University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Practice Report
11/15/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team, champions of the Conference USA West Division, continued their preparations for this weekend's regular-season finale at Memphis with a spirited workout Wednesday under cool and windy conditions on the UH practice fields.
Working out in shorts and shoulder pads for about two hours, the Cougars endured some cooler temperatures and winds that gusted up to 25 mph at times. Following practice, head coach Art Briles said the weather helped contribute to the intensity of Wednesday's workout but other factors loomed larger.
"The weather is cool and that always helps, but our guys understand what is at stake here. We want to be the undisputed West Division champions, and we want to walk across the street to play the Championship game," Briles said. "We want to do it for our fans, we want to do it for our families and we want to do it for our University. Winning our game this week gives us the best opportunity to win the next game."
The Cougars compete in their regular-season finale when they face Memphis at 1 p.m., Saturday at the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tenn. The game can be heard live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with the pregame show beginning one hour before kickoff. Tom Franklin will handle the play-by-play duties, while former record-setting UH quarterback David Klingler will provide color analysis. Former All-Southwest Conference center Chuck Brown serves as the sideline reporter.
All Cougar Football games can be heard live on the Internet by logging onto UHCougars.com.
With a win over the Tigers on Saturday, the Cougars will wrap up the regular season with a 9-3 overall record and a 7-1 mark in C-USA games. Even more important, the Cougars will earn the right to host the C-USA Championship game at 7 p.m., Dec. 1, on John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium in a game to be televised nationally on ESPN2.
But to clinch that home-field advantage, the Cougars must first square off against Memphis, a team that enters this weekend's showdown on a three-game winning streak against UH. Memphis (1-9, (0-6 C-USA East) enters the game as losers of its last eight games, including a 26-24 setback to UCF last weekend.
Despite the Tigers' recent tough times, Briles said the Cougars have great respect for Memphis' offense. Running back Joseph Doss leads the Tigers with 695 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Martin Hankins has thrown for 2,232 yards and 18 touchdowns.
"They are very skilled offensively. They have great skill players. Hankins throws the ball extremely well. They have a very balanced running game, and they are good up front with three returning seniors," Briles said. "These guys have had a lot of success for a long time."
On the defensive side, cornerback Brandon McDonald leads the Tigers with 72 tackles, while defensive end Greg Terrell is tops with four sacks. Strong safety Brandon Patterson tops the Tigers with three interceptions.
"Defensively, they have always been an aggressive, tough defense, and this year is no different," Briles said. They are battling every time they step on the field, and we know we will be in a dogfight out there."
