University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Game Notes
9/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 13, 2001
HOUSTON, Texas -- With the University of Houston Cougars' scheduled game this weekend against the University of Georgia postponed in respect to the country's national mourning, Cougar head coach Dana Dimel and his staff led the team to the practice fields late this afternoon for a normal practice. To say practice was a bit out of the ordinary, especially since it was not characteristic of a practice two days before a game, is an understatement.
Coupled with the uncertainty surrounding the status of the Georgia game until it was confirmed late this afternoon by UH and Georgia, respectively, is the fact that the Cougars had their off-week September 8, and will now have not participated in a structured game against an opponent for two weeks.
"Our team just did not have a good practice today," said Dimel, who halted practice about mid-way through. "It's such a hard thing to get yourself geared up for big game in front of some 80,000 fans in Athens and then now know that you're not going to play when you already had an open week the week before. That's the negative side of it.
"The positive side of it is that now we restructure and get focused for the Texas game," Dimel continued. "It's nice having a big game like this (against Texas) coming up because it's easy for us to focus on something."
Maturity and discipline is a must for the Cougars during the next nine days leading up to Sept. 22 when they host Texas at Robertson Stadium, and Dimel knows it will not be an easy task--especially having not played for two weeks.
"It's important that they understand that each practice helps us get better for games, and they have been taking that attitude. We have to be real focused, because before you know it, September 22 will be here and we have to be real prepared for it because it's such a big ball game for the program."
In light of the tragic events in both New York City and Washington earlier this week, Dimel mentioned that while the Cougars are anxious to get back onto the football field and play a game, both he and the team are relieved that the game has been postponed.
"I think we're relieved," he said. "We were feeling like we were very much prepared for this game, but that's a selfish attitude. We felt more burdened about having to play this ball game."
The UH contest against Georgia was originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. (EST) kick-off on September 15. A make-up date has not been set and could be released at a later date.
Next up for the Cougars are the Longhorns at 8 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, at Robertson Stadium. Houston kicks off Conference USA play the following week on September 29 against C-USA newcomer TCU at Robertson Stadium.
