Aug. 29, 2008

David Bailiff's Rice Owls will open their 2008 football season tonight in front of a national television audience when they host the SMU Mustangs at Rice Stadium. The game has been designated as Operation Sellout, with all upper deck seats in the stadium on sale for just $10.

Kickoff is set for 7:01 p.m. but the festivities surrounding the game are already underway.

Today is National College Colors Day and college football fans around the country are showing their spirit by wearing the colors of their favorite teams to work. Prior to the game tonight, a context will be held among Rice students to determine the most creative and spirited display of the Owls' Blue and Gray, and the winner will be announce during the game.

Fan activities around the stadium open at 3 p.m. when Tailgate Owley, Rice's interactive family fun zone, opens for its second season. As part of the Operation Sellout festivities, local musician Ezra Charles will provide a pre-game concert in the tailgate area beginning at 5 p.m.

The street just east of Tailgate Owley is closed for tonight's game in order to host the members of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, who are holding a barbeque cook-off to honor Rice undergraduates who have received scholarships from the organization. At 4 p.m., the first 2,000 fans with a ticket to tonight's game will receive a free plate of food. After that, plates will be available for $6 and all proceeds will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project.

The Rotary Lombardi Award, a Houston tradition since 1970, will be on display inside the stadium, giving fans a chance to see one of college football's most distinctive awards.

Parking Update

Several of the parking lots around Rice Stadium have been re-configured, and with the heavy turnout expected, the Rice University Police Department has released the following tips to help fans find their parking locations:

Fans are encouraged fans to plan to arrive early. There will be staff at Entrances 8, 13A, and 18 and in the parking lots to help direct you to open parking spaces. If you are approaching the university from the north.

access will be through Entrance 13A (off Greenbriar Drive) into the Greenbriar Parking Lot or Entrance 18 off of Rice Blvd. From there, parking attendants will direct you into open spaces.

If you are approaching from Main Street, please turn west on University Blvd. Once on University Blvd. there will be two defined lanes - the right lane for general parking at Entrance 8 and the left lane for through traffic and donor parking.

Look for signs to help. Once on campus parking attendants will direct you to an open parking space.