Football Daily Practice Report
12/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 28, 2006
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Houston football team wrapped up its preparations Thursday for their Liberty Bowl showdown against South Carolina with a one-hour walk-through at the University of Memphis Athletics Complex.
In their final practice of the 2006 season, the Cougars put the finishing touches on their game plan against the Gamecocks in just under an hour under cool temperatures and partly cloudy skies. Although the weather conditions were not quite ideal, the team had a chance to work out during the warmest temperatures since they arrived in Tennessee on Tuesday.
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.
Earlier in the day, the Cougar seniors traveled to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Walking around in their red game uniforms, the teams brought in toys collected from Cougar fans. The players took a tour of the hospital, meeting with patients and their parents.
The Cougars signed autographs at every turn, took countless photos and showed every child with whom they spoke how to do the Cougar hand sign.
While the players and coaches were enduring their final workout, fans got to enjoy a parade on Memphis' legendary Beale Street, beginning around 4 p.m.
Following the walk-through, the team returned to their hotel and enjoyed the rest of the night off. Head coach Art Briles and several players took part in meetings with ESPN's television crew, while some of the administrators enjoyed The President's Gala, where the coaches' wives were honored.