2011 UH Cougar Watch-Short Work Week For UTEP Game

My fave college football team for the third straight year opens C-USA play against their West Division foes the UTEP Miners in a critical Thursday night game in El Paso's Sun Bowl. 

It's not only the start of C-USA conference play for the 4-0 Cougars, once they get past this game UH spends the entire month of October at home with conference games at Robertson Stadium against East Carolina, Marshall, and the Bayou Bucket showdown with Rice

The Cougars are on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25 collegiate rankings as well.  They've been steadily  picking up support and picked up enough votes that put them at 26th in one poll and 28th in another. 

It's a far cry from the number 12 ranking they carried into the October 3, 2009 game and were thumped 58-41.  They returned the favor in a 54-24 beatdown at the Rob last season, but many of the players who were on that 2009 team haven't forgotten that butt kicking or the 'Overrated' cheers from the UTEP faithful ringing in their ears after it.

The Coogs would like to ruin UTEP's perfect 6-0 record in C-USA conference home openers but UH is keenly aware of the fact the Miners have trick plays in their offensive arsenal they will not hesitate to use.

“There will be a fake punt, a fake field goal, could be an onside kick, could be anything,” UH head coach Kevin Sumlin said. “One of the things in preparation that everybody knows, particularly when you go down there, is that (Price) will do anything. That’s how he’s been. That’s not a reputation, that’s a fact.”

The Coogs just need to stay focused, go into El Paso with their game faces on for this 7 PM CDT clash and get out of the Sun Bowl with a win.  

Eat 'em up!