University of Houston Athletics
Football Practice Notes: Wednesday
10/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 13, 2004
HOUSTON - With the bye week half over for the Cougars, the team is taking advantage of the time in between games to get healthy and improve the quality of play they bring to the football field each day.
Even though it is an off week, head coach Art Briles and his coaching staff are not letting up on the Cougars, as the team is sticking to its regular practice schedule throughout the week to be able to stay on top of their game.
Practicing in full pads with full contact drills, Briles and his staff took the team through an intense and lively practice session on Wednesday that included a little more playing time then usual for some of the inexperienced guys on the team.
"It was very enthusiastic, very lively, and very positive practice just as I thought it would be," said Briles. "We switched it up today and lifted before practice, then had a good hour-and-a-half workout and finished with a 45-minute scrimmage with some of the younger players."
The Cougars (1-5, 1-2) haven't lost any focus on what they need to do to improve as a team, and they are certainly taking advantage of the time they have to prepare for TCU whom they face next Saturday in Ft. Worth.
"Our guys understand the nature of the business and what's at hand," said Briles. "They understand we have to improve each day and start focusing all of our energy, mentally and physically towards TCU."
Part of the physical preparations means getting healthy, something the Cougars have been hampered by a little bit this season, but have welcomed the opportunity to heal up with the bye coming at the midway point of the season this year.
"We are getting a couple of guys back but we feel really good about the people who are going to line up on the field next week against TCU," said Briles.
The Cougars plan to finish out the week with their regular practice routines as they prepare for the Horned Frogs on Oct. 23 at 6:00 p.m.
