Are you ready to Rodeo? It's that time of year again where broncos are bucking, cowboys are roping, and all the friends in low places come out to enjoy a Texas sized good time! The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is organized for charitable, educational and scientific purposes to encourage and promote the breeding, raising and marketing of better livestock and farm products at public fairs and to promote and maintain research and educational functions within the livestock industry. Other than fun and adventure, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo aims to raise funds for scholarships, educational grants, and agricultural research projects.

Each year the rodeo kicks off with the famous 66 mile Sam Houston trail ride from Montgomery, Texas all the way to Houston! The trail ride is followed by cook-off weekend and a month of great performers, food and fun. The 2011 rodeo has an amazing line-up of big name acts such as Kiss, Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum, Clay Walker, Janet Jackson, Keith Urban and Gary Allen... Just to name a few!

So strap on your boots, your ten-gallon hat and two-step on down to the greatest show on earth... Texas style!

Cougars Sign 22 Gridders to Letter of Intent

University of Houston head football coach Kevin Sumlin announced Wednesday a class of 22 players inking National Letters of Intent to play football for the Cougars in 2011.

The class is a balance of offense and defense, youth and experience and line and skill players. In this group, there are 12 defensive players, four at each position, and eight offensive players. Six players are from the junior college ranks, including two players, D.J. Hayden and Chevy Bennett, who are already on campus ready to take part in spring drills. Sumlin signed 16 high school recruits, eight from the city of Houston. Only two prospects, Zachary Johnson of Norman, Okla., and Lloyd Allen of Baton Rouge, La., are from outside the Lonestar state.

"I am very excited about this class," said Sumlin. "We really feel like we met the needs of our football team especially on the defensive side of the ball. There are many players that we feel can have a big impact on our program both in the short term and in building a foundation for the future. The best thing about this group of young men is that they are all passionate about being Cougars."

Click here for a full list of signees and their biographies

Volleyball Puts Eight On Dean's List Following Strong Fall Semester

Cougar Post Highest Team GPA In Program History

HOUSTON - Eight members of the University of Houston volleyball team earned a spot on the Dean's List and the team finished with a cumulative 3.26 semester GPA, the highest in program history.

The Dean's List is determined by a GPA of 3.5 or better and the following players met that criteria - outside hitter Marluci Toazzi, defensive specialist Krysta DeAngelis, middle blocker Ashley Applequist, defensive specialist Alex Edwards, middle blocker Stephanie Nwachukwu, setter Kacy Griffin, outside hitter Christine Pinder, and outside hitter Meredith Ware.

The team finished the semester as the most improved female team from Fall 2009 to Fall 2010 and tied with tennis for the highest semester GPA.

The volleyball team posts a 3.29 cumulative GPA, the highest among all sports.

The Cougars finished 19-12 overall and 13-7 in C-USA finishing in sole possession of third place. The Lady Cougars finished the end of the season strong. Lucy Charuk and Chandace Tryon earned All Conference USA First Team honors. Lucy Charuk was named to the AVCA Midwest All Region Team and an All American Honorable Mention. This is a great accomplishment for both Lucy and Chandace. We are very proud of them because their hard work paid off. The first season under Molly Alvey is over with great accomplishments!