Cougar Football Notes
11/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 12, 2002
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team began its weekly preparations for this weekend's road contest at Cincinnati with a solid showing on Tuesday.
The Cougars, who meet the Bearcats in a 1 p.m. CST contest Saturday at Nippert Stadium, come into the game on the heels of a disappointing 54-48 loss in triple overtime to league rival East Carolina last weekend. However, if the Cougar players and coaches were supposed to be hanging their heads after such a tough loss, they certainly didn't show it much Tuesday, head coach Dana Dimel said.
"We still had a little of the loss hangover, but that can be expected," said Dimel, who is now in his third year at the helm of the UH program. "But, we still have a lot to play for."
UH practiced for about two hours in shorts and shoulder pads at the Cougar practice fields. However, Dimel and the Cougar coaching staff changed their regular Tuesday routine a little.
"We focused on the mental aspects with a shorter practice, a less physical practice and a lot of intensity," Dimel said.
In last weekend's loss, running back Joffrey Reynolds was the Cougar workhorse, rushing 41 times for a school and Conference USA record 300 yards on the way to being named C-USA Offensive Player of the Week. After a performance like that, fans can expect to seem more of the same from Reynolds this weekend.
"We're going to try to dance with what brought us and see if they can defend the run," Dimel said. "We're going to take it right to them. If they can defend it, we do have the ability to pass."
With temperatures expected to drop into the 30s at night this weekend in Ohio, the Cougars will likely be competing in their coldest game of the 2002 season. However, the team cannot let that enter into their minds on the field.
"That is why I have to paint the picture for them," Dimel said. "This is not going to be a fun weekend. It is going to be a nasty and miserable day. We just have to show up regardless and play great football."