University of Houston Athletics
Football Enjoys Light Workout on Monday Evening
11/20/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team held a light workout Monday evening inside the friendly confines of the Yeoman Fieldhouse as it began preparations for its first appearance in the Conference USA Championship game.
The Cougars held position meetings for a little over an hour Monday afternoon before hitting the Fieldhouse for a one-hour workout in shorts and shoulder pads. With the Thanksgiving holiday looming this week as well as the team's first bye weekend, the Cougars will work out again Tuesday afternoon before taking off for the break.
The team will return to its regular practice schedule Sunday afternoon in advance of the C-USA Championship game.
Following practice, head coach Art Briles said he was pleased with his team's performance and embraced the light schedule.
"We rocked along with a lot of mental toughness for a five- or six-week stretch, so it is nice to be able to come out and have a relaxed workout for a couple of days before we start gearing up for the C-USA Championship game," Briles said. "I am very proud of our players for accomplishing what they had to accomplish. "
After playing 12 consecutive weekend since Sept. 2, the Cougars finally get their bye weekend during the final week of the regular season. For Briles, his coaches and the Cougar players, the break could not have come at a better time.
"From a mental and physical standpoint, it is a huge benefit for us," Briles said. "We actually figured it up that our players have gone 101 straight days (with the exception of the players' required day off), so we need a little time away from each other. We have played three or four teams this year where they have had two weeks, 12 days, 11 days (to prepare). Now, we are going to get some equal time for a little bit of a benefit. We are excited about that part of it."
The Cougars, who clinched the outright West Division title with Saturday's thrilling 23-20 win in overtime at Memphis, will play host to the C-USA Championship game at 7 p.m., Dec. 1, at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
The C-USA Championship 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.
In addition, the game will be aired live on ESPN2 in the Cougars' seventh appearance on television during the 2006 season.
UH must wait until the regular season wraps up this weekend before they find out who they will meet in the title game, though. The C-USA East Division title remains up in the air between East Carolina (6-5, 5-3, C-USA East) and Southern Miss (7-4, 5-2 C-USA East).
The Golden Eagles play host to Marshall at 6:30 p.m., Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss. If USM beats the Thundering Herd, USM will advance to the C-USA Championship game to face the Cougars. If Marshall upsets Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles and East Carolina will tie for the East Division championship, but ECU will advance since it defeated USM 20-17 in overtime on Oct. 28.
ECU has finished its C-USA schedule but meets North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C., at 6 p.m., Saturday in the Pirates' regular season finale.
Good seats remain available for the C-USA Championship game, but fans are encouraged to buy their seats early.
Premium seating tickets are available for $50, while sideline and lower end zone reserved seating tickets will be sold for $30. Upper end zone general admission seating tickets are available for $20. Both Houston and visiting team student tickets can be purchased for only $10 with a valid ID. Students at any Conference USA school who plan to attend the C-USA Championship game must purchase their tickets in person at the UH Ticket Office or at the ticket office of the East Division champion when it is decided.
The UH Ticket Office will be open during regular business hours for fans to buy tickets during the week with the exception of Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Ticket Office also will be open during regular business hours during the week of the C-USA Championship game.
On-line ticket sales are available 24 hours a day at UHCougars.com.
