University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Practice Report
10/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team began preparations for this weekend's Conference USA showdown against UAB with a solid workout Tuesday afternoon on the UH practice fields.
Working out in full pads, the Cougars practiced for about two hours under partly cloudy skies and mild temperatures. Although his team is coming off an emotional win over a crosstown rival, head coach Art Briles admitted he was impressed with the way his team turned the page to this weekend's opponent.
"The good thing about it is that Rice is over, and we are at UAB. That is what I like about us," Briles said. "We've been through this, and we understand how important it is to let go and move forward. Now all of our focus and attention is on the UAB Blazers."
The Cougars face UAB at 6 p.m., Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala.. Fans can hear the game live on 740 AM KTRH with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action, Ted Pardee providing color analysis and Chuck Brown reporting from the sideline. The pregame show is slated to begin one hour before kickoff.
Fans and media members should note that Saturday's game will air on 740 AM KTRH and not 790 AM The Sports Animal.
Fans also can follow live stats over the Internet by clicking the "Gametracker" link at UHCougars.com.
The Cougars (3-3, 2-1 C-USA) are tied with Tulsa and UTEP atop the C-USA West Division. UH will play three of its next four games on the road with showdowns against those two teams on hostile ground in the weeks ahead.
"If you're on the road, you play tough," Briles said. "You have to be that much more focused and that much more in a tough-minded mode when you go on the road. You have to play hard for 60 minutes and win and get back home."
The Cougars come into the game on the heels of a thrilling 56-48 come-from-behind win over Rice last weekend at Robertson Stadium. Trailing by 13 points early in the fourth quarter, the Cougars scored 21 points in the final period to earn the win.
In that game, senior wide receiver Donnie Avery recorded 346 receiving yards - the fourth-highest total in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history - while senior running back Anthony Alridge added 205 rushing yards and a career-best four touchdowns.
The Cougar duo became the first players in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history to record 300 receiving yards and 200 rushing yards in the same game.
"It's a little mind-boggling to know that it was a first time in NCAA history," Briles said. "I am proud of them and the best thing about them is they're great teammates. That's what makes them special and that's what makes our team special and that's why we'll have a chance to do some great things."
Despite being down late, the Cougars rallied for their 17th come-from-behind win during Briles' tenure.
"We always are going to fight and keep battling as long as there is time on the clock. You can't predict what is going to happen. You just have to work through it and judge it after that," Briles said. "We know our guys are going to battle. We know they have a lot of pride ... and belief. All of it is justified by what they have been able to do the last couple of years."
