the Rice Thresher

Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Courtesy ricefootball.net Head coach David Bailiff hoists the Bayou Bucket in the air after Rice's first defeat of the University of Houston in four years. Rice's nine wins this season are the most the team has had since 1953, and it is the first time the Owls have gone undefeated at home since 1949. The Owls will play in the Texas Bowl on Dec. 30 at Reliant Stadium in Houston.

The football team's senior class was honored before the Owls' final regular season matchup against The University of Houston on Saturday. As they stood before a record crowd of over 35,000 fans, the players were faced with one final chance to capture the Bayou Bucket, one of the few previous historic imprints the squad had been unable to make.

After one of the most meaningful Bayou Buckets in recent history, the bowl-bound Owls crossed that accomplishment off the to-do list. For the first time in four years, Rice brought home the trophy with a convincing 56-42 win over their cross-town rivals.

The contest held major Conference USA title implications: Coming into the game, Houston was in control of its own destiny, since a win over Rice would have sent the Cougars to the Conference USA Championship game against East Carolina University. Even Rice could have gone to the championship had a win over Houston coincided with a University of Tulsa loss to Marshall University the same day.

Unfortunately, news of Tulsa's victory over the Thundering Herd came in as the rivalry game at Rice Stadium was coming to a close, but the Owls, who are currently on a six-game winning streak, had much to celebrate. Their nine wins represent the most by an Rice squad since 1953, and the Owls went undefeated at home for the first time since 1949.

Rice earned their fifth consecutive win at home two weeks ago against Marshall. The Owls and the Herd were tied 7-7 at halftime, but Rice accumulated more than 300 yards of total offense in the second half to blow the game open and take a 35-10 victory. The offensive star of that game was senior quarterback Chase Clement, who threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth.

Continued...

Page 1 of 3 next >

Article Tools