Representing the University of Houston, the Houston Cougars is an NCAA Division I college football that takes pride in years of excellence. Commonly referred to as ?UH?, the Houston Cougars have established their name well in collegiate football and has played their first season in 1946. The team has won over 10 conference championships over the years and had players winning coveted awards including the Heisman Trophy award and the Davey O?Brien Quarterback Award which was both awarded to Andre Ware in 1989. Other of their pride trophies earned include the Sammy Bough Trophy won by David Klingler in 1990 and the Lombardi Award won by Wilson Whitley in 1976. Four of their championship wins started in the Missouri Valley Conference.

It was during the 1950?s when they flourished the stadiums and gained utmost respect from the conference. After their stint with the Missouri Valley Conference, they later joined the Southwest Conference and have won, yet again, another 4 more championship titles in 1976, 1978, 1979 and 1984. Finally, after joining Conference USA, the team have won in 1996 and won again a decade after. Though the team was originally created in 1946, talks of having a collegiate football team for the University of Houston dates 5 years earlier. As early as 1941, the Houston Cougars have been battling the Rice Owls. This rivalry lasted for decades and has become their constant opponent to reach the championships.

Shasta the Cougar, clad in the colors red and white, is the team?s official mascot while the Robertson Stadium, previously called Houston Public School Stadium, is the where many victorious bouts against rivals took place. Currently spearheaded by head coach Kevin Sumlin, the team is again packed with energy, passion and commitment to relive the rich history the team has. Sumlin has just been named the 11th head coach for the Houston Cougars just last year but surely is not a newbie in coaching football. Included in his resume, he has been a co-offensive coordinator for the Oklahoma Sooners. He has been famous for drawing a rather large crowd in his debut game as a coach which actually made history. Sumlin also has been the very first Afro-American head coach that the cougars had.

Since their last triumph in 2006, all that the Cougars can think of is filling that gap of not winning last year and commence to become over-all champs once again. Led with 20 seniors including Mark Hafner, Mighty Inyang and Cody Lubojasky, there is no stopping this enraged team to reach their hope being hailed champs again. Though freshman Patrick Edwards injured his leg in the game with the Marshall Thundering Herd previously, they are far from being disheartened by the incident. Rather, the team has renewed faith in themselves to still make it in the end. Currently in a three way tie together with Tulsa Green Wave and Rice Owls at 5-1 stats in the Conference USA count, there is without a doubt that the Houston Cougars would emerge victorious once again.