In this day and age, sports fans are conditioned to overreact. This becomes especially apparent during football season.
Thoughts, views and opinions are formed over time and often after one three-and-a-half-hour game that goes differently than you might expect, they are suddenly called into question or completely thrown out the window. I think that comes from what I call our “Microwave society” where everything is instantaneous – news, information, analysis and opinion.
I bring this up because I sense a little bit of uneasiness with UH’s 47-24 home loss to Mississippi State on Saturday.
Does the loss hurt for Cougars fans (of which I am one, since I’m an alum)? Sure. Were there some of the things seen on the field on Saturday night – namely the host of defensive struggles and the sputtering offensive attack with a true freshman quarterback making his first start – things to be concerned about? Absolutely.
But one thing that shouldn’t be forgotten is that the key mission for this season – winning the Conference USA championship – is still a reachable goal.
Many Cougars fans had dreams of a Bowl Championship Series berth coming into this season. After watching UH dismantle two Big 12 opponents last season and move to as high as No. 12 in the national rankings, you couldn’t help but think of the possibilities.
This season, that went down in flames the moment Case Keenum tried to tackle UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers on an interception return, subsequently tearing his ACL and ending his senior season. The loss that accompanied it wiped out any dream of that happening.
That being said, while it would have been nice to pick up the win against Mississippi State, it wasn’t mission critical. The next game – for the Bayou Bucket against rival Rice on the road – is extremely critical. It’s a good challenge against an improved team. A win should lift the spirits of the Cougar faithful enough to realize that, while difficult, the most realistic goal that this team had coming into this season is still possible: a C-USA championship and a trip to Memphis for the Liberty Bowl.
Okay smart guy, how do you feel now that the Coogs couldn’t even get it done against Rice?
Captain Cougar,
Not so hot. Obviously, the Rice loss was a tough one and it’s beginning to look like a long season without Keenum. However, I would say that it was encouraging to see the offense get on track in the second half against Rice and if the Cougars can somehow pull a rabbit out of a hat at SMU, then who knows. But with that trip as well as another tough road game (Southern Miss) on the conference slate, it’s looking more and more like a C-USA title will be come unattainable.