 2012
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