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Sports

UH pigskin faithful got glimpse of future

Red & White game showcased efficient offense, improved defense 
and fair special teams 

by RONNIE TURNER
The Daily Cougar

The UH football team had a clear-cut goal heading into the Red-White game at the Carl Lewis International Track and Field Complex on Saturday: to provide fans with a glimpse of what Cougar football would look like for the 2006 season. It was to be a glimpse of some new faces, some new formations and, perhaps, a more competitive brand of football. Fans turned out by the hundreds to catch this glimpse, and were not disappointed as the Cougars showed off their offense, defense and special teams on Saturday afternoon to put an end to their spring practice, posting an efficient performance that impressed head coach Art Briles. 

"We wanted to come in here and bounce around a little bit, get a little flare to us and get out of here healthy, and that's what we did," Briles said. "We're excited and really pleased with the crowd that turned out here today for a Saturday morning in mid-April." 

The productive Red and White game gave Briles one more reason to be optimistic about next season. 

"I feel really good about next fall. We have some guys who are really dedicated and are doing a great job. We're going to be a tough team to beat," Birbes said. 

One the strongest positives that came out of Saturday's game was the consistency of junior quarterback Kevin Kolb, who completed 10-of-13 passes with a touchdown in his final Red-White game. He made several accurate throws to his receivers, including a 17-yard screen pass to junior running back Jackie Battle that went for a touchdown. 

"He looks like he ought to look," Briles said. "He's been a three-year starter and has gotten more snaps than anybody in the nation. If he's playing that way, that's what we have to expect out of him." 

The Cougars also received adequate performances from their running backs, most notably junior Jackie Battle and sophomore Anthony Alridge, who put up some tough groundwork on their way to a combined 114 yards on nine carries with three touchdowns. The two will be called upon to fill a huge void left by the graduation of Anthony Evans and Ryan Gilbert, two 1,000-yard backs who were fixtures in the UH backfield for the past two seasons . 

"We have to step it up," Battle said. "We have to replace guys. When guys leave, other guys have to step up and do (the job). It's my last year, and it's my time to do it." 

The defense under new defensive coordinator Alan Weddell looked decent, racking up seven sacks and an interception by senior free safety Will Gulley. The tackling was efficient, though at times the defense appeared to lose its focus, allowing receivers to get open over the middle several times for easy receptions. 

The Cougars' kick return game and punting appeared to be on target, but the place kickers struggled heavily on their field goal attempts. Saturday's game also gave the Cougars a chance to look at a potential prime target to replace Kolb next season, sophomore receiver Jeron Harvey. Harvey finished the day with two catches for 56 yards and a touchdown. 

UH will open the season against cross-town rival Rice on Sept. 2 at Rice Stadium. 

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