University of Houston Athletics
Football Concludes Practices for Bye Weekend
9/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2002
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team wrapped up its practice schedule this week with a two-hour session Thursday at the UH practice fields.
The Cougars, who will enjoy their bye weekend this week, return to competition on Oct. 5 when they open the month at Conference USA rival TCU in a 2 p.m. contest. This week, UH head coach Dana Dimel put his 2-2 team through lighter workouts with a return to more vigorous practices next week.
"We had four grinding weeks (to start the season), so we have emotionally spent ourselves and needed an off week to gather ourselves," said Dimel, who is now in his third year at the helm of the UH program.
The extra week also gave Dimel and his coaching staff more time to prepare for their second C-USA league of the season.
"We also started our initial preparations for TCU to get that game plan locked in," Dimel said. "As a coach, that gives you some time to hone in on a solid game plan."
UH comes off a 44-11 loss at No. 3 Texas last weekend. In that game, starting quarterback Barrick Nealy was lost for the year with a torn ACL and will now be replaced by junior Nick Eddy. Dimel said the bye week was helpful in helping Eddy return to the offensive flow.
"The bye week helped us find our personality with a new starting quarterback," Dimel said. "It let everybody get adjusted to a new personality."
Both Cougar coaches and players will enjoy the weekend off with the regular practice schedule resuming on Monday. However, there will be no rest for the weary. During his brief break, Dimel said he and his coaching staff planned to hit the recruiting trail.
