University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Report
12/27/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 27, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Houston wrapped up its first day Tuesday in Memphis in preparations for Friday's showdown against South Carolina at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
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.
The team left the Athletics/Alumni Center around 10 a.m., Tuesday and arrived in Memphis around 1 p.m. While fans and administrators headed to the team headquarters, the Cougar coaches and players traveled directly to the Memphis' practice fields.
Under grey skies and temperatures in the upper 30s, the Cougars held a 90-minute workout before returning to the team hotel. However, head coach Art Briles, senior quarterback Kevin Kolb and senior free safety Will Gulley traveled with Associate Athletics Director for Communications Chris Burkhalter to Jillians's for a press conference featuring players and coaches from both teams.
After speaking with the media for 30 minutes, Briles, Kolb and Gulley were reunited with the rest of the Cougar team about an hour later. At Jillian's, the team enjoyed a variety of meals and played games through the early evening hours.
Following the activities at Jillian's, the Cougars were free until their midnight curfew.
