University of Houston Athletics
Cougar Football Set For Spring Drills
2/27/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Feb. 27, 2004
HOUSTON, Texas - Fresh off its first bowl game in seven seasons, the University of Houston football team looks to continue its climb back to national prominence under second-year head coach Art Briles, as spring practice is slated to officially begin on Monday, March 1.
Unless otherwise noted, practices will take place at 3 pm during the week while Saturday practices will be conducted at 10 am. Practices will take place on the practice fields and are open to the public. Spring practice will run through the entire month of March and culminate in the annual Red-White Game on Saturday, April 3, at John O?Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium.
Briles was pleased with his initial season but is not satisfied with the status quo.
"We felt like we had a decent season and took a good first step," said Briles, "but we are certainly not at all pleased or satisfied with where we are at, so what we are going to continue to try to do is gain more momentum, create new roads to go down and find new ways to get there.
"We are still growing as a staff, as a team. Hopefully through our 15 practices in the spring we will be able to find the right personnel for the right situations, advance on both sides offensively and defensively and then replace our punter. Those are some of our goals we are looking at for this spring."
The Cougars finished 7-6 last season and in fourth place in Conference USA. Houston played the University of Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Christmas Day, which was the Cougars first postseason appearance since the 1996 Liberty Bowl.
Houston returns eight starters on offense, including the reigning Conference USA Freshman of the Year, quarterback Kevin Kolb. Kolb broke every UH freshman passing mark en route to 3,131 yards and 25 touchdowns passing, while completing 61.1 percent (220 of 360) of his passes. Kolb's efficiency rating of 153.8 was the second-best effort in school history.
Joining Kolb as returning starters on offense are running back Anthony Evans (Third Team, All-Conference USA), wide receivers Leonard Gibson (C-USA All-Freshman Team), Vincent Marshall and Chad McCullar, and offensive linemen Phil Hawkins and Roy Swan. Tight end Stephen Cucci, who was a starter in 2002, missed most of last season with an injury, and the University anticipates Cucci will receive an extension of his five years of eligibility due to the injuries he received in the 2001 and 2003 football seasons.
Led by Second Team, All-Conference USA pick, defensive end Joe Clay, the Cougars return nine starters on defense. Joining Clay on the defensive line as starters are Kade Lane, Marquay Love (C-USA All Freshman Team) and Eddie McCray. Other returning starters are linebackers Bryant Brown and Lance Everson (led the Cougars in tackles last season with 126), cornerbacks Willie Gaston and Stanford Routt and free safety Will Gulley.
Spring Practice Schedule
First Day of Practice Mon., March 1
Practice #2 Wed., March 3
Practice #3 Fri., March 5
Practice #4 Sat., March 6
Practice #5 Mon., March 8
Practice #6 Wed., March 10
Practice #7 Thur., March 11
SPRING BREAK March 13-21
Practice #8 Mon., March 22
Practice #9 Wed., March 24
Practice #10 Fri., March 26
Practice #11 Sat., March 27
Pracitce #12 Mon., March 29
Practice #13 Wed., March 31
Practice #14 Thur., April 1
Red and White Game Sat., April 3 @ 11 a.m.
All weekday practices will take place on the U of H practice fields. Times will be tentative and subject to change. Some practices might be switched to scrimmages at a later date.
