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HOUSTON – Houston coach Dana Holgorsen said Tuesday that his team was not leaving the season despite the decision of two of his best redshirt players the rest of the 2019 campaign and coming back for 2020.
Holgorsen, senior quarterback D'Eriq King and senior receiver Keith Corbin met with reporters Tuesday to discuss their unusual decision to stay away from the rest of the season after the start of the match of 1 -3. Holgorsen said anyone who suggested that the team book the rest of the year was misguided.
"I can assure you that anyone who said it was not at our practice last night, was not at our meetings on Sunday night, those long coaching meetings we had prepared for a match" said Holgorsen. "We're full, let's play a game this weekend, so for me it's absolute nonsense."
Houston Sports Director Chris Pezman told the team that the team was throwing away the towel: "We have children we have recruited to participate in a program that we are sure can play at a competitive level. high … We have a lot of confidence in our coaching staff and all other team members and program. "
King, who set the record for the American Athletics Conference last season with 50 touchdowns, and Corbin, a third-year starter, both said they did not consider a transfer. King's father, Eric King, told ESPN on Monday that D & # 39; Eriq and his family would evaluate all their options at the end of the season but that coming back was "absolutely" a possibility.
Eriq King was more emphatic on Tuesday, saying that he would not go anywhere and that it had never crossed his mind.
"I'm staying here," King said. "If I wanted to leave Houston and go somewhere else, I could have, I think I'm here, that's what I want to do, it's the best opportunity for me." I do not think so anyone who will contact me [to convince me to transfer]. Even if they do, they should know that I stay here. "
The two men said they met Holgorsen separately this weekend, following Houston's loss to Tulane on Thursday. Holgorsen said that he had discussed all the options available with both players and had also discussed the redshirt with other players. Some may still choose to redshirt, said Holgorsen.
Both players will train and work with the team and continue to be in positional meeting, Holgorsen said.
Holgorsen expressed the wish to age his lineup, citing that he did not have enough fifth-year seniors in his team. Pezman said the Pumas "mortgaged themselves" with their young players by not having held them in recent years.
"My experience in this area is that when you form an old, mature and experienced team, something happens to the guys who are fifth grade," said Holgorsen. "And we have far too many players on this football team right now who are not in a position to be fifth-year seniors, and that makes it difficult to win in the championships."
Holgorsen added: It's the first year for me here at the University of Houston. I've identified some things that I need to be careful about. And I've identified some things that have to happen so that we can succeed and compete in the championships, which is the goal here at the University of Houston. We are not currently very well placed for that and there are many reasons for that. "
King confessed that it would be "odd" to train without getting ready for Saturday's game, but he plans to help his sophomore. Clayton Tune – who will leave for the Cougars instead of King – as much as he can. King said after spending much of his selfless career, citing a freshman year in which he held five different positions and injured himself two years in a row, felt that it was worthwhile to find what was best for him.
"I think it was the best decision for my future and my university experience, which is why I made that decision," King said.
For those who might believe that King and Corbin abandon their teammates, Corbin said their attitude and work ethic would not change.
"I will always come here and train hard to become the best player possible," said Corbin. "I'm going to give my young receivers the advice … to go out and finish this season, it's not over, I'm just doing what's best for me, the best for the team, the best for the future. "
Holgorsen noted that it was a one-time use of the new NCAA redshirt rule, which was instituted in 2018 and allows players to play up to four games without loosing a year of eligibility.
"I think the NCAA is probably mad at me right now, because it was not the intent of the rule," Holgorsen said.
"Four games, it's four games and we can use it as we want," he continued. "We have to grow old and we have to grow and redshirt is not a big word, it's my position since the day I arrived here.I have identified a little problem that exists here and I I'll do everything I can here to fix it. "
Houston plays north of Texas (2-2) at 8 pm ET on Saturday.
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