Herman hopes UH can avoid falling in trap game
Look right there in the college football dictionary, and the words jump off the page like a blitzing linebacker about to crush the quarterback.
Two words that can lead to sleepless nights this time of year, especially for those handful of teams still in contention that can ill-afford to have a misstep. Trap game. University of Houston coach Tom Herman brought up those two words during Sunday night’s meeting, a preemptive strike to keep the No. 13 Cougars focused heading into the next-to-last regular season game against Connecticut.
The Cougars are coming off a “very hard-fought, physically and emotionally draining game,” Herman said of 20-point, fourth-quarter comeback to beat Memphis 35-34.
UConn had a open date, giving the Huskies an extra week of preparation. They also have extra motivation, needing one win to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2010. And the game is on the road. “Whatever your definition of a trap game is you can circle Houston versus UConn because that certainly has all the makings of it,” Herman said. “This is the definition of a trap game.
“We’re a very open and honest program. I (told the team) let’s get out there right now and talk about it, and let’s define it and move on and prepare.”
Regardless of Saturday’s outcome, UH (10-0) and Navy will play for the West division title and spot in the Dec. 5 American Athletic Conference game. Both teams are currently 6-0 in conference play. The stakes are even higher. UH is one of five remaining undefeated teams in Football Bowl Subdivison and, along with Navy
the frontrunner for the so-called Group of Five’s spot in either the Fiesta or Peach bowls.
Is there extra pressure with the season winding down?
“I wouldn’t say it’s a lot of pressure, because we prepare week in and week out,” linebacker Elandon Roberts said. “That was the goal coming into this year, being -0 each game. It’s just a culture that we keep going. I would say ‘pressure’ because we turn up the level each week, so it’s just the mentality floating around the program.”
There are the obvious reasons UH could get caught napping against UConn, which enters with a 5-5 record. The Huskies have struggled on offense all season, ranking 114th out of 127 FBs schools in scoring (19.0 points) and 113th in total offense (336.8 yards). In their last game, the Huskies beat Tulane 7-3 without scoring an offensive touchdown.
UConn, meanwhile is much better on the other side of the ball, ranking 22nd in scoring defense (19.3) and leading the AAC in pass defense (187.5) and tied for first with 15 interceptions.
“This is the part of the season where you won’t take your foot off the gas,” Herman said. “You put it on even harder. I have no worries that our mature team will get that done this week in preparation.”
One thing that won’t bother Herman is the weather. Gametime temperatures in East Hartford, Conn., are expected in the low 50s.
“Are you kidding me? I love the cold,” Herman said.