University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Practice Report
12/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 19, 2006
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team worked out for about two hours Tuesday afternoon as it continued to prepare for its first Liberty Bowl appearance in a decade.
Working out in shorts and shoulder pads, the Cougars practiced outdoors on the UH practice fields under gray skies and mild temperatures.
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.
The Cougars have not played since the C-USA Championship Game presented by Aéropostale. That has been one of the biggest challenges for Briles and his assistant coaches.
"What we have tried to do is maintain our mental edge and physical toughness," Briles said. "Those have been our two points of focus through this 28-day layover. You do that through strength and conditioning, which we spent about 10 days doing, and in this last 6-day span, we have been doing a combination of both. We are making sure our mind stays alert and fresh, and our body stays tough."
Despite the break, the Cougar players have maintained their focus and intensity. However, Briles said he certainly cannot take all the credit for that fact.
"We've maintained our energy and our vision throughout this break, and that's something I am very proud of," Briles said. "That doesn't come from me; it comes from our seniors and our leaders on the football team."
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.
