Piland Comfortable As Number 1

The Houston Cougars have made it through their first week of fall practice and as was expected there has been a shift on the offensive side of the ball with so many contributors from that side of the ball gone. Now that David Piland has taken over the reigns of the Cougars' high powered offense he will be looking to build a relationship with his crop of receivers similar to that of starting quarterbacks of years past in Houston.

With no starters returning at the wide receiver position either, Piland is working quickly to get to know the faces that are not only new to the starters role but also some that are to college football as well.

"We are definitely coming along but we have a long way to go as well," said the redshirt sophomore signal caller. "We had a few more dropped balls than I would like to see but we have shown improvement everyday this week. Deontay Greenberry is doing well, Andrew Rodriguez is doing wonderful too and Larry McDuffey as well, really all of the new guys are really coming around. The new group of guys has really been one of the better groups that have really stepped into their role and wanted to compete with the returners which is good to see from the young guys."

Having been named the starting quarterback of the Houston Cougars some four months ago has given him plenty of time to get over any nervousness for the position but the way the staff has handled him all along has also helped him prepare for this season.

"I guess I have really been ready for it for a while," said Piland. "It is not really anything new to me now because they have had me in that mindset as the number one quarterback for so long now. They have kind of held me to a higher standard since last year."

Along with becoming the starting quarterback of any football team comes the leadership duties that go with it. That task is yet another one Piland is already comfortable with.

"I've always led by example but now it is also about following that up with the verbal side of it," he said.

Piland and his teammates continue with their practice schedule this week mixing two-a-days with their first scrimmage of the fall on Tuesday. The Cougars kick-off their season September 1 as they host the visiting Texas State Bobcats.