2008 Hopman Cup
The 2008 Hopman Cup (also known as the Hyundai Hopman Cup for sponsorship reasons) corresponds to the twentieth edition of the Hopman Cup tournament between nations in men's and women's tennis. Eight teams participated in the World Group with one qualifier from the Asian region, Chinese Taipei.


2008 Hopman Cup
The first matches were held on 29 December 2007, and the final took place on 4 January 2008 at the Burswood Entertainment Complex, Perth Western Ausrralia.


2008 Hopman Cup
For the first time in History, Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic faced each other in a competitive event. Williams emerged victorious in the mixed doubles rubber alongside Mardy Fish.


2008 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2008 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament is scheduled at the end of the 2007–2008 regular season. The better seed will host each first round match. Butler hosted the second round and semifinals, because they were the top seed. The final was hosted by the better remaining seed.


2008 Horizon League Men's Basketball Tournament, Bracket
First round games at campus sites of higher seedsSecond round and semifinals will be hosted by the top seed. Championship will be hosted by lower-numbered remaining seed


2008 Houston Astros season
The Houston Astros' 2008 season was the 47th season for the Houston Astros. The Astros attempted to return to the postseason, after missing the past two postseasons. This was the last season where the Astros finished the season above the .500 mark prior to the post season run in 2015.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On October 29, all six eligible Astros players filed for free agency. The list includes catcher Brad Ausmus, infielder Mike Lamb, infielder Mark Loretta, outfielder Orlando Palmeiro, left-handed reliever Trever Miller and right-handed reliever Brian Moehler.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On October 30, the Astros signed catcher Brad Ausmus to a 1-year, $2 million contract.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On November 8, The Astros acquired outfielder Michael Bourn, third baseman Michael Costanzo, and right-handed reliever Geoff Geary from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Lidge and infielder Eric Bruntlett. The announcement was made by Astros General Manager Ed Wade.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On November 16, the Astros acquired right-handed reliever Óscar Villarreal from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for center fielder Josh Anderson. On the same day, the Astros also signed outfielder Yordany Ramirez as a free agent.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On November 20, the Astros signed free agent utilityman Geoff Blum to a one-year deal including a club option for a second year.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On November 26, the Astros signed free agent Relief Pitcher Doug Brocail to a one-year deal.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On November 30, the Astros and free agent Kazuo Matsui agreed to a 3-year, $16.5 million deal. Matsui played second base for the NL Champion Colorado Rockies in the 2007 season.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On December 12, the Astros acquired shortstop Miguel Tejada from the Orioles for five players. The Astros traded outfielder Luke Scott, pitchers Matt Albers, Troy Patton and Dennis Sarfate and third baseman Mike Costanzo to Baltimore for Tejada. Adam Everett, the Astros shortstop at the time, had to deal with a double-whammy: not only did the Astros trade for Tejada, they also non-tendered Everett, leaving him without a team as of 11 p.m. CT.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On December 14, The Houston Astros' offseason of dealing continued on Friday when the club traded Chris Burke, Chad Qualls and Juan Gutiérrez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer José Valverde.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
In January, Brandon Backe, Ty Wigginton, and Dave Borkowski were signed to a one-year contract.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season
On March 30, the contracts of OF José Cruz, Jr. and RHP Brian Moehler were purchased from Triple-A Round Rock.


2008 Houston Astros season, Off Season, Spring training
In spring training the Astros posted a 13–18 record culminating with a 9–4 win in the final spring training game at Minute Maid Park.


2008 Houston Astros season, Regular season, March/April
After losing the first two games of the 2008 campaign, the Astros were trailing 5–6 the top of the 9th with 2 outs of game 3 against Trevor Hoffman, on April 2. The Astros put two on base when Hunter Pence hit a line drive off of Adrián González's glove into right to tie it up. Lance Berkman came up next and smashed a 3-run home run to deep center making it a 9–6 game. Valverde then closed out the Astros first '08 win.


2008 Houston Astros season, Player stats, Batting, Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2008 Houston Astros season, Player stats, Batting, Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in


2008 Houston Astros season, Player stats, Pitching, Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts


2008 Houston Astros season, Player stats, Pitching, Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts


2008 Houston Astros season, Player stats, Pitching, Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; SO = Strikeouts


2008 Houston Comets season
The 2008 WNBA season was the 12th and final season for the Houston Comets. The Comets were not able to return to the postseason for the first time since 2006. By season's end, Comets owner Hilton Koch put the franchise up for sale less than two years after he bought it.


2008 Houston Comets season, Regular season
In a game against the Detroit Shock on July 24, Shock player Nancy Lieberman broke her own record for being the oldest player in the WNBA. Lieberman, a Hall of Famer since 1999, was 39 years old when she played with Phoenix during the league's first year in 1997.


2008 Houston Comets season, Regular season
Nancy Lieberman played nine minutes and had two assists. One of the assists included a no-look pass in the closing minutes of the Detroit Shock's 79-61 loss to the Houston Comets on July 24.


2008 Houston Comets season, Final Days
On December 1, 2008, the WNBA announced a plan to fold the team, which resulted in the loss of 37 jobs. A dispersal draft took place on December 8, 2008. Before the team folded, they were possibly going to move to Las Vegas, Nevada, but the plan didn't work out.


2008 Houston Comets season, Final Days
What turned out to be the team's final home game in its history was relocated from the Reliant Arena to the Strahan Coliseum on the campus of Texas State due to Hurricane Ike. The game was played on September 15, 2008 as the Comets defeated the Sacramento Monarchs 90-81.


2008 Houston Cougars football team
The 2008 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the 63rd year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first-year head football coach, Kevin Sumlin whose previous position was as co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners. He replaced Art Briles. The team played its home games at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-person capacity stadium on-campus in Houston.


2008 Houston Cougars football team
Competing against the Air Force Falcons in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl, the Cougars won their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. In addition, Houston defeated two nationally ranked opponents, which the Cougars hadn't achieved since their 1984 season.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Previous season
In the 2007 season, the Cougars earned an 8-5 (.615) overall season record and a 6-2 (.750) conference record in C-USA. The 2007 season would be the last for head coach Art Briles with the Cougars. Two days after Houston was invited to the 2007 Texas Bowl, Briles immediately departed for the Baylor Bears head coach position in Waco, Texas. Cornerbacks coach, Chris Thurmond was soon appointed interim head coach, and led the Cougars to the Texas Bowl against the TCU Horned Frogs. The Cougars lost to the Horned Frogs 20-13.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Previous season
In December 2007, the University of Houston hired Kevin Sumlin, a co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners as the Houston Cougars head coach.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Preseason, Recruiting
Twenty players were recruited for the 2008 season. Several higher-ranking recruits were lost when Art Briles left, as they followed the coach to Baylor. Due to Houston's head coach change, Sumlin's ability to recruit before National Signing Day was shorter than usual, as he was finishing his duties with the Oklahoma Sooners. In early April, it was announced that the Cougars had two other junior college commitments. Kyle Thomas and Nick Thurston, both from California, came from the City College of San Francisco. Two other junior college (JUCO) commitments, Clint Leal and Kierrie Johnson, were recruited from Blinn College. Thomas is expected to join the roster in the Spring, as he still had some coursework to finish in California.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Preseason, Coaching staff and changes
During the off-season, the Cougars went through a large amount of notable coaching staff changes. Former co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners, Kevin Sumlin replaced Art Briles as head coach. Sumlin became the first African-American head coach in Cougar history, and the eighth in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision. In his final year with the Sooners, his offense was one of the best in the country, averaging 44 points per game.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Preseason, Coaching staff and changes
Dana Holgorsen came to Houston from the Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he spent eight years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. He serves the Cougars in the same capacity.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Preseason, Coaching staff and changes
John Skladany replaced Alan Weddell as defensive coordinator. Skladany came from the UCF Knights, a fellow C-USA team. Prior to coaching for UCF, Skladany spent ten years with the Iowa State Cyclones. Sumlin and Skladany followed through with plans to change the Cougars defensive strategy from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 one.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Preseason, Coaching staff and changes
Leon Burtnett came from the Washington State Cougars as linebackers coach. New defensive line coach, Jim Jeffcoat spent his last four seasons as defensive ends coach for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Another new addition to the staff with NFL coaching experience was special teams coordinator and tight ends coach Tony Levine, who spent his previous two seasons with the Carolina Panthers.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Staff, Spring practices
From March 8 to April 12, 2008, the Cougars held Spring practices. In addition to the fourteen practices held throughout this period, the Cougars held two scrimmages, and concluded with the annual "Red-White Game". The Red-White Game, a home exhibition game between the offensive and defensive players of the Cougars, was a part of festivities held for the University of Houston's "Cougar Fest". A skydive by the U.S. Army Golden Knights to present the game ball was planned, but was canceled due to high winds.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Southern
The 2008 game marked the first meeting between the Houston Cougars and the Southern Jaguars. The team plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) as a member of the Division I Football Championship Subdivision. The Grambling Tigers, the Jaguars' main rival, fell to the Cougars as part of their 2006 season schedule 42-22. In 2007, the Cougars finished their regular season by defeating another SWAC opponent, crosstown Texas Southern Tigers.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Oklahoma State
This marked the nineteenth game between the Cougars and the Oklahoma State Cowboys who were a member of the Big 12 Conference. Playing against each other since 1951, the Cougars held a 9-8-1 all-time record against the Cowboys, and the last meeting between the two teams was during the 2006 season. During that meeting, the Cowboys fell to the Cougars 34-25. The Cougars traveled to Stillwater for the first time since 1986 to compete. Despite leading the Cowboys during the first half of the game, the Cougars eventually lost 56-37. The Cowboys went on to be consistently ranked this season as one of the top 25 teams in the nation.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Air Force
Another first meeting on the Cougars' schedule was with the Air Force Falcons. A member of the Mountain West Conference, the Falcons played football since 1955. The previous season, the Falcons finished with a 9-4 record, while losing to the California Golden Bears in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl. The game was scheduled to be televised on the CBS College Sports Network as the first of the four nationally televised games for the Cougars season, but was canceled. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Robertson Stadium in Houston, but due to Hurricane Ike, the game was played at SMU's Ford Stadium. The Cougars fell to the Falcons 31-28.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Colorado State
With a 3-0 all-time record against the Colorado State Rams, the Cougars faced them for the fourth time on the road at Hughes Stadium. The most recent meeting between the teams had been the season before, where the Rams lost to the Cougars 38-27 in Houston. Steve Fairchild, a former player for the Rams, and the former offensive coordinator and under previous head coach Sonny Lubick, had taken over as head coach during this season. With a third consecutive loss, the Cougars fell to the Rams 28-25.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, East Carolina
This game was the ninth meeting between the Cougars and fellow Conference USA team, the East Carolina Pirates. Last season, after defeating the Cougars 37-35, the Pirates went on to finish with an 8-5 record including a win against #24 Boise State in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl. The Pirates led the series between the Cougars 8-5. The game was broadcast on the CBS College Sports Network, and was played at East Carolina's Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium. After beating the #17 Virginia Tech Hokies during their 2008 season opener, the Pirates gained national attention.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, East Carolina
This continued in their next week of play, as they defeated the #8 West Virginia Mountaineers 24-3, and became ranked by the AP Poll as #14. Despite an upset by the North Carolina State Wolfpack the week before, the Pirates were ranked at #23 by the AP Poll when the Cougars arrived in Greenville. Despite predictions that ECU would win the game, the Cougars managed an upset with a large margin of victory. This was the Cougars' first win over a ranked team since 1996, and the first against a ranked team in a road game since 1984.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, UAB
The third home game was the seventh meeting between the Cougars and the UAB Blazers. With the most recent game between the two teams being last season, the Blazers led the series 4-2. However, the team was defeated by the Cougars, and finished their 2007 season with a 2-10 record, the worst in the school's history. This followed the departure of Watson Brown to the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, and the appointment of former Georgia Bulldogs and Houston Cougars assistant Neil Callaway as head coach. The game was televised by the CBS College Sports Network.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, SMU
Former Southwest Conference and current Conference USA members, the SMU Mustangs faced the Cougars in their twenty-fourth meeting. The first game between the two teams took place during the 1975 season when Houston joined the Southwest Conference, and the teams have regularly played each other since. The Cougars led the series 13-9-1, including a 38-28 win against the Mustangs last season. This season, June Jones, former Hawaii Warriors head coach took the same position at SMU. At Hawaii, Jones had gained national attention after the Warriors went undefeated, and were invited to the 2008 Sugar Bowl. After the win, the Cougars moved up in the Conference USA standings to tie for first with an undefeated Tulsa in their division.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Marshall
The Marshall Thundering Herd played the Cougars for the second time in history during this season. Their last game against each other was played during the 2007 season, where the Thundering Herd was defeated 35-28 in Houston at Robertson Stadium. This time, Marshall played Houston at home, and won. This marked the first loss for the Cougars in conference play, and dropped them down in conference standings from 1st to 3rd (after Tulsa and Rice). ESPN broadcast the game. Houston wide receiver Patrick Edwards suffered a gruesome broken leg when he collided with an equipment cart at the back of the end zone, though he would return the next season in a starting role.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Tulane
In another conference game, the Tulane Green Wave traveled to Houston to play the Cougars for the fourteenth time. Playing their first game together in 1968, the Cougars led the series 9-4. The teams had competed against each other each consecutive season since 2002, although Tulane hadn't achieved a win against Houston since that same year. Tulane's head coach Bob Toledo returned for his second year with the Green Wave. Although not originally scheduled, the game was televised on CBS College Sports, presumably because Houston's TV appearance against Air Force earlier in the season was canceled. This marked Houston's homecoming game, and was one of the largest attendances for the regular season at Robertson Stadium.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Tulsa
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane and Houston Cougars faced-off for their thirty-third all-time meeting. Playing together since 1950, Houston had a 17-16 advantage over the Golden Hurricane. In their 2007 season meeting, new coach Todd Graham led the Golden Hurricane to a 56-7 win over the Cougars. It was the Cougars' largest margin of defeat for the season. Tulsa went on to a 10-4 record in the previous season including a 63-7 GMAC Bowl game win against the Bowling Green Falcons. The team held the record for scoring the largest margin in bowl game history.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Tulsa
The win was considered an upset by the nation, as Tulsa was ranked as #24 in the Coaches' Poll and #25 in the AP Poll. This marked the second time that the Cougars had beaten a nationally ranked opponent in the season (the other being East Carolina); something Houston hadn't done since its 1984 season under College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Yeoman.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Tulsa
After the win, the Cougars were again ranked as first in conference play as Tulsa (5-1) had beaten Rice (5-1), and Houston (5-1) had beaten Tulsa. This made Houston's other two regular season games on the schedule much more significant because if they won both games from this point, they would be allowed to compete in and host the Conference USA Football Championship.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, UTEP
Although meeting for the first time during the Cougars' inaugural season in 1946, the UTEP Miners had only met with the Cougars five times in history. As Conference USA foes, the Cougars held a 2-3 all-time record against the Miners, whereas both wins came consecutively during the 2006 and 2007 meetings of the teams. Mike Price returned as the Miners' head coach this season. After a close game, where Houston lagged behind, the Cougars made a fourth quarter comeback to win the game.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Rice
In the 2008 Bayou Bucket Classic, the Cougars will meet with Rice at Rice Stadium as part of the Houston-Rice rivalry. It will be the 33rd meeting between the two teams, where Houston leads the series 24-9 and have won the last three meetings. During this season, the outcome of the game will have significant influence for the Conference USA West Division title.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Rice
While Houston remains first in the division, a loss to Rice, and a win for Tulsa (9-2) against Marshall (4-7) would mean Tulsa, not Houston would be headed to compete against the East Division champion East Carolina in the Conference USA Football Championship. If Rice wins its game against the Cougars, and Marshall wins its game against the Golden Hurricane, then Rice would be the West Division champion. The game was picked up by CBS College Sports after Houston's 70-30 blowout victory against Tulsa.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Armed Forces Bowl
With seven regular season wins, the Cougars secured bowl eligibility. On December 7, 2008, the Houston Cougars announced that they had been selected to play in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl game against Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas. This marked the Cougars' fourth consecutive bowl game invitation, and the fifth in six years. The game was a rematch, as the Falcons and the Cougars faced off earlier during the regular season, where the Cougars were defeated. This was the second time in history the Cougars had played a bowl game in Fort Worth; in 2005 the team appeared in the Fort Worth Bowl.


2008 Houston Cougars football team, Games notes, Armed Forces Bowl
The Cougars defeated the Falcons to win their first bowl game since 1980, and broke the longest current bowl game losing streak in Division I FBS football at that time. The score was 34-28. The game was televised on ESPN.


2008 Houston Dynamo season
The 2008 Houston Dynamo season was the third season of the existence for the Houston franchise. The Houston Dynamo were the defending back-to-back MLS Cup Champions, and sought to become the first club in Major League Soccer history to win three straight MLS Cups. It was the team's third season with head coach Dominic Kinnear, majority owner Philip Anschultz, president Oliver Luck, and chief operating officer Chris Canetti.


2008 Houston Dynamo season
In the MLS regular season, the Dynamo finished first in the Western Conference to qualify for the playoffs for the third consecutive season. In the MLS Cup Playoffs, Houston lost to the New York Red Bulls 4–1 on aggregate in the Conference Semifinals. They were eliminated by the Charleston Battery in the third round of the U.S. Open Cup. During the 2008 CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Houston defeated C.S.D. Municipal 3–1 on aggregate in the quarterfinals before falling in the semifinals 3–0 to Deportivo Saprissa. During the 2008 North American SuperLiga, the Dynamo reached the final, where they lost 6–5 on penalties to the New England Revolution. The Dynamo also played in the group stage of the 2008–09 CONCACAF Champions League during the season, finishing second in their group to advance.


2008 Houston Dynamo season, Final roster
Appearances and goals are totals for MLS regular season only.


2008 Houston Dynamo season, Player movement, In
Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.


2008 Houston Dynamo season, Player movement, Out
Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.


2008 Houston Dynamo season, Competitions, Major League Soccer, Standings
(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion


2008 Houston Dynamo season, Competitions, CONCACAF Champions League, Championship Round
After finishing 2nd in group B, the Dynamo qualified for the Championship Round. The fixtures for the Championship Round are included in the Dynamo's 2009 season.


2008 Houston Texans season
The 2008 Houston Texans season was the franchise's 7th season in the National Football League and the 3rd under head coach Gary Kubiak. Though the Texans lost seven of their first ten games of the season, they rallied and won five of their last six games, but they still had yet to lock up a winning season.


2008 Houston Texans season
The 2008 season also marked the Texans' first appearance on Monday Night Football.


2008 Houston Texans season, Offseason, Coaching changes
Head coach Gary Kubiak entered his third year with the Texans. Alex Gibbs, who implemented his successful zone blocking scheme with the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons joined the staff as the assistant head coach, replacing Mike Sherman, who left to become the head coach at Texas A&M. Kyle Shanahan, son of Broncos coach Mike Shanahan, took over as the offensive coordinator in place of Sherman.


2008 Houston Texans season, Offseason, Draft
The Texans had seven selections in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Texans originally had five before the draft after having traded their second round selection to the Atlanta Falcons to land quarterback Matt Schaub and their sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for center Chris Myers. The Texans traded their first-round pick with the Baltimore Ravens for their third and sixth-round selections along with their first-round pick.


2008 Houston Texans season, Schedule, Regular season
Note: Division opponents are in bold text** The Ravens-Texans game was postponed due to Hurricane Ike. The NFL moved the game from September 14 to November 9 (Week 10), which was to have been the Ravens' bye week, and also moved the Bengals-Texans game from November 9 to October 26 (Week 8), which was the original bye week for both of those teams.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Texans began their 2008 campaign on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Steelers RB Willie Parker got a 7-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Texans continued to trail as Parker got a 13-yard TD run, while QB Ben Roethlisberger completed a 13-yard TD pass to WR Hines Ward. Houston ended the half with kicker Kris Brown getting a 34-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 1: at Pittsburgh Steelers
In the third quarter, the Texans continued to trail as Parker got a 4-yard TD run, while Roethlisberger and Ward hooked up with each other again on a 16-yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter, Houston replied with QB Matt Schaub completing a 14-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter. Pittsburgh responded with kicker Jeff Reed nailing a 44-yard field goal. The Texans closed out the scoring with a game with a 4-yard TD run by Schaub.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 2: Bye Week
The Texans were originally scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, but due to structural damage to Reliant Stadium by Hurricane Ike, the game was postponed until Week 10. This allowed both Houston and Baltimore to take their bye week.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
Coming off their unexpected bye week, the Texans flew to LP Field for a Week 3 AFC South duel with the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Houston struck first with kicker Kris Brown getting a 44-yard field goal. The Titans responded with RB LenDale White getting a 2-yard TD run. The Texans answered with Brown kicking a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Tennessee increased its lead with QB Kerry Collins completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Bo Scaife. The Texans answered with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 6-yard TD run, but the PAT failed). The Titans closed out the first half scoring with White's 1-yard TD run.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 3: at Tennessee Titans
In the third quarter, Tennessee added onto its lead with kicker Rob Bironas nailing a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Titans sealed the win with CB Cortland Finnegan returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Still searching for their first win of the year, the Texans flew to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 4 AFC South duel with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Jaguars FB Montell Owens took a fake punt and ran 41 yards for a touchdown. The Texans got on the board with kicker Kris Brown getting a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Houston took the lead as QB Matt Schaub completed a 30-yard TD pass to rookie RB Steve Slaton. Jacksonville ended the half with kicker Josh Scobee getting a 46-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars
In the third quarter, the Jaguars retook the lead with QB David Garrard completing a 16-yard TD pass to WR Matt Jones. The Texans tied the game with Schaub completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter. In the fourth quarter, Jacksonville responded with Scobee's 40-yard field goal. Houston retook the lead with Schaub hooking up with Walter again on an 8-yard TD pass. However, the Jaguars got the lead again as Garrard got a 5-yard TD run. The Texans tied game on Brown's 47-yard field goal. However, in overtime, Jacksonville sealed Houston's fate as Scobee nailed the game-winning 37-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Jaguars, the Texans finally got to play their home opener as they played a Week 5 AFC South duel with the Indianapolis Colts. Due to an illness, QB Matt Schaub was unable to play, allowing backup QB Sage Rosenfels to get the start.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri got a 46-yard field goal, along with RB Joseph Addai getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Texans responded with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 1-yard TD run, kicker Kris Brown getting a 37-yard field goal, and Rosenfels completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. In the third quarter, Houston increased its lead with Brown nailing a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Texans continued its run with Slaton getting a 1-yard TD run, expanding their lead to 17 points.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 5: vs. Indianapolis Colts
What followed went into the NFL history books, as Sage Rosenfels fumbled twice and threw two interceptions to blow the biggest lead inside of 5 minutes in NFL history. The key play was known as the 'Rosencopter' play, when on third-and-eight, Rosenfels opted to try to hurdle a defender rather than sliding short of the first down. Gary Brackett recovered the fumble for a 58-yard touchdown, and Rosenfels was never the same afterwards, turning the ball over twice more. With the disappointing loss, Houston fell to 0–4.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins
Coming off a heartbreaking home loss to the Colts, the Texans stayed at home for a Week 6 duel with the Miami Dolphins. In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Dolphins QB Chad Pennington completed a 53-yard TD pass to RB Patrick Cobbs. The Texans responded with kicker Kris Brown getting a 27-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Miami added onto its lead as Pennington completed an 80-yard TD pass to Cobbs. Houston answered with Brown kicking a 33-yard field goal and WR Jacoby Jones returning a punt 70 yards for a touchdown.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins
In the third quarter, the Texans took the lead with QB Matt Schaub completing a 12-yar TD pass to WR Andre Johnson, but the Dolphins replied with RB Ricky Williams getting a 5-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Houston regained the lead as Brown got a 42-yard field goal, yet Miami struck back RB Ronnie Brown got a 6-yard TD run. The Texans got the last laugh as Schaub got the game-winning 3-yard TD run (with a failed 2-point conversion).


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 6: vs. Miami Dolphins
With the thrilling win, Houston won its first game of the season and improved to 1–4.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
Coming off their last-second win over the Dolphins, the Texans continued their home stand with a Week 7 interconference duel with the winless Detroit Lions. In the first quarter, Houston drew first blood as QB Matt Schaub completed a 2-yard TD pass to TE Owen Daniels, along with RB Ahman Green getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Texans increased their lead as rookie RB Steve Slaton got a 1-yard TD run. The Lions responded with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 54-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
In the third quarter, Detroit tried to catch up as RB Kevin Smith got a 26-yard TD run. Houston answered with Schaub hooking up with Daniels again on a 1-yard TD pass. In the fourth quarter, the Lions tried to rally as QB Dan Orlovsky completed a 96-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson, along with Hanson nailing a 54-yard field goal. The Texans' defense stiffened for the victory.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Coming off their win over the Lions, the Texans closed out their four-game home stand against the winless Cincinnati Bengals. In the first quarter, Houston drew first blood as WR Jacoby Jones returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals responded with kicker Shayne Graham getting a 43-yard field goal. The Texans increased their lead as QB Matt Schaub completed a 6-yard TD pass to WR David Anderson. Cincinnati closed out the half as Graham nailed a 32-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
In the third quarter, Houston began to pull away as Schaub completed a 7-yard and a 39-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter. In the fourth quarter, the Texans closed out their home stand in style with rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 20-yard TD run.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 8: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
With the win, not only did Houston improve to 3–4, but they won three straight games for the first time in franchise history.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings
Coming off their home win over the Bengals, the Texans flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Vikings RB Adrian Peterson got a 1-yard TD run. The Texans responded with CB Jacques Reeves returning an interception 44 yards for a touchdown. In the second quarter, Minnesota answered with QB Gus Frerotte completing an 8-yard TD pass to WR Sidney Rice and a 49-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings
In the third quarter, Houston tried to rally as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 3-yard TD pass to WR David Anderson. In the fourth quarter, the Vikings replied with Frerotte completing a 25-yard TD pass to TE Visanthe Shiancoe. The Texans tried to come back as Rosenfels completed a 14-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson. However, the Vikings' defense stiffened for the win.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 9: at Minnesota Vikings
QB Matt Schaub (21/29 for 224 yards and 1 interception), who started the game, left after the first half with a sprained left knee.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Vikings, the Texans went home for a Week 10 duel with the Baltimore Ravens. Both teams were supposed to play each other in Week 2, but Hurricane Ike forced them to reschedule their game to this week.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
With QB Matt Schaub out with an injury, back-up QB Sage Rosenfels was given the start.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
In the first quarter, Houston trailed early as Ravens QB Joe Flacco completed a 43-yard TD pass to WR Yamon Figurs. In the second quarter, the Texans responded with kicker Kris Brown getting a 23-yard field goal. Baltimore answered on a Houston blunder, as rookie OT Duane Brown committed a holding penalty in his own end zone, giving the Ravens a safety. Baltimore added onto their lead as kicker Steven Hauschka got a 54-yard field goal. The Texans closed out the half with Brown nailing a 48-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 10: vs. Baltimore Ravens
In the third quarter, the Ravens increased their lead as RB Willis McGahee got a 1-yard TD run. Houston responded as Rosenfels completed a 60-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter. However, in the fourth quarter, Baltimore greatly pulled away as Flacco completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE Todd Heap (with a 2-point conversion pass to WR Derrick Mason), QB Troy Smith completed a 14-yard TD pass to Heap, and McGahee getting a 4-yard TD run.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 11: at Indianapolis Colts
Trying to snap a two-game losing streak and avenge their Week 5 collapse, the Texans flew to Lucas Oil Stadium for a Week 11 AFC South rematch with the Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, Houston struck first as kicker Kris Brown got a 28-yard field goal. The Colts responded with kicker Adam Vinatieri getting a 40-yard field goal. The Texans answered with Brown making a 34-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Indianapolis tied the game with Vinatieri getting a 39-yard field goal. Houston replied with RB Ahman Green getting a 1-yard TD run. The Colts closed out the half with Vinatieri making a 32-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 11: at Indianapolis Colts
In the third quarter, Indianapolis got the lead as QB Peyton Manning completed a 23-yard TD pass to RB Joseph Addai. The Texans regained the lead as rookie RB Steve Slaton getting a 71-yard TD run. The Colts answered with Addai getting a 7-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Indianapolis increased their lead as Manning completed a 10-yard TD pass to WR Marvin Harrison. Houston tried to come back as Green got a 2-yard TD run, but the Colts pulled away as Vinatieri nailed a 31-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
Trying to snap a three-game losing streak, the Texans flew to Cleveland Browns Stadium for a Week 12 duel with the Cleveland Browns. In the first quarter, Houston drew first blood as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 17-yard TD pass to WR Kevin Walter. In the second quarter, the Texans increased their lead as kicker Kris Brown got a 31-yard field goal. The Browns responded with kicker Phil Dawson getting a pair of 32-yard field goals. Houston ended the half with Brown making a 31-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Texans continued their dominance as Brown nailed a 36-yard field goal. From there on out, Houston's defense kept Cleveland's offense in check.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
With the win, not only did the Texans improve to 4–7, but they finally got their first road win of the season.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Coming off their road win over the Browns, the Texans went home, donned their "Battle Red" uniforms, and played in their very first Monday Night Football game in franchise history, as they played a Week 13 AFC South rematch with the Jacksonville Jaguars.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
In the first quarter, Houston drew first blood as QB Sage Rosenfels completed a 31-yard TD pass to WR Andre Johnson, while kicker Kris Brown got a 38-yard field goal. After a scoreless second quarter, the Texans increased their lead early in the third quarter as Brown got a 50-yard field goal. The Jaguars responded with kicker Josh Scobee getting a 29-yard field goal, yet Houston answered with Brown nailing a 20-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Houston began to pull away as rookie RB Steve Slaton got a 7-yard TD run. Jacksonville answered with RB Fred Taylor getting a 4-yard TD run, yet the Texans immediately replied as Slaton got a 40-yard TD run. The Jaguars close out the scoring with QB David Garrard completing an 18-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Williams.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 13: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
This was the first time that Houston hosted a football game on Monday night in 14 years. The last Monday night game that was held in Houston was on November 21, 1994, in the Houston Astrodome when the Houston Oilers were defeated by the New York Giants 13–10.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
With their MNF home win over the Jaguars fresh in their minds, the Texans flew to Lambeau Field for a Week 14 interconference duel with the Green Bay Packers. Houston shot early in the first quarter as QB Matt Schaub completed a 58-yard TD pass to wide receiver Kevin Walter. The Packers responded in the second quarter with QB Aaron Rodgers completing a 20-yard touchdown pass to TE Donald Lee, yet the Texans closed out the half with a 30-yard field goal from kicker Kris Brown.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
Houston got the third quarter's only points as Brown got a 41-yard field goal. Green Bay answered in the fourth quarter as RB Ryan Grant got a 6-yard touchdown run, yet the Texans replied with Schaub completing an 11-yard touchdown pass and a 2-point conversion pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson. The Packers tied the game as Rodgers completed a 9-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Houston got the last laugh as Brown nailed the game-winning 40-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 15: vs. Tennessee Titans
With the win, not only the Texans improved to 7–7. but they won four straight games for the first time in franchise history.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 16: at Oakland Raiders
Coming off their divisional upset win at home over the Titans, the Texans flew to Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for a Week 16 duel with the Oakland Raiders. Houston trailed early in the first quarter as Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Chaz Schilens. The Texans responded with fullback Vonta Leach's 1-yard touchdown run. However, Oakland responded with kicker Sebastian Janikowski getting a 33-yard and a 30-yard field goal. Houston tied the game in the second quarter as kicker Kris Brown got a 53-yard and a 24-yard field goal.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 16: at Oakland Raiders
In the third quarter, the Raiders scored two unanswered touchdowns: wide receiver Johnnie Lee Higgins caught a 29-yard touchdown pass from Russell, followed by an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown. The Texans tried to come back in the fourth quarter: Brown nailed a 40-yard field goal, but that was too little, too late.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
Hoping to end their season on a high note, the Texans closed out their season at home in a Week 17 interconference duel with the Chicago Bears. Houston trailed early in the first quarter as Bears quarterback Kyle Orton completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, followed by a 37-yard field goal from kicker Robbie Gould. The Texans responded and took the lead as quarterback Matt Schaub a 43-yard and a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Andre Johnson.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
In the third quarter, Houston added onto their lead as running back Ryan Moats getting a 2-yard touchdown run. Chicago answered with Orton completing a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Greg Olsen. In the fourth quarter, the Texans pulled away as kicker Kris Brown nailed a 22-yard field goal, followed by rookie running back Steve Slaton's 2-yard touchdown run. The Bears tried to come back as Orton got a 1-yard touchdown run, but Houston's defense stiffened for the victory.


2008 Houston Texans season, Regular season results, Week 17: vs. Chicago Bears
With the win, the Texans closed out their season at 8–8.


2008 Huangshan Cup
The Huangshan Cup was a professional non-ranking snooker tournament that took place on only one occasion between 14 and 18 May 2008 in Hefei, China.


2008 Huangshan Cup
The competition was originally planned so that four top-16 ranked players from the UK would play four Chinese players who would come through an elimination contest. Of those originally invited only Stephen Hendry took part, although four top-16 players did reach the quarter-finals along with local players.


2008 Huangshan Cup
Ali Carter, who was a last-minute replacement for Ronnie O'Sullivan, won in the final 5–3 against Marco Fu. The 2008 Sichuan earthquake caused disruption to the event with players withdrawing; Ding Junhui donated his prize money to the earthquake disaster fund.


2008 Huddersfield Giants season
The 2008 Huddersfield Giants season saw the club compete in Super League XIII as well as the 2008 Challenge Cup tournament.


2008 Hull City Council election
The 2008 Hull City Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Hull City Council in England. One third of the council was up for election and the Liberal Democrats retained control of the council with an increased majority from a situation of ruling under no overall control.


2008 Hull City Council election, Campaign
At the 2007 election the Liberal Democrats had won an overall majority of 1 but subsequently suffered 2 defections meaning that they went into the 2008 election as a minority administration. In total 81 candidates stood in the 2008 election including 20 each from the Liberal Democrats, Labour and Conservative parties. Other candidates standing in the election came from the English Democrats, Greens and United Kingdom Independence Party as well as some independents candidates. The Liberal Democrats were expected to recover seats in the election which they had lost when councillors had defected to sit as independents.


2008 Hull City Council election, Election result
The results saw the Liberal Democrats regain a majority on the council after gaining 5 seats. They won Newington and Pickering wards from Labour, as well as Beverley, Boothferry and Derringham wards from independents. Labour did make one gain in St Andrews from an independent and saw their former leader, Colin Inglis, returned to the council in Myton. The Liberal Democrats now controlled 33 seats on the council as compared to 19 for Labour. Overall turnout in the election was 25.5%.


2008 Hull City Council election, Ward results
No elections were held in Bransholme East, Bransholme West and University wards.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Nevada Wolf Pack on December 30, 2008. It was the two teams' first meeting. The game featured two conference tie-ins: the University of Maryland represented the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and the University of Nevada represented the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The game was played at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho and was the 12th edition of the Humanitarian Bowl. It was sponsored by the New Plymouth, Idaho-based company Roady's Truck Stops, which claims to be the largest chain of truck stops in the United States.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl
The featured match-up was between what was called a "wildly inconsistent" Maryland team and the third-best rushing defense and fifth-best total offense of Nevada. The result was an offensive shoot-out. The final score of 42–35 in favor of Maryland exceeded total-points predictions by as much as 17 and tied the all-time Humanitarian Bowl record.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl
Before the kickoff, seven Maryland players, including six starters, received partial-game suspensions for violating the team's curfew. Maryland took a quick lead within the first two minutes of play, but repeated errors allowed Nevada to remain competitive and the lead changed hands five times. In the second quarter, Nevada's dual-threat quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, was hobbled by an ankle injury that altered the complexion of the game. Nevertheless, Kaepernick remained in the game for almost its entirety and was able to scramble for a touchdown. Halfway through the third quarter, Maryland's leading running back, Da'Rel Scott, made his first appearance of the game. He had been one of the suspended players, but scored twice in the final quarter to help secure a victory for the Terrapins.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection
The ACC had a contractual tie-in with the Humanitarian Bowl that afforded the bowl organizing committee the eighth pick of the conference's bowl-eligible teams. An ACC team participated in the game every year from 2003 to 2008. Before the selections, the ACC announced that 2008 would be the final year of its tie-in with the game due to travel and cost considerations.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection
The other conference tie-in was with the WAC, which has generally fielded its champion in the game. The WAC has provided a team for the Humanitarian Bowl every year since 2001. Initially, it was speculated that the WAC championship team, Boise State, would make its fifth appearance in the bowl played in its home stadium.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, Potential "Battle of the Unbeatens"
At the end of the regular season, there were three undefeated teams from non-Bowl Championship Series (BCS) conferences, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules required only one to be given a berth in a BCS game. These three non-BCS teams were Ball State, Boise State, and Utah. The Utes were considered heavy favorites for that berth. In a preemptive move, Humanitarian Bowl officials conducted negotiations with Ball State of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in an effort to arrange a "Battle of the Unbeatens" with Boise State.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, Potential "Battle of the Unbeatens"
If Ball State accepted, presumably with the consent of the ACC, it would have forced a team from the ACC to find an at-large bid. However, Ball State officials were unhappy with the home-field advantage that would have been given to Boise State and the expenses associated with traveling to Idaho. Ball State, which lost the MAC Championship Game and ended its perfect record, declined the overtures and instead met Tulsa in the 2009 GMAC Bowl.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
In 2008, the ACC experienced a season of unusual parity and fielded an NCAA-record number of ten bowl-eligible teams. Six of those had identical 4–4 conference records, and the remaining four had 5–3 conference records. Among the eligible teams, N.C. State (6–6) had the only non-winning overall record and was therefore forced by NCAA rules to find an at-large berth outside of the ACC tie-in games.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
For the 2008 season, the ACC had nine tie-in games. The Orange Bowl was the conference's BCS game and granted an automatic bid to the winner of the ACC Championship Game. The Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia had the first-pick of eligible ACC teams after the BCS game, followed by the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida and the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando, Florida.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
The Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee; the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, California submitted their preferences together, and selected in that order if an agreement between them could not be reached. A special clause also guaranteed that, with a minimum of eight wins, the loser of the championship game would be selected no lower than by the Music City Bowl. The Humanitarian Bowl had the eighth-overall choice followed by the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in Washington, D.C.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
That season, an economic recession factored into the selections. In general, bowl officials attempted to select teams in close geographic proximity to compensate for an anticipated drop in ticket sales. Maryland, however, stated that they would not accept a berth to face in-state rival Navy in the nearby EagleBank Bowl due to a conflict with the school's final exams. The Emerald Bowl was not seen as a viable choice due to Maryland's participation in it the year prior.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen made his case to bowl officials by saying that the Terrapins had beaten four of the other five 4–4 teams and not played a game against the fifth, Miami. Three of those teams were selected ahead of Maryland: the Meineke Car Care Bowl selected the nearby North Carolina team; the Gator Bowl chose Clemson, a school with a traditionally well-traveling fanbase; and the Emerald Bowl selected Miami. After the higher-priority bowl games made their selections, the Humanitarian Bowl had the choice of either Maryland or Wake Forest, the school with the smallest enrollment in any BCS football conference. Humanitarian Bowl officials chose Maryland in light of its larger alumni base, well-traveled fans, and greater television marketing potential.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, ACC team selection
In week 12 of the 2008 season, Maryland had a 7–3 record and stood atop the ACC Atlantic Division. However, the Terps lost their final two regular season games and slid to a four-way tie for third place in the division. Earlier in the season, Maryland defeated four ranked opponents, a feat surpassed only by the two teams that played in the BCS National Championship Game, Florida and Oklahoma—and those each played an extra game with their conference championships. Maryland spent three weeks ranked in the top-25 of the Associated Press Poll.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
At the end of the 2008 season, the WAC had six bowl-eligible teams, five of which participated in bowl games. The WAC had three conference tie-ins: the New Mexico Bowl in Albuquerque, New Mexico; the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii; and the Humanitarian Bowl. Additionally, the WAC had provisions for conditional participation in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego, California; the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana; and the GMAC Bowl in Mobile, Alabama.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
In the past, the Humanitarian Bowl usually selected the WAC championship team. However, Boise State was not content to play a middle-grade ACC team after negotiations with Ball State failed. The WAC commissioner said that the Broncos would look for another match-up that had "the same type of sizzle" as a match-up against Ball State. The Idaho Statesman added that "The Terrapins don't 'sizzle.'" Boise State traveled to the Poinsettia Bowl, where they faced 11th-ranked TCU, which had lost only to the BCS-bound Oklahoma and Utah teams.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
In Nevada's final regular season game, Kaepernick led the Wolf Pack in a second-half comeback to defeat Louisiana Tech. The seventh win guaranteed Nevada a berth in one of the three WAC tie-in bowls. The Wolf Pack finished the season in a three-way tie for second place in the WAC alongside Hawaii and Louisiana Tech. Hawaii had a standing contract with the home-town Hawaii Bowl where it played Notre Dame. Louisiana Tech, having lost to both Nevada and Hawaii, appeared unlikely to be selected for a bowl at all.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
However, the Bulldogs were able to take advantage of a provisional WAC berth in the Independence Bowl since neither the Big 12 nor the Southeastern Conference could provide eligible teams. Two other WAC teams achieved bowl eligibility with 6–6 records. Fresno State secured a slot in the New Mexico Bowl, but San Jose State was unable to find an at-large berth.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
With Boise State's decision to decline the Humanitarian Bowl invitation, the organizing committee looked to Nevada. Like Maryland, Nevada ended the regular season with a 7–5 record. The Wolf Pack's schedule included losses against then sixth-ranked Missouri, ninth-ranked Boise State, and 12th-ranked Texas Tech. Nevada finished the regular season ranked second nationally in rushing offense and fifth in total offense. The Wolf Pack had two 1,000-yard rushers: dual-threat quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Vai Taua. Kaepernick also threw for more than 2,000 yards.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Team selection, WAC team selection
On December 7, 2008, the Humanitarian Bowl officially extended invitations to Maryland and Nevada, both of which were accepted.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Location
The site of the game was Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho, the home field of Boise State University. The field's blue artificial turf has the distinction of being the only non-green playing field in use by a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team. Due to the color of its field, the stadium is nicknamed "The Blue" and the field itself is sometimes colloquially referred to as "smurf turf".


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Location
Pundits and opponents have asserted that Boise State benefits from an added advantage by wearing their blue home uniforms to match the playing field. Boise State had a 64–2 record at Bronco Stadium from 1998 to 2008. Nevada, designated as the home team, likewise wore blue uniforms during the Humanitarian Bowl.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Location
ACC teams viewed a berth in the Humanitarian Bowl as undesirable due to its location. Aside from being one of the lower priority tie-ins, the destination is far outside the conference's geographic footprint. Travel costs from the East Coast are prohibitively expensive and historically caused low turnout among ACC fans. In addition, the game is hosted at a cold-weather venue, which is a disadvantage in comparison with ACC bowl games in places such as Florida, California, and Georgia.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Location
The game historically relied on local ticket sales, and the participating schools struggled to sell their allotted tickets. On December 8, a Boise-area television news station reported that Maryland and Nevada had sold just sixteen and eight tickets, respectively. The story was widely circulated by sports-related blogs, but the figures were discredited by a Maryland official. On December 18, the Reno Gazette-Journal reported that 100 tickets had been sold by Nevada.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Location
Maryland officials admitted that ticket sales among its fans were expected to be low, with one stating they were in the "mid-hundreds" a week and a half from the game date. According to a Baltimore Sun reporter, Maryland's final ticket figure was about 800. By comparison, Clemson sold about 3,500 tickets for the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl, and Georgia Tech sold about 250 tickets for the 2007 Humanitarian Bowl.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison
Predictions for the game varied, but generally favored Nevada with Maryland as the underdog. Several publications, including Sports Illustrated, named Nevada as three-point favorites in spread betting. ESPN's ACC correspondent predicted Nevada to win by 21 points. Las Vegas betting firms assigned Nevada as 0.5- to 3.0-point favorites. The over-under was predicted to be between 60.0 and 62.0 points.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison
Under head coach Ralph Friedgen, Maryland had earned a reputation for inconsistency, sometimes even being referred to as "schizophrenic". During the regular season, the Terrapins managed to beat four of the five top-25 teams they faced: 23rd-ranked California, 20th-ranked Clemson, 21st-ranked Wake Forest, and 16th-ranked North Carolina. All those teams subsequently participated in bowl games. However, Maryland also lost to teams they were expected to defeat. They lost by ten points to 12.5-point underdogs Middle Tennessee State. Maryland suffered a 31-point shut-out against Virginia, a team (then 1–3) that had lost to Duke, 31–3, the week prior.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison
Nevada suffered three of its five losses against then top-twelve ranked teams. They lost to Big 12 Championship runner-up Missouri and Texas Tech, which, in midseason, was in contention for the national championship and was led by Heisman Trophy prospect Graham Harrell. Nevada managed a close game against Boise State. The Wolf Pack lost by seven points to a team that recorded an average 21.4-point margin of victory in a perfect 12–0 regular season. Boise State preserved victory when a Hail Mary pass from Kaepernick was broken up in the final seconds. Nevada, however, was also accused of inconsistent play. The Wolf Pack suffered a home loss to "perennial WAC bottom-feeder" New Mexico State, 48–45.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Maryland offense vs. Nevada defense
Maryland's offense was run by first-year offensive coordinator and former wide receivers coach James Franklin, who utilized a West Coast system. During the 2008 regular season, starting quarterback Chris Turner threw for 2,318 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. NFL Draft prospect Darrius Heyward-Bey accumulated 561 receiving yards in ten games. Heyward-Bey also recorded 208 rushing yards and was often utilized in reverses and other trick plays due to his breakaway speed. Maryland had another offensive weapon in running back Da'Rel Scott, who ran for 959 yards during the regular season.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Maryland offense vs. Nevada defense
Overall, the rushing offense gained 134.5 yards per game and was ranked 72nd in the nation. Against Virginia Tech and Boston College, Maryland rushed for −12 and −6 yards, respectively. The previous year, in the 2007 Emerald Bowl against Oregon State, Maryland recorded 19 yards on the ground against the then second-ranked rushing defense.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Maryland offense vs. Nevada defense
About Maryland, Nevada head coach Chris Ault said, "Their offense to me is very balanced. They can run the ball and do a good job. With [quarterback Chris] Turner, they split out and they have some nice receivers. Whereas Missouri was going to throw it as much as Texas Tech did, I think Maryland is probably one of the more balanced teams we've played this year."


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Maryland offense vs. Nevada defense
The Maryland offense faced first-year defensive coordinator Nigel Burton's Nevada defense. It ranked third in the nation against the run, allowing 74.5 rushing yards per game, but was last (120th) in the nation in passing defense, allowing an average of 321.1 passing yards per game. Nevada was ranked eighth in the number of quarterback sacks with 35. Kevin Basped, ranked tenth in the nation in sacks, and Dontay Moch, ranked fifteenth, accumulated more than nine each. Maryland quarterback Turner was sacked 11 times in the Terrapins' last two games against Florida State and Boston College. Nevada was also ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss, with an average of 8.0 per game.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Nevada offense vs. Maryland defense
In 2008, Nevada typically ran an offensive scheme referred to as the "pistol offense", a system that was pioneered by head coach Chris Ault. In the pistol offense, the quarterback lines up four yards directly behind the center and with a running back directly behind the quarterback.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Nevada offense vs. Maryland defense
Under the system, the offense attempts to keep the opposing defense off balance by diversifying the types of plays that can be run, with a focus on running up the middle, "quarterback keepers" in which the passer runs the ball, and play action passes where the quarterback fakes a hand-off before throwing to a receiver. It aims to create man-to-man match-ups with the receivers and compensate for an undersized offensive line. With the running back obscured from view by the quarterback, it can also create confusion for the opposing linebackers and allow more effective deception, which is critical to play-action fakes.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Nevada offense vs. Maryland defense
The system worked well during the regular season. Nevada starting quarterback and 2008 WAC Offensive Player of the Year Colin Kaepernick ran for more than 1,100 yards and 16 touchdowns in addition to passing for 2,479 yards and 19 touchdowns. Alongside Kaepernick, Nevada's rushing offense was led by running back Vai Taua, who ran for 1,420 yards and 14 touchdowns. With two 1,000-yard rushers for the first time in school history, Nevada ran for an average of 291.4 yards per game. Nevada was ranked fifth nationally in terms of total offense, averaging 510.6 yards per game.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Nevada offense vs. Maryland defense
With regards to facing the pistol offense, Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said, "If we can keep our assignments and tackle, we'll be OK. One missed tackle could be a big play ... With the throwing game, there could be a lot of one-on-one situations. To me, it's pick your poison. What they do best is run it. What we'd like to do is get them off schedule. If they mix it, then we're in trouble."


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Team comparison, Nevada offense vs. Maryland defense
Nevada coach Ault said, "I think the Maryland defense is as physical as Missouri's was." Kaepernick said, "You notice how disciplined and how hard they play. They're never out of alignment. If they're supposed to be somewhere, they're going to be there and they're going to be ready to make a play. When plays come their way, they make them. That's something we have to be ready for. We have to find a weakness and exploit it."


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Personnel changes, Maryland coaching changes
After Maryland's last regular-season game, defensive coordinator Chris Cosh and tight ends coach and special teams assistant Danny Pearman announced their resignations. Cosh returned to Kansas State, where he had coached before Maryland, to assume defensive play-calling duties under recently re-hired head coach Bill Snyder. Danny Pearman returned to his alma mater, Clemson, to work for Dabo Swinney, who had been promoted from offensive coordinator to interim head coach and, finally, head coach for the Tigers. For the bowl game, Maryland's defensive line coach, Al Seamonson, was named as the interim defensive coordinator. Third-year intern Brian White filled in for Pearman as the interim tight ends coach and would assist head coach Friedgen in running the special teams.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Personnel changes, Maryland player suspensions
Shortly before the game, Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen placed partial-game suspensions on seven players who violated the team's pre-bowl curfew. The suspended players were linebackers Moise Fokou, Trey Covington, Antwine Perez, and Derek Drummond, cornerback Jamari McCollough, the quarterback's preferred third-down wide receiver Danny Oquendo, and leading running back Da'Rel Scott. All except Drummond were regular starters. Consequently, a much younger line-up started for Maryland, including, according to Friedgen, some who probably would not have seen playing time otherwise.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Pre-game buildup, Personnel changes, Maryland player suspensions
Friedgen stated that the curfew violations occurred over several nights, and that different players violated the rule to separate degrees. He informed Maryland athletic director Deborah Yow of the infractions and initially suggested sending all the curfew violators back to Maryland by bus. Yow dissented, and they agreed to suspend the players for part of the game. Describing the incident, Friedgen said that "Five percent of [the] guys thought they didn't need to listen to me, that they could get bed checked and sneak out." He added, "But I checked again at 1 o'clock. "This is not my first rodeo."


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl kicked off at 2:30 p.m. Mountain Time on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 in front of a crowd of 26,781 spectators at Bronco Stadium in Boise, Idaho. The weather conditions were cloudy with a temperature of 38 °F (3 °C) and wind at eight mph (12.9 km/h) from the southeast. The officiating staff consisted of referee Clair Gausman, umpire Rico Orsot, linesman Cal McNeill, line judge Gary McNanna, back judge Tom Bessant, field judge Shane Standley, side judge Kim Nelson, and scorer Mike Cannon. The game was televised on ESPN and drew a television rating of 2.1 for an estimated 3,039,000 viewers. It was a 218% increase in television viewers from the previous season's game.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, First quarter
The game started with Maryland receiving the kickoff, which Kenny Tate returned 17 yards to the Terrapins' 35-yard line. Quarterback Chris Turner threw a short pass to Torrey Smith, bringing the ball to the Maryland 41-yard line, and then threw an incomplete pass. On third down with three yards to go, Turner connected with freshman Adrian Cannon for a 59-yard touchdown pass. However, placekicker Obi Egekeze missed the extra point.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, First quarter
In subsequent possessions, Nevada and Maryland both failed to gain first downs and exchanged punts. Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick then led a drive that included a 68-yard pass to the Maryland three-yard line. The Terrapins' defense stopped two rushing attempts by Vai Taua, but a short pass to wide receiver Chris Wellington was completed for Nevada's first touchdown. With the extra point, Nevada took the lead, 7–6. Wolf Pack placekicker Brett Jaekle executed a 69-yard kickoff to Torrey Smith, and he returned it 99 yards for a second Maryland touchdown. Egekeze made the extra point and Maryland regained the lead, 13–7, with 7:53 remaining in the quarter.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, First quarter
On the ensuing kickoff, Egekeze attempted to kick the ball as it fell off the tee. This resulted in an unintentional squib that was returned 36 yards to the Terps' nine-yard line. Nevada's Kaepernick attempted to rush but was stopped for no gain. On the next play, he threw the ball into the end zone, but it was intercepted by Maryland safety Kenny Tate, resulting in a touchback. The Terps started on their own 20-yard line, and running back Davin Meggett rushed for 13 yards and a first down.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, First quarter
Turner then linked up with freshman receiver Ronnie Tyler for another first down at the Maryland 49-yard line. After a false start penalty, the Terps were unable to gain a first down and punted the ball away. The ball rolled into the end zone for a touchback, and Nevada started the final drive of the quarter at its 20-yard line. Kaepernick then passed for two first downs, picked up another due to a pass interference call against Maryland, and scrambled for yet another. He then handed off to Taua, who rushed 17 yards for a touchdown. Nevada re-took the lead, 14–13, with 46 seconds remaining in the quarter.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, First quarter
Nevada's Jaekle made a short kick-off, and Maryland tight end Dan Gronkowski returned the ball eight yards to the Maryland 44-yard line. On the final play of the quarter, Turner handed the ball off to sophomore running back Morgan Green, who picked up three yards. The quarter ended with Nevada leading, 14–13.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Second quarter
The second quarter began with Maryland in possession at its 47-yard line. On the first play of the quarter, Turner handed off to Green, who broke free of the Nevada defense for a 53-yard gain and a touchdown. The score and extra point gave Maryland a six-point lead, 20–14, with 14:50 remaining in the first half.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Second quarter
Nevada and Maryland then exchanged punts three times, and the Wolf Pack punted it away a fourth time. In the span of two series, Kaepernick was sacked three times, once each by linebackers Dave Philistin, Alex Wujciak, and Adrian Moten. As a result, Kaepernick suffered an ankle sprain and played the rest of the game, but he noticeably favored his uninjured side. The Terps took over on their 47-yard line with 0:29 remaining in the half.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Second quarter
Turner completed an eight-yard pass to Ronnie Tyler, and a Nevada hit out-of-bounds resulted in a 15-yard penalty against Nevada and a first down for Maryland. After two incomplete passes, Turner then converted on third down again with a toss to Tyler for 16 yards and then once more for 14 yards and a touchdown to bring the score to 26–14 in Maryland's favor. The Terps elected to attempt a two-point conversion, and Turner completed a pass to a wide-open Meggett in the right side of the end zone. With six seconds remaining in the first half, Maryland had a 28–14 lead. Nevada received Maryland's kickoff, but elected to run out the clock and head into halftime.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Third quarter
Maryland kicked off to Nevada to start the second half, and the teams again exchanged punts twice. Kaepernick sat out the next series due to his sprained ankle. Backup quarterback Nick Graziano took over but was unable to complete two passes and Nevada punted a third time. In the next series, Turner threw an interception to Nevada safety Jonathan Amaya, who returned it for 33 yards to the Maryland 22-yard line, then fumbled. The ball was recovered by Nevada, and Kaepernick capitalized on the turnover with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Taua, narrowing Nevada's deficit to 28–21.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Third quarter
Jaekle kicked off to the Maryland 30-yard line where it was returned by Green for two yards. A fresh Da'Rel Scott then made his first appearance in the game. He carried the ball four times in succession to advance to the Nevada 46-yard line. On third down with nine yards to go, Turner was sacked by defensive lineman Kevin Basped and the ball was knocked loose. It was picked up by Wolf Pack linebacker Brandon Marshall who then also fumbled. Maryland offensive lineman Scott Burley recovered it on the Nevada 45-yard line.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Third quarter
The alternating changes in possession gave Maryland a first down, and Turner then connected with Darrius Heyward-Bey on an 11-yard pass for another first down. Scott rushed twice to pick up a first down at the Nevada 23-yard line. After a rush by Meggett, Turner was sacked by defensive end Dontay Moch and again fumbled. This time, Nevada recovered the ball and retained possession. Kaepernick then passed to wide receiver Mike McCoy for 38 yards to the Maryland 27-yard line. Vai Taua picked up seven yards on a rush attempt, and the quarter came to an end with Maryland leading, 28–21.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The fourth quarter began with Nevada in possession at the Maryland 20-yard line. The first play of the quarter was a rush attempt by Taua, but he fumbled and recovered the ball for a loss of one yard. On the second play of the quarter, Kaepernick completed a 21-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marko Mitchell, tying the score at 28–28.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
Following the Nevada kickoff, Turner handed off to Scott, who picked up two yards. After an incomplete pass, Turner connected with Torrey Smith on a 26-yard toss for a third-down conversion. Scott then rushed for three yards to the Nevada 49-yard line, and carried it again down the middle, this time breaking free for a 49-yard touchdown run. On the following Nevada series, Kaepernick mounted a 38-yard drive to the Maryland 34-yard line, but failed to convert on fourth and 12.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
On the next series, Da'Rel Scott was handed the ball four times in succession to pick up first downs with rushes of 11, 23, 30 yards and a touchdown on a two-yard run. The score and extra point gave Maryland a two-touchdown lead, 42–28. Nevada's offense returned to the field with 7:44 remaining in the game and used almost three minutes in a 37-yard drive that culminated in an interception by Maryland safety Jeff Allen on the Maryland 38-yard line. After no gain on a rush by running back Morgan Green, Maryland attempted an end-around.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
Turner was stepped on, and the handoff was botched. The intended recipient, Heyward-Bey, dropped the ball but managed to recover it for a loss of six yards. After Nevada called a time out, Green rushed for a five-yard gain. Nevada expended its last remaining time out to stop the clock with 4:06 left. Maryland punted it away on fourth down with 11 yards to go.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
Kaepernick took over on the Nevada 23-yard line with 4:01 and made four completions to drive to the Terps' 15-yard line. Exploiting a large opening, Kaepernick held onto the ball and ran it into the end zone to narrow Maryland's lead to one touchdown, 42–35, with 2:19 remaining. Jaekle attempted an onside kick in an effort to give Nevada another chance on offense, but the ball was recovered by Maryland receiver Danny Oquendo. Scott rushed for two and then 19 yards. With the first down, Maryland had enough time to run out the clock and clinch the 42–35 victory.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl Most Valuable Player honors were awarded to Maryland running back Da'Rel Scott, who rushed for 174 yards, and Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who threw for 370 yards. Each was the statistical leader at his respective position, and Scott scored Maryland's two final touchdowns to break the 28–28 stalemate. Scott also was able to help Maryland clinch the victory in the final minutes by rushing for a first down that allowed the team to run out the clock.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Records
The 77 points scored in the game tied the Humanitarian Bowl record for total points, which had been set in 1998 by Idaho and Southern Miss.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Records
Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick set the Humanitarian Bowl passing yardage record with 370 yards through the air, and he scored three touchdowns in the process. Despite the loss, Kaepernick's team outperformed Maryland in terms of passing yardage, total offense, first downs, and time of possession.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Records
Maryland freshman wide receiver Torrey Smith, with his 99-yard kickoff return, broke the all-time Atlantic Coast Conference single-season kickoff return yards record with 1,089 yards. Smith also broke the Humanitarian Bowl kick return record, which was previously 98 yards.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Records
With 174 yards, Da'Rel Scott set the Maryland record for rushing yards in a bowl game, despite playing just one and a half quarters due to his curfew suspension. The previous record was 165 yards, set by Lu Gambino in Maryland's first bowl game, the 1948 Gator Bowl. Scott also broke the 1,000 yards-per-season barrier, making him one of just seven players in school history to do so. Scott said earlier in the year that reaching the 1,000-yard benchmark was a personal goal he set for the 2008 season. Between Scott and Davin Meggett, Maryland also came the closest it ever has to having both a 1,000- and 500-yard rusher in the same season. Meggett fell just 43 yards shy of the 500-yard mark.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Records
Nevada set a school record for single-season total offensive yards, recording 6,611 in 2008. This surpassed the previous record of 6,263 yards, set in 1995.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Four Maryland backups who saw significant playing time due to the suspensions scored touchdowns: second-string slot receiver Ronnie Tyler, second-string X-receiver Torrey Smith, third-string slot receiver Adrian Cannon, and third-string running back Morgan Green.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Maryland compiled 456 yards of total offense: 198 in the air and 258 yards on the ground. Quarterback Chris Turner completed passes to five receivers during the game: Ronnie Tyler (five), Darrius Heyward-Bey (four), Torrey Smith (two), Adrian Cannon (one), and Emani Lee-Odai (one). Cannon and Tyler each caught a pass for a touchdown. Running back Davin Meggett caught a pass for a two-point conversion. Turner also threw one interception.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
On the ground, rushing attempts were made by running backs Da'Rel Scott (14 for 174 yards), Morgan Green (10 for 72 yards), and Davin Meggett (10 for 35 yards). Wide receiver Heyward-Bey also made a rushing attempt, but dropped the ball and recovered it for a loss of six yards.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Maryland had previously shown an ability to strike quickly on offense and did so again in the game. In the 2008 season, the team scored 18 out of 28 touchdowns in drives consisting of six or fewer plays or less than two minutes of game time. This led to the team often trailing opponents in time of possession. In the Humanitarian Bowl, Maryland continued the pattern by scoring in the first 1:01 with a 59-yard Chris Turner pass to Adrian Cannon. Maryland had possession for 2:26 less than Nevada.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Maryland, which was third-best in the ACC in third down attempts (40.4%), did comparatively poorly during the game, converting only four of 14 third downs (28.6%).


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Defensively, Maryland was able to hold the nation's third-ranked rushing offense to just 114 yards on the ground. Nevada quarterback Kaepernick, who ran for 1,115 yards, was held to just 19 rushing yards, 15 of which were gained during a touchdown run. Two players made their first career interceptions: true freshman safety Kenny Tate and senior defensive back Jeff Allen. Tate's interception in the Maryland end zone prevented a Nevada score, while Allen's interception with 4:54 remaining helped seal the victory for Maryland. Offensive lineman Scott Burley forced a fumble against Nevada linebacker Brandon Marshall, who had recovered a third-down fumble by Turner. Burley subsequently recovered the forced fumble and gave Maryland a first down.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Maryland statistical recap
Maryland's special teams recorded one touchdown when Torrey Smith returned a kickoff for 99 yards. After the first touchdown of the game, senior placekicker Obi Egekeze missed an extra point for the first time in his career. Early in the season, Egekeze missed his first five field goal attempts, but, prior to the Humanitarian Bowl, he had made all 64 extra-point attempts of his career. After the first failed kick, Egekeze made the other five extra-point attempts of the game. The placekicker also erred when he attempted to kick the ball as it fell off the tee, resulting in a short 15-yard kick which was returned 36 yards by Nevada to the Maryland nine-yard line.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Nevada statistical recap
Nevada recorded better statistics than Maryland in several areas despite ultimately losing the game. The Wolf Pack compiled seven more first downs, 172 more passing yards, 28 more total offensive yards, 15 fewer penalty yards, 15.8% more third down conversions, and 2:26 more time in possession of the ball.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Nevada statistical recap
In the passing game, Colin Kaepernick achieved a 51.1% pass completion rate (24 out of 47). He threw for 370 yards, including three touchdowns. He completed passes to Mike McCoy (13), Marko Mitchell (five), Chris Wellington (three), Arthur King, Jr. (two), and Vai Taua (one). Mitchell, Wellington, and Taua each caught a pass for a touchdown. Due to Kaepernick's injury, backup quarterback Nick Graziano played for one series but was unable to make a completion on two attempts.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Nevada statistical recap
On the ground, Nevada struggled against the Maryland defense, recording 114 rushing yards, far fewer than its 291.4 per game average. Running plays were attempted by Kaepernick and Taua, who made 23 carries for 101 yards and one touchdown. Despite suffering from a sprained ankle, Kaepernick also was able to scamper 15 yards for a rushing touchdown.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Nevada statistical recap
Conversely, the Nevada defense had difficulty stopping the Maryland run. Nevada's rush defense allowed 258 yards, compared with its regular-season average of just 74.5 yards allowed per game. This was especially true after a well-rested Da'Rel Scott entered the game in the middle of the third quarter. Head coach Chris Ault said, "He just ran through us like we weren't there." Defensive back Jonathan Amaya intercepted a Chris Turner pass for his fourth interception of the season.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Statistics, Nevada statistical recap
Brett Jaekle handled all of Nevada's kicking duties. He made all five extra-point attempts. Jaekle punted eight times for 295 yards and kicked off five times for 270 yards. With 1:42 remaining, he attempted an onside kick, but the ball was recovered by Maryland's Danny Oquendo.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Post-game effects
With the bowl game, Maryland finished the season with an 8–5 record. The win was Maryland's 600th in school history. Ralph Friedgen's postseason record improved to 4–2, which gave him twice as many bowl wins as any other head coach in school history. For the 2008 season, Maryland stood 5–1 in games decided by seven points or less and 8–0 in games kicked off during daylight hours.


2008 Humanitarian Bowl, Post-game effects
Nevada posted a final record of 7–6. The game was the third consecutive postseason loss for Chris Ault and Nevada. Ault's post-season bowl record slid to 1–5 as a result.


2008 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team
The 2008 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team represented Humboldt State University during the 2008 NCAA Division II football season. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) resumed sponsoring football as of the 2008 season, so Humboldt State no longer competed as an independent.


2008 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team
The 2008 Lumberjacks were led by first-year head coach Rob Smith. They played home games at the Redwood Bowl in Arcata, California. Humboldt State finished the season with a record of two wins and nine losses (2–9, 0–8 GNAC). Each team played the other conference teams twice during the season (home and away) instead of just once. The Lumberjacks were outscored by their opponents 170–357 for the 2008 season.


2008 Humboldt State Lumberjacks football team, Team players in the NFL
No Humboldt State players were selected in the 2009 NFL Draft.


2008 Hun Sen Cup
Hun Sen Cup is the main football knockout tournament in Cambodia. The 2008 Hun Sen Cup was the 2nd season of the Hun Sen Cup, the premier knockout tournament for association football clubs in Cambodia involving Cambodian League and provincial teams organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia.


2008 Hun Sen Cup
Khemara Keila FC were the defending champions, having beaten Nagacorp 4–2 on penalty shoot-out after extra time 1-1 in the previous season's final.


2008 Hungarian Figure Skating Championships
The 2008 Hungarian Figure Skating Championships (Hungarian: Senior Országos Bajnokság 2008) took place on January 10, 2008 in Budapest. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing on the senior level. The results were used to choose the Hungarian teams to the 2008 World Championships and the 2008 European Championships.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix
The 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix (formally the Formula 1 ING Magyar Nagydíj 2008) was a Formula One motor race held on 3 August 2008, at the Hungaroring in Mogyoród, near Budapest. It was the 11th race of the 2008 Formula One World Championship. Contested over 70 laps, the race was won by Heikki Kovalainen for the McLaren team, from a second position start. Timo Glock finished second in a Toyota car, with Kimi Räikkönen third in a Ferrari. It was Kovalainen's first Formula One victory, which made him the sport's 100th driver to win a World Championship race, and it was Glock's first podium finish. It also turned out to be the only F1 race Kovalainen ever won.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix
The majority of the race consisted of a duel between Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa, who drove for McLaren and Ferrari, respectively. Hamilton started from pole position but was beaten at the first corner by Massa, who passed him around the outside. The two championship rivals began a battle for the lead that was resolved when Hamilton sustained a punctured tyre just over halfway through the race, giving Massa a lead of more than 20 seconds over Kovalainen. The Ferrari's engine, however, failed with three laps remaining, allowing the McLaren driver to win. Räikkönen set the race's fastest lap in the other Ferrari, but was hampered by a poor qualifying performance and was stuck behind Fernando Alonso (Renault) and Glock in turn for almost all of the race.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix
As a consequence of the race, Hamilton extended his lead in the World Drivers' Championship to five points over Räikkönen, with Massa a further three behind. Robert Kubica, who finished eighth after finding his BMW Sauber car uncompetitive at the Hungaroring, slipped to 13 points behind Hamilton, ahead of teammate Nick Heidfeld and Kovalainen. In the World Constructors' Championship, McLaren passed BMW Sauber for second position, 11 points behind Ferrari.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
The 2008 Hungarian Grand Prix was the 11th of the 18th rounds of the 2008 Formula One World Championship and occurred at the 4.381 km (2.722 mi) Hungaroring circuit, in Mogyoród, Hungary, on 3 August 2008. The Grand Prix was contested by 20 drivers in ten teams of two. The teams, also known as "constructors", were Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Renault, Honda, Force India-Ferrari, BMW Sauber, Toyota, Red Bull-Renault, Williams-Toyota and Toro Rosso-Ferrari. Before the race, Ferrari was in the lead of the Constructors' Championship with 105 points, 16 ahead of BMW Sauber and a further three in front of McLaren.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
Vying for fourth place were Toyota, Red Bull and Renault, all within two points of each other but more than 60 points behind McLaren. In the Drivers' Championship, Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) led with 58 points, ahead of Ferrari teammates Felipe Massa and Kimi Räikkönen, who were on 54 and 51 points respectively. BMW drivers Robert Kubica (48) and Nick Heidfeld (41) were fourth and fifth in the championship, followed by Heikki Kovalainen, who had scored 28 points in the second McLaren.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
Following the German Grand Prix on July 20, the teams conducted testing sessions at the Jerez circuit from July 22–25. Each team was limited to 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) of testing during the 2008 calendar year, a reduction compared with previous seasons. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) set the fastest time of the first and second days, while Mark Webber (Red Bull) topped the third day's running, and Heikki Kovalainen was fastest on the final day of testing.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
Several teams tested using Bridgestone slick tyres, as preparation for the switch from grooved to slick tyres for the 2009 season, and BMW Sauber tested a Kinetic Energy Recovery System, also for the following year. Among the other teams, Force India's test driver, Vitantonio Liuzzi, tested the team's new "seamless-shift" gearbox ahead of the system's race début later in the year, while Timo Glock of Toyota took part after a heavy crash at the German Grand Prix.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
In the week leading up to the race, a meeting between the teams at Ferrari's headquarters in Maranello resulted in the formation of a new representative body, the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA), which was led by Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo. McLaren team principal Ron Dennis said the establishment of FOTA was intended to encourage greater co-operation between the teams, particularly in framing new sporting and technical regulations, and to act as a counterweight to the sport's existing governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and the company responsible for its commercial management, Formula One Management (FOM).


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
On July 31, the day before the event's first free practice sessions took place, McLaren confirmed the team would retain Kovalainen for 2009 alongside Hamilton, while the organisers of the Hungarian Grand Prix signed a deal with Bernie Ecclestone, the president of FOM, to continue hosting the race until 2016.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
Several teams made technical changes to their cars for the Grand Prix. Ferrari altered the F2008 chassis's cooling system and bodywork following high brake wear and engine water temperatures at the German Grand Prix. McLaren and Force India introduced revised aerodynamic packages for their MP4-23 and VJM01 chassis, aimed at increasing the amount of downforce, and therefore grip, produced by the bodywork. Force India also brought its seamless-shift gearbox to the event. Ferrari, Honda and Toyota also débuted raised engine covers, nicknamed "shark-fins" for the way they stretched toward the rear wing, and Honda introduced a new rear suspension package.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Background
The sport's sole tyre supplier, Bridgestone, provided two specifications of grooved dry tyres for the race, designated Soft (also referred to as the "prime" tyre) and Super Soft (also referred to as the "option" tyre). The Super Soft compound was distinguished by a white stripe in one of the tyre's grooves. As was the case for all of the 2008 Grands Prix, the rules stipulated that all cars should use both types of tyre during the course of the race, and each driver was limited to seven sets of dry tyres for the weekend.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Practice
Three practice sessions were held before the Sunday race—two on Friday from 10:00 to 11:30 and 14:00 to 15:30 local time, and a third on Saturday morning between 11:00 and 12:00. The first practice session took place in dry conditions. The ambient temperature was between 27–28 °C (81–82 °F), and the track temperature ranged from 31–34 °C (88–93 °F) during the hour-long period. Massa set the session's fastest time with a lap of 1 minute and 20.981 seconds, almost four-tenths of a second ahead of his teammate Räikkönen. The two McLaren drivers were third and fourth, Kovalainen ahead of Hamilton.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Practice
Fernando Alonso and Nelson Piquet Jr. set the fifth and eighth-fastest times respectively for Renault; they were separated by Glock and Kubica. Their teammates, Heidfeld and Toyota driver Jarno Trulli, completed the top ten. Vettel's Toro Rosso car was afflicted by a hydraulics problem; this restricted him to completing only four timed laps, and he was slowest overall.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Practice
The second practice session was held in similar weather to the first; the only difference was a slightly higher peak track temperature of 37 °C (99 °F). During this session, Hamilton set the quickest lap time of the day, a 1:20.554; Kovalainen finished with the third-fastest time. The Renault drivers were again quick—Piquet in second and Alonso fourth—although the team's Executive Director of Engineering, Pat Symonds, admitted both cars were running with slightly lower fuel loads than normal, improving their performance. Räikkönen and Massa slipped to fifth and sixth respectively, their best times one-thousandth of a second apart. They were ahead of Heidfeld, Kubica, Trulli and Williams driver Nico Rosberg. Vettel's car was still suffering from the hydraulics problem and he completed just five laps, again setting the slowest time of the session.


2008 Hungarian Grand Prix, Practice
Saturday's weather was again dry for the third and final practice session, with ambient temperature between 27–29 °C (81–84 °F) and track temperature from 32–36 °C (90–97 °F). Hamilton again set the fastest time, a 1:20.228, quicker than his best on Friday. This put him immediately ahead of Massa, Glock, Kovalainen and Piquet. Heidfeld was much happier with the setup of his car and set the sixth-fastest time, but Kubica suffered a mechanical problem that restricted him to 18th position. Vettel had a trouble-free session and set the eighth-fastest time, one position behind teammate Sébastien Bourdais. Räikkönen and Rosberg completed the top ten ahead of qualifying.