The Cougars started off like I feared they would. Actually they started off much slower than I feared. For two quarters and the majority of a third, Houston looked like they would rather be anywhere but Ruston, LA playing LA Tech. The Bulldogs did everything right and the Coogs arrived with five minutes left in the 3rd quarter.
As I stated in the Game Day 3 entry, the Coogs could ill afford to fall behind and hope to turn on the switch. Despite my thinking, they did both falling behind 34-7 and turning on a switch to win 35-34.
The two slow starts against North Texas and LA Tech are baffling. The defense was pushed around early in both contests and the offense misfired on almost every possession.
Houston's first eleven possessions went: punt, fumble, punt, punt, interception, punt, TD, punt, end of half, punt, interception. The results showed on the scoreboard 34-7.
The defense was just as pathetic. The Bulldogs scored on 6 of 11 possessions: 2 FGs and 4 TDs. The fortunate thing is the defense did make a few stops or else the game would probably been out of reach.
While the Coogs made as many mistakes and misfires, they did atone for it all in the last 20 minutes of the game. Dubbed the Cardiac Coogs by the UH faithful, they stunned the home crowd. The offense scored the necessary 28 points for a one point lead. The defense forced ended the Bulldog dominance while getting key stops and turnovers. The Mad Dogs intercepted one pass, recovered a fumble, made the 'dogs punt twice and got the ball back on downs.
The Cougars overcame disaster and staged the biggest come from behind victory in school history.
The question becomes why did they set such a hole for themselves. The came out fired up against UCLA and a rowdy home crowd. They never trailed in that game. Against North Texas and LA Tech, they trailed early. Is it a lack of motivation on the players part? Is it coaching? Do the coaches fail to motivate and game plan? Whatever the problem, the Cougars need to clean it up. With conference play and tougher opponents coming up, such play will lead to a loss or two. While not saying it publicly, the Coogs goal is to run the table and up in best bowl game possible.
For more stats than you can imagine: UH vs LA Tech Game Book
As I stated in the Game Day 3 entry, the Coogs could ill afford to fall behind and hope to turn on the switch. Despite my thinking, they did both falling behind 34-7 and turning on a switch to win 35-34.
The two slow starts against North Texas and LA Tech are baffling. The defense was pushed around early in both contests and the offense misfired on almost every possession.
Houston's first eleven possessions went: punt, fumble, punt, punt, interception, punt, TD, punt, end of half, punt, interception. The results showed on the scoreboard 34-7.
The defense was just as pathetic. The Bulldogs scored on 6 of 11 possessions: 2 FGs and 4 TDs. The fortunate thing is the defense did make a few stops or else the game would probably been out of reach.
While the Coogs made as many mistakes and misfires, they did atone for it all in the last 20 minutes of the game. Dubbed the Cardiac Coogs by the UH faithful, they stunned the home crowd. The offense scored the necessary 28 points for a one point lead. The defense forced ended the Bulldog dominance while getting key stops and turnovers. The Mad Dogs intercepted one pass, recovered a fumble, made the 'dogs punt twice and got the ball back on downs.
The Cougars overcame disaster and staged the biggest come from behind victory in school history.
The question becomes why did they set such a hole for themselves. The came out fired up against UCLA and a rowdy home crowd. They never trailed in that game. Against North Texas and LA Tech, they trailed early. Is it a lack of motivation on the players part? Is it coaching? Do the coaches fail to motivate and game plan? Whatever the problem, the Cougars need to clean it up. With conference play and tougher opponents coming up, such play will lead to a loss or two. While not saying it publicly, the Coogs goal is to run the table and up in best bowl game possible.
For more stats than you can imagine: UH vs LA Tech Game Book
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