University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Notes
10/15/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 15, 2002
Houston, Texas - As his young team began preparations for their game against Army, University of Houston head football coach Dana Dimel stressed the importance of playing to win at each practice this week.
"I see our young team as playing competitive football right now," Dimel said. "In order to win a game on Saturday, we have to play like a winning team during each practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday."
One of the first things Dimel felt he and the Cougars had to accomplish against the Black Knights this week was cutting down on turnovers and improving their completion percentage in the passing game.
"We have to eliminate the turnovers in order to win games," Dimel said. "We should be completing 59 to 60 percent of our passes."
The Cougars enter Saturday's game completing just 48.6 percent of their passes in the first six games of the season. Houston also has lost 22 turnovers this year.
"We started putting in our game plan for Saturday," Dimel said. "One of the keys to game will be which team can establish a running game."
Senior running back Joffrey Reynolds rushed for 148 yards at UAB and became the ninth Cougar in school history to gain 2,000 yards in their career. Reynolds gained 101 yards on 20 carries in last year's game at Army. He also rushed for 201 yards and three touchdowns against the Black Knights as a sophomore.
