Each week the Daily Herald will provide five true facts about BYU’s latest football opponent for your enjoyment. This week, the University of Houston.

One: This is how it started

In 1941, Johnny Goyen, then sports editor for the school newspaper, and Jack Valenti, president of the sophomore class, began a petition for an official intercollegiate football team at Houston. The next year, the two called a student body meeting to organize another petition to challenge Rice Institute (later Rice University) to a football. In August of 1945, the school announced it would field a football team for the first time.

Two: Rubbing the Paw

Before big games, fans rub the paws of two bronze cougar statues in Cullen Family Plaza to bring good luck to the team.

Three: Call the movers

Houston has played in seven conferences: Lone Star (1946-48), Gulf Coast (1949-50), Missouri Valley (1951-59), Southwest (1976-95), Conference USA (1996-2012), American (2013-2022) and Big 12 (20023-present). The Cougars played an independent schedule from 1960 to 1975.

Four: They went there

Famous alumni include actor Jim Parsons, former NBA star Hakeen Okajuwan, Judge Ruby Kless Sondock (first woman to serve on the Texas Supreme Court), Congressman Tom DeLay, former TV newscaster Dan Rather and singer Kenny Rogers.

Five: Winning time

Houston has participated in 30 bowl games, turning in a record of 13-16-1, and has played in a bowl game in 12 of the past 15 seasons. The Cougars have one Heisman Trophy winner in quarterback Andre Ware (1989).