1976 Houston Cougars football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1976 Houston Cougars football Houston's 1976 Southwest Conference football championship trophy.jpg 285 Houston's 1976 Southwest Conference championship trophy Southwest Conference SWC 4 4 10–2 7–1 Bill Yeoman 15th Houston Veer Don Todd 5th Paul Humphreys Wilson Whitley Val Belcher Houston AstrodomeRice Stadium SWC co-championCotton Bowl Classic champion Cotton Bowl Classic W 30–21 vs. Maryland The 1976 Houston Cougars football team, also known as the Houston Cougars, Houston, or UH, represented the University of Houston in the 1976 NCAA Division I football season. It was the 31st year of season play for Houston. The team was coached by 15th-year head football coach, Bill Yeoman. The team played its home games at the Astrodome, a 53,000-person capacity stadium off-campus in Houston, although the home games vs. Texas A&M and Arkansas were moved to Rice Stadium. It was Houston's first year of season play as a full member of the Southwest Conference eligible as champions. Upon winning the conference as co-champions, the Cougars competed against the Maryland Terrapins in the Cotton Bowl Classic, and finished the post-season at an all-time highest national ranking in the history of the program. Senior defensive tackle Wilson Whitley received the Lombardi Award following the season. Future UH and Baylor head coach Art Briles played on the team. Schedule 1976 AP September 11 w y Baylor Baylor Stadium Waco, TX rivalry ABC 23–5 37,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kilgore-news-herald-uh-downs-baylor/169125240/ The Kilgore News Herald UH downs Baylor in SWC debut September 12, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com September 18 l y y Florida Florida Field Gainesville, FL 14–49 49,820 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-florida-eases-past-h/134271312/ The Odessa American Florida eases past Houston by 49–14 September 19, 1976 October 29, 2023 Newspapers.com September 25 w Texas A&M 9 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 21–10 70,001 https://www.newspapers.com/article/san-angelo-standard-times-cougars-claw-a/169125364/ San Angelo Standard-Times Cougars claw Aggies, 21–10 September 26, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 9 w y West Texas State Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 50–7 23,498 https://www.newspapers.com/article/fort-worth-star-telegram-houston-skins-b/169125466/ Fort Worth Star-Telegram Houston skins Buffaloes October 10, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 16 w y 19 SMU Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX rivalry 29–6 28,204 https://www.newspapers.com/article/del-rio-news-herald-houston-cougars-whip/169125580/ Del Rio News Herald Houston Cougars whip SMU, 29–6 October 17, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 23 l 14 Arkansas 15 Rice Stadium Houston, TX 7–14 47,192 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-odessa-american-razorbacks-hand-coug/169125682/ The Odessa American Razorbacks hand Cougars first SWC setback October 24, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com October 30 w y TCU Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 49–21 18,263 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tyler-courier-times-houston-cougars/169125758/ The Tyler Courier-Times Houston Cougars rattle Horned Frogs October 31, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 6 w y 19 Texas 20 Memorial Stadium Austin, TX 30–0 77,809 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-galveston-daily-news-cougars-smother/169125839/ The Galveston Daily News Cougars smother Longhorns 30–0 November 7, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 20 w y 9 Texas Tech 5 Jones Stadium Lubbock, TX rivalry ABC 27–19 45,102 https://www.newspapers.com/article/hobbs-daily-news-sun-sophomore-q-back-sp/169125914/ Hobbs Daily News-Sun Sophomore q-back sparks Houston upset victory November 21, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com November 27 w y 7 Rice Rice Stadium Houston, TX rivalry 42–20 32,212 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marshall-news-messenger-cougs-boil-r/169126003/ The Marshall News Messenger Cougs boil Rice; Cotton Bowl bound November 28, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com December 4 w y 6 Miami (FL) Houston Astrodome Houston, TX 21–16 20,849 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-cougars-quell-hurricanes/169126087/ The Shreveport Times Cougars quell Hurricanes December 5, 1976 March 29, 2025 Newspapers.com January 1 w y y 6 Maryland 4 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX Cotton Bowl Classic CBS 30–21 58,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marshall-news-messenger-houston-stun/139622590/ The Marshall News Messenger Houston stuns Maryland in Cotton Bowl January 2, 1977 January 26, 2024 Newspapers.com Rankings + 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 Wk 11 Wk 12 Final APNRNRNRNRNR1914NR19129764 Game summaries at Baylor 1976 Baylor Bears football team Baylor–Houston football rivalry #fff #eee Houston Cougars 1976 1;text-align:center autocollapse Game One – Houston Cougars (0–0) at Baylor Bears (0–0) – Game summary September 11, 1976 3:20 p.m. CDT Cougars 0 0 6 17 Bears 5 0 0 0 Baylor Stadium • Waco, Texas 37,500 ABC Verne Lundquist (play-by-play) and Lee Grosscup (color commentator) First Quarter (0:00) BAY – (0:00) BAY – Second Quarter No scoring plays Third Quarter (0:00) HOU – Fourth Quarter (0:00) HOU – (0:00) HOU – (0:00) HOU – Statistics HOU BAY First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Rushing Receiving Baylor Passing Rushing Receiving at Florida 1976 Florida Gators football team #fff #eee Houston Cougars 1976 1;text-align:center autocollapse Game Two – Houston Cougars (1–0) at Florida Gators (0–1) – Game summary September 18, 1976 6:30 p.m. CDT Cougars 0 7 7 0 Gators 14 14 14 7 Florida Field • Gainesville, Florida 49,820 First Quarter (0:00) FLA – (0:00) FLA – Second Quarter (0:00) FLA – (0:00) FLA – (0:00) HOU – Third Quarter (0:00) FLA – (0:00) HOU – (0:00) FLA – Fourth Quarter (0:00) FLA – Statistics HOU FLA First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Rushing Receiving Florida Passing Rushing Receiving vs Texas A&M vs West Texas State at SMU vs Arkansas vs TCU at Texas 1976 Texas Longhorns football team #fff #eee Houston Cougars 1976 1;text-align:center autocollapse Game Eight – No. 19 Houston Cougars (5–2) at No. 20 Texas Longhorns (3–2–1) – Game summary November 6, 1976 3:30 p.m. CST No. 19 Cougars 7 3 6 14 No. 20 Longhorns 0 0 0 0 Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas 77,809 First Quarter (2:47) HOU – Second Quarter (0:36) HOU – Third Quarter (11:35) HOU – (2:58) HOU – Fourth Quarter (11:28) HOU – (3:51) HOU – Statistics HOU TEX First downs Total yards Rushing yards Passing yards Passing: Comp–Att–Int Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsHouston Passing Rushing Receiving Texas Passing Rushing Receiving at Texas Tech at Rice vs Miami (FL) vs Maryland (Cotton Bowl Classic) 1976 Maryland Terrapins football team 1977 Cotton Bowl Classic #fff #eee Houston Cougars 1976 1;text-align:center autocollapse 1977 Cotton Bowl Classic: No. 4 Maryland Terrapins (11–0) vs No. 6 Houston Cougars (9–2) – Game summary January 1, 1977 1:00 p.m. CST No. 4 Terrapins 0 7 7 7 No. 6 Cougars 21 6 0 3 Cotton Bowl • Dallas, Texas 58,500 James Artley (SEC) CBS Lindsey Nelson (play-by-play) and Paul Hornung (color commentator) First quarter (6:27) HOU – Dyral Thomas 11-yard run, (Lennard Coplin kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 0:00; Houston 7–0) (3:13) HOU – Alois Blackwell 33-yard run, (Lennard Coplin kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 38 yards, 0:00; Houston 14–0) (0:51) HOU – Alois Blackwell 1-yard run, (Lennard Coplin kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 24 yards, 0:00; Houston 21–0) Second quarter (9:36) MD – Mark Manges 6-yard run, (Ed Loncak kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 49 yards, 0:00; Houston 21–7) (0:55) HOU – Don Bass 33-yard pass from Danny Davis, (Lennard Coplin kick fail) (Drive: 8 plays, 35 yards, 0:00; Houston 27–7) Third quarter (1:41) MD – Eric Sievers 11-yard pass from Mark Manges, (Mike Sochko kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 97 yards, 0:00; Houston 27–14) Fourth quarter (8:46) MD – Tim Wilson 1-yard run, (Mike Sochko kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 30 yards, 0:00; Houston 27–21) (0:18) HOU – Lennard Coplin 28-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 81 yards, 0:00; Houston 30–21) Statistics MD HOU First downs 17 20 Total yards 299 428 Rushing yards 120 320 Passing yards 179 108 Passing: Comp–Att–Int 17–32–0 5–8–0 Time of possession Team Category Player StatisticsMaryland Passing Rushing Receiving Houston Passing Rushing Receiving Coaching staff Name Position Alma mater (Year) Year at Houston Bill Yeoman Head coach/offensive coordinator Army (1948) 15th Don Todd Defensive coordinator Hardin–Simmons (1964) 5th Melvin Brown Offensive backs coach Oklahoma (1954) 15th Clarence Daniel Defensive backs coach Huron (1955) 5th Ronny Peacock Defensive backs coach Houston (1972) 3rd Billy Willingham Offensive line coach TCU (1951) 10th Elmer Redd Offensive backfield coach Prairie View A&M (1950) 7th Gary Mullins Linebackers coach Houston (1972) 2nd Joe Arenas Wide receivers coach Nebraska-Omaha (1951) 14th References Houston Category:Houston Cougars football seasons Category:Cotton Bowl Classic champion seasons Category:Southwest Conference football champion seasons Houston Cougars football Category:Long stubs with short prose