Beyond Buckeye Lines: Taking Over HTown
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
This week on Beyond Buckeye Lines, I sat down with Travis (
@Shrek84 on twitter) to talk the University of Houston Alum about Tom Herman, Greg Ward Jr., and the mini-Ohio State program that the Cougars have developed in Houston. There obviously are a lot of stories circulating about the Coogs this season, from Big 12 expansion, a potential Group of Five College Football Playoff team, to the potential landing spot for Coach Herman, either staying at UH or moving on to larger NCAA pastures.
As I mentioned, Travis graduated from UH where he spent a couple years working in Houston Athletic Department while in school. Travis started out as an LSU fan, back during the John David Booty era, as many people in the Houston area are. He was converted while in college, where a professor informed him that wearing anything other the UH gear to class would cause him be expelled. I told you guys last week, football is a serious event here in Texas.
Previewing and Reviewing the Coogs
Last week, Houston took on one of Coach Herman’s former coaching stops, the Texas State Bearcats. Houston put a woodshed whooping on TSU, winning 64-3, being highlighted by true freshman D’Eriq King becoming the first player in Houston history to catch a touchdown, throw a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown in the same game.
This week, on Thursday Night, Houston looks to get revenge on the only loss of their magical season in 2015 against the UCONN Huskies. When asked, Travis tells me his prediction is that UH wins by double digits. I know from hearing Herman talking earlier this week on local sport radio, this UH team is ready to enact their revenge, making up for all the issues last year with the travel plans, etc. Personally, I am looking forward to this game myself, and I think Travis is being too nice. UH should win by 3 scores or more.
Houston’s Future
There are so many stories flying around Herman’s program and the next steps for Houston. The first and biggest is Big 12 expansion. We are all expecting an announcement in October regarding if the conference will expand or not, and who will get in if they do. The overwhelming belief in this area is UH will get in.
When talking to Travis, he mentions in his mind the biggest story is simply being able to retain Tom Herman as coach. Travis tells me that keeping Herman is his main priority, but he thinks it hinges completely getting into the Big 12, getting the Power 5 TV money, and being able to increase his pay. If the Big 12 doesn’t coming calling, he thinks Herman will be in Baton Rouge next year along with UH Offensive Coordinator Major Applewhite. If this happens, the big question is if UH can pay T. Orlando (current UH Defensive Coordinator) enough to keep him on the sidelines at TDECU Stadium as Head Coach.
I mentioned last week’s interview with Rott, the UT fan, about how a lot of Texas fans think UH doesn’t pull the City of Houston market in. Travis mentioned and showed me the top TV ratings for college football in Houston in 2015. UH was in the Top 10 for 2 games, Texas was in the rankings twice also. Of note, Ohio State – Michigan was 12th here. And the rest of the Top 10 were all SEC games. Travis points out that Herman to LSU would kill off Houston to the Big 12.
Personally, I think UH would bring in a lot to the Big 12, at least until the conference comes up for the next TV contract. Many people in this area think that contract will end the Big 12, as Texas and Oklahoma will probably leave to chase bigger TV money.
Houston’s View of Ohio State
When questioned on the fanbase’s view on Ohio State and the B1G, Travis mentioned he and most people think Ohio State is a great school which has a great tradition, but UH fans are thankful for Tom Herman. He thinks UH fans “Have a lot of respect for Ohio State”. As for the B1G, he thinks most UH fans would think the conference is boring, old, slow football. But he says even with the good football played this year, the B1G is still underrated. Travis did sound a lot like most B1G fans too, in saying his view is the SEC is very overrated. The SEC “has Alabama, and then everyone else”.
When asked for a B1G conference champion, he thinks “Ohio State will win, but it will come down to the OSU – Michigan game”. I asked if he would rather play Ohio State or Michigan, and he says OSU. The story line of Meyer vs. Herman, Master vs. Student, would be amazing. When asked if he would rather play in the CFP or regular season, he says he would like to play in the CFP, because of the story of a Group of Five team in the playoffs, can they compete with a top tier team, and the student – teacher story line. I had to tell him I didn’t want to play Herman when he has a month to prepare. That scares me personally, but Travis did point out that means Meyer has a month too, and that would make the game even better.
As for Urban, Travis tells me that, in his opinion, “Urban Meyer is a great coach…top 5 easily, could be the number one coach in the country, at worst, number two behind Saban”. It is something I have been hearing a lot recently regarding how much respect the rest of the country seems to have for Meyer.
Prediction Time
For Houston and the American Athletic Conference, he thinks they should be able to slow down Louisville, and go undefeated. He also thinks Houston should be able to change the national thought on a Group of Five team being in the playoff.
For this week’s OSU tilt with Rutgers, Travis tells me “Since they are playing someone from Jersey, I think Ohio State goes Sopranos on their ass, making Rutgers sleep with the fishes”. I think everyone reading this will agree, as much as we like Coach Ash, Rutgers is not ready to compete with the Ohio States of the world.
When picking the College Football Playoff teams, Travis is thinking it will be Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, and Houston, or the non-homerism answer would be Stanford. I thought it was pretty funny to get these, as this seems to be about the consensus for picks so far on Beyond Buckeye Lines.
Travis thinks the Heisman Trophy this year goes to Stanford RB Christian McCaffrey, who gets to pat his stats playing Pac 12 football, and all his all-purpose yards.
When asked for anything else he predicts for the year, he thinks the Big 12 actually does not expand. He thinks Herman goes to LSU with Applewhite, and Todd Orlando is names the new Houston head coach.
Wrap Up
Travis did mention that he was still surprised that LSU fired Les Miles, expecially when the State of Louisiana can’t afford to pay for education. And he, like many colleg football fans, takes exception to the fact that college coaches can break their contracts to chase bigger paydays, but college kids can’t do things like signing autographs or something to earn money.
For me, I was mostly shocked by the College Football Playoff Teams. It seems most people are looking at Ohio State and Alabama being locks, and the next group of Stanford, Clemson, Houston, and/or Louisville being in the running for those last 2 spots.
I want to thank Travis for taking the time to sit down with me. He is a passionate Houston fan, and that earns a little more respect to me. Being a season ticket holder for a Group of Five school shows some serious dedication. Take a minute and go follow him on twitter, he’s a good dude and worth the time.
(And sorry Travis, I want Herman to stay at UH, but I think he’s gone after Bowl Season).
The post
Beyond Buckeye Lines: Taking Over HTown appeared first on
The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
