THE INSIDER
A weekly look at all things Houston sports from the Harris County-Houston Sports Authority: Bob McNair picks up an award
Patti Smith
Dec 22, 2017, 7:42 am
Texans owner Bob McNair is set to be honored. Bob Levey/Getty Images
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In a year filled with #HoustonStrong moments, the Texas Sports Hall of Fame added one more to the list when it chose to honor Houston Texans owner Bob McNair with the Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award.
McNair, a businessman and philanthropist who brought the NFL back to Houston after the Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee, is the sixth recipient of the TSHOF’s highest honor.
He will be honored at a March 1 reception and dinner at the Houstonian Hotel, Club & Spa.
“I am extremely honored to be recognized by the Texas Sports Hall of Fame with their Lamar Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award,” McNair said. “Sports, especially football, have been a passion for the better part of my life. I am humbled to be recognized for simply doing that which has brought me so much joy.”
McNair is the first Houstonian to earn the honor. He joins Don Carter, the founding owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Dallas Sidekicks; former San Antonio Spurs owner Red McCombs; former Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane Jr.; legendary Waco sportswriter and sports editor Dave Campbell and former University of Houston Athletic Director Rudy Davalos as winners of the Lamar Hunt Award.
"It's quite an honor," McNair to the Houston Chronicle in June. "There's some great sports owners who have been honored this way. I'm delighted and humbled that I'd be included in the group.
“It is special because many of the honors I've received were based on things I did in prior endeavors. This is in my sports endeavor. That's a real honor to be recognized that way."
McNair’s vision to return the NFL to Houston started in1998 and on October 6,1999, the NFL awarded the 32nd franchise to McNair. Houston has subsequently hosted two Super Bowls – in Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 and Super Bowl LI last February.
McNair’s legacy in Houston also extends to his philanthropic efforts to, among others, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston Grand Opera and the Museum of Fine Arts.
“We are thrilled to recognize Bob McNair’s incredible impact on sports in the state of Texas,” said TSHOF President and CEO Cooper Jones. “He not only brought professional football back to the City of Houston, but his strong leadership and unwavering commitment to his community, and the state of Texas, is truly an example for us all.”
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If you’re still looking for a holiday gift for a sports fan in your family, or want to give yourself a little gift, think about purchasing a Golden Ticket. The $100 ticket – there are only 500 available -- enters you in the inagural Houston Sports Awards Golden Ticket Raffle and gives you a chance to win a pair of season tickets to all Houston Astros, Houston Rockets, Houston Dynamo, Rodeo Houston & Houston Open home games/events during the 2018-19 season. In addition, the winner receives tickets for two Houston Texans home games, the 2018 AdvoCare Texas Kickoff and the 2018 Texas Bowl. The Houston Sports Awards is February 8 at the Hilton Americas. Information on event and the Golden Ticket is available at www.houstonsportsawards.com
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NFL insiders hint at eye-opening future for Houston Texans offense
Dec 7, 2024, 2:38 pm
C.J. Stroud faced criticism in Houston's last few games as the Texans hit a rough patch after losing just two of their first eight games.
But the second-year quarterback remained confident and his strong performance last Sunday helped the Texans (8-5) to a 23-20 win over the Jaguars to enter their bye with a two-game lead atop the AFC South.
“When he is leading and playing the way he is playing, our entire team feeds off of him,” coach DeMeco Ryans said. “I am excited for his second year. I think he is showing a ton of growth, he is in a really great spot for us physically, mentally. I really love where he is and I am excited to see how he comes back after the break.”
Stroud threw for 242 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville to leave him ranked fourth in the NFL with 3,117 yards passing this season. That game came after he threw two interceptions in a 32-27 loss to Tennessee a week before for the team’s third loss in four games.
Those two interceptions brought his season total to nine, which are four more than he threw in 15 games a rookie. But the Texans aren’t worried about that statistic and believe he has grown in his second year.
“He’s made a lot of progress,” general manager Nick Caserio said. “There are some plays, like all of our players, that we probably wish he could have back, but happy he’s our quarterback, happy with what he brings to the table. ... Wouldn’t want anyone else leading this team.”
The Texans are in position to win their division for a second straight season despite dealing with several significant injuries on offense. Running back Joe Mixon missed three games early with an ankle injury and leading receiver Nico Collins was sidelined for five games with a hamstring injury.
They also lost four-time Pro Bowler Stefon Diggs for the season when tore an ACL in Week 8.
Mixon leads the team with 887 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has added four touchdown receptions. His work in his first season in Houston after a trade from Cincinnati has helped the team deal with those significant injuries to the receiving corps.
Mixon ranks third in the NFL by averaging 88.7 yards rushing a game and has had at least 100 yards rushing in seven games.
Stroud has continually raved about Mixon’s contributions on and off the field.
“He’s a servant, a helper,” Stroud said. “That’s ultimately what I want to be as well. Who can I serve and how can I help? That’s ultimately what the game of football is.”
While Mixon has been the team’s most important new acquisition on offense, Danielle Hunter has been Houston’s new defensive star. The defensive end spent his first eight seasons in Minnesota before joining the Texans this year.
He has helped Houston lead the NFL with 84 tackles for loss after piling up 15 this season, which is tied for third most in the league. He also leads the Texans with 10½ sacks to help them rank second with 42.
Hunter been a great addition to a team that already had defensive end Will Anderson Jr., last year’s AP Defensive Rookie of the Year. Anderson ranks second to Hunter on the team with 13 tackles for loss and 9½ sacks.
Ryans said this week’s break is much needed for a team that opened the preseason on Aug. 1 in the Hall of Fame game.
“It’s here and we’re going to take advantage of it,” he said. “We’ve been going at it for a long time.”
The Texans need to recharge this week with a brutal stretch of three games in 10 days when they return from their bye. Houston hosts Miami on Dec. 15 before a trip to Kansas City on Dec. 21 and a visit from the Ravens on Christmas Day.
“It’s Christmas and all that, but we can’t worry about that. All we can do is focus on Miami,” Caserio said. “And then when we get through the Miami game, then we kind of turn the page to the next. ... We’re either going to earn it or we’re not. Not to oversimplify it, but that’s the truth.”
The Texans will play those game without starting linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair after he received a three-game suspension for his violent hit to the head of Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence, which led to a concussion.
Al-Shaair will be eligible to return for Houston’s regular-season finale against Tennessee.