University of Houston Athletics
Football Begins Preparations for Rice this Weekend
11/22/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 22, 2005
HOUSTON - With its biggest game of the season looming against its biggest rival, the University of Houston football team began preparations Tuesday afternoon for this weekend's showdown against Rice with a solid workout.
The Cougars (5-5, 3-4 C-USA) worked out for about two hours under mild temperatures and clear skies at the UH Athletics Complex.
UH, which will be looking for its sixth win of the season to become bowl-eligible, wraps up its 2005 home schedule at 3 p.m., Saturday against crosstown rival Rice at the friendly confines of John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. That game will be played for the Bayou Bucket trophy, which the Owls most recently claimed with a 10-7 win in the 2004 season opener for both teams.
Saturday's football game can be heard live on ESPN 790 AM with the pregame slated to start at 1 p.m. The usual radio crew of Tom Franklin, Tony Fitzpatrick and Chuck Brown will call the action and will be joined in the booth by Rice's Bobby Dixon and Chad Richardson.
With five wins to date, the Cougars need a win over Rice this weekend to become bowl eligible. If the team is chosen for a bowl game, it will be the first time since 1980-81 that UH competed in two bowls during a three-year span. However, head coach Art Briles said he and his team had to deal with the Owls first before thinking of the postseason.
"There's some stuff laying on the line. As a team, we decided on Sunday to just focus on Rice and not get caught up in the speculation game. That's not our deal," Briles said. "If we go out and take care of business for 60 minutes, then we will see what happens after that. There are some things hanging out there, but if we don't take care of business Saturday, none of that is a reality."
The Cougars come into the game after a disappointing 29-24 loss to C-USA rival last weekend. In that game, the Mustangs used a 49-yard field goal and safety in the final three seconds to take the shocking win. While the Cougars were stunned by the defeat, Briles said the team had to look ahead to this weekend's contest.
"We don't have a choice. That wasn't the first tough one we have had. We have put them behind us before, and we have to do it this week," Briles said. "We will be geared up and ready to go Saturday, no doubt."
In previous years, the Cougars have tangled with the Owls at the beginning of the season, giving coaches and players all off-season to prepare. With the game moved to the last weekend of the regular season as Rice joined Conference USA, Briles and his staff now have only three days to prepare for the Owls and their triple-option offense.
"Defensively, it is a hassle because they have a unique style of offense. You don't get to see it. That's a definite issue and a concern," Briles said. "Going into last year in the opening game, we had all summer to prepare and go with it and had a great defensive outing as did they against us. It's a whole different scenario this year. Our guys will have to retain some of what they did last year and use it for this week."
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This weekend's game also will feature a number of exciting promotions for fans. Along with a special game come special promotions for fans. Students from any college or university can get in free with their student ID at Gate 11.
UH main campus students can receive up to two free guest tickets to the game if they are picked up in advance at the Ticket Office.
UH season-ticket holders can get family members and/or friends into the football game for half price if those tickets are purchased in advance at the Ticket Office.
With the Thanksgiving holidays quickly approaching, fans also should note a change in the business hours of the Ticket Office. Due to the holiday, the UH Ticket Office will be closed Thursday and Friday. However, the Ticket Office will reopen at 8 a.m., Saturday and stay open until noon. In addition, the Ticket Office will be open during regular business hours on Wednesday.
Once the football game is finished, fans will be sure to want to head to Hofheinz Pavilion where the Cougar men's basketball team will play host to Virginia Commonwealth with tip-off slated for 8 p.m.
All fans who take their football ticket stubs to Hofheinz Pavilion after the game will receive a half-price, general-admission ticket to the men's basketball game.
