Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris on Houston coach Willie Fritz: "Just a ton of respect for how he does it. Just reminds me of my dad - a little bit of an old school coach - just growing up like that. He's a guy that sticks to his guns. "(Fritz)'s teams are tough. They're gritty. They know what their plan is and they go out there and they execute. Really well coached on all three sides of the ball." Eric Morris' dad is longtime Texas high school basketball coach Ray Morris who retired with nearly 600 wins and won the state championship in 2004 with Eric Morris as one of his star players. Morris was responding to a @PaperCityMag question on Fritz.

Houston basketball guard Mercy Miller is a veteran of a program that's won 65 games and made a run to the national championship game during his first two seasons with the Coogs. But even Miller found himself caught up in the excitement of the UH football weekend: "It's major," Miller tells @PaperCityMag. ". . . I feel like Houston being one of the best Top 25 teams in the nation, there's no reason why we shouldn't sell out these games. I'm just excited to see all the buzz and everybody here gathering in the community."

University of Houston coach Willie Fritz on UH wearing an Unbreakable patch on its uniforms for this Saturday's game vs. Utah in memory of beloved strength coach Kurt Hester, who passed away last October 25: "Our great strength coach, great friend and great person. So we're going to honor him at the game. "Because he's just such a great influence on our football program."

Kelvin Sampson's University of Houston basketball team comes in at No. 10 in the first AP College Basketball Preseason Poll of the season. Sampson's Cougars have finished in the Top 7 of the final AP Top 25 for four straight seasons. And everyone in the program is quietly very excited about this revamped, more vintage Kelvin team. 📷 @fcarters

One of the best postgame moments of Houston's win over Oklahoma State was UH wide receiver Koby Young running up the stairs into the stands to celebrate with the student section. Young even borrowed a few students' phones and filmed videos of him and the college kids having fun, leaving some unforgettable memories on those devices. "He's a special dude," UH quarterback Conner Weigman says of Young. "Special personality. Special talent. I can't say enough good things about Koby. He was a captain for us this week. What an honor it was for him when he got named the captain. "I don't think he stopped smiling for 30 minutes." It turned out to be a special night for Young in many ways. And he made sure the UH students felt like a big part of it.

Conner Weigman Wants His Respect, Houston Football Earns It On a National College GameDay Level and Willie Fritz Loves the “90 Percent Houston” Crowd Fever. @PaperCityMag papercitymag.com/culture/con…

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman when I ask if it motivates him that he never seems to be NFL mentioned while other QBs are touted and fawned over; "A little bit. It would be cool to just get a little bit of respect. I know I put myself behind the eight ball a few years ago. But if the eight ball doesn't go in the cup, you've got a puncher's chance and you just got to keep punching until y'all can't deny this ship."

Oklahoma State coach Eric Morris on the atmosphere at Houston's TDECU Stadium: "Yeah, it was awesome. Back in the day this was my first job (as a grad assistant under Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury). It wasn't in this stadium, but over st old Robertson Stadium. I played in some great atmospheres here. Enjoyed it. "That's what college football should be. That's what this town, they should come out and support this team. They've got a really good team here. And they're well coached. And they play extremely hard. That's great entertainment for everybody."

Willie Fritz's University of Houston team moves up to No. 16 in the new College Football Coaches Poll. And now a College GameDay Saturday showdown at No. 9 Utah looms. The Utes are one of three Big 12 teams in the Top 10 with BYU zooming up to No. 3 and Texas Tech rising to No. 5.

Houston quarterback Conner Weigman, the game ball safely tucked under his arm, makes his way through happy Cougars. Weigman stops to pose for selfies with several groups of students who've made it onto the field. UH and its quarterback are very much alive in the College Football Playoff race. Outplaying Drew Mestemaker, who is being touted as the first QB who should go in the NFL Draft by some draft experts, Weigman throws five touchdown passes. And Oklahoma State finds the task of stopping this Weigman directed offense to be impossible.

University of Houston football's slab walkout entrance for this Top 20 showdown with Oklahoma State. Not as much smoke machine action this time. Many more people watching in the stands.

Willie Fritz is playing to win in this Oklahoma State showdown, going for it on fourth-and-1 deep in his own territory and turning down a field goal to go for it on fourth-and-2 inside the Cowboys' 20-yard line. That turns into a touchdown and UH is up 14-3. You do not contend for the College Football Playoffs by coaching scared. And Fritz certainly isn't.

Houston football's Saturday night home game with Oklahoma State is officially sold out, the school announces. UH gets what it's been pushing for and this Top 20 matchup gets the atmosphere it deserves.

University of Houston president and chancellor Renu Khator tells @PaperCityMag she's confident that UH's Saturday night football game will be a packed house. "Football is gong to be very exciting versus Oklahoma State. The stadium I know is going to be full. Everyone wants to go. And hope to have a really, really good game. "I want everybody to be out there."

Willie Fritz and Conner Weigman Believe UH Football Can Push For a National Championship Chance This Season. So why is so much of Houston still sleeping on this team? University of Houston's football lifer of a coach isn't bluffing. papercitymag.com/culture/wil…

Interestingly. Houston's new starting point guard Dedan Thomas Jr. joins power forward JoJo Tugler in being selected Preseason All Big 12 by the conference's coaches. Everyone believes in Kelvin Sampson's ability to select and coach up his point guards.

Houston transfer guard Chendall Weaver's been told he cannot play in Thursday night's exhibition game opener as his eligibility remains stuck in the fifth year limbo. It being an exhibition game does not change anything and Weaver will not be able to play until he gets a favorable ruling. @PaperCityMag

University of Houston coach Kelvin Sampson with an interesting perspective on how learning to trust his staff has made him a better coach. "When I was a young coach I wasn't very good at hiring assistants," Sampson tells @PaperCityMag. "They were all older than me. I was young. Twenty five at Montana Tech, thirty one at Washington State. "I was used to doing everything myself. And I had to learn how to use my staff. I wasn't very good at that stuff early."

Karen Sampson On Coach’s Wife Truths: “You’d Better Not Marry a Flower." Kelvin Sampson’s better half knows exactly what this season means and why it could be an extra emotional one. @PaperCityMag papercitymag.com/culture/kar…

University of Houston left tackle Alvin Ebosele on what having a packed, sellout crowd for this home showdown with Oklahoma State would do: "It definitely would mean a lot. Having the support of the fan base behind you makes a big difference in a game. I know a lot of people can attest to it. It really makes a big difference. "Having the crowd into the game is a big advantage. It gives the team juice. It gives everyone juice. It gives us motivation to go out there and play. I mean, none of us wants to disappoint a sellout crowd. So that'd be a big thing. It's a big thing to have."