- 1983
- 1989
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Houston Cougars – Clyde Drexler
Drexler and Young, along with Larry Micheaux and new recruit Hakeem Olajuwon (known then as Akeem Olajuwon), comprised the “Phi Slama Jama” basketball fraternity that gained national attention for its acrobatic, above-the-rim play. New players were “initiated” into the fraternity by having to stand underneath the basket as Drexler drove in from halfcourt and threw down a tomahawk slam over ... -
Andre Ware – Cougars Run and Shoot Expert
Ware grew up in the Galveston, Texas region, hoping to play football at the University of Texas. He said “I was going to Texas. All they had to do was lie to me and tell me I was going to play quarterback once I got there. Thank goodness they told me the truth [that] they were going to move me ...
History of the Cougars
The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was suggested by an early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach, John R. Bender after one of his former teams, Washington State later adopted the mascot and nickname. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the American Athletic Conference.
The official school colors of the University of Houston are scarlet red and albino white, and the mascot is a cougar named Shasta. Houston's traditional rival has been Rice with whom the Cougars shared a conference for thirty-three non-consecutive years (see also Houston–Rice rivalry).
Houston has had notable sports teams in its history, including Phi Slama Jama and the sixteen-time national champion men's golf team. The university's campus is home to many on-campus athletic facilities including TDECU Stadium (on the site of the former Robertson Stadium), Fertitta Center, and Darryl & Lori Schroeder Park.
College Sports Established
1927
Location
Houston, Texas
College Name
University of Houston
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1927 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
2013 - Present / American Athletic Conference
1996 - 2013 / Conference USA
1971 - 1996 / Southwest Conference
1960 - 1971 - Independent
1951 - 1960 / Missouri Valley Conference
1949 - 1950 / Gulf Coast Conference
1945 - 1949 / Lone Star Conference
Nickname
Cougars - Houston's nickname was suggested by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach, John R. Bender after one of his former teams, Washington State later adopted the mascot and nickname.
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.