Rice Football Scheduling
Posted: Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:01 am
UT-Rice in 2010-11; A&M-Rice to follow?
When UT returns to play Rice in 2010, the game will likely be held at Reliant Stadium. That's where it was held the last time the Longhorns visited in 2003. And Mark Miller, the general manager for SMG-Reliant Park, is confident an agreement will eventually be reached with the Owls.
Chris Del Conte was a little less forthcoming on those talks, but he said they are considering everything. He did talk a little about his scheduling philosophy though. Obviously there will be one more game against UT in 2011 in Austin, but Del Conte said he continues focusing his efforts on scheduling more "like-minded schools."
"I think anytime you can have an opportunity to play the University of Texas, it's big for our alumni," Del Conte said. "The main thing we've done is try to schedule like-minded schools: Army, Navy, Duke, Stanford, Northwestern, Wake Forest. Those are the schools we are really focusing on."
At the same time, Del Conte knows Texas remains appealing, especially because of the historical significance and the speech made by JFK at Rice Stadium on Sept. 12, 1962.
In the speech, JFK said: "There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?"
Del Conte said that's why everyone around Rice still likes to play Texas, and he said opened the possibility up for a possible Rice-Texas A&M matchup. The two teams met every season from 1920-95 with the Aggies winning the last 15 meetings. Texas A&M leads the series 50-27-2.
Del Conte didn't say anything was eminent, but he was the one who brought the Aggies up.
"I also look at the opportunity to someday play A&M as well," Del Conte said. "But mainly right now, it's getting ourselves in position to play like-minded schools. It's good for Rice, it's good for our community and that's where I'm focusing our attention now."
Do you want to see the Rice-UT series continue? And what do you think about putting A&M back into the mix down the road?
When UT returns to play Rice in 2010, the game will likely be held at Reliant Stadium. That's where it was held the last time the Longhorns visited in 2003. And Mark Miller, the general manager for SMG-Reliant Park, is confident an agreement will eventually be reached with the Owls.
Chris Del Conte was a little less forthcoming on those talks, but he said they are considering everything. He did talk a little about his scheduling philosophy though. Obviously there will be one more game against UT in 2011 in Austin, but Del Conte said he continues focusing his efforts on scheduling more "like-minded schools."
"I think anytime you can have an opportunity to play the University of Texas, it's big for our alumni," Del Conte said. "The main thing we've done is try to schedule like-minded schools: Army, Navy, Duke, Stanford, Northwestern, Wake Forest. Those are the schools we are really focusing on."
At the same time, Del Conte knows Texas remains appealing, especially because of the historical significance and the speech made by JFK at Rice Stadium on Sept. 12, 1962.
In the speech, JFK said: "There is no strife, no prejudice, no national conflict in outer space as yet. Its hazards are hostile to us all. Its conquest deserves the best of all mankind, and its opportunity for peaceful cooperation many never come again. But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? And they may well ask why climb the highest mountain? Why, 35 years ago, fly the Atlantic? Why does Rice play Texas?"
Del Conte said that's why everyone around Rice still likes to play Texas, and he said opened the possibility up for a possible Rice-Texas A&M matchup. The two teams met every season from 1920-95 with the Aggies winning the last 15 meetings. Texas A&M leads the series 50-27-2.
Del Conte didn't say anything was eminent, but he was the one who brought the Aggies up.
"I also look at the opportunity to someday play A&M as well," Del Conte said. "But mainly right now, it's getting ourselves in position to play like-minded schools. It's good for Rice, it's good for our community and that's where I'm focusing our attention now."
Do you want to see the Rice-UT series continue? And what do you think about putting A&M back into the mix down the road?