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Keenum proves he was right choice
Houston's quarterback won the starting job last season and has he has made the most of it.

Houston quarterback Case Keenum (7) scrambles out of the pocket in front of Southern Mississippi linebacker Ronnie Thornton in the fourth quarter. Bob Levey/AP Photo
 
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
Published: 11/4/2009  2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/4/2009  4:00 AM

 The University of Houston had a two-quarterback system in place when Kevin Sumlin arrived as the new head coach two years ago.

Case Keenum and Blake Joseph shared the job in 2007, with Keenum starting seven games and Joseph starting six.

That wasn't in Sumlin's plans.

"It was just a philosophical thing (offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen) and I had when we sat down," Sumlin said. "We said we're gonna have one guy, and you guys are gonna compete. I think it made both of them better, and it looks like we picked the right guy."

Flash forward nearly two years, and Sumlin, a former University of Oklahoma assistant, looks like a prophet.

Joseph transferred to Sam Houston State, while Keenum is one of America's most celebrated — and accomplished — quarterbacks.

Eight games into his junior season, Keenum is on pace to break almost every Cougar passing and total offense record. And remember, this is a program that produced Kevin Kolb, David Klingler and 1989 Heisman Trophy winner Andre Ware.

Keenum is the runaway national passing leader this season while leading the Cougars to their best start (7-1) since 1990 and highest national ranking since 1991.

UH is No. 13 in the Associated Press poll ahead of Saturday's visit to face the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Chapman Stadium, and reached as high as 12th earlier in the season after wins over Oklahoma State and Texas Tech.

Keenum has received six national weekly player of the week honors this season and is rated among the top five or six candidates for the Heisman Trophy.

He seems to be handling the attention well.

"I try not to break my arm by patting myself on the back," he says. "You can't let things go to your head. But you'd rather have people talking good about you than talking bad about you."

Keenum averages 411 passing yards per game and has 25 touchdown passes in the first eight games of 2009.

TU head coach Todd Graham said it's like watching Kolb taking snaps for the Cougars all over again. Kolb set most of the records Keenum is in the process of breaking, and is the current backup quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles.

"They look so similar to me," Graham said. "Keenum understands the system and makes good decisions. He doesn't turn the ball over. I think he's thrown five interceptions all year long and they've turned the ball over 11 times all season. His management of the game, his quick release, his decision making is exceptional."

Don't forget his playmaking. Keenum threw for a career-best 559 yards and five touchdowns in Saturday' 50-43 win over Southern Miss. After the Eagles tied the game with 57 seconds left, Keenum raced the Cougars 77 yards in five plays for a 28-yard game-winning TD pass to patrick Edwards with 21 seconds to spare.

He led a similar drive to pull out the 29-28 win over Texas Tech, scoring on a 4-yard run with under a minute left.

"He's proven time and time again that he knows how to handle those situations," Sumlin said. "Our coaches and players have confidence in him. When you have a quarterback like (Keenum), everybody knows that you're never out of a game."

Mike Brown 581-8390
mike.brown@tulsaworld.com
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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10 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
canesablowin', (11/4/2009 7:41:29 AM)
Case Keenum is a stud. But TU's defense is improved. TU wins this one and, unfortunately in some respects, deflates CUSA's national standings in the rankings as the Cougars drop.
Report Comment
GoldenDriller1, Out of Town (11/4/2009 7:54:09 AM)
I fear with TU’s anemic offense, churning out a multiple of 3 & out’s the TU defense will tire leading to a career day for Houston QB, Case Keenum and another plastering from Houston.
Report Comment
Dr. Strangelove, Tulsa (11/4/2009 8:05:06 AM)
TU is actually favored by 1 point over the 14th ranked team in the country. I predict the Picker will call in a major Lock on this one.
Report Comment
Lance-a-lot, Tulsa (11/4/2009 8:57:51 AM)
My prediction: TU gets taken to the woodshed...Picker says "I told you so" the next day.
Report Comment
hawkdaddy, (11/4/2009 9:06:23 AM)
It's a crime Keenum isn't getting more pub for Heisman. He has been by far the best player in the country this year.
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love 918, (11/4/2009 10:33:25 AM)
It would be a crime to consider him for Heisman after losing to UTEP.
Report Comment
hawkdaddy, (11/4/2009 11:14:42 AM)
He can't play both sides love. He did pass for over 500 yds in that game. Other favorites have losses as well.
Report Comment
Rhymeister, International (11/4/2009 5:35:48 PM)
No way is Tulsa favored in this game, who has them favored? Way too many people are calling Keenum a "system QB".

canesablowin' is 100% correct, this kid is one of the top QBs in the country. You can't argue against UH QBs because Kolb has looked very salty thus far in the games he has started for the Eagles. The previous QBs are another story and era.
Report Comment
Guillermo, (11/4/2009 11:06:37 PM)
Let's see if TU has heart, guts, determination?

I know TU can beat Houston.
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/5/2009 2:36:10 PM)
Drat! I thought it was a story about Bob Keenum wh played Captain Kangaroo and was a war hero.
 

 
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