University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Notes
9/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 18, 2001
With the University of Houston Cougars set to return to the playing field this Saturday night when No. 5 Texas comes to Robertson Stadium, the main focus of Tuesday (Sept. 18) afternoon's practice was mental toughness of a big game and throwing everything Texas does right in the Cougars' faces.
"Getting ready for a huge ball game and trying to put our players in every possible position to see everything that Texas does on both sides of the football is the main thing right now," began second-year coach Dana Dimel. "We're not sugar-coating it, we're not just preparing for some of the things that they (Texas) do. We're trying to get ourselves ready."
Especially considering this will be the Houston's first game-time competition in three weeks since the season opener against Rice on Sept. 1. They had a bye-week the second week of the season and last weekend's game at Georgia was cancelled out of respect for the nation's mourning following the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
"Mental toughness is a huge issue," continued Dimel, who stressed the importance of having your mind in a game, especially one like Saturday's against Texas. "It's just a matter of focusing and cranking down, but I could even feel today that we're having to tighten the notches with the mental toughness a little more.
"Guys have gotten into a 'practice, practice, no game' routine, and they have to understand that this game is coming on us right now and that this is a big game for our ball club. They have to turn up the notches and realize it's going to be here quickly."
Dimel noted that even in today's practice, it was time for him and his staff to hit this mindset home to the Cougar squad.
"The reality of playing hasn't sunk in yet, and I don't want it to sneak up on them," he said.
In turning to the game ahead, Dimel spoke of every aspect of the Texas game that the Cougars have practiced time and time again, including the defense of their strong running game and halting the passing efforts of quarterback Chris Simms.
"We're trying to focus on everything, especially the running game," said Dimel "Once we stop the run game, then we have to try to make a big plays in the passing game defensively. Offensively, we've got to get first downs and move the chains."
Next up for the Cougars: Houston kicks off Conference USA action next weekend when C-USA newcomer, TCU, ventures to Robertson Stadium on September 29. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. Houston holds a 13-7 lifetime record against the Horned Frogs, and next weekend's game will mark the first time these two schools have faced each other since the 1995 season.
