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| Title | Houstonian, 1994 |
| Contributor (LCNAF) |
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| Date | 1994 |
| Description | This edition of the Houstonian, published by the students of the university in 1994, is the official yearbook of the University of Houston. |
| Subject.Topical (LCSH) |
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| Subject.Name (LCNAF) |
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| Subject.Geographic (TGN) |
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| Genre (AAT) |
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| Language | English |
| Type (DCMI) |
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| Original Item Location | LD2281.H745 H6 v. 60 1994 |
| Original Item URL | http://library.uh.edu/record=b1158762~S11 |
| Digital Collection | Houstonian Yearbook Collection |
| Digital Collection URL | http://digital.lib.uh.edu/collection/yearb |
| Repository | Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries |
| Repository URL | http://info.lib.uh.edu/about/campus-libraries-collections/special-collections |
| Use and Reproduction | In Copyright |
| File Name | index.cpd |
| Title | Sports |
| Format (IMT) |
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| File Name | yearb_1994_228.jpg |
| Transcript | There's no place like home. Affcer£2^arsoft^l games Cougar Field is no more. The field was torn dow^Weftrl^^ctory over Lamar University through the season to make way V^HMmillion athletic training facility. Photo by Markus Langhans Farewell Old Friend, Cougar Field Is Gone The death of a baseball filed is always a sad occa sion. The Cougars laid their's to rest when they got the final out in a 9-5 victory against Lamar. People always get sentimental when a building is torn down, so it was no surprise when they started showing up in the press box to talk about the end of Cougar Field. You see, ballparks are more than just places to play ball, they're also places where young men dream about making it to the majors. These are the ghosts that always exist at a diamond. These are the things that were buried in the turf where men play a boys' game and have boys' dreams. This era ends after 27 years. Cougar Field held its first game April 2, 1968, a 3-0 Cougar victory over Pershing College. The present Cougar Field was built when the old one was torn down to make room for Hofheinz Pavilion. Now it is again being swept aside to make room for a new athletic complex. Even though there is a sense of loss, there was also a sense of gain. A new field will be built near where Cougar Field stands, a state of the art stadium complex. The new structure will feature locker rooms, covered stands, and lights. The old ball field even outlasted historic Wrigley Field in its aviodance of night games. Before bringing in the new, the old should be remembered. "I can't express in words how I feel about this field," said head coach Bragg Stcokton. "I'm going to miss it fierce." Cougar Field was known as the hitter's park and, as a pitching instructor, Stockton had strong feelings about the place. "It's a great place to learn how to pitch because you got to make them hit the ball on the ground." Pitcher Kevin Boyd, who pitched three innings in the final game, thought about the historic importance of it all. "It's something I'll be able to tell my kids about. It's history." There was much history to think about as the game came to a close. Shane Buteaux hit the last Cougar home run to Bruce Aven in his one-inning relief effort. There was the last out, a toss by shortstop Ryan Elizando to second baseman Rey Trevino. The last crowd, an estimated 250, called the last "open your eyes, ump" cry on a close call over the corner of the plate. And then there is the last bag of peanuts. Of course, it is not to say that these things won't happen again. The new stadium will be ready in time for next year, it will be a better place to play. In fact, it should be one of the premiere facilities in the country. For the first time in history, Houston will be eligible to host the Southwest Conference Tournament, play night games, and shower after the game. With a capacity of 5,000, there should be no more standing along the fence to see a game when it is sold out. Most importantly, the new facility will build its own memories, its own ghosts of people who had dreams, and played their guts out on the grass for no better reason than the fact that they loved the game. Cougar Field has been buried, but the dreams and the memories that were created there will live forever.-Daniel Scholl Baseball 6[j)3'9 |