University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Newcomers Set to Report
8/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Football
The new Cougars will begin reporting at 8 a.m. to check out and be fitted with their equipment. Also included in the day's events are housing check in, physicals and the first official meeting of UH Cougars.
The 31 new faces are a diverse group, composed of 24 freshmen, six junior college transfers and one four-year university transfer. Among the group are juco transfer wide receivers Shawn Broadus and Ethan Ross, who were ranked seventh and 12th, respectively, by The Sporting News as top Conference USA recruits. Joining the receiving tandem are junior safety Hanik Milligan (#19) and a pair of freshmen running backs-Jermain Woodard (#26) and Bobby Tillman (#38).
The newcomers also include other junior college standouts as linebacker Carlos Gamble, defensive back Jesse Sowells and defensive lineman Adrian Lee. As for freshmen, linebacker Nick Stavinoha, linemen Donald Mayo and Willie Thomas III, running back Chad Davis, tight end Travis Griffith, and wide receivers Mark Hopkins and Choni Francis top this year's signing class.
"I am extremely excited about getting this going," commented Dimel, who enters his first year as the Cougars head coach, sporting a 23-12 mark in three years at Wyoming. "This is a talented bunch of players who could make an immediate impact for us this season. They all bring something special to this program."
After a day of orientation, the new Cougars will practice for the first time Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the UH practice fields, followed by an afternoon workout at 4:10 p.m. The veterans report next Tuesday, August 8, with the entire squad beginning two-a-days on Thursday, August 10.
The Cougars kickoff the 2000 season with a Southwestern Bell Bayou Bucket clash with Rice on September 2, at Rice Stadium. Houston begins its home schedule on September 16, by playing host to Army in the Cougars Conference USA opener.
