Rice Bowl

Rice Bowl. Those two words have not been used in the context of Rice University and football bowl games since 1961. John F. Kennedy was President. Vince Lombardi was winning just his first NFL championship with the Green Bay Packers that season. And the Rice Owls were preparing to play the Kansas Jayhawks in the Bluebonnet Bowl. That was the last highlight for Rice football for over four decades. That long dry spell is over.

Rice defeated SMU 31-27 at Rice Stadium in Houston on Saturday to improve their record to 7-5 and earn a guaranteed bowl bid. Where and who they play won't be determined until next weekend, but that doesn't really matter, does it? Rice's renaissance is real.

Meanwhile, in high school sports, Richardson Berkner won a second-round playoff thriller in Texas Stadium Saturday. The Rams beat Dallas Carter 31-29 on a 31-yard field goal by freshman kicker Zach Olen as time expired. "I don't have to worry about being called 'Kicker' anymore," Olen said. "Now I'll be 'Zach.' "

It's a great time to be a Ram!