What Is 2004 Houston Cougars football team

Overview

The 2004 Houston Cougars football team represented the University of Houston during the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Art Briles, the team competed in Conference USA and played home games at Robertson Stadium.

The Cougars showed signs of improvement from their 2003 campaign, finishing with a 5–6 overall record and a 4–4 mark in conference play. Despite falling short of bowl eligibility, the season marked progress in Briles’ rebuilding effort and featured the emergence of future NFL quarterback Kevin Kolb.

• Record: The team finished with a 5–6 overall record, a one-game improvement from their 2003 performance.
• Head Coach:Art Briles led the Cougars in his second season, continuing his efforts to rebuild the program after taking over in 2003.
• Stadium: All home games were played at Robertson Stadium, a 32,000-seat facility located on the University of Houston campus.
• Conference: Houston competed in Conference USA's West Division, facing teams like TCU, SMU, and UTEP during the season.
• Quarterback: Freshman Kevin Kolb started nine games and threw for 1,743 yards and 12 touchdowns, signaling a bright future.

Performance & Season Details

The 2004 season was marked by narrow losses and incremental growth under Art Briles’ leadership. While the Cougars did not qualify for a postseason bowl, several games were decided by single digits, indicating competitive improvement.

• Season Opener: Houston opened with a 34–17 win over North Texas on September 4, 2004, at Robertson Stadium.
• Midseason Struggles: The team lost four consecutive games from late September to mid-October, including a 27–10 defeat to TCU.
• Homecoming Win: On November 6, Houston defeated Marshall 24–17, a key victory in their conference standings.
• Key Player: Running back Anthony Richardson rushed for 661 yards and four touchdowns, leading the ground attack.
• Defensive Effort: The defense allowed an average of 27.5 points per game, showing improvement but still a work in progress.
• Final Game: The season ended with a 38–30 loss to East Carolina on November 27, sealing their 5–6 record.

Comparison at a Glance

How the 2004 season compared to recent years in key statistical categories:

The 2004 season served as a transitional year between early struggles and future success. While not a breakout season, it laid groundwork for the program’s resurgence by 2006, when Houston went 10–4 and won a bowl game.

Why It Matters

The 2004 Houston Cougars season is significant as a developmental chapter in the Art Briles era. Though not a winning season, it contributed to long-term program building and player development.

• Foundation for Success: The 2004 season helped lay the groundwork for Houston’s 10-win 2006 campaign and return to national relevance.
• Kolb’s Emergence:Kevin Kolb’s performance as a freshman signaled a promising future, eventually leading to a second-round NFL draft pick.
• Recruiting Momentum: Briles used seasons like 2004 to attract talent, improving recruiting classes in subsequent years.
• Stadium Legacy: Robertson Stadium hosted Cougars football until 2012, making 2004 part of its final decade of use.
• Conference Evolution: As a Conference USA member, Houston’s 2004 season reflects a period before later moves to the Big East and American Athletic Conference.
• Program Identity: The team’s resilience in close games helped shape a culture of competitiveness that defined the mid-2000s revival.

In hindsight, the 2004 season was not a standout year, but it played a crucial role in the trajectory of Houston football, bridging past struggles with future achievements.