Football Daily Practice Report
12/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 27, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Houston continued its preparations for Friday's Liberty Bowl game against South Carolina with a solid workout Wednesday at the University of Memphis Athletics Complex.
Working out in shirts and shorts, the Cougars practiced for about 90 minutes during their final full workout of the 2006 season. UH will hold a brief walk-through Wednesday afternoon at the Memphis Athletics Complex.
The Cougars will meet South Carolina at 3:30 p.m., Friday, at the Liberty Bowl. This marks UH's third appearance in a bowl game in the last four years, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 1979-81 Cougar teams competed in four straight bowl games.
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.
In addition, the game will be aired live on ESPN in the Cougars' eighth appearance on television during the 2006 season. John Saunders will call the play-by-play action with Craig James and Doug Flutie providing color analysis and Todd Harris on the sidelines.
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.
In a game which features the No. 1 ranked offense in Conference USA in the Cougars and a South Carolina team coached by Steve Spurrier, many of the pundits are expecting a high-scoring, high-octane bowl game. However, UH head coach Art Briles said he was not certain if he agreed with those predictions.
"I don't know how people can predict that. I can't predict it, and I am in the know a little bit. I don't think it plays in anybody's favor," said Briles, who is concluding his fourth season at the helm of the Cougar program. "South Carolina has a great defense. They have a ball-control offense, a pro-style offense that can move the ball and make plays.
"We have an offense that we can get around, work some yardage and get some points on the board. We have a good defense," Briles said. "You just never know how things are going to turn out."
The 2006 AutoZone Liberty Bowl also marks the end for 15 Cougar seniors, including 2006 C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Kevin Kolb, who owns virtually every UH passing record and will start his 50th consecutive game on Friday. However, Briles said it will be the entire group and not just one player he will miss.
"They have all been special. They have all been great ambassadors for us. They have all been leaders for us. They have all been mature individuals for us, and that's what I appreciate," Briles said. "Our guys are maturing, growing individually, socially and as team members. That is what makes it all count and what is special for us."
Earlier in the day, the Cougars attended a luncheon featuring players, coaches and fans from both teams at their hotel. Following their workout and a return to the hotel to get cleaned up, Cougar players and coaches had the option to attend a local rodeo, see movies or attend the NBA's Memphis-Milwaukee game with most players choosing the latter.
