1957 Houston Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1957 Houston Cougars football University of Houston classic logo.png 100 University of Houston's classic athletics logo Missouri Valley Conference MVC 5–4–1 3–0 Hal Lahar 1st Split-T Rice Stadium MVC champion The 1957 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1957 college football season. It was the 12th year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by first-year head coach Hal Lahar. The team played its games off-campus at Rice Stadium, which had been built in 1950. Houston won its third conference championship, as the Cougars earned a perfect 3–0 record in conference play.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EJQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=neoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1819%2C4638700 Auburn Crushes Houston, 48-7 The Miami News 1957-10-27 2010-11-12 It was the first time a conference championship was achieved by a first-year coach for Houston. Despite losing several key starting players and switching head coaches, Houston was considered a favorite for the conference championship prior to the season's start.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1133138/1/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120302205324/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1133138/1/index.htm dead March 2, 2012 Missouri Valley Hickman, Herman 1957-09-23 Sports Illustrated 2010-11-18 Following the season, three of Houston's players from the 1957 roster were drafted in the 1958 NFL draft. Three more 1957 players were also taken in the 1959 NFL draft. Schedule 1957 AP September 21 w y Miami (FL) 14 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 7–0 52,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-news-hurricanes-stunned-by-hou/169714075/ The Miami News Hurricanes stunned by Houston, 7–0 September 22, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com September 28 l y y 14 Baylor 11 Baylor Stadium Waco, TX rivalry 6–14 22,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/corpus-christi-caller-times-bears-halt-h/168541193/ The Corpus Christi Caller-Times Bears halt Houston for 14–6 victory September 29, 1957 March 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 5 w y Cincinnati Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH 7–0 15,000–18,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news-cougars-open-ti/169714225/ The Galveston Daily News Cougars open title defense by blanking Cincinnati, 7–0 October 6, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com Complete Summary Of Game Statistics —Home Team (Cincinnati vs. Houston) https://web1.ncaa.org/app_data/statsPDFArchive/MFB1/1957/140.00_H_288.00_19571005_0_7.pdf National Collegiate Athletic Association May 8, 2025 October 12 l y y Texas A&M 3 Kyle Field College Station, TX 6–28 33,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-aggies-whip-houston-2/168538096/ The Victoria Advocate Aggies whip Houston, 28–6 October 13, 1957 March 21, 2025 Newspapers.com October 19 t y Oklahoma State Rice Stadium Houston, TX 6–6 20,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-austin-american-state-ties-houston/169714364/ The Austin American-Statesman State ties Houston, 6–6, in MVC go October 20, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com October 26 l y y Auburn 5 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 7–48 30,000 Auburn Offense Explodes; Tigers Maul Houston, 48-7 The Montgomery Advertiser Sam Adams October 27, 1957 C1 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/99104342/auburn-offense-explodes-tigers-maul/ Newspapers.com November 2 l y y Ole Miss 14 Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 7–20 27,000–30,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-rebels-win-20-to-7/133104013/ Rebels win 20 to 7 The Clarion-Ledger November 3, 1957 October 8, 2023 Newspapers.com November 9 w y y Mississippi Southern Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 27–12 11,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74691259/king-sparks-houston-by-southerners-271 Fort Worth Star-Telegram King sparks Houston by Southerners, 27–12 November 10, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com November 16 w y Wichita Veterans Stadium Wichita, KS 27–6 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/victoria-advocate-houston-spills-wichita/169714471/ The Victoria Advocate Houston spills Wichita, 27–6 November 17, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com November 23 w y Tulsa Skelly Stadium Tulsa, OK 13–7 13,486 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-late-houston-score-s/169714569/ The Daily Oklahoman Late Houston score shades Tulsans, 13–7 November 24, 1957 April 6, 2025 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Houston) https://stats.ncaa.org/teams/129604 National Collegiate Athletic Association April 6, 2025 Preseason The preseason marked a head coaching change for the Cougars, as head coach Hal Lahar was successfully lured from Colgate on January 18, 1957.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CM5IAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KAINAAAAIBAJ&pg=4274,1561143 Lahar Quits Colgate 11 For Houston Coaching Job Meriden Journal 1957-01-19 2011-09-06 Game summaries Miami (FL) thumb|Houston halfback Claude King advances against Miami in a rushing play, while end Bob Borah blocks #14 Miami 0 0 0 0 Houston 0 7 0 0 Miami, coached by tenth-year Hurricanes veteran Andy Gustafson, traveled to Rice Stadium to compete against Houston for both of the teams' season opener game.http://digital.lib.uh.edu/u?/p15195coll7,2323 Houstonian Miami – Lahar's First...7-0 2010-11-18 August 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes It was the first meeting between the two teams. Miami, an NCAA University Division Independent, was heavily favored to win the game, and were nationally ranked as #14 in the AP Poll. Both teams struggled offensively, as there were 11 fumbles throughout the game.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=NG4eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jMkEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1063%2C3520786 Houston U. Defeats Favored Miami U., 7-0 The Daytona Beach News-Journal 1957-09-22 2010-11-12 Miami's longest drive was for only 27 yards. The single score in the game came near the end of the second quarter period when junior Houston halfback rushed for 23 yards with key blocks from senior fullback Owen Mulholland and junior guard Burr Davis. Halfback Mike Michon converted the point after touchdown. Miami responded by taking the ball to Houston's 23-yard line in the second quarter, but ran out of time to complete a successful score. In the fourth quarter, Houston halfback Don Brown ran for 75 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but this was retracted by officials due to a holding penalty. With a win against #14 Miami, Houston entered the AP Poll as a nationally ranked team for the first time since the 1952 season. Baylor #14 Houston 0 0 6 0 #11 Baylor 0 0 7 7 The Houston Cougars went on the road to Waco, Texas to meet with Baylor of the Southwest Conference. Both Houston and Baylor had a six-game winning streak.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=IaxTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EogDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2384%2C2883164 Baylor, Houston Have Won 6 In Row Lyons, John 1957-09-26 The Victoria Advocate 2010-11-29 Baylor led the series 3–2, and were led by second-year head coach Sam Boyd. Also coaching for the Bears was lines coach Harden Cooper, who had previously served in the same capacity for Houston under Hal Lahar from 1950 to 1954. As a pre-season ranked team, and a win against Villanova the week prior, Baylor entered the game nationally ranked at #11 in the AP Poll. While Houston's offensive strategy centered around a running game, Baylor's game was spearheaded by quarterback Doyle Traylor and a short passing strategy. Traylor completed 11 of 15 passes to help his team win.http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1133063/2/index.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20120302205329/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1133063/2/index.htm dead March 2, 2012 Travails Of A T Back Parker, Don 1957-10-07 Sports Illustrated 2010-11-29 Throughout the first half of the game, no team scored, but early in the third quarter, Baylor scored a touchdown.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YiMsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ocgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4865%2C6678729 Long Drive Leads To Win For Baylor TimesDaily 1957-09-29 2010-11-29 Although Houston answered with a 3-yard reception for a touchdown by halfback Claude King, kicker Mike Michon was unable to convert for the point after touchdown. After the loss, Houston was dropped from the AP Poll, and did not return for the remainder of the season. Cincinnati Houston 0 0 0 7 Cincinnati 0 0 0 0 For the first time ever, Houston met with Missouri Valley Conference foe Cincinnati at Nippert Stadium in Ohio. Having moved from an independent status in the NCAA, it was Cincinnati's first season as a conference member, and the team was coached by 3rd-year head coach George Blackburn. After a scoreless three quarters, the fourth quarter of the game saw Houston score a rushing touchdown by halfback Claude King from Cincinnati's four-yard line.http://digital.lib.uh.edu/u?/p15195coll7,2325 Cincy 0, UH 7 Houstonian 2010-12-01 August 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Houston's offense had 257 total yards compared to Cincinnati's 97. With the win against the Bearcats, Houston improved to an overall record of 2–1, and a 1–0 conference record. Texas A&M 1957 Texas A&M Aggies football team When Houston met with Texas A&M of the Southwest Conference at Kyle Field, it was the sixth time in history that the two teams had competed against each other. Texas A&M had become a regular opponent for Houston, having met with each other each season since 1952. The Aggies were coached by Bear Bryant, who was serving in his fourth year with the team. Attendance for the game was 33,000. It was the third time on Houston's schedule that they played a nationally ranked team, and Texas A&M was #3 in the AP Poll. With the loss to Texas A&M, Houston's overall record fell to 2–2. Texas A&M's national ranking improved to the #1 spot later in the season, and the Aggies eventually finished at #9 after a berth in the Gator Bowl. Following the season, head coach Bear Bryant went on to coach Alabama, and won several national championships from 1958 to 1982. Oklahoma State Houston returned home to compete against former conference-mate Oklahoma State. It was the Cowboys' first season as an independent since 1914. The team's head coach was third-year Cliff Speegle, and the Cowboys' entered the game with a 3–1 season record and a three-game winning streak. It would be both Houston and Oklahoma State's sole game of the season with a tied result. Had Oklahoma State won the game, it would have meant a complete sweep of all Missouri Valley former conference-mates.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wSZUAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MDoNAAAAIBAJ&pg=4406%2C3806346 Houston Tackle Gets Week's Best Lineman Award St. Joseph News-Press 1957-10-22 2011-04-15 Although the Cowboys led the game with six points over the Cougars' nil score, a final quarter punt by Oklahoma State's Jim Wiggins was blocked by Houston tackle Hogan Wharton. This allowed Houston to recover the ball on Oklahoma State's 24-yard line. Then, Houston halfback Don Brown managed to complete a nine-yard rushing touchdown.http://digital.lib.uh.edu/u?/p15195coll7,2327 State 6, Cougars 6 Houstonian 2011-04-15 August 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes Despite this, when attempting a PAT, kicker Sammy Blount missed, and the score remained tied. Following the game, Hogan Wharton received the "Lineman of the Week" award from the Missouri Valley Conference. Houston's record became 2–2–1, and Oklahoma State eventually finished their season with a 6–3–1 overall record. Auburn 1957 Auburn Tigers football team #5 Auburn 16 6 6 20 Houston 0 7 0 0 Houston hosted Auburn of the Southeastern Conference for their next game. With a perfect 4–0 season record, the Tigers were nationally ranked in the AP Poll as #5. Auburn was coached by seventh-year head coach Ralph Jordan who had led his team to four previous winning seasons with three bowl game appearances, and three finishes in the national rankings. Starting with a 71-yard touchdown pass with its first play against Houston, Auburn would eventually crush Houston with a 48–7 win.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=EJQzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=neoFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1819%2C4638700 Auburn Crushes Houston, 48-7 The Miami News 1957-10-27 2011-04-23 The Cougars' lone touchdown was scored by halfback Paul Sweeten in the second quarter after returning an interception. Following the win against Houston, Auburn went on to have an undefeated 10–0 season record. They were awarded the national title in the AP Poll, and were ranked as the second-best team in the coaches' poll. As a team on NCAA probation, Auburn was ineligible for a bowl game appearance. Ole Miss thumb|left|Houston's Bob Borah and Bob Blevins confer with head coach Hal Lahar at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium against Ole Miss Houston 0 7 0 0 #14 Ole Miss 7 0 0 13 For its next game, Houston traveled to Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium to compete against the Ole Miss Rebels.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=TxcsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=isgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5266%2C3674656 Ole Miss Nips Houston TimesDaily 1957-11-03 2011-05-05 Having competed against Auburn in the previous game, Ole Miss was the second SEC team that Houston played on its schedule. The Rebels were coached by eleventh-year veteran Johnny Vaught, and entered the contest with a 5–1 overall record (having only lost to Arkansas of the Southwest Conference).https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f2YpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kckEAAAAIBAJ&pg=742%2C672319 SEC Title Hopefuls Down to 4 Bailer, Mercer 1957-11-04 The Daytona Beach News-Journal 2011-05-05 Ole Miss was considered to be the favorite, and were nationally ranked as #14 in the AP Poll. Within the first four minutes of gameplay, Ole Miss scored the first touchdown in a rushing play by senior running back Billy Lott. In the second quarter, Houston's halfback Billy Ray Dickey scored the sole touchdown with a completed pass thrown by quarterback Paul Sweeten. Throughout the third quarter, there were no scores by either side. In the third quarter, Ole Miss defensive end Don Williams recovered a fumble from Houston, and the Rebels gained 48 yards.The USA Today College Football Encyclopedia 2009-2010 Boyles Bob Guido, Paul 2009 Skyhorse Publishing New York City 978-1-60239-677-7 86 https://books.google.com/books?id=eNThHqwUK7kC&pg=PA86 2011-05-05 In the fourth quarter, Ole Miss starting quarterback Ray Brown scored a touchdown for his team by utilizing a quarterback sneak. After Sweeten fumbled at the Houston six-yard line, Ole Miss backup quarterback Bobby Franklin then scored a final touchdown. With a win against the Cougars, Mississippi continued their season to eventually finish with a 9–1–1 overall record, and a win against Texas in the 1958 Sugar Bowl. Ole Miss finished the season with a #7 national ranking in the AP Poll, and 2nd-place finish in the Southeastern Conference standings. Mississippi Southern Houston remained at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi to face the Southern Miss Southerners for the first time in history. Southern Miss was coached by ninth-year head coach Thad Vann, and entered the game with a perfect 7–0 overall record. Halfback Claude King had a stand-out game, where he scored two touchdowns for the Cougars. Right halfback Don Brown of Dayton, Texas also punched in two short touchdown runs.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/74691259/king-sparks-houston-by-southerners-271 Fort Worth Star-Telegram King sparks Houston by Southerners, 27–12 November 10, 1957 March 29, 2021 Newspapers.comhttp://digital.lib.uh.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=/p15195coll7&CISOPTR=2426&CISOSHOW=2323 Miss. Southern 12, Big Red 27 Houstonian September 6, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302205339/http://digital.lib.uh.edu/cdm4/document.php?CISOROOT=%2Fp15195coll7&CISOPTR=2426&CISOSHOW=2323 March 2, 2012 dead Following its loss to Houston, Southern Miss went on to finish the season with an 8–4 record, and appeared in that season's edition of the Tangerine Bowl. Wichita After its victory over Southern Miss, Houston had finished its out of conference schedule. Traveling to Veterans Stadium, Houston had the opportunity to clinch the 1957 Missouri Valley Conference championship with a victory over conference opponent Wichita.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GzJaAAAAIBAJ&sjid=QEwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5968,2584772 Houston Can Clinch Valley Title Sunday St. Joseph Gazette 1957-11-11 2011-09-06 Wichita, now a regular opponent of Houston since the 1949 season, was tied with Houston in the all-time series of 3–3. They were coached by first-year Woody Woodard, and with an abysmal record of 1–6, were coming off only their first win of the season over Drake. It would be their sole win of the season. Tulsa Houston 7 0 0 6 Tulsa 0 7 0 0 The conclusion of the 1957 season coincided with another victory and a perfect 3–0 conference record for the Cougars. Houston met with the Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, who were coached by Bobby Dobbs, and had a 3–5 record. An annual match-up between the two teams had existed since the 1950 season, and this was their eighth meeting. Despite their losing record, the Golden Hurricane were coming off of a three-game winning streak, and the game was designated as Tulsa's homecoming.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bqpTAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DYgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6464%2C2510110 Houston Wins on Late Tally Victoria Advocate 1957-11-24 2012-06-20 The first score of the game came from Houston, when running back Harold Lewis made a 2-yard dive into the Hurricane end zone in the first quarter. Tulsa answered with their own rushing touchdown in the second quarter. However, the game was decided late in the fourth quarter, when a holding call was made against Tulsa, and they were forced to give up fifteen yards. This eventually resulted in Houston's senior halfback Gene Ward scoring another touchdown from a pass by quarterback Don Brown. With a win against Tulsa, Houston improved its all-time series record against the Golden Hurricane to a tie at 4–4. Poll rankings November 2025 + Week-to-Week RankingsLegend: ██ 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 Final APNR14NRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNRNR Coaching staff thumb|Head Coach Hal Lahar Name Position Alma mater (Year) Year at Houston Hal Lahar Head coach Oklahoma (1940) 1st Andy Zubel Offensive line coach West Virginia (1949) 1st Hank Watkins Defensive line coach Tulane (1950) 1st Tex Flanakin Ends coach Baylor (1949) 1st Red Conkright Defensive backfield coach Oklahoma (1937) 1st Casto Ramsey Offensive backfield coach King College (1941) 1st Lovette Hill Head scout and assistant Centenary (1931) 10th Swede Hill Freshmen coach Sam Houston State (1939) 1st After the season NFL draft There were three players from the 1957 season to be drafted to the National Football League in the 1958 NFL draft. It was the eighth time in team history that Houston players were taken in the draft. Tackle Hogan Wharton was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the eleventh round (131st overall), but remained on the team through the duration of the 1958 season. Similarly, Don McDonald was taken by the Philadelphia Eagles in the twenty-ninth round (340th overall), but did not leave Houston until after the 1959 season. Tackle John Peters was taken by the Green Bay Packers in the thirtieth round (350th overall). While Donnie Caraway, another Houston player was drafted in 1958, he did not play with the Cougars for the 1957 season. During the 1959 NFL draft several more Houston players from the 1957 season were drafted. Don Brown was taken in the second round (20th overall) by the Los Angeles Rams, Hal Lewis was taken in the seventh round (84th overall) by the Baltimore Colts, and Bob Borah was taken in the twenty-fifth round (296th overall) by the Chicago Bears. Honors Tackle Hogan Wharton was named Lineman of the Year by the Missouri Valley Conference. He was also named to the 1957 All-Missouri Valley Conference Team along with guard Burr Davis, and fullback Harold Lewis. Halfback Don Brown was selected to participate in the 1958 Senior Bowl. References Houston Category:Houston Cougars football seasons Category:Missouri Valley Conference football champion seasons Houston Cougars football