Always interesting to hear what plans Maggard has to get into the big 12. Although this article doesn't go into that detail it mentions something about the big 14?

Make room for Cougars at main table
By RICHARD JUSTICE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

RESOURCES
THAT wasn't a baby step the University of Houston took on Sunday. That was a giant one.

Southern Mississippi is a measuring stick for every other program in Conference USA, and the Cougars hadn't beaten the Golden Eagles since 1996.

In UH years, that's six straight losses and three head coaches ago. In a season in which the Cougars have lost two games by a total of five points, they finally won a close one.

"We needed to show we could close," coach Art Briles said.

UH went from 10 points down in the first half to 10 points up in the fourth quarter. And this time the Coogs held on, winning 27-24 at Robertson Stadium.

Kade Lane's fumble recovery on the UH 47 with 1:27 left sealed it. Afterward, the Cougars celebrated like they believe there's more fun to come.

Briles needs some Z's
Briles looked like he hadn't celebrated — or slept much — Monday afternoon. He had a stubble of beard and tired eyes as he and his staff began preparing for Saturday's game against SMU at Robertson Stadium.

"Our players were real businesslike in the locker room," he said. "That's one of the things I like. That's a good sign. You take care of business and get ready to go again. It's a game we needed. It's also one we anticipated. Expecting to do well is part of doing well."

At 5-4, the Cougars could be bowl eligible with a victory over SMU. If they finish the season by beating both SMU and Rice, the Fort Worth Bowl would be one possibility.

That would be two bowl games in three seasons for the first time since the 1980-81 seasons, when Bill Yeoman took the Cougars to the Garden State and Sun bowls.

UH thinks big. It wants an invitation to join the Big 12. Athletic director Dave Maggard even has a prominent school ready to join UH in making it a Big 14.

More W's wouldn't hurt
First there are some small matters to take care of. Like winning more games and selling more tickets and putting UH back on the national map. After going 3-8 last season, ticket sales dropped. Three campus home games have drawn an average of 14,523.

That's life in a city with three major-league teams.

Three major-league teams? Let's see there are the Astros and Rockets. And there are, um, uh ...

OK, I give up.

Stop it. The Texans just need a few tweaks before next season.

Back to UH.

With three winning seasons in 14 years, UH lost most of whatever fan base it once had. Maggard believes it will come back if the Coogs keep winning.

Beating Southern Miss didn't accomplish everything UH hopes to accomplish. It just inched the program along.

"We're not there yet, but we're on track," Maggard said. "You've got to show people some signs you're getting there. You have a tough time marketing a bad product. The support for the University of Houston is out there. But people want some confidence we're moving in the right direction."

Southern Miss and Louisville have been the elite teams in Conference USA in recent seasons. When Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida joined the Big East, UH saw a weakened conference as an opportunity.

UH may have Texas and Oklahoma in its dreams, but a first step is dominating the conference it's in today.

"I think our program has gained a lot of respect the last couple of years," Briles said. "Respect is something that's hard to come by. We've had to earn it."

Maggard took a huge gamble in hiring Briles, whose only head coaching experience had been at Stephenville High School. Yet because he'd played at UH, Briles knew the plusses and minuses. He also had a love for the place.

His staff has learned that winning at Stephenville isn't the same as winning at Oklahoma. Yet as Maggard said: "Art is the guy to take us where we want to go."

Briles brought an offense similar to the one Mike Leach runs at Texas Tech. It's nothing if not entertaining.

The Cougars lead Conference USA in total offense and are averaging 29 points per game. (They're allowing 26 per game, but don't change the subject.)

Quarterback Kevin Kolb has thrown 17 touchdown passes and completed 61 percent of his throws.

Where UH goes from here is anyone's guess. Briles is 15-18. In terms of creating a winning environment and convincing fans to return, UH probably has as tough a job as any in the country.

"Our motto is 'No comparisons, no complaints, no excuses,' " Briles said. "We are what we are, and we're going to do our best to make it work. We're getting close to what we want to be. You never really get there. USC has been there a couple of times the last few years, but I'll bet there are things they feel they can do better. It's a daily adventure."

One win against Southern Miss didn't solve everything UH would like solved. But it helped.[I][QUOTE][I]