University of Houston Athletics
Oregon Ducks Highlight Cougars' Non-Conference Slate
1/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Jan. 24, 2005
HOUSTON, Texas - University of Houston Director of Athletics Dave Maggard today announced the 2005 Cougar football non-conference schedule, a slate highlighted by a national television appearance in the season opener versus the University of Oregon.
The Cougars will kick off the 2005 season by playing host to the Ducks on Thursday, September 1, at 8 pm at Reliant Stadium. The game is scheduled to be nationally televised by ESPN.
"Oregon has had an outstanding football program for a number of years," commented Maggard, who spent almost two decades in the Pac 10 as AD at Cal. "They will be a very good opponent and a very strong opponent for us to open with in 2005. We look forward to this home-and-home series with the Ducks. We think it adds to our schedule and national appeal."
The Cougars are scheduled to travel to Eugene, Ore., on September 1, 2007, to complete the home-and-home series.
Houston also will play host to Sam Houston State on Saturday, September 10, at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium, and then the Cougars will travel to Starkville, Miss., to face Mississippi State on Saturday, October 22.
In just the second meeting between the two schools, Houston will face an Oregon team that prior to 2004 had the winningest Pac 10 program under current head coach Mike Bellotti. With their 5-6 record last season, the Ducks saw their consecutive postseason bowl appearances snapped at seven straight seasons.
Sam Houston State will invade John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium on Saturday, September 10. The Bearkats reached the semifinals of the Division I-AA playoffs last season but will enter the 2005 season with a first-year head coach in former Tarleton State University top mentor, Todd Whitten. The UH-Sam Houston State clash marks the first time the two schools have met since the Cougars defeated the Bearkats, 43-25, in the 1996 season opener.
Finally, the Cougars return to Mississippi State for the first time in 33 years, taking on the Bulldogs on Saturday, October 22. MSU finished 3-8 last season under first-year head coach Sylvester Croom, and the SEC school finished 2-6 in league play. The Cougars defeated the Bulldogs, 42-35, at Robertson Stadium during the 2003 season.
The Conference USA portion of the 2005 schedule should be released within the next month.
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