Cougars Begin Bowl Preparations
12/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 7, 2003
HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Houston football team returned to the practice fields for the first time in over a week and the first time since accepting an invitation to participate in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day in Honolulu. The bowl berth against the University of Hawai'i is the first-ever meeting between the two school and also is the first post-season trip for the Cougars in seven years.
Despite not having a scripted workout since Thanksgiving Day, UH first-year head coach Art Briles was pleased with the way his Cougars took the fields this afternoon.
"We're happy to get back on the field," commented Briles. "It has been several days since we've been out here, so it's nice to get back on the field with everybody. Everybody's focused and (has) high energy, so we need to keep it up through the next couple of weeks as we head over (to Hawai'i) and come home with a victory."
Briles put the Cougars through a light workout on the UH practice fields, working on several facets of offense, defense and special teams. Houston spent almost two hours in their first workout, and the Cougars impressed their coach with their enthusiasm and determination; however, Briles believes his team knows they have a mission to accomplish: defeat the Warriors.
"We're not satisfied," added Briles, only the second coach to lead Houston to a bowl game in his first year as head coach. "We're not going to enjoy the scenery. We're going to win a football game for the University of Houston.
"This is a great venue for the University of Houston (and) for our football program. It is something for us to go over there and represent well, and the more fans we carry over there, the merrier."
The Cougars will take Monday off before resuming practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Houston is slated to depart for the Hawaiian Islands on Friday, December 19. The Cougars will host a send-off party on Monday, December 15, at 7 pm in the Athletics/Alumni Center in conjunction with Cougar Talk Presented by Perry Homes with Art Briles.
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