University of Houston Athletics
Football Begins Preps for Tulane Inside
9/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2006
HOUSTON - Fresh off a thrilling, come-from-behind win, the University of Houston football team returned to the practice field Tuesday in preparations for this weekend's home opener against Conference USA rival Tulane.
Rain moved through downtown Houston in the mid-afternoon, forcing the Cougars into the friendly confines of the Yeoman Fieldhouse. Following practice, head coach Art Briles said it was not the way he would have wanted to start a busy week, but he was pleased with his team's ability to adapt.
"We would much rather have been outside because you get better work down outside. You can go through all your special teams and your passing game," Briles. "We didn't get to, so we made the best of it inside. We got a little better, but we need to continue to get a lot better because we have a big conference game this weekend."
The Cougars continue their 2006 season when they face the Green Wave at 6 p.m., Saturday at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. That game can be heard live on ESPN 790 AM 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 www.UHCougars.com.
The Cougars (1-0, 1-0 C-USA) enter this weekend's game after taking a 31-30 win at Rice on Saturday at Rice Stadium. In that game, the Cougars trailed 30-14 midway through the third quarter before scoring the final 17 points of the game.
It marked the second-biggest comeback in the 60-year history of the Cougar Football program and was an accomplishment of which head coach Art Briles, his staff and the UH players were proud.
"I am proud to be associated with a team that is setting school records," Briles said. "We don't like having to do it that way, but it is better than the alternative. I am very proud of our coaches and players for surviving. That's the sign of a good football team."
Senior defensive tackle Marquay Love was a big reason for the Cougars' success last weekend. The Fort Worth, Texas, native blocked a Rice PAT attempt late in the first half for the sixth blocked kick of his career. Love was later named the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
"He has been excellent," Briles said. "He has been doing it for four years. He is powerful, explosive and he has a good knack for getting through there."
