University of Houston Athletics
Football to Meet Alabama on the Road this Weekend
10/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 5, 2007
HOUSTON -
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HOUSTON -The University of Houston football team returns to action this weekend when it faces Alabama in a non-conference showdown.
The Cougars square off against the Crimson Tide at 2:07 p.m., Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Fans can hear the game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal 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 also can follow live stats over the Internet by clicking the "Gametracker" link at UHCougars.com.
CTSM will televise the game on a pay-per-view basis in the states of Alabama and Texas. The game will also be distributed on ESPN GamePlan through DirecTV and Dish Networks. Chris Stewart will call the game with Tyler Watts handling the color analysis and Barry Krauss working the sidelines.
The Cougars (2-2, 1-1 C-USA) come into the game after a disappointing 37-35 loss to C-USA rival East Carolina on Sept. 29 at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. In that game, senior wideout Donnie Avery enjoyed a career day, setting a C-USA single-game record with 350 all-purpose yards.
The Houston native set career highs with nine catches for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Avery also returned four kickoffs for 161 yards, including a school-record-tying 100-yard return for touchdown that pulled the Cougars to within two points in the fourth quarter.
For his impressive performance, he was honored as the C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week.
Avery has been a consistent leader for the Cougars through the air this season, posting 29 catches for 434 yards.
Senior running back Anthony Alridge continues to lead the Cougars with 443 rushing yards and three touchdowns on only 76 carries. Against the Pirates, the Denton native recorded a rushing and a receiving touchdown in one game for the third time during the 2007 campaign. Earlier this season, he became the first player in school history to record a rushing and a receiving touchdown in one game in consecutive contests.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Case Keenum leads the way through the air with 656 yards and five touchdowns on 51-of-81 passing. Sophomore signal-caller Blake Joseph came off the bench against ECU to set career bests with 250 yards and two touchdowns on 24-of-29 passing.
Senior linebacker Rocky Schwartz leads the Cougars with 31 total tackles, including 12 solo stops. Senior linebacker Brendan Pahulu is tops with 4.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks and a pair of interceptions, including a pickoff against ECU last weekend.
This weekend's contest will be the Cougars' 10th meeting against Alabama with the Crimson Tide posting a perfect 9-0 record. It also will be the first time since 1971 that the Cougars have faced the Tide in Tuscaloosa.
Alabama (3-2, 2-1 SEC) enters this weekend's game after falling 21-14 to Florida State last weekend in Jacksonville, Fla. It was the Tide's second straight loss after winning each of its first three games to open the season.
Quarterback John Parker Wilson leads the Alabama offense with 1,091 yard and six touchdowns on 100-of-186 passing. Wide receiver D.J. Hall is one of five Crimson Tide wideouts in double-digit receptions with a team-best 23 catches for 420 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Terry Grant leads the team with 519 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 82 carries.
On the defensive side, Rolando McClain leads Alabama with 40 tackles, while Ezekial Knight is tops with a pair of sacks and 5.5 tackles for a loss. Rashad Johnson tops the Tide defenders with a pair of interceptions.
