Houston Cougars College Football Media Day Quote, 08/04/2021

On returning to a sense of normalcy this season after last year’s challenges:

Everybody is excited this time of the year, and we were excited going into last year while making a lot of strides from year one to year two. We sat here and had upwards of around eight games cancelled so we never really got into a rhythm. We were at full strength for about the first two games and never quite regrouped after that. That’s water under the bridge and I think we learned a lot from it, our coaching staff learned a lot from it. Our schedule sets up better this year, we’re not behind the Eight Ball as we have been the first two years, so we’re excited to get going.

On continuing to build out the program and roster in year three:

As I mentioned we were excited going into last year, we were ready to compete and we did compete. Just another year better, we have a lot of players back and depth back. A lot of guys have started over the last couple years that will be fighting for starting jobs. That’s competition and that’s the way we want it. The vibe is good and the overall health of the team and program is good. We’re excited to get started Friday morning.

On what the future looks like under realignment:

When I took this job at Houston, I knew that Houston was always going to be in the conversation no matter what. Our student body enrollment is upward of about 72 or 73,000, our academics are Tier One status, we’re building a medical school. Our other sports programs are all doing great, football has been in a New Year’s Six bowl in the past and will be there again. Houston will be in the conversation. It’s a no brainer (to go to a 12-team CFP) and I have always felt it was a no brainer. My buddy (Mississippi State head coach) Mike Leach always says we should have a 64-team playoff but 12 makes sense. I have said 16 makes sense to me but I worry about what that would do to the bowl games. I really support that. Houston supports that. And the last head coaches’ meeting I was on The American supports that. What other sport, division or what other anything basically lines up at the beginning of the year and has no chance of making the playoffs? Really our sport is the only one that does that and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. We need to change that.

QB Clayton Tune

On what he has learned thus far from Coach Holgorsen:

It’s been awesome and it’s been crucial to learn under him the last two years. In 2019 I got thrown in and got some valuable snaps and playing time. In 2020 it was a choppy season and we never got into a rhythm, but nonetheless it was a great experience getting some playing time under my belt. Playing a full season, getting the keys to the offense and being able to operate for a full season is going to be awesome. I will be meeting a lot with Coach Holgorsen and Coach (Shannon) Dawson to get this thing rolling and play as well as I can this season.

CB Marcus Jones

On if there is any extra pressure on him this season:

Honestly I don’t feel any pressure at all because I basically have the mindset to control what you can control. I don’t worry about all the other things and the watch lists, things like that. Control what you can control.