University of Houston Athletics
Football Daily Practice Report
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2007
HOUSTON - The University of Houston football team began preparations for this weekend's regular-season finale against Texas Southern with a solid workout Tuesday afternoon inside the Yeoman Fieldhouse.
Working out in shorts and shoulder pads, the Cougars practiced for nearly two hours. Head coach Art Briles and his coaching staff decided the move the workout indoors when rain moved through the Houston area in the early afternoon.
As comfortable as the Yeoman Fieldhouse makes practice during inclement weather, it's not the same as a practice outdoors, Briles said.
"We would much rather go outside. It's just better outside. It's hard to throw the ball inside," Briles said. "Hopefully, we can go outside on Wednesday."
Still, Briles said he was pleased with the way the team started its preparations for the Tigers this week.
"We are trying to be a better team this Saturday than the last Saturday. We still feel like we have some growth in front of us," Briles said. "We want to play with a lot of passion and a lot of effort and send our seniors out ... on a good note."
The Cougars face Texas Southern at 2:30 p.m., Saturday at John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. Fans can hear Saturday's game live on 790 AM The Sports Animal with Tom Franklin calling the play-by-play action, David Klingler 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.
The Cougars (7-4, 6-2 C-USA) come into the game after a 35-28 win over league rival Marshall last weekend at Robertson Stadium. With a win over the Tigers on Saturday, the team will clinch its second straight winning season, a feat that has not been accomplished by UH since 1989-90.
For the Cougars to advance to their second straight Conference USA Championship Game, they will need crosstown rival Rice to upset Tulsa at Rice Stadium. While the Cougars have clinched at least a share of the West Division title for the second consecutive season, the Golden Hurricane owns the tiebreaker over UH with their win on Nov. 10 in Oklahoma.
While plenty of Cougar fans will be guilty of scoreboard-watching this weekend, Briles said he would not be one of them.
"What we have to do is win our football game. Whatever happens then, happens," Briles said. "We have a job to do and that's win Saturday. We need all of the fan support and student body out there to help us do it."
With the Thanksgiving holiday nearly here, the Cougars will see some changes to their regular practice schedule. The team will work out in the morning and the afternoon on Wednesday. After a morning session on Thanksgiving, the Cougar players will be off until practice Friday evening.
