Pumas CU

The Pumas CU football program represents the National Autonomous University of Mexico (Spanish: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM) in college football at the ONEFA level. UNAM has competed in the Liga Mayor since the 2014 season. The team is led by head coach José Luis Canales. The Pumas plays its home games at Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City. They maintain a fierce rivalry with teams from the National Polytechnic Institute (Spanish: Instituto Politécnico Nacional, or IPN) particularly with its Miguel Hidalgo-based team from Santo Tomás, Águilas Blancas.

Pumas CU UNAM
2023 Pumas CU football team
First season1927 (1927)
Athletic directorAlejandro Fernández Varela
Head coachJosé Luis Canales Rivera
StadiumEstadio Olímpico Universitario
(capacity: 72,000[1])
Field surfaceGrass
LocationMexico City
LeagueONEFA
ConferenceConferencia 14 Grandes
Past conferencesConferencia Verde (2015–2019)
Conferencia de los 8 Grandes (2012–2014)
Conferencia del Centro (2008–2011)
Conferencia de los 12 Grandes (2005–2007)
Conferencia de los 10 Grandes (1998–2004)
Claimed national titles22 (1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1946, 1947, 1951, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1966, 1967)
Conference titles5 (Centro: 2; 8 Grandes: 2; Verde: 1)
RivalriesIPN
UANL
Current uniform
ColorsNavy blue and Gold
   
OutfitterNike

History

The team was founded in 1927 by a group of students led by the Noriega brothers, but it wasn't until 1931 when Pumas was officially the varsity team of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. In addition, American oil magnate Harry Ford Sinclair sponsored the team with generous donations until 1935. In the early years, Pumas had a long string of consecutive championships from 1933 to 1945 (including an appearance in the 1945 Sun Bowl; this was followed by the so-called "Golden Age" of 1946 to 1957. Between the years 1958 and 1969 the team consolidated its position within ONEFA, Mexico's league of American football. For the period 1970–1980 the university authorities decided to disband the team and create three teams (Cóndores/Condors; Aguilas Reales/Royal Eagles; and Guerreros Aztecas/Aztec Warriors), from 1981 to 1990 only the Cóndores could reclaim the tradition of the Pumas and win championships. In 1998, the University government decided to reduce to one team per campus and created Pumas CU and Acatlan. Unfortunately, conditions within the league and the existence of other powerful newcomer squads undermined the strength and dominance of the team. Its first position tradition vanished rapidly during the seasons of 1998 to 2007. From 1969 until 2002, the Pumas Dorados team consisted of a selection of the best players of all UNAM teams. These teams didn't play any regular season games, but rather the Pumas Dorados used to play a Classic game against the Burros Blancos at the end of season, until 2002 when this event was suspended.

Championships

National championships
Season Head coach
1933 Reginald Root
1934 Converse Killculler
1935 Dixie Howell
1936 Charlie B. Marr
1937 Charlie B. Marr
1938 Gonzalo Flores
1939 Ernesto Navas
1940 Ernesto Navas
1941 Bernard A. Hoban
1942 Roberto Mendez
1943 Bernard A. Hoban
1944 Bernard A. Hoban
1946 Roberto Mendez
1947 Roberto Mendez
1951 Roberto Mendez
1952 Roberto Mendez
1956 Roberto Mendez
1957 Roberto Mendez
1959 Roberto Mendez
1961 Roberto Mendez
1966 Manuel Neri
1967 Manuel Neri

ONEFA championships
Season Head coach
*+ 2008 Raúl Rivera
*+ 2010 Raúl Rivera
*+ 2013 Raúl Rivera
2014 Raúl Rivera
2017 Raúl Rivera
  • In 2008 was created another league for the major category in Mexico (Liga Mayor) and the National Championship is shared in 2 leagues since then.

+ This is not the same team as previous Pumas Dorados teams. Championships in 2008 and 2010 were won by the Main Campus (CU). There is another Pumas team located in Acatlan Campus. Pumas Dorados currently represents a selection of the best players of both Pumas teams and the last selection was made in 2002 and played against a selection of the best players of the IPN.

Rivalry

The team has an historic rivalry with Aguilas Blancas IPN, due to both of them being the biggest public universities in the country. More recently, major rivalries arose with Borregos Salvajes ITESM, Borregos Salvajes CEM, Aztecas UDLAP and Auténticos Tigres UANL.

Venue

The team plays at the Estadio Olímpico Universitario in Mexico City, inaugurated in 1952 with the game between Pumas and Burros Blancos. Capacity: 72000.

Players

Players in the CFL

As of January 2020, the following players have played at least one game with a Canadian Football League team.

References
  1. "Estadio Olímpico Universitario, ícono de la arquitectura nacional y casa de los Pumas". Archived from the original on 26 August 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
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