Houston Cougars
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Houston Cougars | |
 |
|
| University | University of Houston |
|---|---|
| Conference | Conference USA |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletics director | Dave Maggard |
| Location | Houston, TX |
| Varsity teams | 16 |
| Football stadium | John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Hofheinz Pavilion |
| Baseball stadium | Cougar Field |
| Mascot | Shasta |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Fight song | Cougar Fight Song |
| Colors | Scarlet and Albino
|
| Homepage | Cougars Athletics |
Houston Cougars is the name given to the sports teams of the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. After the dissolution of the Southwest Conference in 1996, in which these teams were a member, the Cougars joined Conference USA as a part of the West Division. Also in the West Division of Conference USA is Houston's major sports rival, the cross-town Rice University. University of Houston's colors are Scarlet red and Albino white and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta. The athletic director for the Cougars is Dave Maggard. Houston has had notable sports teams in its history including Phi Slama Jama.
Contents |
[edit] Athletics
The University of Houston competes with teams in the following sports:
|
Men's sports:
|
Women's sports:
|
[edit] Football
Playing their first game in 1946, the Houston Cougars football team currently compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and were recently the Conference USA champions for the 2006 season. The team plays its games in Robertson Stadium, and will begin its next season in 2008 with first-time head coach Kevin Sumlin.
[edit] Men's Basketball
The Houston Cougars men's basketball team represents the University of Houston in NCAA Division I men's basketball competition. The Cougars Men's basketball team plays in Conference USA. The team last played in the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament in 1992. The Cougars are currently coached by Tom Penders and play in Hofheinz Pavilion.
Notable players for the UH Men's basketball team include Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler, who were part of the legendary Phi Slama Jama, as well as Otis Birdsong and Elvin Hayes. Each of these players has had their number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars are Guy Lewis and Clyde Drexler. Notable games for the Cougars include the first nationally syndicated NCAA basketball game, the Game of the Century.
[edit] Baseball
Along with the university's other athletic teams, the baseball team is a member of the Conference USA as a Division I team. They play their home games at Cougar Field and have been coached by Rayner Noble since 1994. The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in numerous NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, and College World Series.
[edit] Rivalries
- See also: Houston-Rice rivalry
Houston's largest rivalry may be with cross-town Rice University who is also in Conference USA. The Cougars and Rice Owls compete in football annually for an award called the "Bayou Bucket," referencing one of the city of Houston's nicknames as the "Bayou City." The Cougars currently hold this title.
Historically, the University of Texas at Austin has also been one of Houston's large rivalries, especially when Houston became part of the now defunct Southwest Conference. This rivalry even led to the Houston Cougar Paw tradition.[1]
[edit] Facilities
Most of the university's major sports facilities are located along Cullen Boulevard, a central street on the campus. At times in the past, some of the university's teams have played their home games off campus such as at the Astrodome or Rice Stadium. This is still true for the men's golf program which does not have a dedicated golf course on campus. University of Houston's current sports facilities include the following[2]:
- Robertson Stadium - Football
- Hofheinz Pavilion - Basketball
- Cougar Field - Baseball
- Cougar Softball Stadium - Softball
- Tom Tellez Track at Carl Lewis International Complex - Outdoor Track & Field
- John E. Hoff Courts - Tennis
- CRWC Natatorium - Swimming
- Athletics/Alumni Center - All Sports
- Yeoman Field House - Indoor Track & Field
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Houston Cougars Traditions. UH Athletics. Retrieved 13 October 2007.
- ^ Facilities, UH Athletics, Retrieved 19 August 2007.
[edit] External links
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
|
|---|---|
| Baseball | MLB: Houston Astros, CBL: Bay Area Toros |
| Basketball | NBA: Houston Rockets, WNBA: Houston Comets, ABA: Houston Takers |
| Football | NFL: Houston Texans, IFL: Katy Ruff Riders, af2: Texas Copperheads, APFL: Conroe Storm, NAFL: Houston Sharks, Montgomery County Bulls, Bay Area Gamblers, IIFA: Harris County Militia, Galveston Tidalwave, WPFL: Houston Energy |
| Australian Rules Football | USAFL: Houston Lonestars |
| Soccer | MLS: Houston Dynamo, PDL: Houston Leones |
| Hockey | AHL: Houston Aeros |
| Tennis | WTT: Houston Wranglers |
| College athletics (NCAA Division I) |
Houston Cougars • Houston Baptist Huskies • Prairie View A&M Panthers • Rice Owls • Texas Southern Tigers |
