University of Houston Athletics
Rehabbing With Ros #3
9/11/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
When Houston receiver Shane Ros tore his ACL last spring, he knew he wouldn't be able to play this fall. That didn't change Ros' influence with the team, however, as he remains a constant presence around practice and Houston games, home and away. While he's around the program, Ros will provide an inside look and player's perspective of the program to UHCougars.com.
The Houston Cougars made history last weekend in Philly against the Temple Owls by winning the first ever American contest. Along with the team accomplishment, several individual players inked their names in the record books. Senior cornerback Zach McMillian recorded the first American interception on the opening play from scrimmage, while senior special teams ace Richie Leone booted the first of his five field goals to score the first points in American history.
The game itself was a hard fought battle and the Cougars found themselves in a defensive struggle deep into the fourth quarter. After a clutch Adrian McDonald interception and a touchdown run by Ryan Jackson, the Cougars were able to seal their first road win of the season.
There are several factors a team has to handle when playing on the road, making winning much more difficult. First of all, the travel itself can negatively impact a team's performance. From getting on an airplane (the first time for several players) to staying the night in a hotel with your closest friends, it is very easy to lose focus on the task at hand. After overcoming the distractions of travel, the team is forced to deal with a hostile crowd on game day. The noise alone can cause problems and make communication difficult. So when everyone is cheering against you it is critical to create your own energy. The best way to do this is by making plays on the field and taking the crowd out of the game. Thankfully, we have a great coaching staff that does a fantastic job of limiting distractions and keeping players focused.
The whole experience revealed a lot about our team and displayed the character we possess. When faced with adversity the Cougars banded together and picked each other up in times of need. There was no pointing fingers or distributing blame, instead there was a unity that held strong. While there is plenty of room for improvement and several mistakes were made, the football team grew as a whole.
So with a bye week ahead and a matchup with our crosstown rival looming, the Cougars return to Cullen Blvd. hoping to improve upon their 2-0 record. It's going to be a long wait for the much-anticipated matchup, so be patient, wear red and GO COOGS!
Go Coogs!
Shane Ros #19
