| Transcript |
IMcCoy Missed Final Cut,
|But leaves an outstanding record
Not many athletes can say as a freshman they
received the honor of Southwest Conference
Newcomer of the Year, as a sophomore led their
team in tackles, as a junior a Football News
Defensive Player of the Year semifinalist, or as a senior
|the SWC tackles leader.
Houston's very own Ryan McCoy can reminisce
about all of this and much more. During the 1992
season he was a Butkus Award candidate and again,
this season, was nominated for this prestigious award.
On August 25, the Downtown Club of Orlando
notified UH that McCoy was on the initial "watch" list
of candidates for the award. Other candidates for the
award included: Trev Alberts, Nebraska; Aubrey Beavers, Oklahoma; Derrick Brooks, Florida State; Keith
Burns, Oklahoma State; Mitch Davis, Georgia; DeWayne
Dotson, Mississippi; Sean Harris, Arizona; Jamir Miller,
UCLA; Jerrott Willard, California; and Ron Woolfork,
Colorado. McCoy was also the only conference player to
make the 11-man list and led all candidates in tackles.
However, McCoy has gone further than being
just another candidate. He eclipsed the century mark
three times, averaging more than 100 tackles per season. While never missing a single collegiate game,
McCoy has been the starting middle linebacker since
his freshman year in 1990.
McCoy started the 1993 campaign strong and
has been going full force ever since. In Houston's
season opener against Southern California he led the
team in tackles. The following week against Tulsa he
seized the SWC lead in tackles and never let it go. He
has averaged more than 15 tackles per game. For the
first four games of the season he led both Houston and
the team's opponent in tackles. Baylor proved to be
McCoy's strongest game of the season. The Cougars
held the Bears to a mere three points, and McCoy
walked away with 21 tackles.
At the end of each game McCoy inched closer
and closer towards breaking former linebacker Gary
McGuire's record of 472 tackles. "When it happens, it's
gonna happen. I'm not going to be out on the field
keeping stats," McCoy said.
Finally, after a season of anticipation he did it.
During the second quarter of the Cincinnati game McCoy
sacked David Small for the 473rd tackle of his dazzling
football career. "It's no big deal. I didn't really even
know (that the record was broken on that play) until I
stepped out of the game and somebody told me."
He finished the game with 18 tackles, 13 were
unassisted, and his career total was upped to 483.
McCoy finished his college career with an astounding
504 tackles. He hopes the record will stand. "When I'm
an old man, it'll be something to tell my grandkids
about."
Despite the spectacular season, McCoy didn't
make the final cut for the Butkus Award, but he is
definitely the most prolific tackier in UH history.-
Michelle Morgan
284
6S)
Welcome to Houston, buddy! John
H. Brown along with another
teammate put the breaks on Tulsa's
drive at the 20 yard line. Photo by
Michael Smith
If I only had my hands a little more
to the left. The TCU game at Fort
Worth was the Cougars first game
of the season in cold weather, and
they were not able to pull it together. The Coogs went down with
a 28-10 loss. Photo by Michael Smith
I hope I don't fumble this one. The
Homecoming game got off to a
slow start and many were doubting
the Cougars could do it, but in the
last quarter they caught up with
SMU at 28 all. Unfortunately, one
last Cougar field goal went sailing
to the right just before time ran out.
Photo by Michael Smith
Simply unbeatable! The Cougars's were flying high as Ron Peters caught
one of the many touchdown passes during the 24-3 romp over Baylor.
many
Photo by Michael Smith
\
1993-1994 Coog Competitors
Players: (In Numerical Order) Donald Doulgas,
Daniel Adams, Gerome Williams, Lawerence
McPherson, Thomas McGaughey, Preston Bailey,
Clay Helton, Jason Stoft, Chandler Evans, Ron
Peters, Chuck Clements, Thery George, D. Montgomery, Jimmy Klingler, Isaac Bell, Charles West,
Damion Johnson, Donald Moffett, Kenton Williams, Sherman Smith, John H. Brown, Lamar
Smith, Alfred Young, Bobby Rodriguez, TiAndre
Sanders, Tommy Guy, George Pratt, Michael
Jones, Stewart Carpenter, Stanley Holmes, Clyde
McNeil, Delithro Bell, Jason Brown, Tywon Guy,
Ryan McCoy, Anothy Woodbury, Demond James,
Dedric Mathis, Michael Newhouse, Reggie Davis,
Brad Tincher, Courtney Walker, Ryan Mounts,
Kelvin McKnight, Albert LaSane, William Foster,
Jack Hansen, Kevin Harris, Greg Whitty, Eric
Harrison, Stephen Dixon, Joe Wheeler, Randy
Radack, Darrell Clapp, Kenny Robbins, Truett
Akin, Marcus Vidrine, Jim Herndon, David Roberts, Tim Winburn, Billy Milner, Keith Jack, Joey
Mouton, Chan Chavis, Larkay James, Kenneth
Jones, Julian Pitre, Trcae Craft, Nahala Johnson,
Bruce Thompson, Mark Gray, Ulric Roberson,
Marlon Foots, Mike Meux, Otis Grant, Allen
Aldridge, Josh Hardee, Steven Williams
Head Coach: Kim Helton
Assistant Coaches: Neil Callaway, Melvin
Robertson, Tony Fitzpatrick, Frank Ganz, Ben
Hurt, Danny Palmer, Ron Shanklin,Gene Smith,
Ronnie Vinklarek, Bruce Davis
Sports
Football
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