PRESS BOX CHATTER: Magic number is two for UH's Levine

How long does Tony Levine have to prove himself?

After Saturday's flop against Texas State, a talented team that is still moving from the Championship to the Bowl Subdivision, the best bet is two. And maybe not even that.

The Cougars are currently playing their last season at Robertson Stadium before they tear the old stadium down and replace it with a shiny new home field. Houston will play at Reliant Stadium next season. The Cougars are also moving to the Big East next year.

Offensive coordinator Mike Nesbitt was the fall guy for Saturday's debacle. His tenure running the Cougars' offense lasted a whole one game.

Levine is a well-liked man in these parts. Under the previous coach, Kevin Sumlin, he was responsible for recruiting South Texas, and played a big role in several Crossroads players - Edna's Mac Long and Devin Parks, most recently - getting there.

But more routs at the hands of teams they are supposed to beat could snuff out Levine's career before it even gets going.

• ROLAND BROUGHT THE HELMETS: Anyone notice that the new Victoria East helmets looks suspiciously like the helmets Corpus Christi Ray wore in the mid-2000s?

• WHAT NEXT? Refugio dumped 62 points on an Ingleside team that is one of the better Class 3A teams in South Texas. It makes you wonder: What are the Bobcats going to do when they face weaker teams in their district?

• ROUT COUNTY: Friday was a rough one for Victoria County's four football schools. St. Joseph, East, West and Bloomington all lost by more than three touchdowns, and three of them to competition that isn't exactly at the top of their classification.

• LEARNING EXPERIENCE: The silver lining to Victoria West's loss to Lockhart? The Lions run the Slot-T, the same offense they'll see when they face Beeville later this year.

• TOP PERFORMER: Bay City's Shaun Rutherford at Texas State making the Cougars look foolish. He was for 19 for 25 with 196 yards passing and one touchdown, and added 34 yards rushing on 21 carries.

•  SAME OLD STORY: Garrett Gilbert gets pressured, and hurls an interception. Texas fans feel your pain, SMU fans.

THE HOTTEST TICKET IN THE COASTAL BEND: Go watch the Corpus Christi Hooks. The team is in the Texas League playoffs beginning Wednesday in Frisco, and gets three straight at home (if they make it that far) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Whataburger Field. Trust us, it's worth the price of gas and admission.

Press Box Chatter is produced by the Victoria Advocate sports department.