University of Houston Athletics
Art Briles Chat Wrap
2/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 13, 2003
Bill (Houston): congratulations on a great recruiting class.
What's your #1 objective for spring ball?
Can we expect any changes to the uniform next year?
Go coogs!!!!
Art Briles: In s[pring ball, we are looking for tempo, effort, intelligence and attitude. How's that for one objective?
There will be some subtle changes in the uniform. Buy your tickets now and come see against Rice.
Lennard Coplin (Austin): Hi Art: Will the Coogs be running offensive schemes simular to your Stephenville teams? Will the Coogs be scheduling the likes of LSU, Texas A & M, Texas Tech, or maybe a Florida State for games at Reliant Stadium in the near future? Thank you for coming back to Houston! Your 2003 schedule is really good...it is indeed Season Ticket time for all Coogs, and all Houstonians. Again, Congratulations!
Art Briles: Hey Coplin, Thanks for that field goal against Maryland in 1976. We will be a Stephenville-based offense with some variations that I have encountered in the last three years.
Scheduling the next three years is going to be very exciting. It's our job to take care of winning conference championships and getting the Coogs back where they belong and that's the best team in the state of Texas.
Charles (Houston): Hello Coach Congratulations on your first recruiting class. What has changed the most about UH since the last time you were playing for the Cougars? Thanks and beat Rice!
Art Briles: The most changes are in the recruiting process, in that it's become so global. You can't hide players any more. Back when I was here, UH did a great job of finding secluded plaeyrs and bringing them on campus. In today's time, nobody is hidden. Everybody knows about everybody. The process is different, but the love is the same. The intensity is the same and the Cougars are going to be the same again.
John (Houston): Coach, I've seen our 2003 recruit class ranked as high as 29th in the nation. It's amazing that you pulled this off while in the process of building your staff. How many of these kids will see playtime next year? Is Kolb a definite redshirt?
Go Coogs.
Art Briles: I have not seen our class rated. That's encouraging to all UH followers. Our coaches did a great job of getting out and beating the bushes. Our previous connections really benefoitted us with this class. In a perfect world, I would redshirt the entire class, but some will see some playing time. Thanks for your support.
Spencer - Midland: Coach,
What are the keys to improving our defense?
Art Briles: Personnel placed in proper positions is the No. 1 key. Understanding opponents' tendencies and beliefs and playing with great desire and a winning attitude. That's how you improve any facet of the game, but particularly on defense.
Houston: Have you and your staff had time to put together your off season conditioning program? What would you like to see from your team when fall practice begins?
Art Briles: We actually have been working in our off-seaosn program for the last six weeks and exclusively during the last two. Our players are doing extremely well. I am pleased with their attitude and effort. Our emphasis is on strength and quickness. We are concentrating on explosive power.
Jim Routzong (Houston): Your coaching staff appears to be fairly young and is weighted towards high school experience. How do you & your staff plan to counter the lack of big time college experience?
Art Briles: I would like to say thanks to all of the Coogs for logging on today. We are very excited about our situation here and continue to have faith on the upcoming season.
I tried to build a staff with high school, college and professional experience. We've done that. The characteristics that I was most interested in were coaches that were good people that loved student-athletes, had a passion for the game and a burning desire to win and were not afraid to work. I told them this wasn't a get pretty job; this was a get dirty job. All Coogs will be proud of these coaches.
Friendswood: Hi Coach will you concentrate on HOUSTON AND THE SURROUNDING areas in recruting so we can fill the stands at robertson.
Art Briles: We will try to get the majority of our playuers from the greater Houston area. I will also recruit players from North, East and West Texas. To have a good team you have to have a good blend of different personalities. That's what we will strive to do. The best way to fill the stands is for our football team to produce on the field and for our Cougar faithful to show up and support those players.
Rob: Austin, Texas: Hi Coach, weclome home. Great job with the new all freshman class, especially considering the late start. Who out of this class has the best chance to make an immediate contribution? Also, what current players have impressed you the most since your arrival?
Art Briles: In the incoming class, it's easlier to contribute as a skill person, so there might be two or three of those players who could play next fall. I don't really want to name names at this point.
As far as the players on campus, I have been impressed with everyone right now. I know that sounds hunky-dory, but it's the truth. We are going through a process of understadning one another. They have been receptive and I have been impressed. We're ready to get on the field for spring ball and see what happens.
DC Bellaire: Coach I love that you utilized a Cougar connection with the signing of Marquay Love. Just wondering how much contact you have with any of your former Coog teammates, and what role(if any) will former Cougar player's have regarding recruiting in the future?
Art Briles: We have a good football player in Marquay Love. It was funny that his uncle is Eddie Foster who I played with back in the 70s. UH ex players will certainly always be welcome and I want them to feel at home any time they are in the Fieldhouse or around players. As far as recruiting, you have to be careful with that regarding NCAA rules but a hello and a handshake is always appreciated.
Austin: Coach Briles, We are all excited here in Austin (Yes, it is true....Austin, Texas!)about you becoming the head coach at UH. How long do you think that it will take the current team and incoming recruits to begin playing the type of offense and defense you expect from your teams?
V. Tolbert
Art Briles: I appreciate the capital city logging in today. I have a lot of good friends in Austin.
I expect us to be at the level we have to be at by the end of spring training. Whether that is going to be reality or not, nobody knows. The thing we are searching for is perfection with intensity and with enthusiasm. So, we will see if we can accomplish that. Tell the governor I said hello!
bill,, mcallen: Coach, how will your offense differ from the run and shoot of the Jack Pardee era? If you use a tight end, will he be a true tight end or will he be split 3 to 5 yards out?
Art Briles: You will see some similarities in our offense. There is a lot of motions and shifts and some quick passing. We will differ in that we will have a true tight end, occasionally two tight ends, and they will play with their hand on the ground. There will be times that we want to play tough ball.
Bryan Taylor, Texas City: I know that you don't want to throw your team right in against nationally ranked ,but who structures the schedule (you and the other team or a collective group?) and who would you personally like to see the Cougars playing with big implications?
Art Briles: That's a nice question. The schedule is made up years in advance. It's one of those deals where when they tee ball up, we will be there ready to play. As far as future scheduling, I would like to see in our non-conference schedule, is a little more regional attraction, maybe the Division I schools within the state of Texas.
Jesse J (Houston): Hi, Coach. Welcome aboard.
How much difference do you think it makes in the win column to have a sold out stadium each home game?
And do you have any advice to UH fans on how to help fill up the stadium?
Go, Coogs.
Jesse J
Art Briles: Thanks for your questions. Before I have to go, I appreciate everyone's interest and support. The response for our football program has made my heart grow warm.
The best way to fill a stadium is for the UH team to represent this university in a class fashion and produce on the field. When that happens, then the crowd is a definite advantage. to the university of Houston being victorious. We are working hard to take care of our end. Have faith, keep hope and we will ride this thing out together. Once again, thanks to everyone.
Moderator: That's all the time that we have with Coach Briles for today. Thanks to him for taking time out of his schedule to join us.
And a big thanks to all the Cougar fans who asked questions or logged onto the web site.
Just a reminder that spring football starts on Tuesday, March 11 with four weeks of practice scheduled.
We appreciate everyone taking the time to join us for today's chat. Future chats with all UH coaches will be posted on the web site and Coach Briles will sit down and talk with us again soon.
Thanks again everyone and have a good day!
