‘Friday Night Lights’ not a big show for Holgorsen
As Dana Holgorsen prepares to wrap up his first spring with the University of Houston, he’s not interested in the spectacle of a spring game.
When the Cougars take the field tonight at TDECU Stadium it will officially be called “Friday Night Lights.” But unlike past seasons when the school held the Red-and-White Game — designed as a final glimpse for fans until the start of the season — Holgorsen does not plan any elaborate showcase.
“I’m going to call it practice No. 13,” said Holgorsen, hired in January to turnaround a UH program coming off two straight mediocre seasons. “We’re not going to keep score. It’s going to be a practice. If people want to come watch practice, then come watch practice. If it doesn’t make sense to them, then don’t come watch practice.”
Holgorsen said the change may be “kind of untraditional, but I don’t care.” Instead he has placed the focus this spring on getting to know his roster and implementing his system, which is expected to feature some type of Air Raid component and a defense that will switch from a three- to four-man front.
When UH wraps up its 15 spring practices — there are two remaining next week — Holgorsen hopes to have a better idea of where the Cougars stand heading into preseason camp in August but admits the team is “far from a finished product.”
The defense remains a work-in-progress with holes to fill on the defensive line, namely the replacement for consensus AllAmerican defensive tackle Ed Oliver, at linebacker and cornerback. There are decisions to be made on the offensive line, in the backfield and a transition in the receiving corps, which will be asked to take on a more physical, blocking role that has not been required in past years.
All eyes will be on the health of quarterback D’Eriq King, who is coming off knee surgery that sidelined him the final 2½ games last season. King has gone through the entire spring without any issues.
While fans will be able to see the team in action, don’t expect any big revelations.
And don’t call it a spring game.
“We don’t have spring games here anymore,” Holgorsen said. “I don’t know how else to explain it. I don’t know what a spring game is anymore. I’ve had three spring games cancelled so why have spring games when all they do is get cancelled? I’m about getting good quality work in.”
TDECU Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. Free parking will be available in Lots 12A and 12B on the south side of the stadium.