Former Houston Oilers’ Bubba McDowell names Prairie View A&M University’s new football head coach

PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (KTRK) – A former Houston Oiler professional was named new football head coach at Prairie View A&M University after serving as Panthers assistant coach for 11 years.

Bubba McDowell told ABC13 he was very excited about the position and said it had been a long time.

“The foundation for this is to build good-natured young men,” McDowell said. “For these young men to still do well in the classroom and to understand if they get it done in the classroom, it’s going to be on the field.”

McDowell said he plans to build the program by recruiting and called Prairie View a hidden gem aimed at keeping local talent at home.

“We have a few guys here in town who can play football. Like I say to everyone and my coaching staff, UH, Texas and A&M, they can’t get them all. What many kids don’t know about Prairie View when we get them on campus, they are like “Ahh,” he said.

The time invested by university coaches in McDowell University in an ever-changing environment demonstrates his commitment to the Panthers program.

“It’s not a springboard for me because I could have easily gone somewhere else, but this is where I want to be,” he said. “I want this school to get back to the top where this school can be.”

McDowell, who played football at the University of Miami, also won the national championship. He said he appreciates all the support that comes from his days with the Oilers and hopes to get more fans to spend Saturday at The Hill.

“Let’s have a Prairie View. I know there are more schools in town. If you have a chance, just come support Prairie View, the team, myself. We’re going to go out and try to win the championships,” he said.