Former Houston Oilers Teammates And Stars Are Head Football Coaches In The SWAC
HOUSTON - Bubba McDowell, Eddie Robinson Jr., and now Cris Dishman are former Houston Oilers teammates, and leading SWAC football teams as head coaches. The three were part of the teams that played for Houston from 1992 to 1994.
Dishman played cornerback, McDowell was a strong safety, and Robinson Jr. patrolled the defensive second level at linebacker. Each was known for hitting hard, playing smart, and "laying it all out" on the football field during Jack Pardee's "Run-N-Shoot" days before his 1994 dismissal after a 1-9 start.
Prairie View head coach Bubba McDowell against Alabama State during their game at Hornet Stadium on the ASU campus in Montgomery, Ala., on Saturday September 24, 2022. Asup48; Credit: © Mickey Welsh / Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK
BUBBA MCDOWELL
McDowell has been in the HBCU collegiate football space for 14 seasons as an assistant coach until his promotion to head coach of the Prairie View A&M Panthers in 2022. He's 12-11 in Prairie View and took the Panthers to the 2023 SWAC Football Championship game against Florida A&M.
Coach McDowell was on the Miami University's national championship team before Houston picked him in the third round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
Aug. 27, 2022; Alabama State head coach Eddie Robinson Jr and quarterback Damatrius Davis win the 2022 MEAC/SWAC Challenge Kickoff in Atlanta, GA at Center Parc Stadium. Mandatory Photo Credit: David Campbell, Alabama State University
EDDIE ROBINSON JR.
The Oilers selected Eddie Robinson Jr. in the second round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He's the lone HBCU alum from Alabama State. The Hornets lured him from the business sector into becoming his alma mater's head coach. Robinson Jr. has posted a 13-9 record since 2022.
CRIS DISHMAN
Cris Dishman will leave the XFL as the Vipers' defensive coordinator last season to join the beleaguered Texas Southern Tigers football program. Houston drafted Dishman out of Purdue as the 125th overall selection in the fifth round of the 1988 NFL Draft.
In 2024, it could mark the first time former NFL teammates who became head football coaches would lead their teams against one another during a football season.
Tennessee State head coach Eddie George watches his team face against Norfolk State during the first quarter of the TSU homecoming game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023. Credit: © Andrew Nelles / The Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK
Another Houston Oiler teammate who is an HBCU head coach is Eddie George. He was was Dishman's teammate in 1996. George has led the Tigers to a 15-15 record in the OVC.
Once the new Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) football schedules are released, we'll examine the future matchups between the former Houston Oilers teammates.
2024 should be an excellent season for HBCU football with parity, new head coaches, and transfer players.
