Houston Sports - Andre Ware

Andre Ware

Born: July 31, 1968

Sport: Football (All-American, Heisman Trophy, College Football Hall of Fame)

The NFL preseason ended this weekend while the college football season kicked off with a partial slate of games.  The city of Houston has been no stranger to producing talent at both levels, and with several universities calling the city home we've had our share of local players to cheer for.  But only one player to play their college career within the city limits has ever brought home the top individual award for performance on the field, and that was Andre Ware.  A local talent who soared to unprecedented heights, Ware made it to the professional ranks as a quarterback after his time in college and then returned to his roots to be a long-time contributor for his hometown team.  This week, we'll learn more about the local legend who is now heard every week by fans across the region.

The Astrodome, home of the UH Cougars during Ware's 1989 season

As the only child of Robert and Joyce Ware, Andre Ware was born in Galveston, TX.  Although the couple was soon divorced, Robert stayed active in his son's life until he died from a bout of pneumonia while Andre was still in elementary school.  Being from nearby Dickinson, Joyce chose to raise her son there as a single mother but initially tried to keep him away from football.  After initially allowing him to miss the sign-up deadline for a local team, she finally gave in to his wishes and by the time he was in high school Ware had become an accomplished football player.  After graduating from Dickinson High School, where he actually did more running than passing, Ware had several college offers but most schools wanted to convert him to a position other than quarterback.  In fact, Ware's dream was to play at the University of Texas where he claimed he would have gone if they had only lied to him that he'd have a chance to be their quarterback.  Only the University of Houston ended up giving him that option, however, so he decided to become a Cougar.  Ware had to wait an extra year, however, as he was declared ineligible for the 1986 season and ended up spending two semesters at Alvin Community College, working two jobs just to afford his tuition.  Bill Yeoman, the coach who had originally recruited Ware, retired after that season and was later the subject of an investigation into rules violations.  New head coach Jack Pardee started his first year with his new QB finally on campus to join the team, and fortunately for both the coach's offensive system would eventually work perfectly for Ware.  His first season showed promise that he would be able to elevate his game despite initial hesitation, but Ware's year ended prematurely with a broken arm after just five games.

Beginning his second season at Houston, Andre Ware saw instant success.  Healthy for the full season in Pardee's pass-heavy offense known as the Run & Shoot, he led the Southwest Conference in completions, touchdowns, and passer rating.  Unfortunately, despite a 9-3 record that saw Ware and the Cougars climb into the top 25 (the AP poll had them at #18 by season's end) to become bowl eligible, both the coach and budding star ended up having to suffer for Yeoman's actions as the NCAA placed the team on a 3-year probation.  Among the penalties assessed were being ineligible for bowl game consideration and not being allowed any televised games.  The lack of coverage cost fans the opportunity to see an amazing 1989 season that smashed numerous records.  Ware led the way for a Cougars team that went 9-2, including a victory over rival Texas, and led the nation in completions, yards, and touchdowns.  It was an unprecedented season for the junior, and he was an named a consensus All-American.  When the Heisman Trophy votes were announced, Andre Ware became the first Houston-based player, first Black QB, and first player from a team on probation to win the coveted award.  Ware set 26 NCAA records as the Cougars marched to a #14 ranking on the strength of scoring 53.5 points per game, and he was also named the Davey O'Brien Award winner as the nation's top quarterback.  As their success brought attention to the University of Houston, both Pardee and Ware translated the acclaim to tickets out of the college game and into the NFL - the coach was hired by the Oilers and the player entered the 1990 draft.

The Detroit Lions selected Andre Ware with the 7th overall pick in the draft, although the decision was made over the objections of the team's scouting director, who resigned from the team a day later.  The head coach, however, did very little to give Ware opportunities to shine or even take the field alongside his teammate and 1988 Heisman winner, Barry Sanders.  In four seasons Ware only played a total of 14 games, typically once the team was far behind in a game or already out of playoff contention.  Cut by Detroit after the 1993 season, Ware signed with the Minnesota Vikings but did not make the team out of preseason.  The Los Angeles Raiders added Ware to their roster but he never made it into game action and was eventually cut.  He decided to head north to play for the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Rough Riders.  After getting invited to play for the NFL's expansion Jacksonville Jaguars, Ware once again got cut before the season began and returned for another three seasons north of the border.  In  1997 he was the backup for Doug Flutie on the Toronto Argonauts squad that won the Grey Cup, after which Ware spent a year out of football.  He made the roster for NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder in 1999, playing five games before finally retiring.  Although his playing career was over, he was immensely popular upon returning to Houston and was a natural fit to join the broadcast team when the city got an expansion NFL team in 2002.  Ware has been the Houston Texans' color commentator on the radio ever since their inaugural season, and in 2003 he was also added to ESPN's regular lineup for televised college games.  Among his numerous honors are induction into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 2000, the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2012, and the Houston Sports Hall of Fame this year.

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