1996 spring football practice
Forty walk-ons will join 53 scholarship players as the Houston Cougars open 1996 spring football workouts today at the practice fields behind the Athletic/Alumni Center.
Houston coach Kim Helton has 45 returning lettermen and 19 returning starters as preparations begin for the 1996 football season.
Although the Cougars wll count heavily on the 24 players signed in February to compete for starting positions in 1996, Helton feels the 12 spring workouts afford the opportunity for improvement in several areas.
"We'll be trying to install the two-back set in our offense, to improve our linebacking corps and to improve our defense overall," Helton said in a press release.
"We need to continue to build experience at backup quarterback, where we have two redshirt freshmen (Tyson Helton and Glenn Odell)," he said.
He also expressed concern for receiver Jason DeGroot to remain uninjured and for receivers Charles West and Damion Johnson to step up another level.
The Cougars' most significant losses of the 1995 team that finished 2-9 were left tackle Jimmy Herndon, a four-year starter, and defensive backs Thomas McGaughey (strong safety), Dedrick Mathis (cornerback) and Gerome Williams (free safety).
Herndon's spot will be filled with senior Marcus Spriggs, the starting right tackle last season, leaving that position open for competition.
Dave Roberts, Herndon's backup last season and a candidate for the left-tackle job, will not participate in spring drills after undergoing surgery on his left ankle.
Three other players will miss all or part of spring practice after off-season surgeries: punter Ignacio Sauceda (left knee), linebacker Keon Banks (right shoulder) and cornerback Derrick Boxhill (right knee).
Practices will run until the annual Red and White Scrimmage at 2 p.m. April 13, at Robertson Stadium.
Houston opens the 1996 season against Sam Houston State Aug. 31 at Robertson Stadium.
Lamar game postponed
The Houston Cougars baseball game against the Lamar Cardinals, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was rescheduled for April 2 at 7 p.m. due to weather concerns.
Houston professional sports
The Daily Cougar plans to do more features on area professional sports.
In the works are a series of features on Aeros hockey, the first of which will run Thursday.
The Cougar will also cover Monday's Astros season opener.
Correction
Danny Crawford, the Houston pitcher named in the Lamar game preview in Tuesday's paper, was incorrectly listed as Marty Crawford. The Daily Cougar regrets this error.