July 16, 2008

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 (42), Rice (32), SMU (29) and Tulane (18) rounded out the rest of the division.

UCF, the defending C-USA champion, was picked to win the East Division with 67 points, finishing ahead of East Carolina (60), Southern Miss (49), Memphis (36), Marshall (27) and UAB (13).

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.

2008 C-USA Football Coaches Preseason Poll
Predicted Order of Finish

West
1. • Tulsa • 72
2. • Houston • 59
3. • UTEP • 42
4. • Rice • 32
5. • SMU • 29
6. • Tulane • 18

East
1. • UCF • 67
2. • East Carolina • 60
3. • Southern Miss • 49
4. • Memphis • 36
5. • Marshall • 27
6. • UAB • 13


2008 C-USA Football Coaches Preseason Awards

Offensive Player of the Year
Damion Fletcher, RB, Southern Miss

Defensive Player of the Year
Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss

Special Teams Player of the Year
Joe Burnett, PR, UCF

First Team Offense
QB • Chase Clement • Sr. • Rice
RB • Tarrion Adams • Sr. • Tulsa
RB • Damion Fletcher • So. • Southern Miss
OL • Patrick Brown • Sr. • UCF
OL • Robby Felix • Sr. • UTEP
OL • Ryan McKee • Sr. • Southern Miss
OL • Doug Palmer • Jr. • East Carolina
OL • Brandon Pearce • Sr. • Memphis
WR • Duke Calhoun • Jr. • Memphis
WR • Jarett Dillard • Sr. • Rice
WR • Brennan Marion • Sr. • Tulsa
WR • Jeff Moturi • Jr. • UTEP
TE • Cody Slate • Jr. • Marshall

First Team Defense
DL • Albert McClellan • Sr. • Marshall
DL • Moton Hopkins • Sr. • Tulsa
DL • Phillip Hunt • Sr. • Houston
DL • Zach Slate • Sr. • East Carolina
DL • C.J. Wilson • Jr. • East Carolina
LB • Joe Henderson • Sr. • UAB
LB • Gerald McRath • Jr. • Southern Miss
LB • Brian Raines • Sr. • Rice
DB • Will Dunbar • Sr. • UAB
DB • Kenneth Fontenette • Sr. • Houston
DB • Andrew Sendejo • Jr. • Rice
DB • C.J. Spillman • Sr. • Marshall

First Team Special Teams
K • Jose Martinez • Sr. • UTEP
P • Thomas Morstead • Sr. • SMU
KR • Darius Marshall • So. • Marshall
PR • Joe Burnett • Sr. • UCF