HOUSTON -- The Houston Cougars are picking up the pieces after coach Tom Herman bolted for Texas this weekend. Interim coach Todd Orlando has taken over to prepare them for their bowl game while the administration looks for a new coach to try and build on the progress Herman made in two seasons.Orlando, who was Houstons defensive coordinator under Herman, thinks the Cougars will be just fine.These kids have battled through a whole bunch of things this year and theyve always responded, he said. Theyve never let us down. Theyve always gone at it with a great attitude and I dont expect that to change.Orlando acknowledged that there was some disappointment among players in the wake of Hermans departure to take over for Charlie Strong, who was fired the same day Herman was hired . He said he spoke to the team all together before they broke into position groups to further discuss the change. The upperclassmen dealt with the move better than many of his freshman and sophomores, who had counted on Herman to be there throughout their time in Houston.He said those players really bought into Hermans culture and embraced the catchy slogan termed H-Town Takeover he used to boost the teams profile on social media.My concern is for the young guys, the young guys that were part of the H-Town Takeover and them analyzing things and I see it in their face, Orlando said. But I do feel comfortable that it is better after a couple of days.Herman led the Cougars to a 13-1 record last season and a trip to the Peach Bowl before helping them to a 9-3 record this season which included wins over Oklahoma and Louisville, who were both ranked third at the time. He isnt the first coach to propel Houston back into to national spotlight before leaving for a more high-profile job.Kevin Sumlin coached the Cougars for four seasons before leaving for Texas A&M. He helped them to a 12-1 record in 2011. He made them a national contender for the first time since the 1980s before many lean years after the Southwest Conference disbanded in 1995 and they werent invited to join the Big 12 or Southeastern Conference.Tony Levine took over for Sumlin, but was unable to replicate his success. He was fired in 2014 after going 7-5 to clear the way for Herman to take over after serving as offensive coordinator for Ohio State when the team won the national title that year.Now they have to search for a new coach yet again. Orlando said he and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite will both interview for the job, and athletics director Hunter Yurachek promised a national search to find a coach to maintain our programs national prominence.For Orlando and his staff preparing for the bowl game comes second to ensuring they dont lose their top recruits following Hermans departure.I told the staff: `Youre going to see every one of our commitments and I dont care if you have to stay at school for five hours and stay in their house for four hours, he said. It doesnt matter. Theres nobody more important than those committed kids and its the stability part of it. I want to make sure they understand were business as usual.Orlando has been impressed with some public support many of his players have shown for the team in the last few days, and none meant more than one from defensive tackle Ed Oliver . The freshman, who is Houstons best player and one of the top defensive tackles in the country, first joked on Twitter that he was declaring for the draft even though that isnt possible, before sending a second tweet that ended with I aint going nowhere.Hes been great, Orlando said. Theres one thing about that guy and its that he loves this place. I think hes got a little bit of a chip on his shoulder to say you know what: `Ill carry us a little bit. Were OK. Time to adjust and see what happens.Herman did a variety of things to bond with his players, namely getting a diamond encrusted grill made by Houston rapper Paul Wall after they won the American Athletic Conference title last season. While Orlando is committing to keeping a good relationship with his players, he was quick to point out that his style would be far different than his predecessor.Im not going to wear a grill, he said. Im not going to dance around. Im going to be me.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Mark Ingram II Jersey . Bryzgalov stopped 25 shots on Saturday in the Oklahoma City Barons 4-1 victory over the Abbotsford Heat. The Oilers signed Bryzgalov to a one-year $2 million contract last Friday after shedding payroll by dealing defenceman Ladislav Smid to the Flames. Mark Clayton Jersey . Thats not a comment on the suspension that banished the Portland Winterhawks general manager and coach from his Western Hockey League teams bench for most of the 2012-13 season. http://www.customravensjersey.com/custom-ray-lewis-jersey-large-983d.html .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. Ben Powers Jersey . Andrew Luck lost his favourite target and the Indianapolis locker room lost one of its most revered leaders when Reggie Wayne was diagnosed Monday with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee that will cost him the rest of the season. Custom Ravens Jersey China . -- Bobby Ryan helped the U.STANFORD, Calif. -- This was typical Stanford. A heavy dose of methodical mashing, a bit of everything from Christian McCaffrey and a couple little wrinkles that caught Southern California totally off guard.McCaffrey slipped out of the backfield for a 56-yard touchdown reception and dived over the pile for a 1-yard score as the seventh-ranked Cardinal beat USC 27-10 on Saturday night.The Cardinal (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12) have now won seven of nine against the Trojans, the best nine-game stretch for the Cardinal in the history of a rivalry that covers 96 games and 111 years. Stanford has also beaten USC three times within the last calendar year.We dont use anyone but us to set our standards, Cardinal coach David Shaw said.McCaffrey, the AP player of the year and Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2016, had a routine 260 all-purpose yards. Stanford ran it 47 times for 295 yards, threw 15 passes and held the ball for 34:14.The Cardinal drew most of the USC defense into the box with a steady dose of inside runs before receiver Michael Rector went 56 yards for a touchdown on a reverse with 3:26 left in the third quarter to make it 27-10.I thought (the Trojans) were chasing, said Shaw, adding that he told Rector: Stay wide and run fast. Great, brilliant coaching by me.At that point, the Cardinal played the keep-away game they love so much.I think our MO is pretty much set in stone, Shaw said. If we get a two-score lead in the second half, were going to run it. Were going to be physical. We talk about intellectual brutality, were trying to end the game with the ball in our hands.USC (0-1 Pac-12) is 1-2 for the first time since 2001, when the Trojans started 1-4 in Pete Carrolls debut season as coach. The Trojans werent as thoroughly dominated as they were in the opener against Alabama, but in the end they have been outscored 79-16 by the Crimson Tide and Cardinal.I hope we play that team again, I really do, USC coach Clay Helton said about a possible rematch in the Pac-12 title game. This is going to be a good football team. Weve played two very good teams and we need to find a way to win those games.ddddddddddddTHE TAKEAWAYUSC: The Trojans look like the antithesis of Stanford, a team still trying to find an offensive identity and lacking creativity. Their best player, receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, had three catches for 34 yards. Max Browne (18 for 28 for 191 yards) was solid, but the Trojans did little to stretch the field and played it safe on several third-and-longs. Mobile freshman quarterback Sam Darnolds only extended playing time came late in the fourth quarter.We spread the ball around, Helton said. I can never be right. I can throw to one guy or throw to the guy who is open.Stanford: The Cardinal pounded away against a USC defensive line that lacks depth and experience. McCaffrey was the workhorse between the tackles, carrying 30 times for 165 yards.We had a couple of missed assignments, but their offensive line works for him, USC linebacker Cameron Smith said.McCaffrey went over 200 all-purpose yards for the eighth straight game.Sometimes when the games on the line, were OK getting 5, 5, 5, 12, 5, 4 yards a pop if thats what it takes to win and thats what theyre giving us, he said.POLL IMPLICATIONSOnly one team lost in front of Stanford so expect a modest gain for the Cardinal in the AP Top 25. Frankly, beating USC at home just doesnt warrant that big of a bump.UP NEXTUSC: The Trojans have a short week of preparation to get ready for another road game against a smash-mouth team. USC plays at Utah on Friday night.Stanford: This was the start of the toughest stretch of the season for the Cardinal. UCLA is up first next week. Stanford has owned the Bruins lately, winning eight straight meetings. After that, Stanford has its own quick turnaround road game on a Friday night at No. 8 Washington.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---AP College Football: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '