UH’s new stadium is now under construction on the site where the Cougars played their first intercollegiate football game on 9/21/46. (THE STADIUM WILL NOW BE LAID OUT E-W, NOT N-S, as shown in this original drawing.)
Founded in 1927 and only raised to the status of a four-year university in 1934, the University of Houston did not begin play in football until September 21, 1946, when they opened against Southwestern Louisiana Institute at Jeppesen Stadium on Cullen Boulevard, which then belonged to the Houston Independent School District as their high school stadium. That property was eventually acquired by the University later in the 20th century and renamed Robertson Stadium, a named it retained through the 2012 season. Robertson has now been demolished in preparation for the new stadium now under construction for UH football in 2014 on the same site.
Here’s how the Galveston Daily News reported that first UH game, with the help of Associated Press:
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SLI Spoils debut of Houston, 13-7
Houston, Tex., Sept. 21., AP The Bulldogs of Southwestern Louisiana Institute scored twice in the last 17 minutes of play here tonight to spoil the University of Houston’s debut in intercollegiate football, 13-7.
SLI tied the game at 7-7 midway in the fourth period when Di Gizzani, a guard, recovered a Cougar fumble on the UH 22. Niel of SLI then passed to Ferris on the Cougar 7. From there Budd powered over in four tries, the last time from the 1 yard line. Pettit kicked (the) goal and the score stood at 7-7.
With one minute and twenty-five seconds remaining in the game, Niel, proving himself very much a thorn in the Cougars’ side, intercepted a pass on the Bulldog 21 and ran it back to the 46. From there Niel passed to Diddier on the Cougar 43.
Another pass, Niel to Diddier, pulled the game out of the fire for SLI. Diddier took the heave on the Cougar 35 and raced down the sidelines for the winning marker. Seventeen seconds were left as the Bulldogs kicked off after the try for (extra) point and the Cougars were never able to put the ball into scrimmage.
– Galveston Daily News, Sunday, September 22, 1946. Page 12.
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Post-Report Notes: The AP report left out the mention of any Cougar players in the first game, but from Wikipedia it should be noted that Charlie Manichia, the first Cougar quarterback, also scored the first UH touchdown earlier in the game for a 7-0 lead that faded away. The Cougars were only 4-6 in their first season under first Coach Jewell Wallace, but they did win their first game in history on their second try, taking out West Texas State Teachers College (Now known as West Texas A&M), 14-12.
Jewell Wallace would coach the Cougars in their first two seasons (1946-47) and then yield the reins to Clyde V. Lee (1948-54).
As for that conflicting report in the story that says the Bulldogs did not score until 17 minutes remained in the games, and also that they first scored “midway in the fourth period”, all I can presume is that someone typed “17” when they meant “7” minutes were left on the clock.
One New Stadium Note: The new UH stadium will not be laid out N-S as Robertson was. The new one will place the end zones in an E-W opposition to each other. The Cougar home stands will then occupy the “S” side, giving the home club fans the sun at their backs for day games and a breathtaking view of downtown on the “NW” near horizon from the campus.
Those of us with strong Cougar ties are happy about the powerful driving energy that now directs our university and we are looking forward to even brighter tomorrows.
Eat ‘Em Up, Cougars!
The Pecan Park Eagle 
September 20, 2013 at 5:47 pm |
Sort of interesting on the layout for the field in the new place since it will cause a sun problem for teams in day or early night start games with sun setting in the West. Thats why more fields are N-S.
September 20, 2013 at 10:47 pm |
Greg – I wondered about the same issue. If your team is defending the east goal in a game that kicks off at four o’clock, watch for high kicks, especially in the second half. And if you’re a wide out for the club defending the west goal, good luck looking back for a long pass at sunset. – UH did the switch because they couldn’t resist making that great view of downtown Houston just “right there”in the face of the crowd in the “south” Cougar home team stands. Plus, Cougar fans will always have the sun at their backs during the normal early start games of noon to two o’clock.