University of Houston Athletics
Wednesday Football Practice Report
11/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 8, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team wrapped up a two-hour workout under clear conditions at the UH Athletics Complex in anticipation for another Conference USA West Division showdown at SMU.
"The main thing that we're concerned with is taking care of our business," head coach Art Briles said. "We have to keep playing with great effort, intensity and intelligence. This time of year they'll be more than one team that controls their own destiny. It happens to be us and SMU this week like it was us and Tulsa last week."
Saturday's game with the Mustangs is slated for 2pm, Saturday at Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the SMU campus. 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. The game will be available as part of CSTV All-Access subscription in addition to being available on the Internet by logging onto www.UHCougars.com.
Houston (7-3, 5-1 C-USA) finished off its three-game homestand with a convincing 27-10 victory over Tulsa, while SMU (5-4, 3-2 C-USA) notched a 22-9 win over UAB. The Mustangs enter the game with a six-game home winning streak, its best since a seven-game streak over the 1981 and 1982 seasons.
Freshman quarterback Justin Willis has thrown 1,421 yards and 20 touchdowns against four interceptions. Willis has passed for eight touchdowns in his last three C-USA outings. He also is second in C-USA, only behind UH's Kevin Kolb, with a 161.10 passing efficiency rating.
Wide receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Bobby Chase are Willis' favorite targets, combining for 76 receptions. Sanders has hauled in a team-best seven touchdowns. Running back James Mapps paces the squad with 317 rushing yards on a 5.1 yards per carry mark.
"SMU is strong efficient team on the offensive side of the ball," Briles said. "They do a good job of finding a way to grind out yards whether it's on the ground or through the air. It's going to be a great challenge for us on defense."
Strong safety Joe Sturdivant headlines the Mustang defense with 84 tackles, including 62 solo stops to go along with his two interceptions. Defensive end Justin Rodgers has recorded a team-high and C-USA six sacks, while defensive tackle Adrian Haywood paces C-USA with 13 tackles for a loss.
"Their defense has done a good job of controlling tempo," Briles said. "They play real fast and have excellent schemes. Like our guys, their guys are playing with a lot of confidence."
Saturday's game marks the 21st time that Houston and SMU will meet on the gridiron. The Cougars hold an 11-9-1 edge in the all-time series as the two squads met almost every year while rivals in the Southwest Conference from 1975 to 1995. The two teams played only once before rekindling its rivalry as members of C-USA a season ago. The Mustangs used a pair of DeMyron Martin second-half touchdowns upending the Cougars for a 29-24 win last season at Robertson Stadium.
