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1966 Houston Cougars football
ConferenceIndependent
Ranking
CoachesNo. 17
Record8–2
Head coach
Captain Dickie Post
Home stadium Astrodome
Seasons
←  1965
1967 →
1966 NCAA University Division independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame   –   –   9 – 0 – 1
Colgate   –   –   8 – 1 – 1
No. 8 Georgia Tech   –   –   9 – 2 – 0
Army   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Dayton   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Houston   –   –   8 – 2 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   7 – 2 – 0
No. 9 Miami (FL)   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
VPI   –   –   8 – 2 – 1
Syracuse   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Colorado State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
New Mexico State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
West Texas State   –   –   7 – 3 – 0
Villanova   –   –   6 – 3 – 0
Holy Cross   –   –   6 – 3 – 1
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Texas Western   –   –   6 – 4 – 0
Tulane   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
Florida State   –   –   6 – 5 – 0
Buffalo   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Penn State   –   –   5 – 5 – 0
Air Force   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Boston College   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Navy   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Utah State   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Xavier   –   –   4 – 6 – 0
Pacific   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
San Jose State   –   –   3 – 7 – 0
Pittsburgh   –   –   1 – 9 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1966 Houston Cougars football team was an American football team that represented the University of Houston as an independent during the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In its fifth season under head coach Bill Yeoman, the team compiled an 8–2 record, outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 125, and was ranked No. 17 in the final UPI/Coaches Poll. [1] [2] The team led the NCAA in total offense with an average of 437.2 yards per game. [3]

Halfback Dickie Post was the team captain, led the team with 1,061 rushing yards, and was also selected by the Houston Chronicle as the Player of the Year. [4] Other statistical leaders included quarterback Bo Burris with 1,666 passing yards and split end Ken Hebert with 38 receptions, 800 receiving yards, and 113 points scored (11 touchdowns, 41 extra points, and two field goals). [5] [6] Hebert's 113 points led all major college football players in 1966. [7]

The team played its home games at the Astrodome in Houston. The attendance at seven home games totaled 287,530, an average of 41,076 per game. [8]

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 17at Florida State
W 21–735,643
September 23 Washington State
W 21–736,104 [9] [10]
October 1 Oklahoma State
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
W 35–943,743
October 15 Mississippi State
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
W 28–047,870 [11]
October 22vs. Ole Miss
L 6–2714,118 [12]
October 29 Tampa
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
W 48–941,182
November 5 Tulsa
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
W 73–1442,061 [13]
November 12at Kentucky
W 56–1832,000 [14]
November 26 Memphis State
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
L 13–1441,313
December 3 Utah
  • Astrodome
  • Houston, TX
W 34–1435,257 [15]

Records

Houston players set multiple single-season school records during the 1966 season, including the following:

  • Burris set school records with 22 touchdown passes and also with 21 interceptions thrown. [16]
  • Hebert set school records with 113 points scored and 11 touchdown receptions. [17] He also punted for an average of 41.33 yards on 40 punts. [18]
  • Don Bean set school records with 384 punt return yards (on 19 returns) and also with three punt returns for touchdowns. [19]
  • Running back Warren McVea set a school record with an average of 8.8 rushing yards per carry. [20]

The team also set single-game scoring and total offense records with 73 points and 585 yards against Tulsa on November 5. [13]

Roster

Professional football

Several players from the 1966 Houston team later played in the NFL or AFL: Tom Beer, Bo Burris, Carl Cunningham, Paul Gipson, Ken Hebert, Greg Brezina, Charlie Hall, Gus Hollomon, Royce Berry, Warren McVea, and Dickie Post. In addition, Tom Paciorek, who intercepted six passes in 1966, [21] went on to play 18 years in Major League Baseball.

References

  1. ^ "2018 Houston Football Media Guide" (PDF). University of Houston. pp. 126, 145. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  2. ^ "1966 Houston Cougars Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  3. ^ Media Guide, p. 202.
  4. ^ Media Guide, pp 109, 126, 192.
  5. ^ Media Guide, pp. 192-194.
  6. ^ "1966 Houston Cougars Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "Houston's Hebert Wins Point Title". The News-Palladium (AP story). December 7, 1966. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Media Guide, p. 150.
  9. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (September 23, 1966). "Rugged test seen for Cougars". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 13.
  10. ^ Spoerhase, Jim (September 24, 1966). "WSU eleven downed again; tough Baylor is next foe". Spokane Daily Chronicle. (Washington). p. 11.
  11. ^ "Houston conquers Mississippi State". The Monitor. October 16, 1966. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Ole Miss topples fumbling UH '11'". San Angelo Standard-Times. October 23, 1966. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ a b "Houston Pops Tulsa In Astrodome Fray". The Shreveport Times. November 6, 1966. p. 2D – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Cougars trounce Kentucky, 56–18". The Kilgore News Herald. November 13, 1966. Retrieved October 21, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ "McVea Sparks Houston To Win Over Redskins". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. December 4, 1966. p. 3B – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ Media Guide, pp. 152, 166.
  17. ^ Media Guide, p. 173.
  18. ^ Media Guide, p. 187.
  19. ^ Media Guide, pp. 153, 182.
  20. ^ Media Guide, p. 158.
  21. ^ Media Guide, p. 190.
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