A couple of University of Houston stories for your Friday, so listen up Coogs. First, back on August 13th, Cougar offensive lineman Jarrod Butler collapsed while lifting weights in an on-campus weight room. It was later determined that he had suffered a heart attack as a result of an electrical abnormality in his heart.
After spending the past two weeks under observation and treatment at The Methodist Hospital, Butler is being released today to return to school. The red-shirt sophomore from Allen will be allowed to resume his daily routine, but a return to football has been ruled out for the time being. Doctors at Methodist will continue to monitor Butler over the coming weeks.
In another story sure to confound both of the Cougar faithful, quarterback Al Pena is leaving the team to coach high school football in south Texas. Pena transferred from Oklahoma State after graduating to take advantage of a remaining year of NCAA eligibility. He's now decided that he'd rather not take part in the three-way battle to become UH's starter this year, and will join the coaching staff at Hidalgo High School, where his father is head coach.
Certainly a surprising move for Pena, but if you parse the statements made by Pena and the University here, you develop a picture of a guy who probably didn't have a chance of starting in the first place. Also, 23-year old Pena is married and ready to move to the next stage in his life. Recent history has shown that this need not be the end of his football career, however.
The University of Houston Cougars open the 2007 football season on September 1st at Oregon.
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Image: Flickr user CT Photographic Artist
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