HOUSTON -- Players and coaches for sixth-ranked Houston might not use the exact phrase to describe Thursdays contest against UConn at TDECU Stadium.Whether classified as a revenge game publicly or not, expect the Cougars to be looking for a little payback against the only team to beat them in 2015 while theyre the focus of college footballs national spotlight.The Cougars (4-0, 1-0 in the American Athletic Conference) were denied a perfect season last year when UConn posted a 20-17 home victory on Nov. 15 when Houston was No. 13 in the country. The Cougars went on to win the AAC Championship game over Temple and then waylaid Florida State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and have been perfect so far in 2016.Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. played sparingly in last years upset because of an ankle injury while star linebacker Elandon Roberts was ejected early due to a targeting call.Theres some added motivation for this one, Houston coach Tom Herman said Monday at his weekly media availability. We dont have much to talk about, but I do believe that our returning players on our team are better than they were last season. We dont see this game as a chance for redemption but there is a bit of internal sense of liability, of atonement, to right some of the wrongs that occurred.Houston has lost just one football game in Hermans 18-game tenure in the Bayou City, but he said the team wont focus on what happened last season.Its not something you forget about, Houston defensive end Cameron Malveaux said. We were 10-0 and on a roll. Being crushed like that stayed with us, but we are looking at it as another step towards our goal of getting to the conference championship.Houston comes into Thursdays game off a 64-3 walloping of Texas State on the road in which the Cougars played a nearly flawless game. Houston outgained Texas State 563-142 (429-82 in the first half), outrushed the Bobcats 243-33 and had 32 first downs to Texas States eight. The Cougars scored on their first seven possessions while fashioning a 43-3 halftime lead and had no turnovers or penalties.I was proud of the strides that the offensive made -- they played well, Herman said. It wasnt that they were playing awful. In the Cincinnati game (on Sept. 15), we were shooting ourselves in the foot in critical situations. The offense did a much better job (against Texas State) finding a rhythm and finishing drives. UConn (2-2, 0-1 American) heads to Houston on the heels of a 31-24 loss at home to Syracuse on Sept. 24 in which the Huskies owned significant advantages in time of possession (38:29-21:31), total plays (91-66) and rushing yards (144-62).Syracuse receiver Amba Etta-Tawo amassed 270 yards via 12 catches and two first-quarter touchdowns and UConn quarterback Bryant Shirreffs threw a pick-six late in the third quarter that all but doomed the Huskies.We had a couple of plays that created, really, a 21-point gift -- and you cant win like that, UConn coach Bob Diaco said.Saturdays game was tough because we can see how close these games are and how good weve become. Theres still been a few moments that have created losing and prevented winning. Its not a complacent attitude for sure. The team has gotten better every week in all three phases. For some reason, in all four games, we have had a few explosive plays in the passing games. Thats not a characteristic of how we play. Those plays have made the games harder than they need to be.Diaco understands that his team will have its hands full with Ward, who passed for 289 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 39 yards and another score in just over two quarters of play against Texas State.Ward has great pocket presence and utilizes movement back there to create opportunities -- hes not just scrambling to run, Diaco said. He puts their offense into good plays and has high intelligence about how to run their offense. Hes one of the premier quarterbacks in the nation.Houston opened as a 24? point favorite to win the grudge match with UConn. But Diaco knows his team will not back down and is buoyed by the win last year against Houston, no matter the circumstances.We are tough minded group and one that believes in itself, Diaco said. There is great clarity and strong leadership on this team. Custom Wild T-shirts . The phone hearing is scheduled for 4:30pm et/1:30pm pt. Winchester, who was not penalized for the hit, appeared to make contact with Kellys head early in the first period of Thursdays game in Boston. Wild Jerseys China . Q: Team Canada announces their Olympic roster three weeks from today. Who is general manager Steve Yzerman watching? LeBrun: Over the last 48 hours, hes taken in the home-and-home between the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche with Jamie Benn and Matt Duchene being the obvious targets. http://www.customwildjersey.com/ . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Eric Staal Jersey Large . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Cheap Custom Wild Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No.Oliver Burke admits he is still adjusting to life in Germany since his surprise summer move to the Bundesliga, but is already targeting the title with his new club. Burke, 19, raised eyebrows across British football in August when he signed for newly promoted RB Leipzig in a £13m deal from Nottingham Forest having played just 35 senior games.Officially RasenBallsport Leipzig - the club was formed in 2009 when Red Bull purchased the playing rights to local fifth-tier side SSV Markranstädt, rebranding the club in the companys image and cannily circumventing German footballs strict rules on corporate influence. Burke moved from Nottingham Forest to Leipzig Four promotions later, the city of Leipzig has welcomed top-flight football for the first time since 1994 and the team has hit the Bundesliga like a whirlwind.On the pitch, Leipzig is a hotbed young European talent - the upstart of the Bundesliga determined to upset the established order - and after winning promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1994, they are unbeaten in 10 games and sit second behind Bayern Munich on goal difference, with Burke contributing a goal and two assists already. Burke speaks to Sky Sports in Leipzig Its an amazing feeling to be second in the Bundesliga at the moment and still doing so well and comfortably winning matches as well as a team. We are doing very well and it is great, he told Sky Sports News HQ.Can we win the Bundesliga? Me personally, I believe we can, of course. But we cant think about that too much, we have to concentrate and go into each game and give 100 per cent and still keep working hard on the training field. But everybody strives for the top and everybody wants to win trophies, medals and stuff so why not?I want to win the Bundesliga and I want to win it with RB Leipzig. Why not? We have the players, the quality; we have a great team so there is no reason why we cant. For sure, it is a good shout to be in the Champions League but we take every game as it comes and we keep working hard and certainly we will get there with our hard work and dedication. Burkes new home is as a member of the Red Bull Leipzig squad Off the pitch, Burke is coming to terms with his move away from England.The biggest difference is probably driving on the other side of the road. And trams are everywhere in this city! That was hard to adjust to - youre checking thhe corner and there is a tram coming and you think, Am I meant to be here in the car? You dont know where to go.dddddddddddd It was a challenge at first but now Ive adapted.The German is getting there - it is going to take a bit of time. Its a first proper language for me to learn but Im eager to learn it. Burke is having to pick up German in between Leizpig training sessions One-to-one German tuition is part of the daily routine for Burke at the world-class training complex of Der Roten Bullen, which is only 30 minutes walk - or 10 minutes on a tram - from Leipzig city centre. Across the river from the training ground is the Red Bull Arena, formerly the Zentralstadion, which hosted five games at the 2006 World Cup. For Burke, its a world away from the City Ground. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. Its very much different - sometimes you dont want to get away from this place, it has everything you need. We have a sauna steam room, the physiotherapy is fantastic, we have DVD rooms where we can watch our games and see where we need to improve on and there is always something you can improve on in yourself.We never leave the training ground until very late because we have our food here, everything is all cooked by a great chef for us; I guess it is everything you need to become a better player. Burke heads to Leipzig training Its been amazing so far and the team is so close and Ive bonded very well with the players. Many of the players speak English so it is quite easy to adapt and I get with everyone. They are a great bunch of boys and we are all young and we all strive for the same thing and we all want the same goal - to do the very best and to go into every game to win.I guess it is a brave move for me but I dont regret any of my decisions whatsoever. I am very happy and every day I keep learning, keep getting better and better and see where it gets me but it is a great club.I wouldnt say Im homesick at all really, my family have come over whenever they can. They pretty much come to every game, their support is unreal. But everyone is like family at this club, everybody looks after each other. Whenever there is a problem, everyone is there for you and it is one big family this club and it is really nice. Also See: Bundesliga fixtures Bundesliga table ' ' '