This Friday night, the Houston Cougars will take on the Washington State Cougars inside NRG Stadium in Houston. It’s a battle of two of the three FBS level football programs to share the name Cougars, alongside BYU. And as we enter this Coug vs. Coog showdown, it’s worth taking a look at how Houston came to be known as the Cougars... And which program they took inspiration from.

Back in the early 20th century, John R. Bender led Washington State football for five seasons over two stints, leading Washington State College to a 21-12 record. Pullman was one of six stops on Bender’s head coaching resume. He even made a stop in St. Louis where his smile is the basis for the St. Louis Billikens logo. He would also coach at Tennessee and Kansas State, where he gave the team the Wildcat.

But apparently, Pullman and the Washington State College Cougars left a mark on the Nebraska native.

After retiring from the coaching profession, Bender moved to Houston in 1927 where he was hired to teach physical education at the newly established University of Houston. The University wouldn’t officially field a football team until the mid 1940’s, but it was Bender who started a volunteer team in 1927.

Of course, you can’t have a team without a name. Bender was charged with picking the team’s nickname and he settled on Cougars, because of his former tie to the Washington State program.

Unfortunately, Bender died in 1928, just one season after establishing the volunteer sports program at Houston. But Friday night two of his former programs, the elder Cougs and the younger Coogs, will square off with a victory — and nickname supremacy — on the line.

Football

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When Washington State’s wide receivers were handicapped before the season, many expected that a group returning Dezmon Patmon, Tay Martin and Easop Winston Jr. could be among the best in the Pac-12 Conference.

Mike Leach says redshirt season could be on the table for injured receiver Jamire Calvin | The Spokesman-Review
Wide receiver Jamire Calvin is still recovering from a lower body injury that sidelined him through fall camp and the first two games of Washington State’s season, and there’s a chance the junior slot may not see the field at any point this fall.

Dana Holgorsen awaits Air Raid reunion with Mike Leach - HoustonChronicle.com
Houston’s first-year coach learned his foundational offensive principals from Washington State’s coach, whose team will face UH on Friday at NRG Stadium.

Washington State Now Laying 9.5 vs Houston After Opening as 8 Point Favorite
The #20 Washington State Cougars have grown from an 8 point to 9.5-point favorite over the Houston Cougars in Friday night's game at NRG Stadium.

Who is Gardner Minshew? Get to know Jaguars rookie QB after Foles injury | SI.com
Everything you need to know about the Jaguars new rookie quarterback.

Soccer

Collins Takes Top Honors - Washington State University Athletics
The Coug midfielder earned the first Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week award for WSU.