University of Houston football team will practice at University of Texas

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - With Hurricane Harvey headed to the Texas coast, the University of Houston is moving its football operations to Austin and will practice at the University of Texas.

“Yesterday as it became apparent that Harvey was going to have a significant impact throughout the weekend and early into next week, we reached out to schools within the state of Texas that we have great relationships with, and inquired about the opportunity for our football program to practice and use their facilities as we are relocating outside of Houston,” said Hunter Yurachek, UH vice-president of athletics.

“Baylor, SMU, TCU all offered their facilities. Because of hotel accommodations in some of those locations and the proximity of those locations, we decided in the end to relocate our football team, at least for the weekend and maybe early into next week, into Austin and practice at the facilities at the University of Texas.”

Yurachek is grateful for the quick response from Texas and Longhorns athletics director Mike Perrin.

“I called Mike Perrin (Thursday night), and without hesitation Mike said ‘absolutely. We’d be glad to help. Let me run it up the chain of command here at Texas. I don’t foresee that being a problem,’ and within 10 minutes he called and said ‘we’ll make it happen,’” Yurachek said.”

“Mike’s a Houstonian. I think he thinks a lot about what we’re doing, and understands the importance of us working together as state schools, in a time where our area is getting hit pretty hard.”

Yurachek is concerned for all those involved with the University of Houston and for everyone who could be affected by Hurricane Harvey.

“Just keeping everybody in our thoughts and prayers, and hope that everybody is safe and does not take unnecessary risks and listens to all the advice we’re getting from the emergency management teams across the city of Houston and the state of Texas and heeds those warnings,” Yurachek said.

Cougars head football coach Major Applewhite released the following statement:

We are grateful to the University of Texas and its football program for opening their doors to us. We are also thankful to the other programs from across the state of Texas that offered shelter to our program during this time. We are hopeful for the best in Houston but are preparing for every situation. We ask everyone to keep the city of Houston, all affected areas across the Gulf Coast and its residents in their thoughts and prayers.