Chat-World » icky Nolasco was pretty good Saturday night. The

HOUSTON -- In recent years, Houston has been a stepping stone, a quick stop for up-and-coming coaches on their way to jobs seen as bigger and better.Art Briles was at Houston before leaving for Baylor. Kevin Sumlin started with the Cougars before moving on to Texas A&M, and last month Tom Herman left for Texas after just two seasons with the Cougars.On Monday, Houston introduced Major Applewhite as its latest hire and the 38-year-old first-time head coach insisted hes different than those who simply used the job as a springboard.I want to be here long-term, Applewhite said. I want to be here for the guys. I want to be here for the city and for the university ... I think at this point in time in the history of this football program I think it is important to develop continuity.The introduction of Applewhite was less a news conference than it was a pep rally. There were cheerleaders waving white and red pom poms, a band and scores of fans and dignitaries, which included Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and state lawmaker Sheila Jackson Lee. But the pomp and circumstance of the day couldnt hide the fact that the Cougars werent expecting to be introducing another new coach so soon.Seems like we just did this ... the players look a lot happier this time though, board of regents chairman Tilman Fertitta said with a laugh.Applewhite spent the last two seasons as Hermans offensive coordinator and takes over a program that went 22-4 in that time. The Cougars (9-3) wrap up the season on Saturday when they meet San Diego State in the Las Vegas Bowl.Houston got wins over Oklahoma and Louisville this season, but took a step back by losing to SMU, Navy and Memphis, and failing to qualify for the American Athletic Conference title game a year after winning the league championship. Applewhite said he expects better than winning nine games and hell work to get the team back to where it was last season when the Cougars finished 13-1.Nobody in this room will set a higher expectation for this football team than me. That is the facts, he said. Ive always been a winner, I will always be a winner and I will always set those expectations for our football team.He directed his first practice as head coach on Monday morning and though hes waited for the opportunity to be in charge of a program for years, he downplayed the significance of the moment.It really hasnt sunk in, he said. Its very similar to when I was playing and I was in a backup role and then I was put in the game. Its just: Go do your job.Quarterback Greg Ward was chosen to introduce Applewhite to the group and it seemed to catch him a bit off guard.I appreciate that, Applewhite said. That was pretty solid.Ward, who worked closely with Applewhite over the past two seasons, raved about his coach.Regardless of any circumstance, hes going to be honest with you, Ward said. Hes also going to be more competitive than you if you let him and hes going to bring his `A game every single day.Under Applewhites direction, the Cougars gained more than 500 yards 11 times and passed the 600-yard mark four times. The offense piled up 40 points 12 times and scored at least 50 points five other occasions in the past two seasons.Applewhite spent seven seasons as an assistant at Texas before joining Hermans staff. He was the co-offensive coordinator in his last four seasons with the Longhorns after working as assistant head coach for the first three seasons. In his time with the Longhorns he focused on working with quarterbacks and running backs.Before joining the Longhorns, Applewhite spent the 2007 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, a season where he was the youngest coordinator in the FBS. It was there that he found his most important mentor among many who have influenced him as a coach.Working a year with Nick Saban. I just think hes in the major leagues and a lot of people are playing farm-A ball, he said. He is ahead of the game. Just his organization, that hand he has in everything, the way he distributes roles and gives everybody a sense of purpose and a sense of motivation when they walk in the office.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25. Britton Colquitt Youth Jersey . Miller finished in two minutes, 6.09 seconds, one day before the first medal race on the Alpine schedule. 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The way the Marlins are playing, though, he needs to be nearly unhittable. Nolasco allowed one run while pitching into the eighth inning, but the Chicago White Sox scored in the bottom of the ninth after Miami tied it in the top half for a 2-1 win. "At the end of the day, we cant score any runs," Marlins pitcher Mike Redmond said. "We have to be perfect. Pitch perfect every night." Chicagos Jake Peavy (6-2) shut down the Marlins until Derek Dietrich hit a tying homer in the ninth. But Conor Gillaspie had a game-ending single off Ryan Webb (1-3). All of that added up to the Marlins fourth straight loss, 11th in 13 games, a 6-13 record in one-run contests, and sent them to a major league-worst 13-36 record. Nolasco allowed one run and eight hits and struck out six in 7 2-3 innings for Miami but couldnt earn his second consecutive win after beating Arizona on May 19. The Marlins right-hander has allowed two runs over his last two starts. Alexei Ramirez gave Chicago a 1-0 lead with an RBI double in the third. Juan Pierre mishandled the ball in the left field corner -- he wasnt charged with an error -- allowing Alejandro De Aza to score from first. Giving up that lone run disappointed Nolasco. "Everybody is frustrated. Not just me, everybody is," Nolasco said. "Nobody wants to lose." Dietrichs solo homer with one out in the ninth broke up Peavys bid at a shutout and allowed him to reach base for the 14th straight time to start his career, which is second in Marlins history behind Kevin Millars 17 games in 1999. "Peavy pitched a great ballgame," Dietrich said. "Just glad I got a pitch that I could handle and I could do something with and help the team." Peavy struck out five and allowed six hits in the complete-game effort, his longest outing of the season. Miami, which hit into three double plays Friday, had its first scoring chance in the second when Justin Ruggiano grounded into one with no outs. Marcell Ozuna and Chris Coghlan had singled, but Miami didnt score after the double play and Greg Dobbs strikeout. With the single, Ozuna extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Then in the eighth, Peavy allowed a one-out double to Dobbs and walked Adeiny Hechavarria bbut escaped the inning by getting Rob Brantly to pop out and Juan Pierre to fly out.dddddddddddd "Its frustrating," Redmond said. "I know the guys are frustrated. I know that." Peavy and the White Sox might have been frustrated momentarily in the ninth but it didnt last long. Dewayne Wise led off with a double, and scored on Gillaspies single to left, easily beating a throw from Pierre. "For us to come back and win in the (ninth) was special," Peavy said. "Thats the White Sox way. Nothings easy around here, is it?" Alex Rios went 0 for 4, snapping his 18-game hitting streak, which had been the longest in the American League this season. Gillaspie had three hits while Jeff Keppinger and Ramirez each had two for Chicago, which has won eight of 11. "Baseball is such a funny game because everybody feeds off each other," Gillaspie said. "We went through some pretty rough times the first half of the season. Its good to kind of get everybody on the same page. Everybodys excited. You can feel it in the clubhouse." Theres a different feeling for Miami, which lost the opener of the series 4-3 in 11 innings. "Obviously thats not the way we wanted to go out," Webb said. "It sucks losing two games in a row like that." NOTES: White Sox LHP Chris Sale, who was scratched from his start Wednesday, played catch off flat ground Saturday. Hes expected to throw a bullpen session Sunday and start Tuesday. . Marlins RHP Nathan Eovaldi pitched five innings and struck out five in a rehab start at Single-A Jupiter. Eovaldi hasnt pitched in the majors this season after going on the DL with right shoulder inflammation. . John Danks, who made his first start for the White Sox in over a year Friday night, said his left shoulder felt good one day after making 76 pitches. . Marlins manager Mike Redmond said 2B Donovan Solano, who was placed on the DL May 7 with a left intercostal strain, will be sent to extended spring training Monday. . INF Angel Sanchez was outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte after being reinstated from a rehab assignment for lower back spasms. The move clears a spot on Chicagos 40-man roster. . Sundays pitching matchup is Miamis Alex Sanabia (3-6, 4.56 ERA) against Chicagos Dylan Axelrod (2-3, 4.13). ' ' '