Houston traveled to Phoenix’s Montgomery Stadium for the January 1, 1952, Salad Bowl, the school’s first-ever bowl. The 1951 Cougars were 3-5 and on a three-game losing streak, but beat Oklahoma State and UNT to get to 5-5 and the bowl.
UH faced the Dayton Flyers, also playing in their first bowl. Gene Shannon ran for 175 yards on 28 carries and scored four touchdowns in Houston’s 26-21 win. Shannon was unanimously named the most outstanding player of the game.
The Cougars trailed at halftime 21-13 but scored twice in the third quarter. QB Bobby Clatterbuck hit Vic Hampel on a 48-yard pass down to the two-yard line. On second down, Shannon took a pitch to the left and sprinted in. The PAT moved the Cougars within a point. On Dayton’s next drive, UH’s Jim Van Haverbeke knocked the ball loose on a big hit, and UH recovered. Clatterbuck carried down to the 10 and then pitched it to Shannon on a reverse to the left, and he easily scored. The PAT was blocked, but the Cougars led for the first time in the game, 26-21. That would be the final score.
Shannon led the nation with 7.3 yards per carry and was fourth in overall rushing yardage at 1059. He was an honorable mention on the AP All-America Team. His 175 yards were the sixth time that season that he had run for more yards than all of the opponent’s backs.
The game was sponsored by the Phoenix Kiwanis, who also put on a giant Salad Bowl parade on New Year’s morning. 17,000 people attended the afternoon game.
