I t is almost 9 pm on a Sunday night in Rome when Tilman Fertitta calls back, happy to talk some University of Houston football and Willie Fritz. Fertitta and his son Patrick have been regularly texting about the Cougars’ remarkable 7-1 start and the program’s return to the Top 25, which happened on Sunday after three years of being out of the football polls.

“(UH chancellor) Renu (Khator) is excited,” Fertitta tells PaperCity . “I’m excited. Our AD Eddie (Nuñez) is excited. We’re just thrilled. You’re always thrilled when you feel like you made the right choice and signed him to a longterm contract.”

Fertitta may be proudly serving the United States as the ambassador to Italy and San Marino, based in the historic Villa Taverna in Rome. But he’s still devoutly following his beloved

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