University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Practice Report
12/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 11, 2006
HOUSTON - After taking a well-deserved week off from practice, the University of Houston football team worked out indoors Monday afternoon at the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
The Cougars meet South Carolina at 3:30 p.m., Dec. 29 in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. UH earned the right to meet the Gamecocks after taking a 34-20 win over Southern Miss during the 2006 Conference USA Championship Game presented by Aéropostale at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium on Dec. 1.
It marks the first conference title for the Cougars since 1996. However, the bowl game is nothing new for Cougar fans in recent years. The Cougars will compete in their third bowl game during the last four years, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 1979-81 Cougar teams competed in four straight bowl games.
Working out in shorts and helmets, the Cougars practiced for about an hour inside after rainy weather lingered in the Houston area all day Monday. Despite the time off, the Cougars came out prepared for their workout and showed little rust, head coach Art Briles said following the workout.
"Our guys have been very mature all year about handling time off," Briles said. "We came out today, trying to get our mental aspect involved, remembering schemes and responsibilities."
With nearly 20 days before the Liberty Bowl, Briles and his coaching staff will begin installing the South Carolina game plan during the first days of this week before giving the team two days off to prepare for their last group of final examinations.
The Cougars begin their full-scale practices for the Liberty Bowl on Friday and will continue those workouts through next week.
Besides the glory of a Conference USA championship and appearing in a bowl game for the third time in the last four years, the Cougars also will get the benefit of nearly three more weeks of practice together. That means a lot to a fun-loving group like the Cougars, Briles said.
"We like each other. We get along with each other. We have fun hanging around each other, and we like having the opportunity to become a better football team," Briles said. "Our goal is to be a better football team on Dec. 29 than on Dec. 1, and we were pretty dang good on Dec. 1. With the leadership that we have with our seniors and our determination, effort and attitude, we are going to be a better football team when we step on the field in Memphis."
Tickets to the 2006 AutoZone Liberty Bowl are available on-line 24 hours a day at UHCougars.com. Fans also can purchase tickets to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl at the UH Ticket Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday.
Packages for alumni are available 24 hours a day at myCougarConnection.com/bowl_2006/liberty. Each package includes an official UH alumni Liberty Bowl Souvenir, round-trip luxury motorcoach transportation from the Marriott to the pregame buffet and game, access to the official Liberty Bowl pregame buffet (all you can eat and drink) and access to the official UH Kickoff Party at Pat O'Brien's on Dec. 28 (Cajun dinner buffet and two drinks).
Information about student packages is available at UHCougars.com.
