By Mike Emery
Staff writer

From conference championships to bowl victories, the Cougars rocketed to national recognition during Bill Yeoman’s years at the coaching helm.

His first game as the Cougars’ coach in 1962 was a sign of things to come. Taking the field against Baylor University, Yeoman’s debut was spectacular as the Cougars shut down the Bears 19 – 0.

When he retired following the 1986 season, Yeoman boasted a career record of 160-108-8. During his time at UH, the Cougars captured four conference titles and played in 11 bowls.

The following is a rundown of great Cougar moments during the Yeoman years.

1962
Yeoman’s premiere season with the Cougars ended with a 7 – 4 record and a 49 – 21 Tangerine Bowl victory over Miami University on Dec. 22.

1964
Yeoman breaks the color barrier in Texas college athletics. At the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, Yeoman recruits Warren McVea, the first black athlete to be recruited by a major Texas college. “I don’t see color,” he said at the time. “I see football players.”

1969
Before a hometown crowd, Yeoman brings the Coogs back to bowl action in the Astrodome. On New Year’s Eve, UH defeats the Auburn Tigers 36 – 7.

1974
Yeoman and the Cougars’ final Bluebonnet Bowl appearance winds up in a 31 – 31 tie against the University of North Carolina Tarheels.

1977
UH football joined the Southwest Conference in 1976. Yeoman and the Cougars made a bold statement in its inaugural season capturing the conference title and then, winning its first Cotton Bowl appearance against the University of Maryland Terrapins on New Year’s day 30 - 21.

1978 - 1979
The Cougars claimed the Southwest Conference crown and headed to the Cotton Bowl to face the University of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish. In a heartbreaker, Yeoman watched his team lose 35 – 34.

1979 - 1980
UH successfully defends its Southwest Conference title and returns to the Cotton Bowl. Yeoman ranks the Cougars’ last second upset over the University of Nebraska as one of his favorite Cotton Bowl memories. With Cougar Eric Herring’s winning catch in the final moments of the game, UH beat Nebraska 17 – 14.

1980
Yeoman and the Cougars headed to New Jersey on Dec. 14 for the Garden State Bowl. UH easily defeated the United States Naval Academy’s Midshipmen 35 – 0.

1981
Despite making it to the post season, Yeoman the Cougars would fall well short of winning the Sun Bowl in El Paso. The University of Oklahoma Sooners made short work of UH, trouncing the Coogs 40 – 14.

1984
The Coogs snagged their fourth Southwest Conference championship and returned to the Cotton Bowl. Facing a tough Boston College, Yeoman’s team lost 28 – 45.