HOUSTON -- They filled Robertson Stadium on Saturday planning to celebrate a Conference USA championship and BCS bowl bid. Instead, University of Houston Cougars’ football fans did something else.
Before the band serenaded tailgaters with the UH fight song, some fans sipped morning mimosas. They felt certain Saturday was going to be a special day.
“Let me say this has been a long time coming and ain’t it fun,” Anson Phipps, a UH alumnus, said before the game.
“Finally seeing all these people come out and support this team is awesome,” said Steven Johnson, a fan.
Students crowded stadium lots at 8 a.m. while alumni came from thousands of miles away.
Johnny Barker flew in from Missouri.
“This means everything to us,” Barker said of the UH alumni. “This is a great opportunity to win the Conference USA championship and to be included in the BCS bowl program.”
Unfortunately for Cougars fans, emotions turned soon after kickoff. Watching their team struggle then lose to Southern Mississippi drove some to voice frustration.
“It was a big game,” said Charles Hancock, a UH fan. “We have a history of losing big games. A lot of rumors circulating around (Coach) Kevin Sumlin that might have something to do with (how the team played), maybe not. But, I just feel, in my heart, bad for (Quarterback) Case Keenum. I don’t care about Coach Sumlin. My heart goes out to the players.”
UH fans, though, said their Cougars’ pride remains despite the loss.
