University of Houston Athletics
Cougars Continue Prep for Nationally-Ranked Texas
9/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 18, 2002
With 2-1 record heading into this weekend's contest in Austin against the nationally-ranked Texas Longhorns, the University of Houston Cougars took the practice field behind the Athletics/Alumni Center on Wednesday (Sept. 18) afternoon to concentrate on the fundamentals in preparation for this weekend's contest.
"This is a fun week for our football team," began third-year head coach Dana Dimel. "It's obviously exciting to have the opportunity to play a top-five team in the country in front of 80,000 people. It's just a great opportunity for us.
"But more than anything, it's a measuring stick for our program for us to try to prove that we're competitive with an upper-level Big XII football team."
And in proving the Cougars can be competitive -- which they began the groundwork in carrying a 14-10 lead over the Longhorns into the locker room at half-time in the two teams match-up last year at Robertson Stadium -- means Dimel and his coaching staff have stressed concentrating on the basics of the game and working to be fundamentally sound in all aspects.
"First of all, the strategies of this game aren't going to be a big part of what goes on in this game," Dimel continued. "It's more going to be about the execution of what we do. We're just trying to do what we do and do it was well as we can possibly do it. We've been stressing the fundamentals and of being very basic in what we try to do, and trying to run our offense and defense as sound as we possibly can."
Despite the Tulane game on September 7, the Cougars' three segments -- offense, defense and special teams -- have been relatively sound so far this season. Houston's offense has produced 1234 yards of total offense in the first three games, including 783 on the ground through the rushing attack, while the special teams, under new direction of Joe Robinson this season, have been steady, often carrying the Cougars.
In shifting to a game plan for the Longhorns, Dimel offered that Houston's main concern will be halting the Longhorns from making big plays, particularly their special teams unit, which is highlighted by speedy punt-returner Nathan Vasher.
"A lot of our strategies are going to be trying to keep them from making big plays, and special teams is another aspect where we have to eliminate the big play," said Dimel.
After 20 straight meetings as members of the Southwest Conference, Texas and Houston meet for the third time as non-conference foes, with the Longhorns leading the all-time series15-7-2. The Longhorns have posted victories in each of the last six head-to-head meetings.
Following the Cougars' game against Texas this weekend, they have a bye week Sept. 28 before continuing this season-long current four-game road swing by traveling to Ft. Worth, Texas, to take on inner-state C-USA rival TCU on Oct. 5. The Cougars don't return home to Robertson Stadium until Oct. 19 when they host C-USA opponent Army.
