HOUSTON -- In recent years, Houston has been a stepping stone, a quick stop for up-and-coming coaches on their way to jobs seen as bigger and better.Art Briles was at Houston before leaving for Baylor. Kevin Sumlin started with the Cougars before moving on to Texas A&M, and last month Tom Herman left for Texas after just two seasons with the Cougars.On Monday, Houston introduced Major Applewhite as its latest hire and the 38-year-old first-time head coach insisted hes different than those who simply used the job as a springboard.I want to be here long-term, Applewhite said. I want to be here for the guys. I want to be here for the city and for the university ... I think at this point in time in the history of this football program I think it is important to develop continuity.The introduction of Applewhite was less a news conference than it was a pep rally. There were cheerleaders waving white and red pom poms, a band and scores of fans and dignitaries, which included Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and state lawmaker Sheila Jackson Lee. But the pomp and circumstance of the day couldnt hide the fact that the Cougars werent expecting to be introducing another new coach so soon.Seems like we just did this ... the players look a lot happier this time though, board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta said with a laugh.Applewhite spent the last two seasons as Hermans offensive coordinator and takes over a program that went 22-4 in that time. The Cougars (9-3) wrap up the season on Saturday when they meet San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl.Houston got wins over Oklahoma and Louisville this season, but took a step back by losing to SMU, Navy and Memphis, and failing to qualify for the American Athletic Conference title game a year after winning the league championship. Applewhite said he expects better than winning nine games and hell work to get the team back to where it was last season when the Cougars finished 13-1.Nobody in this room will set a higher expectation for this football team than me. That is the facts, he said. Ive always been a winner, I will always be a winner and I will always set those expectations for our football team.He directed his first practice as head coach on Monday morning and though hes waited for the opportunity to be in charge of a program for years, he downplayed the significance of the moment.It really hasnt sunk in, he said. Its very similar to when I was playing and I was in a backup role and then I was put in the game. Its just: Go do your job.Quarterback Greg Ward was chosen to introduce Applewhite to the group and it seemed to catch him a bit off guard.I appreciate that, Applewhite said. That was pretty solid.Ward, who worked closely with Applewhite over the past two seasons, raved about his coach.Regardless of any circumstance, hes going to be honest with you, Ward said. Hes also going to be more competitive than you if you let him and hes going to bring his `A game every single day.Under Applewhites direction, the Cougars gained more than 500 yards 11 times and passed the 600-yard mark four times. The offense piled up 40 points 12 times and scored at least 50 points five other occasions in the past two seasons.Applewhite spent seven seasons as an assistant at Texas before joining Hermans staff. He was the co-offensive coordinator in his last four seasons with the Longhorns after working as assistant head coach for the first three seasons. In his time with the Longhorns he focused on working with quarterbacks and running backs.Before joining the Longhorns, Applewhite spent the 2007 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, a season where he was the youngest coordinator in the FBS. It was there that he found his most important mentor among many who have influenced him as a coach.Working a year with Nick Saban. I just think hes in the major leagues and a lot of people are playing farm-A ball, he said. He is ahead of the game. Just his organization, that hand he has in everything, the way he distributes roles and gives everybody a sense of purpose and a sense of motivation when they walk in the office.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Cheap Jerseys Free Shipping . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. 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WACO, Texas -- Seth Russell has been keeping an eye the past few weeks on a determined receiver in Ishmael Zamora and a frustrated one in Chris Platt.What the Baylor quarterback saw from the pair of sophomores against Oklahoma State didnt surprise him.Russell threw four touchdown passes, including an 89-yarder to Platt for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, and the No. 16 Bears held on to beat the Cowboys 35-24 on Saturday night in the weather-delayed Big 12 opener for both teams.Zamora had career highs of 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight catches in his season debut for the Bears after a three-game suspension over a video of him whipping his dog that surfaced during the summer. Platt also had two TDs.He never takes any days off, Russell said about Zamora. When he was suspended, he never griped one day. He came to work, and it showed tonight.As for Platt, Russell said its been difficult for the young receiver to shake off a case of the drops in recent games.I just kept trying to encourage him, Russell said. Hes a soft-spoken guy. He came out firing and he did some great things like we knew he would.Baylor earned its fourth consecutive 4-0 start in its first big test after a light nonconference schedule.The game was stopped by lightning for about 1 1/2 hours after the Bears scored on the opening series.The Cowboys (2-2) lost three fumbles, including the second by Justice Hill after he picked up a first down at the Baylor 2 with Oklahoma State trailing 28-24 with 9 minutes remaining. Hill, who had 122 yards rushing, was originally ruled down, but the call was overturned on review.This game was pretty easy to see, coach Mike Gundy said. Travel on the road and turn the ball over three times and then your defense gives up way too many big plays.With leading Baylor receiver KD Cannon out for most of the game with a groin injury, Zamoras first TD came when Russells high pass went through Lynx Hawthornes hands and into the sophomores arms. Because the defense converged on Hawthorne, Zamora raced untouched down the sideline for the final 30 yards on the 38-yard play.Platt, who had 114 yards receiving, was 5 yards behind Ashton Lampkin on the sideline after a stutter-and-go route when he ccaught Russells pass in stride and easily outran everyone to the end zone.dddddddddddd Russell was 18 of 28 for 387 yards with an interception.I probably havent opened up like that since high school, Platt said.A week after throwing for a national season-high 540 yards to beat Pittsburgh in another weather-delayed game for the Cowboys, Mason Rudolph was 27 of 45 for 279 yards with an interception.It was the first loss in a true road game for Rudolph since his debut as a freshman at Baylor two years ago, a span that included six straight road wins. Baylor is the only Big 12 team the junior hasnt beaten.I think (Gundy) was not happy with our ball security and just kind of mishandling the ball a few times, Rudolph said. Its reasonable for him to be upset, and weve got to correct it.POLL IMPLICATIONSBaylor: The Bears figure to move up since No. 8 Michigan State and 12th-ranked Georgia lost in blowouts, while the three teams immediately behind them in the rankings (Arkansas, LSU and Florida) also lost.THE TAKEAWAYOklahoma State: Who knows what would have happened if the Cowboys hadnt fumbled inside the Baylor 5 on what looked to be a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. Add that to the what-if list that started with a disputed loss when officials mistakenly allowed an untimed down for Central Michigans winning score.Baylor: The Bears have been something of an afterthought in the Big 12 race since a tumultuous offseason marked by allegations of mishandled sexual assault cases that led to the dismissal of two-time league champion coach Art Briles along with school President Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw. But the Bears are the only 4-0 team, and the only other unbeaten team is West Virginia (3-0).UP NEXTOklahoma State: The Cowboys host No. 21 Texas next week. The Longhorns were off this week.Baylor: The Bears have their two easiest Big 12 games on paper at Iowa State next week and then Oct. 15 at home against Kansas. There are two byes in the mix as well before a visit to the Longhorns on Oct. 29.---Online: The APs college football page, http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '