Dana Holgorsen: just too much stupid (stuff) for Houston in loss to Texas Tech

The Houston Cougars found themselves at the end of another loss to Texas Tech, marking the fifth straight loss to the Red Raiders since 2010, and a tough pill to swallow against a future Big 12 rival.

For head coach Dana Holgorsen, the 33-30 loss to the Red Raiders was what the Cougars (1-1) deserved following a sloppy performance that included seven penalties that cost UH 121 yards.

“We would have been lucky to have gotten out of here with a win,” Holgorsen said. “If we would have won this game, we would have been lucky to get out of here with a win. Just too much stupid (stuff). It makes me sick.”

The numerous penalties cost UH not only in yardage but for the second straight week, erased a punt return touchdown from Nathaniel “Tank” Dell. Houston was also called for three holding penalties that continuously set the offense back.

“I know we got to clean that stuff up,” Holgorsen said. “The roughing the punter in the end zone makes me sick. It’s the second time Tank has took one back to the house for nothing. It makes me sick.”

Holgorsen also zoned in on the team’s offensive line, which struggled in run blocking, the head coach said. While running back Brandon Campbell managed to rush for 80 yards on 16 carries, the team only managed 88 total yards as quarterback Clayton Tune was a non-factor in the ground game.

Running back Ta’Zhawn Henry rushed only three times for two yards as he re-aggravated an ankle injury, Holgorsen said. Running back Stacy Sneed rushed for only nine yards on three carries.

“I am very critical of our offensive line. We ain’t moving people,” Holgorsen said.

The Houston defense held Texas Tech in check for much of the game but allowed the Red Raiders to drive for the game-tying field goal at the end of regulation; convert a 4th and 20 in the first overtime period; and gave up the final nine-yard rushing touchdown to Texas Tech quarterback Donovan Smith.

Holgorsen was asked about defensive lineman Derek Parish’s performance, who recorded four sacks and six tackles for losses. The head coach said it was not good enough.

For Houston, the attention now turns to Kansas. Another future Big 12 opponent, the Jayhawks defeated West Virginia 55-42 in overtime on Saturday.

“Whatever we are doing, we will look at it, and we will do something different,” Holgorsen said. “It’s not winning football.”