Cóndores UNAM

The Cóndores UNAM (English: UNAM Condors), was one of the three American football teams that represented the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) from 1970 to 1997. The Cóndores competed in the ONEFA and won 10 National Championships, including four in a row from 1983 to 1986.[2]

Cóndores UNAM
First season1970 (1970)
Last season1997
StadiumEstadio Olímpico Universitario
(Capacity: 69,000[1])
Field surfaceGrass
LocationCoyoacán, Mexico City
LeagueONEFA
ConferenceConferencia de los 10 Grandes
Past conferencesConferencia Mayor (1987–1996)
Conferencia Metropolitana (1978–1986)
Claimed national titles10 (1970, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1990, 1991)
RivalriesIPN
ITESM
ColorsBlack and Gold
   

History

Background

American football was first played in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1927, when several students that spent some time in American schools and have played the sport returned to Mexico. The team's first name was Osos (Bears) and navy blue and gold were chosen as the colors, inspired by the colors of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The team's nickname was later changed to Horda Dorada (Golden Horde) and in 1946 head coach Roberto "Tapatío" Méndez chose the Pumas nickname, which since then has been used for all UNAM's representative sport teams, most notably the professional football team.[3][4]

From 1933 to 1967, the Pumas won thirty three National Championships. In 1969 the Liga Nacional Colegial (Collegiate National League) was established as the top college football championship in Mexico. The league wanted to increase the number of teams, so it suggested major institutions such as the UNAM and the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN) to create several teams. UNAM refused and therefore was not allowed to compete in the 1969 season of the Liga Nacional Colegial.[5]

For the 1970 season UNAM agreed to create three teams: Águilas Reales (Royal Eagles), Guerreros Aztecas (Aztec Warriors) and Cóndores. The nicknames were inspired by the UNAM's seal.[6] Pumas still existed, but only as a selection of the best players from UNAM's three teams created for the rivalry game Clásico Poli-Universidad against IPN that was played in the end of the season as a merely symbolic game.[7]

First years (1970–1975)

Manuel Neri Fernández, who was UNAM's head coach before the split, continued as head coach for the Cóndores and chose gold and black as the team colors because "gold is one of UNAM colors and black because it resembles another of the UNAM colors: navy blue".[8] Cóndores rapidly established itself as UNAM's top team, above Águilas Reales and Guerreros Aztecas. The team won its first title on its first season in 1970, finishing with an undefeated record.[6]

Neri Fernández led the Cóndores from 1970 to 1972. In 1973, UNAM decided that Neri Fernández and Alfonso "Desalmado" García, top coaches at UNAM's Intermedia (junior category) teams, would dispute the Cóndores' head coach title: whoever led his junior team to the best result during the Intermedia season, would be Cóndores coach. "Desalmado" García again coached Cóndores in 1974.[8]

In 1975 Neri Fernández retook control of the team but did not have a good season, finishing with a 2–3 record and unable to qualify to the playoffs.[8]

Diego García Miravete era (1976–1993)

In 1976, UNAM's authorities decided to replace Neri Fernández with a young Diego García Miravete, who previously played with the Condors as defensive end during the early seventies. García Miravete brought a younger coaching staff with him and renovated the Cóndores image.[6]

Under coach García Miravete, Cóndores won nine more National Championships, including four back to back from 1983 to 1986, becoming the first team to do so in the history of the Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Fútbol Americano (ONEFA). In 2007 Borregos Salvajes Monterrey become the second team to achieve the feat.[9]

Decline

In 1994 Diego García Miravete is replaced by Arturo Alonso, who leads the Cóndores for two seasons without winning any title. In 1996 José Juan Sánchez is appointed as head coach but the team is again unable to win any championship.[10]

In 1998, UNAM authorities decide to merge its three teams to make Pumas a competitive team again in the 10 Grandes Conference of the ONEFA, thus, leading to the disappearance of the Cóndores.[3]

Championships

National championships
Year League/Conference Coach Record Opponent Result
1970Liga Nacional ColegialManuel Neri Fernández8–0N/AN/A
1978Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete8–1Águilas Blancas IPNW 23–14
1979Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete10–0Águilas Blancas IPNW 28–16
1980Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete10–0Águilas Blancas IPNW 28–26
1983Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete9–0Águilas Blancas IPNW 23–3
1984Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete8–0Águilas Blancas IPNW 40–29
1985Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete8–0Pieles Rojas IPNW 31–0
1986Conferencia MetropolitanaDiego García Miravete7–1N/AN/A
1990Conferencia MayorDiego García Miravete8–1Águilas Blancas IPNW 16–3
1991Conferencia MayorDiego García Miravete11–0Borregos Salvajes ITESMW 41–16

Legacy

The team became one of the most popular American football teams in Mexico during its existence. This popularity remains till today. Condors CDMX, a team from the Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional, took its name and colors as an homage to the Cóndores.[11]

References
  1. "Estadio Olímpico 68, un lugar hecho historia". Fundación UNAM (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  2. "Historia ONEFA" (in Spanish). ONEFA. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  3. "Pumas CU, orgullo de la UNAM". Fundación UNAM (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  4. "Surge el futbol americano en la Universidad". Deporte UNAM (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  5. García Estrada, Ricardo (30 March 2009). "Aplauso y silbido" (PDF). U2000 (in Spanish). p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
  6. Villegas, Manuel. "Historia Cóndor". condores.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  7. "Historia de un clásico: Pumas vs Poli". Juristas UNAM (in Spanish). 6 February 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  8. "Equipo". condores.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. "Se convierte Borregos Monterrey en una dinastía de ONEFA". Mediotiempo.com (in Spanish). 17 November 2007. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  10. Pacheco, Gabriel (30 September 2020). "10 Datos que no conocías de José Juan Sánchez "Chac", un ejemplo dentro y fuera del emparrillado". Máximo Avance (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
  11. García, Cinthya (22 November 2020). "Condors de la Ciudad de México". LFA.mx (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2021.
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