Photo by Somer-Lian Charles
Cougar Pride was loud in San Antonio. Leading by as much as 12, a Championship celebration felt imminent. The confetti cannon packed with red and white streamers sat parked just a few feet away, waiting for the clock to strike zero. But what happened was unimaginable.
After a split pair of free throws by Florida guard Denzel Aberdeen, 20 seconds remained. Houston found themselves in a familiar position, down two, needing just a single shot to ice the game.
Fans used to the scene raised their phones high in anticipation. Fans were ready to record a game-winning shot, but it never came.
Emanuel Sharp looked ready to attempt a three-pointer but lost control of the ball. A scramble ensued, and seconds later the final buzzer of the season sounded. It was a bitter end to a tremendous run.
Attendees dressed in blue and orange celebrated. A deafening silence took over the once rowdy Cougar fans.
Sharp fell to the ground with hands on his knees. He attempted to process what had just taken place.
Houston fans mimicked his positioning. Some consoled one another. Others stood alone—mouth ajar, staring at the unused confetti cannon sitting just out of reach.
Heartbroken—the only word to describe the feeling among Cougar fans throughout the Alamodome.
The day started joyously as Cougar Pride painted San Antonio red and white.
Hours before tip-off, fans took to the team’s hotel to send them off to the stadium in style.
No space could be found. Screaming fans tightly packed the three-story hotel to watch the Cougars make their way down the elevators.
Outside the Alamodome, with hours remaining before stadium doors opened, fans began to line up. Various chants broke out often and got louder anytime Florida fans would even attempt to start one of their own.
Inside, the energy remained high. Seas of red and white flowed in every direction.
The student section buzzed with excitement. Among the excited fans awaiting tip-off, stood Houston alumni NBA legend Hakeem Olajuwon, Olympian Carl Lewis and Toronto Raptors guard Jamal Shead.
As the first half began the building shook with each Cougar possession. With each passing second, the San Antonio stadium felt more and more like the Fertitta Center. Gator fans could be seen, but not heard.
The momentum of the Cougar was unmatched until those last fatal seconds. It was only then you could hear the chomp of the Gators.
The loss was a tough pill to swallow for players, coaches and fans alike.
“It hurts because I can’t do it next year,” said J’wan Roberts, who has played his last game donning the Cougars’ jersey.
As the chapter closes on the season and the collegiate careers of a host of Houston players, it is important to acknowledge the accomplishments made this season.
Going undefeated on the road in college’s toughest conference, boasting an overall record of 35-5 and becoming Big 12 Champions were no small feat.
When the bus carrying the Cougars arrived in front of Guy V. Lewis Development Center on Tuesday afternoon Coogs, in their red and white, littered the entrance.
Cougar Pride didn’t stop in San Antonio. It awaited the players on their return to celebrate an incredible year for the team, the school and the city.
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