- Houston Cougars
Infobox college athletics
name = Houston Cougars
logo_width= 150
university = University of Houston
conference =Conference USA
division =Division I
director =Dave Maggard
city = Houston
state = Texas
stateabb = TX
teams = 16
stadium = John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium
arena =Hofheinz Pavilion
baseballfield =Cougar Field
mascot = Shasta
nickname = Cougars
fightsong = Cougar Fight Song
color1 = Scarlet
hex1 = FF2400
color2 = Albino
hex2 = FFFFFF
pageurl = http://uhcougars.cstv.com/
pagename = Cougars AthleticsHouston 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 theSouthwest Conference in 1996, in which these teams were a member, the Cougars joinedConference USA as a part of the West Division. Also in the West Division of Conference USA is Houston's major sports rival, the cross-townRice 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 isDave Maggard . Houston has had notable sports teams in its history includingPhi Slama Jama .Athletics
The University of Houston competes with teams in the following sports:
Men's sports:
*Football
*Basketball
*Baseball
*Golf
*Cross-Country
*Track & FieldWomen's sports:
*Basketball
*Softball
*Soccer
*Cross-Country
*Track & Field
*Tennis
*Swimming & Diving
*VolleyballFootball
UH fielded its first varsity intercollegiate football team in 1946. The Houston Cougars football team currently competes in the
NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision as a member ofConference USA . The team plays its games inRobertson Stadium and will begin the 2008 season with a new head coach,Kevin Sumlin .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 byTom Penders and play inHofheinz Pavilion .Notable players for the UH Men's basketball team include
Hakeem Olajuwon andClyde Drexler , who were part of the legendaryPhi Slama Jama , as well asOtis Birdsong andElvin Hayes . Each of these players has had their number retired. Notable coaches for the Cougars areGuy Lewis andClyde Drexler . Notable games for the Cougars include the first nationally syndicated NCAA basketball game, the Game of the Century.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 byRayner Noble since 1994. The Houston Cougars baseball program has appeared in numerous NCAA Regionals, Super Regionals, andCollege World Series .Rivalries
Houston's most meaningful current rivalry is with cross-town
Rice University , which is also a member ofConference USA . The Cougars andRice Owls compete in football annually for trophy named the "Bayou Bucket ," referencing one of the city of Houston's nicknames as the "Bayou City." The Cougars currently possess the trophy after defeating Rice 56-48 atRobertson Stadium .Historically, the
University of Texas at Austin was one of Houston's principal rivals, especially after Houston joined the now-defunctSouthwest Conference . This rivalry gave rise to the Houston Cougar Paw tradition. [http://uhcougars.cstv.com/trads/hou-trads.html Houston Cougars Traditions] . UH Athletics. Retrieved 13 October 2007.]Facilities
Most of the university's major sports facilities are located along Cullen Boulevard, a the central traffic artery through the campus. At times in the past, some of the university's teams have played their home games at off-campus venues such as the
Astrodome andRice Stadium . The men's golf program competes off campus because it does not have a dedicated golf course on campus. University of Houston's current sports facilities include the following [http://uhcougars.cstv.com/facilities/hou-facilities.html Facilities] , UH Athletics, Retrieved 19 August 2007.] :*
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 & Fieldee also
*
Houston Cougars men's golf
* List of notable Houston CougarsReferences
External links
* [http://uhcougars.cstv.com/index-main.html#00 UH Cougars]
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