As the University of Houston Alumni Association celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, we're using Cougar E:Link to relive our history as we leisurely stroll the hallways and classrooms of the past seven decades.

Those of us who remember the '70s might agree that it can be summed up as this: oil, Iran, Nixon, and disco. Maybe. But for Cougars, it was an exciting time to be on campus.

We'll start with the building boom. The decade saw the following structures debut on campus: Fine Arts Building (1972), University Center Satellite (1973), Optometry Building (1976), Wortham Theatre (1977), and Science & Research II). And the extra space was needed. The decade saw the student population rise above 30,000 for the first time, and our reputation was formed as a major, public university.

The '70s also saw Hofheinz Pavilion become the city's premier concert venue. Elvis Presley, Elton John, Iggy Pop, Genesis, The Who, Led Zeppelin, and Freddy Mercury all played there. Side note: if you have any of those old programs or ticket stubs, the Alumni Association would love to scan them for our library!

But perhaps the most memorable aspect of the University of Houston during the 1970s is our football teams. We joined the Southwest Conference in 1971 and claimed the conference football crown in 1976, 1978, and 1979.

Cotton Bowl appearances included victories over Maryland and Nebraska, and who could forget the tragic "Chicken Soup Game," where a flu-ridden Joe Montana led his Notre Dame team to a come-from-behind victory over us? General consensus among sports journalists is that that bowl game remains one of the greatest ever, but it's a memory that still causes Cougars to shiver.

We want to hear your memories, too! Email alumni@uh.edu and we'll share them in future communications.