University of Houston Athletics
Football Focusing on Mississippi State
10/19/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2005
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team practiced under sunny skies and hot conditions for two hours this afternoon at the UH Athletics Complex.
Head Coach Art Briles closed practice giving his squad a new challenge.
"I was happy with the intensity, attitude and effort out there today," Briles said. "Our motto is to be strong, physical and tough for the next five weeks."
Houston (3-3, 2-2 C-USA) will attempt to recover from a 35-20 setback to Memphis after scoring only three points on five second half possessions inside the Tiger 5-yard line.
"I really don't think it was a fluke after watching the film," Briles said in regards to the three turnovers and missed field goal. "Its things that are correctable. We've addressed the situation, and we've talked about ways we can remedy the problems through mental awareness."
MSU (2-4, 0-4 SEC) is in its second season under Sylvester Croom and are headlined by tailback Jerious Norwood, who averages 5.2 yards per carry. Norwood is coming off a 111-yard performance and a score at Florida in a 35-9 loss to the 13th-ranked Gators. In fact, all four MSU losses have come to ranked opponents this season.
Briles feels that extra opportunities are going to be at a premium.
"It's going to be a deal where we can't go in there and give them anything," Briles said. "They aren't the type of team that beats themselves."
This is the third time that the Cougars play in Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field on Homecoming. UH spoiled the Bulldogs' 1967 Homecoming rolling to a 43-6 victory.
This weekend's game will be broadcast on ESPN 790 AM with Tom Franklin handling play-by-play and Tony Fitzpatrick providing color analysis. Former All-Southwest Conference center Chuck Brown serves as the roving sideline reporter. The radio broadcast can also be heard live on UHCougars.com
