After each game, whether in staff meetings or team discussions, Fritz shares the final score as part of his “Plan to Win: Five Keys to Victory.”
“We need to play smarter,” Fritz stated. “I’ve had teams before where just rolling the ball out meant victory due to our talent. That’s not true now. We need to gain every advantage possible to win.”
This season has yielded mixed results for the University of Houston (1-2) as they prepare to open Big 12 play against Cincinnati (2-1) at Nippert Stadium.
Among Fritz’s keys to victory:
• Take care of the football: The Cougars are even in this area with four turnovers and four takeaways. After three interceptions in the first two games—a loss to UNLV and Oklahoma—quarterback Donovan Smith played a clean game in last week’s 33-7 win over Rice. The defense has recorded an interception in every game.
• Control the running game: “Control the clock, control the game” is central to Fritz’s philosophy. After a dismal start with only 96 rushing yards in the first two games, the Cougars achieved a season-high of 237 yards against Rice. Unlike the 16-12 loss to Oklahoma, where the Cougars led in time of possession, they excelled due to the performance of Stacy Sneed and Re’Shaun Sanford II, along with two touchdowns from Smith.
• Great special teams: This area has been particularly frustrating for Fritz, who is hands-on with the special teams game plan. Issues have included four penalties in the opener against UNLV, a questionable punt situation against Oklahoma, and snap problems against Rice. However, Mekhi Mews bounced back with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown against the Owls.
• Coogs don’t beat the Coogs: This broad category includes mistakes like penalties, missed tackles, and assignments errors. UH has faced 23 penalties for 208 yards, placing them ranked 102 out of 133 teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
“We need to emphasize attention to detail and focus on the little things,” cornerback Latrell McCutchin Sr. noted.
• Finish: The Cougars have been close to winning in the fourth quarter of two out of three games. A controversial safety ended their chances against Oklahoma, while they dominated Rice, allowing a score only in the last 68 seconds.
With a quarter of the regular season gone, Fritz believes it’s time for the Cougars to “turn the page” and gear up for the nine-game Big 12 schedule.
“We must do a great job of treating each week as its own season,” Fritz concluded. “Every game is a big game.”
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