Student Publications
University of Houston
151C Communications Bldg
Houston, TX 77204-4015
713.743.5350

©1991-2007
Student Publications,
All rights reserved.

Last modified:

Contact:
ktruitt@uh.edu

Sports

Golden Hurricane has eye of storm on UH passing attack

by CHRIS ELLIOTT
The Daily Cougar

Tulsa may enter its gridiron battle against Houston as the team to beat in Conference USA, but once that football flies off the tee at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Robertson Stadium, it will be in the same predicament -- a must-win situation. 

These two teams were in the same boat in their Week 9 match-ups and emerged from the storm with no casualties. Golden Hurricane head coach Steve Kragthorpe said he and his team are conscious of where they are and what they need to do if they want to reclaim their Conference USA crown. They plan to approach the game against the Cougars the same way they have for every conference game.

"Every game counts the same," Kragthorpe said. "It's similar to last week going into the (Texas-El Paso) game. Obviously, it's a West Division game, so that plays into it a little bit. No, it's Groundhog Day for us. We're going back on the practice field at 5:30 this afternoon; we're going to get prepared to play a very good Conference USA team. 

"We know we have to play extremely well to beat Houston and we have to do it on the road, which makes it doubly tough. In terms of comparing and contrasting game-to-game -- no, we're just focused on the task at hand and that's trying to get ready to compete again on Saturday."

The Golden Hurricane, brandishing C-USA's top defense, has only allowed opposing offenses to put up an average of 12.5 points per game in its last four games. Led by junior middle linebacker Nelson Coleman and senior outside linebacker Nick Bunting, the Tulsa defense has given its style of balanced offense the ability to control the clock and win its games by an average margin of 13 points.

"I think our defense is playing awfully good right now," Kragthorpe said. "But I think our defense is a group of guys, starting with coach (Keith) Patterson and the defensive staff, that aren't concerned with how much credit we get. Our team is concerned about winning the football game.

"They don't care who gets the credit. They just want to be part of the victory and whatever they can do to help, they're willing to do it." 

Kragthorpe admitted Houston could be the most dangerous offense his team will have the chance to play and said he is anxious to see how well his defense deal with the challenge of playing at Robertson Stadium.

"Firepower is a pretty apt description (for the UH offense)," Kragthorpe said. "They're very explosive on the offensive side of the football. Kevin Kolb is a tremendous quarterback. He's a guy that's going to play a long time in the National Football League, and I say that having coached guys at that level. He's a great player.

"They've got big-time players on the outside. They've been running the ball well. They've got a big, strong offensive line, so they're a big-time challenge to defend, and I think sometimes what gets lost when you're talking about Houston is how good they are on defense."

The Cougar defense, which has had more than its fair share of problems trying to stop teams that run the ball, will have to step its game up to a new level if it plans to come out of Saturday's game with all of its teeth, as Tulsa epitomizes the term "smash-mouth football." The Golden Hurricane averages 38.5 rushes per game. Kragthorpe, however, said he will not underestimate his opponent's ability to play on the defensive side of the ball, partially because who their coordinator is.

"I think Alan Weddell does a great job running their defense. Alan and I coached together at Texas A&M, so I know what kind of quality person he is and what kind of quality coach that he is," Kragthorpe said. "He's going to have that group really well-prepared and he's a guy that will challenge us in a variety of different ways. 

"He'll bring safety blitzes, strong safety blitzes, free safety blitzes, they'll try to bring pressure on the quarterback, they'll bring a corner off the edge, they have multiple linebacker dogs and a lot of twisting up front on the defensive line. They're going to be a very well-prepared football team."

There are too many intangibles heading into Saturday's game to account for, but one thing is for certain: This must-win game and its result will almost certainly determine C-USA West Division's representative in the championship game. 

But then again, every game is a must-win to Kragthorpe.

Send comments to dcsports@mail.uh.edu