Miner fans know the value of having a fully healthy squad. UTEP's had more than their fair share of injuries this season as Donald Buckram still hasn't played a down and Braxton Amy was lost for the year with a torn ACL. We know how injuries can change expectations and results for each squad on a weekly basis. And, I think we all feel for Houston Cougar fans who have had as miserable a 24 hour span as possible in the world of college football.
Last night was supposed to be Houston's coming out party to the nation. The Cougars, fresh off an impressive 54-24 win against last year's party spoiler UTEP, were dead set on blasting a struggling Pac 10 power out of the Rose Bowl. The Coogs had finally cracked the AP rankings (#23) and the Coogs seemed to have dodged a bullet when All-American candidate Case Keenum was cleared to play after suffering from a mild concussion against the Miners.
His injury against UTEP came when trying to tackle Travaun Nixon after an interception. In the second quarter of the UCLA game, he tossed another pick and tore his ACL trying to make the tackle on a UCLA defender.
Keenum was awfully close to smashing several NCAA records. He was under 2,500 yards behind Timmy Chang's NCAA record 17,072 carer passing yards. He needed 28 touchdown passes to pass Graham Harrell's career record of 134. To compound the setback to the Cougars, backup Cotton Turner broke his collar bone and is also out for the season. Turner looked good against UTEP in relief last week. Last night, Coack Kevin Sumlin turned to Terrance Broadway. From UH's official site:
Rivals.com 4-star quarterback at Capitol High... rated the fifth-best dual threat quarterback in the nation by Rivals.com... 11th best player in Louisiana by Rivals.com... ranked as No. 60 athlete in the nation by ESPN... named First-Team All-State quarterback and First-Team All-District... Offense-Defense All-American Bowl participant... led his team to state championship game... was 135-of-221 for 2,140 yards with 20 touchdowns... First-Team All State quarterback by New Orleans Times-Picayune and Baton Rouge Morning Advocate.
Broadway saw the first significant playing time of his true freshman season last night. He went 5/8 for 84 yards and a touchdown against in UH's 31-13 loss to the Bruins. I'm not saying Houston isn't capable of challenging for the C-USA West title with Broadway. We don't know what his limitations will be as a true frosh coming in so early That said, there's no denying that Houston isn't going to be the same team after losing the record setting Keenum.
Where Does the West Stand Now?
SMU already has a C-USA win over UAB. The Mustangs struggled more than most thought they would against Washington State but pulled it out 35-21. SMU has a somewhat favorable C-USA draw. The Mustangs get Tulsa and Houston at home. They play UTEP at El Paso on November 6. Their East opponents are an up and down Marshall squad and they finish the season but they do end the 2010 season on the road against a strong East Carolina squad.
UTEP has the most favorable C-USA East draw because the Miners draw UAB and Marshall. Marshall has some great talent on defense but right now they probably aren't in the same class as ECU, UCF, and Southern Miss. SMU gets East Carolina. Tulsa already lost to ECU and still plays Southern Miss. Houston still has to play UCF and Southern Miss.
I think when we look back at the West Champion's road to the C-USA Title game, the deciding games might be those against the best squads in the East. Every squad in the C-USA has now lost a game. The favorite to win it all is now down to their 3rd string quarterback who is a true freshman. SMU has been up and down but definitely has enough talent to win it all. Tulsa's offense, led by G.J. Kinne, should have them in every C-USA game they play. UTEP has the nations 18th ranked total offense. The stage is now set for a true rat race in the West.