CaliforniaCowboy
09-03-2008, 02:51 PM
James follows happy return with another
By MICHAEL MURPHY Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 3, 2008, 12:31AM
KAREN WARREN HOUSTON CHRONICLE
When you talk to the Cougars about this weekend’s game at Oklahoma State, most everyone is looking forward to taking on an opponent from a heavyweight conference like the Big 12.
But you would be hard pressed to find anyone anticipating Saturday’s game more than senior safety Stephen James, who began his career wearing the Cowboys’ colors.
After sitting out two full years — one because of transfer rules and the other after suffering a knee injury — James finally made his return to the football field in Saturday’s win over Southern.
He’s now ready to make his return to Stillwater, Okla.
“It’s very exciting to go back and play my old team,” James said. “I’m proud to be here (at Houston), so this is exciting.”
Making it even more exciting is the fact that James will make the walk to midfield at Boone Pickens Stadium for the pregame coin flip as one of the Cougars’ team captains. James earned that honor, as well as the Cougars’ special teams co-Player of the Game, because of his play in the Cougars’ 55-3 victory over the Jags.
James was one of eight players receiving Player of the Game honors. The others are Sebastian Vollmer (offense), Tate Stewart and Ell Ash (defense), Tim Monroe (special teams), and Creighton Wells, Andrew Stewart and John McIntyre (scout team).
Fresh faces
One thing Cougars coach Kevin Sumlin has made clear from the beginning was that players who worked hard enough were going to be rewarded with game-day snaps.
That includes freshmen.
In their season-opening victory over Southern, the Cougars trotted out eight true freshmen — linebacker Marcus McGraw (a starter), running backs Bryce Beall and Jackie Hinton, wide receiver Isaiah Sweeney, defensive back Nick Saenz, and defensive linemen Mohammed Usman, David Hunter and Doug Winfield.
“It doesn’t matter if you have been here five years or five days — if you can play… (then) we are going to play you,” Sumlin said.
By MICHAEL MURPHY Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 3, 2008, 12:31AM
KAREN WARREN HOUSTON CHRONICLE
When you talk to the Cougars about this weekend’s game at Oklahoma State, most everyone is looking forward to taking on an opponent from a heavyweight conference like the Big 12.
But you would be hard pressed to find anyone anticipating Saturday’s game more than senior safety Stephen James, who began his career wearing the Cowboys’ colors.
After sitting out two full years — one because of transfer rules and the other after suffering a knee injury — James finally made his return to the football field in Saturday’s win over Southern.
He’s now ready to make his return to Stillwater, Okla.
“It’s very exciting to go back and play my old team,” James said. “I’m proud to be here (at Houston), so this is exciting.”
Making it even more exciting is the fact that James will make the walk to midfield at Boone Pickens Stadium for the pregame coin flip as one of the Cougars’ team captains. James earned that honor, as well as the Cougars’ special teams co-Player of the Game, because of his play in the Cougars’ 55-3 victory over the Jags.
James was one of eight players receiving Player of the Game honors. The others are Sebastian Vollmer (offense), Tate Stewart and Ell Ash (defense), Tim Monroe (special teams), and Creighton Wells, Andrew Stewart and John McIntyre (scout team).
Fresh faces
One thing Cougars coach Kevin Sumlin has made clear from the beginning was that players who worked hard enough were going to be rewarded with game-day snaps.
That includes freshmen.
In their season-opening victory over Southern, the Cougars trotted out eight true freshmen — linebacker Marcus McGraw (a starter), running backs Bryce Beall and Jackie Hinton, wide receiver Isaiah Sweeney, defensive back Nick Saenz, and defensive linemen Mohammed Usman, David Hunter and Doug Winfield.
“It doesn’t matter if you have been here five years or five days — if you can play… (then) we are going to play you,” Sumlin said.