Taking Sides
J.J. Watt joins team University of Houston: Breaks out Coogs swag before BayouBucket showdown
OK, Texans star J.J. Watt may not get this excited about the Cougars, but he'sstill wearing some University of Houston swag.Photo by © Michelle Watson/CultureMapSNAP.com
J.J. Watt has added UH gear to his usual Houston-friendly Astros wardrobe.
J.J. Watt may be a proud Wisconsin boy by birth and college allegiance, but few love to represent the city of Houston more than the Texans emerging defensive superstar.
There probably isn't another 23-year-old in America with more stylish Houston Astros T-shirts and hats than Watt. When Watt is out and about in H-Town, he's often proudly wearing the gear of one of Houston's other pro sports teams.
And now, it appears Watt may have found a city university to represent as well.
When Case Keenum — the record-breaking Cougars quarterback who is now a rookie on the Texans practice squad — saw Watt, he broke into a big grin.
As the Texans filed through their locker room shortly after Friday's practice, Watt was wearing a University of Houston hat. With the annual Bayou Bucket game between UH and Rice University moving to Reliant Stadium — otherwise known as Watt's World — on Saturday, the defensive end is rocking some UH swag.
When Case Keenum — the record-breaking Cougars quarterback who is now a rookie on the Texans practice squad — saw Watt, he broke into a big grin.
Across the locker room, tight end/fullback James Casey broke out his own crisp Rice hat and put it on. Like Keenum, Casey has a personal stake in Saturday's game — he played football at Rice.
Casey and Keenum have gone as far as bringing in Rice and UH T-shirts and hats and handing them out to certain teammates for free in something of a Bayou Bucket recruiting frenzy.
The rest of the Texans — many who went to more traditional football powers like Watt (University of Wisconsin) — are enjoying picking sides. Or at least pretending to do so.
Linebacker Connor Barwin wore a University of Houston sweatshirt Friday.
But Watt's the most likely guy to continue representing. After all, his "fashion style" could best be described as Houston loving.
"It's amazing how well people in Houston have treated me," Watt told CultureMap earlier this season. "Everywhere I go . . .
"I truly appreciate it and want to help bring them a championship back. Houston's great."
UH and Rice are not going to be bringing any championships to H-Town this season. The Cougars look lost under first-year coach Tony Levine without Keenum, coming into the game at 0-3 while the Owls are 1-3 and facing the real possibility of having to play Saturday's game without their starting quarterback Taylor McHargue (shoulder injury). UH is currently an eight-point favorite in Las Vegas.
And the Coogs have J.J. Watt in their corner. Which is much more important.
