Convenience Big Store: Willie Fritz takes over UH football; Astros won't trade Alex Bregman

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Today's starting lineup

There's a new boss at TDECU Stadium. UH introduced Willie Fritz, a turnaround specialist at previous stops, as its new head football coach Monday, capping a week-long search after Dana Holgorsen's ouster. Joseph Duarte takes a look at the five-year contract for the former Tulane coach, how it compares to his Big 12 peers and the incentives Fritz can reach with the Cougars.

Change is also in the air in College Station, with interim coach Elijah Robinson leaving for Syracuse and at least one highly touted recent recruit entering the transfer portal.

Baseball's winter meetings begin in Nashville and while media speculation is rampant about the Astros exploring an Alex Bregman trade, general manager Dana Brown shot down talk of trading the franchise cornerstone who's a free agent after next season.

Texans rookie sensation Tank Dell undergoes surgery for his fractured left fibula and the team ends any talk of him possibly coming back for a playoff run. Jonathan M. Alexander also shares his takeaways from Sunday's win over the Broncos.

Rockets coach Ime Udoka uses his recent kerfuffle with LeBron Jaames to send a message to his team about the attitude he wants to see. Alperen Şengün is putting together an All-Star caliber season, but a lack of team success could keep him from achieving that status.

The Dash are again looking for a new coach after interim coach Sarah Lowdon opts to depart. The Dynamo's offseason is off to a busy start with several roster moves.

Stat of the day: 2. Players in NFL history with more passing yards in their first 12 games than Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud's 3,540: Patrick Mahomes (3,912) and Andrew Luck (3,596).

Greg Rajan, Texas Sports Nation editor

greg.rajan@houstonchronicle.com

College Football

University of Houston head football coach Willie Fritz poses with a jersey with (from left) Tilman Fertitta, Chairman UH System Board of Regents, UH President Renu Khator, and Chris Pezman, VP for UH Athletics, on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 in Houston.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Staff Photographer

'We didn't have to settle'

Willie Fritz, no stranger to turning around programs, is officially introduced as UH's new football coach after being hired from Tulane following a week-long search.

Follow the money: Willie Fritz will make more than predecessor Dana Holgorsen, but how does the new UH coach's salary compare to his Big 12 football peers?
Healthy bump: New UH coach Willie Fritz gets a five-year contract that will give him nearly a $2 million per season raise from what he made at Tulane.
The fine print: Breaking down the incentives in new UH coach Willie Fritz's contract.
Comings and goings: Tracking UH football player moves as the NCAA transfer portal opens and the NFL draft declaration deadline nears.
Changes in College Station: The winds of change continue to blow around Texas A&M as interim coach Elijah Robinson is leaving for a job at Syracuse and players reportedly hit the transfer portal.

Astros / MLB

Houston Astros Alex Bregman, center, celebrates in the dugout after hitting solo home run off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer in the third inning during Game 7 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on Monday, Oct. 23, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

No deal

Alex Bregman could be lost to free agency after next season, but Astros general manager Dana Brown shot down talk of trading the third baseman who remains a vital piece of Houston's 2024 plans.

Texans / NFL

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (3) is tended to by the training staff after suffering a leg injury during the first half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Houston.

Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer

Abrupt ending

Texans receiver Tank Dell underwent successful surgery on his fractured left fibula Monday, ending his promising rookie season.

What we learned: A breakout game from Will Anderson Jr. is among the highlights and takeaways from the Texans' win over the Broncos.

Rockets / NBA

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka, center, and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, right, exchange words during the second half of an NBA basketball game as referee J.T. Orr watches Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, in Los Angeles. James and Udoka both received technical fouls soon after and Udoka was ejected from the game as that was his second technical foul. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Photo by: Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

'Don't get punked'

Seeing some slippage in his team's physicality of late, Rockets coach Ime Udoka modeled the attitude he wants to see from his players during a kerfuffle with Lakers star LeBron James.

All-Star material? Third-year center Alperen Şengün is one of only four NBA players averaging at least 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists, but wins will be just as vital to his case for being an All-Star.