For Case Keenum and the Houston Cougars, season opener against UCLA presents an opportunity for redemption

Remember the Bruins?

The folks down in Houston sure do.

When the Cougars and Bruins met in the third game of the 2010 season, Houston had a 2-0 record, 122 points through two games and a No. 23 national ranking. UCLA was 0-2, coming off a shutout loss and was still trying to figure out its new offensive scheme.

But the large contingent of red and white faithful who made the pilgrimage to Pasadena had to watch in horror as the Cougars’ season was torn and broken on the Rose Bowl field ““ literally. Heisman hopeful quarterback Case Keenum limped off with a torn ACL; backup Cotton Turner left soon after with a broken collarbone.

Both were done for the season. UCLA won, 31-13, and the loss sent the Cougars spiraling to their first losing season in five years.

“Whether you win or lose a game the year before has nothing to do with next year ““ there’s different players on the field, sometimes different coaches,” Houston coach Kevin Sumlin told reporters when the Cougars opened fall camp. “To the fans, it means a lot. Fans, they’ll carry grudges, resentment, anything like that.”

When the Bruins take to Robertson Stadium on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. to open the 2011 season, they’ll feel the hate from the fans, which won’t be anything new. Neither would emerging victorious.

Rick Neuheisel’s teams have gone into enemy territory to notch two marquee non-conference wins in the last two years: at Tennessee in 2009 and at Texas in 2010.

What they’ll also feel is the heat. Houston’s forecast calls for highs in the upper 90s, and the school has already announced it will carry triple the regular water supply for fans at the game.

Neuheisel has made it no secret that he wants his troops to be ready. While a triple-digit heat wave hit Southern California late last week, the UCLA coach had the Bruins installing their Houston game plan out at the Rose Bowl and embraced the weather, calling it mental preparation.

He also divulged a key facet of their scrimmage, which was closed to the public and media.

“We didn’t throw very much,” Neuheisel said. “We were into pounding it a little bit.”

Redshirt junior Kevin Prince and junior Richard Brehaut are still in the middle of a battle for the starting quarterback spot ““ Neuheisel said he would like to tab his guy early this week ““ but it may not matter in the opener. The key to UCLA’s win over Houston last year was their running attack: Then-redshirt sophomore running back Johnathan Franklin rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, there’s no doubting who will be under center for the Cougars. You could hear the sighs of relief all the way in Westwood when Keenum, statistically one of the best passers in NCAA history, was awarded a sixth year of eligibility back in January.

Another 5,000-yard season (Keenum accomplished the feat in his sophomore and junior years) would give him the most passing yards for a career in college football. He certainly has a chance to get started Saturday with Houston’s shotgun-spread offense.

“We’ve got a lot of tape on him, and we understand he’s a prolific player,” Neuheisel said. “I expect him to play his best.”

Neuheisel got to wipe the slate clean in more ways than one this offseason. UCLA will enter Houston with four new coaches and all of the optimism that comes with a 0-0 record.

But the tide of public perception turns quickly and violently.
The Bruins, accustomed to losing of late, know their coach is under scrutiny, and the only way to change that is to win in Houston.
“Adversity is nothing new to us, but we’re just tired of losing,” senior safety Tony Dye said. “This is the best team chemistry we’ve had so it’s make-or-break time. If this isn’t the year, I don’t know what is.”

_With reports from Sam Strong, Bruin Sports senior staff. _