September 2, 2004

Donnie Avery reaches out for a pass during UH football practice. Photo by Tom Shea

The sun set on the University of Houston football team’s season last December after an overtime loss in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, but many feel that the experience signaled the dawn of a new era for the Cougars.

“I believe that bowl will help us this year,” said Dave Maggard, UH athletics director, speaking to the UH System Board of Regents recently. “In terms of momentum and motivation, this experience will help us going forward.”

The Cougar’s 2003 success – a 7-5 record and the team’s first bowl appearance since 1996 – left many fans eager to see another winning team. The wait will be over on Sunday, Sept. 5, as the Coogs kick off the 2004 season with the annual “Bayou Bucket” game against the Rice University Owls at 4 p.m. in Reliant Stadium.

“We’re very excited and ready for Sunday,” head coach Art Briles said. “We’re getting ready for this game and this season. It’s time for somebody to blow a whistle, so we can play.”

While coaches and players are enthusiastic about the season opener against their cross-town rival, they also look forward to nationally televised games against football powerhouses such as the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., on Sept. 11 and the University of Miami at Reliant Stadium on Sept. 23.

While most of the Cougars’ home games will remain on campus at Robertson Stadium, this season will mark the first time the team has played at Reliant Stadium. Relocating high profile games to the deluxe stadium is a definite advantage for both the team and the university, according to Maggard.

“It’s a great facility. There’s no question about that,” he said. “We have to move certain games there if it benefits the program, but we still view Robertson Stadium as our home.”

Maggard added that there’s a chance additional NCAA juggernauts such as the University of Nebraska could make the Cougars’ future schedules.

While some members of last year’s squad have either graduated or ascended into the ranks of the National Football League (NFL), several vital cogs in last year’s team remain. Among those is sophomore quarterback Kevin Kolb, who was named 2003’s Conference USA Freshman of the Year.

Maggard and Briles are sure that this year’s team is just as good, if not better, than the 2003 Cougars. Now, with the success of last year behind them, all coaches and players simply want to make 2004 a season to remember.

But first, the Coogs need to add a few Owl feathers to their caps with a win over Rice.

“There are not very many Division I teams that play in the same city,” Briles said. “It’s a big event and one I’m proud to be a part of. Rice is a tough team to play, but we have to go out there and take care of them. That’s what we plan to do on Sunday.”

Mike Emery
Memery@hotmail.com