University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Notes
10/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 17, 2001
With Homecoming and all the festivities surrounding the annual event just three days away, the University of Houston Cougars took to the practice fields behind the Athletics/Alumni Center on Wednesday (Oct. 17) afternoon focusing on what second-year head coach Dana Dimel referred to as "the little things" as they look to turn it around against Conference USA rival Cincinnati on Saturday.
"Right now we think it's the little things that keep us from breaking through," began Dimel. "We're being positive in practice, always encouraging each other, always trying to be upbeat and always trying to make sure that we score on every play that we run.
"Last week (Memphis game) we worked on it, going in on every play and we got a lot better. Now we have to put the defense back in and defend the goal line this week.
"We're trying to do a lot of little things like that to break down game-like situations to help our guys get better. All the while trying to build confidence, trying to make sure that our team understands that we're real close and that we're not that far away.
"There is such a fine line between 0-5 and 5-0, and we're at that fine line. Every game this year we could have won, but we haven't. So we have to work through that fine line that separates wins and losses."
Cougar sophomore quarterback Nick Eddy, who completed 28 of 42 passes for 331 yards in his first Division I start last weekend against Memphis, will make the start again this weekend against the 3-2 Bearcats. Kelly Robertson, who started the Cougars' first four games this season, is still recovering from an injured wrist.
"I see him (Eddy) having some growing pains," commented Dimel, who was pleased with Eddy's showing in his first game. "It's only his second start coming up, and to me, it's always interesting to see how a guy does between his first and second start. Kelly made magnificent improvement between his first and second starts. So it will be interesting to see if Nick can make some good improvements from start one and start two."
When switching gears to Cincinnati and preparations for the big Homecoming game, Dimel said the Cougars' approach has been simple: to stop the run and defend the Bearcats' solid offensive attack.
"They're strength is their offense, they've been moving the ball quite a bit," Dimel said. "It's going to be important for us to get some defensive stops. We have to stop the run, period, and just make defensive stops. We have to make make them punt. We're not making teams punt enough. And then if we're not making them punt, the offense has to match them blow for blow. Now the offesne has to rally and do it every time."
Following the Cougars' game against Cincinnati this weekend, they are on the road for the next three games before returning home for their final contest of the 2001 season against UAB on Nov. 17. Next weekend they travel to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to face Southern Miss on Oct. 27 with kick-off scheduled for 2:00pm (CST).
