University of Houston Athletics
Football Travels to Meet Conference USA Rival UAB This Weekend
10/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 19, 2007
Houston-UAB Football Pregame Notes in PDF Format
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HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team returns to action this weekend when it faces Conference USA rival UAB.
The Cougars square off against Blazers 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 should note that Saturday's radio network is an exception from the regular UH schedule.
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) come into the game after a thrilling 56-48 come-from-behind win over crosstown rival Rice last weekend at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. Trailing by 13 points entering the final period against the Owls, the Cougars scored 21 fourth-quarter points to win the Bayou Bucket Trophy for the fourth time in the last five seasons.
With that win, the Cougars also maintained a share of first place in the C-USA West Division. The Cougars are tied with Tulsa - who travels to UCF this weekend - and UTEP, which is enjoying its bye weekend.
Against the Owls, senior wide receiver Donnie Avery set UH and C-USA single-game records with 346 receiving yards, while senior running back Anthony Alridge rushed for 205 yards and four touchdowns. They became the first players to record 300 receiving yards and 200 rushing yards in the same game in NCAA Bowl Subdivision history.
For his impressive performance, Avery was honored as the Walter Camp Football Foundation Offensive National Player of the Week and as the C-USA Offensive Player of the Week.
This weekend's game will be the first time since 2004 that the Cougars have faced UAB on the gridiron. The Blazers own a 4-1 lead in the all-time series, which began in 1999 and was played once every season from 2001 to 2004.
In their most recent game, the Blazers enjoyed a 20-7 win over the Cougars at Legion Field in 2004 to push their all-time record to 3-0 against UH in Alabama.
In fact, UH will be looking for its first win in the state of Alabama. The Cougars are 0-7 against Alabama, 0-3 at Auburn and 0-3 at UAB in the state.
In a departure from their regular travel schedule, the Cougars will fly into Birmingham on Saturday morning due to a lack of hotel rooms in the area this weekend. After landing, the team will stay at the Birmingham Sheraton for its pregame meal and meetings before heading to Legion Field for the game.
UAB enters this weekend's game after enjoying a 26-21 win over Tulane during its annual Homecoming contest last weekend.
This season, Rashaud Slaughter tops the Blazers with 241 rushing yards, while Sam Hunt is tops with 1,159 yards and seven touchdowns on 91-of-183 passing. Joseph Webb and Frantrell Forrest have each recorded at least 20 receptions and three touchdowns with Webb's 376 yards leading all wideouts.
On the defensive side of the ball, Will Dunbar leads the Blazers with 49 tackles, while Joe Henderson is tops with four sacks for a loss of 14 yards. Kevin Sanders has added a team-best three interceptions.
