A red 1979 Cadillac riding on 30-spoke chrome swangas now leads the University of Houston football team onto the field at TDECU Stadium, and the pregame entrance has already become one of the most talked-about moments of the college football season. The car, known in Houston as a SLAB, replaced a motorized football helmet that had previously carried the Cougars through the tunnel.
The idea came together over roughly two months of brainstorming and research by aUH's athletic marketing team, according to Houston Chronicle reporter Joseph Duarte, who detailed how the university landed on the concept. Alundis Pledge, part of that marketing effort, said the team needed to be different and needed to be Houston, and pushed for the car to be red for the season opener. The Chronicle's reporting notes Pledge also argued that SLAB cars are a Houston thing that will set UH apart from other programs.
From Idea to Tunnel-Ready
Before the Cadillac ever rolled onto the field, UH officials tested the car on campus two or three times to make sure it would actually fit through the tunnel, per the same account. Officials also weighed player safety and the potential for turf damage, a concern that carried extra weight this season after TDECU Stadium's artificial field suffered damage from heavy crane equipment used during an off-campus Easter service setup, as Hoodline previously reported. UH ultimately placed three extra patches of turf to the left of the tunnel as an added precaution.
Head coach Willie Fritz signed off on the SLAB entrance project, the Chronicle's report states. Before settling on the Cadillac, the marketing team researched other college football pregame traditions, considering Oregon mascot Puddles riding a custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Virginia Tech's “Enter Sandman” entrance, according to the same account. Those national comparisons echo how programs like Georgia Tech, whose Ramblin' Wreck has driven a 1930 Model A Ford coupe onto the field since 1961, have long used vehicles to build identity, as noted by Houstonia Magazine.
Chrome Swangas and a Houston Soundtrack
The Cadillac itself, a 1979 Lecab, rides on 15-inch G20 wheels and features 30-spoke chrome swangas supplied through UH's partnership with Texan Wire Wheels. The marketing team reviewed 16 different SLAB accounts and swanga makers on social media before landing on the final look, according to the Chronicle's account. As the car rolls out, the stadium plays Lil' Flip's 2002 hit “The Way We Ball,” a song that debuted at No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and went Platinum, according to Wikipedia.
SLAB culture itself traces back to Houston's predominantly Black neighborhoods like the Third Ward in the 1980s and 1990s, blending candy paint, heavy bass systems, and 30-spoke wire rims nicknamed swangas or elbows. The acronym stands for Slow, Loud and Bangin', a tradition closely tied to the city's hip-hop scene. Houston has formally celebrated that culture before, including citywide tributes to hip-hop pioneer DJ Screw in June 2025 that featured SLAB car shows with swangas and candy paint, as Hoodline reported at the time.
Players and Broadcasters React
Running back LaTreveon McCutchin said the SLAB is a big upgrade over the old motorized football helmet, according to the Chronicle's reporting. Linebacker Re'Shaun Sanford II said the SLAB and Houston have the same vibe, while assistant coach John Davis called the wheels a cornerstone of Houston culture, the outlet noted. Assistant coach Kellen Sampson posted on X that in a world of fakes, always be authentic, referencing the entrance.
The moment didn't stay local for long. ESPN's Pat McAfee praised UH's SLAB entrance on The Pat McAfee Show, saying the rims are classic Houston, per ESPN's broadcast as relayed by the Chronicle. FanSided included the SLAB entrance among its top 25 things missed from week one of college football, and the clip spread widely across social media.
What's Next for the Program
UH's marketing team aligned the entrance with the athletic department's broader “Built by Houston” campaign, an initiative University of Houston Athletics launched in April 2026 to build community engagement and connect with local alumni-owned businesses through an 80-day campaign. The university plans to feature the SLAB in the pregame entrance for the remaining five home games this season, with the next appearance scheduled for Saturday against Southern. According to the Chronicle's reporting, the Cadillac's color may vary depending on the Cougars' jersey color that week, and the entrance is expected to benefit from the tunnel's red lighting during night games.
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