1969 Houston Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1969 Houston Cougars football University of Houston classic logo.png 100px University of Houston's classic athletics logo Independent 16 12 9–2 Bill Yeoman 8th Houston Veer Melvin Robertson 5th Jim Strong Jerry Drones Astrodome Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl champion Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl W 36–7 vs. Auburn The 1969 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. It was the 24th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by eighth-year head coach Bill Yeoman who was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2001. The team played its home games in the Astrodome, a 53,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston. Houston competed as a member of the NCAA in the University Division, independent of any athletic conference. It was their tenth year of doing so. After completion of the regular season, the Cougars were invited to the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl, where they defeated the Auburn Tigers. Following the overall season, several players were selected for the 1970 NFL draft. Schedule 1969 AP September 20 l y 7 Florida Florida Field Gainesville, FL 34–59 53,807 https://www.newspapers.com/article/pensacola-news-journal-florida-bombards/133849833/ Pensacola News Journal Florida bombards Houston, 59 to 34 September 21, 1969 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com September 27 l y Oklahoma State Lewis Field Stillwater, OK 18–24 23,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic-o-state-cowboys-bea/170042848/ The Arizona Republic O-State Cowboys beat Cougars, 24–18 September 28, 1969 April 10, 2025 Newspapers.com October 4 w Mississippi State Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 74–0 36,207 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-cougs-rattle-miss-s/133854386/ The Odessa American Cougs rattle Miss. St. in Astrodome October 5, 1969 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com October 11 w y Arizona Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ 34–17 32,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-houston-flatten/155439010/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Houston flattens Arizona by 34–17 October 12, 1969 September 16, 2024 Newspapers.com October 25 w y Ole Miss 17 Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 25–11 48,049 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-cougars-upset-17th-r/133851664/ The Odessa American Cougars upset 17th ranked Ole Miss, 25–11 October 26, 1969 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com November 1 w Miami (FL) Houston Astrodome Houston, TX ABC 38–36 25,498 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-cougars-outlast-hurric/170042984/ The Victoria Advocate Cougars outlast Hurricane, 38–36 November 2, 1969 April 10, 2025 Newspapers.com November 8 w y Tulsa Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK 47–14 17,750 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-cougars-win-fift/170043079/ The Tyler Courier-Times-Telegraph Cougars win fifth straight November 9, 1969 April 10, 2025 Newspapers.com November 15 w y 18 NC State Carter–Finley Stadium Raleigh, NC 34–13 31,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-and-observer-houston-pops-wolfp/139345085/ The News and Observer Houston pops Wolfpack November 16, 1969 January 22, 2024 Newspapers.com November 22 w 19 Wyoming Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 41–14 35,389 https://www.newspapers.com/article/austin-american-statesman-cougar-aerial/155438322/ Austin American-Statesman Cougar aerial bombs blitz Wyoming, 41–14 November 23, 1969 September 16, 2024 Newspapers.com November 29 w 18 Florida State Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 41–13 36,508–36,548 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-houston-blasts/170043195/ San Angelo Standard-Times Houston blasts Florida St. unit November 30, 1969 April 10, 2025 Newspapers.com December 31 w y 17 Auburn 12 Houston Astrodome Houston, TX Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl HTN 36–7 55,203 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-auburn-downed-36/133849653/ Birmingham Post-Herald Auburn downed 36–7 January 1, 1970 October 21, 2023 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Houston) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/174660 National Collegiate Athletic Association April 10, 2025 http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hou/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/hou-09-mg-section8.pdf 2009 Houston Cougars football media guide: Year-by-Year results Houston Cougars athletics 2010-05-04 2012-03-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302195140/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hou/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/hou-09-mg-section8.pdf dead Rankings + Week-to-week rankingshttp://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=361 1969 Final AP Football Poll AP Poll Archive 2010-05-04 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120305190105/http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/seasons.cfm?appollid=361 2012-03-05 Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking. ██ Not ranked the previous week. Poll Pre Wk 1 Wk 2 Wk 3 Wk 4 Wk 5 Wk 6 Wk 7 Wk 8 Wk 9 Wk 10 Wk 11 Wk 12 Final AP7NRNRNRNRNRNRNR181918191712 Preseason Top 25 rankings November 2025 Houston was nationally ranked in the AP poll for the preseason with the No. 7 spot. It was the first time that Houston had received votes in the pre-season for that poll since the 1953 season, and was the highest pre-season ranking for the team ever. Outside of the 1967 season, it was the highest that Houston had ever been ranked in the poll. Game summaries Florida Houston opened the 1969 season ranked as #7 in the Pre-season AP Poll. For its first game, the team traveled to Gainesville, Florida to compete against Florida of the Southeastern Conference at Florida Field. Led by tenth-year head coach Ray Graves, Florida had not lost a season opener for the past three years, while Houston had not lost a season opener for the past four years.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vNApAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kssEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1330%2C4066918 Cougars, Gators Gamble Opening Game Streaks The Daytona Beach News-Journal 1969-09-19 2010-08-13 It was the first time in history that the two teams had met. The victory by the Gators was considered a major upset, as the #7-ranked Houston quickly fell to an unranked position following the game, while Florida rose to #12 in the AP Poll.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fx8LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z1ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3716%2C3440710 https://archive.today/20120712184131/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Fx8LAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Z1ADAAAAIBAJ&pg=3716,3440710 dead 2012-07-12 Houston Drops Out of College Ratings Moran, Sheila 1969-09-23 The Daily Courier 2010-08-13 Following the game, Florida eventually went on to earn a 9–1–1 overall record, and after the defeat of Tennessee in the Gator Bowl, a #14 national ranking the poll to finish the season.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iqIyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=-uwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=900%2C4044735 Gutty Florida Defence Stops Tennessee 14–13 in Gator Bowl 1969-12-29 Ottawa Citizen 2010-08-13 Coaching staff thumb|Head coach Bill Yeoman coaches Houston Name Position Alma mater (year) Year at Houston Bill Yeoman Head coach, offensive coordinator Army (1948) 7th Melvin Robertson Defensive coordinator West Texas State (1950) 5th Melvin Brown Offensive backs coach Oklahoma (1954) 8th Billy Willingham Offensive line coach TCU (1951) 4th Barry Sides Offensive line coach, defensive ends coach Houston (1968) 1st Ben Hurt Defensive line coach Middle Tennessee (1957) 5th Howard Tippett Linebackers coach East Tennessee State (1958) 3rd Joe Arenas Wide receivers coach Omaha (1951) 7th Carroll Schultz Freshmen coach Louisiana Tech (1948) 8th Bobby Baldwin Freshmen coach Houston (1958) 5th References Houston Category:Houston Cougars football seasons Category:Bluebonnet Bowl champion seasons Houston Cougars football