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2016 Schedule Series: Rice

Better Know Rice

Rice has the benefit of being connected to the SWC mythos because of their membership. Like any program whose history expands accross the century, there were bright spots and dim ones. Rice’s heyday came in the 40s-and-50s when they won their first four bowl games, including the Cotton Bowl thrice and the ’47 Orange Bowl. They won six SWC titles but none from 1958 to 1993.

After winning their first four bowls, they lost their next four. The years between their third and fourth losses spanned 45 years. Since 2006, they have been bowling four more times and have a nice 3-1 record to show.

Recently, they occupy the middle-to-lower tier of football noteriety and experience the roller coaster through the standings that is common with every college football program.

They play in venerable old Rice Stadium, built in 1950 and host to Super Bowl VIII in 1974 (Dolphins v. Vikings), JFK’s speech about doing things because they are hard, Houston Oilers games, and U of H games. It was built with a 70K capacity but was reduced in 2006 since Rice does not draw like that anymore. If you believe Wikipedia, it has great sightlines and might be the best place in Texas to watch football. MGN will be the final word on this.

Before 1950, they played the first century of football at the present site of the soccer field.. Read that for great pictures of old games there. I love a good history blog.

For others in this series click here.

Date Opp Result
Sep 3 at SMU Loss 21 – 34
Sep 10 Bethune-Cookman Win 41-20
Sep 17 at Florida Loss 0-32
Sep 24 at Rice
Oct 1 MTSU
Oct 8 Marshall
Oct 15 Bye!
Oct 22 at Army
Oct 29 at UTSA
Nov 5 LaTech
Nov 12 at WKU
Nov 19 SoMiss
Nov 26 at UTEP
Dec 3 CUSA Championship Game

MGN Page – None

Season Thus Far:

Opp Score
at WKU L 14-46
at Army L 14-31
Baylor L 38-10

Just three years ago Rice won the conference title. They were supposed to have a better year last season, but among other problems, Driphus Jackson was not that great. Rice managed a respectable 5-7 record, but only three came in conference play where things really matter. This year, the pass game looks soft and all indications are that they are not going to content for the CUSA title yet again. The argument that they are better than their record, and that the competition is actually that good is a decent one. WKU is the best team in CUSA, Army is good, and Baylor — nevermind their issues — is still talented and have quality.

The team our guys line up against at 5pm on Saturday Sept 24th will be tough.

The School

The university is named after William Marsh Rice, and was previously named “William M. Rice Institute for the Advancement of Literature, Science and Art”.

Ol’ Will Rice was a bootstrappin’ slave ownin’ “capitalist”. He worked his way into riches from a store clerk twice. Good on that guy for that. He may have went to Mexico to escape the shady death of his then-wife Margaret but that may have been coincidence. His second wife wanted to divorce him but died in Wisconsin instead. Okay.

He died after being chloroformed to death in a plot concocted by his wife’s old lawyer, and carried out by Rice’s valet. In a classic Kill Rich Guy and Change His Will To Make Us Rich scheme, they did exactly that but were found out. His fortune, as planned, went to Rice Institute.

History

Date Opponent (record) Result Score Notes
9/19/2015 vs. *Rice (5-7) L 24 – 38 Blown out in a winnable game
10/25/2014 @ *Rice (8-5) L 21 – 41 Free fall
10/31/2013 vs. *Rice (10-4) W 28 – 16 Epic Halloween game
9/11/2010 vs. Rice (4-8) L 31 – 32 Pretty much ended Dodge era
9/27/2008 @ Rice (10-3) L 20 – 77 44 points at half allowed
* conference game

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