HOUSTON -- The University of Houston's pursuit of Dana Holgorsen began with a call to Jake Spavital.
When the newly minted Texas State coach's phone rang on a mid-December day, Houston athletic director Chris Pezman -- who he crossed paths with at Cal -- was on the other end. Then-Cougars coach Major Applewhite was considering offensive coordinator candidates to possibly succeed Kendal Briles -- who was about to leave for the same position at Florida State -- and Pezman polled Spavital on several of them, interested in his friend's opinion.
Soon thereafter, Holgorsen's name came up in the conversation.