First, other than the score, I had a great time at the game yesterday. Rice Stadium is a great place and the Rice fans were all very nice and friendly.

Last season Rice came to Denton and played us on Halloween. Although Rice fans were not happy about the score, it was a great event. I was wondering if Rice fans would be interested in making our annual match-up a regular Halloween event on Fox Sports 1? Personally, I'd rather sit in a stadium at 7p.m. and enjoy possibly being the only nationally televised game, verses baking in mid-day heat and humidity for regional coverage.

Annual holiday match-ups are few and far between, and Thanksgiving is already taken by a few teams. Rice and UNT would have a fairly captive national audience. Millions of college football fans (and recruits) would tune in every year to watch our game while they hand out candy. Students love it because they get to dress up in costumes and get on T.V.

Initially, I believe overall attendance would take a hit, but neither of our programs is selling out our stadiums. Over a few years, I believe this game would become an important local Halloween event in Houston and DFW. I believe an annual Halloween night game on Fox Sports 1 would help us build more national recognition for our programs and generate needed local interest for our teams.

Thoughts?

[quote='Side Show Joe' pid='11295219' dateline='1414365037']
First, other than the score, I had a great time at the game yesterday. Rice Stadium is a great place and the Rice fans were all very nice and friendly.

Last season Rice came to Denton and played us on Halloween. Although Rice fans were not happy about the score, it was a great event. I was wondering if Rice fans would be interested in making our annual match-up a regular Halloween event on Fox Sports 1? Personally, I'd rather sit in a stadium at 7p.m. and enjoy possibly being the only nationally televised game, verses baking in mid-day heat and humidity for regional coverage.

Annual holiday match-ups are few and far between, and Thanksgiving is already taken by a few teams. Rice and UNT would have a fairly captive national audience. Millions of college football fans (and recruits) would tune in every year to watch our game while they hand out candy. Students love it because they get to dress up in costumes and get on T.V.

Initially, I believe overall attendance would take a hit, but neither of our programs is selling out our stadiums. Over a few years, I believe this game would become an important local Halloween event in Houston and DFW. I believe an annual Halloween night game on Fox Sports 1 would help us build more national recognition for our programs and generate needed local interest for our teams.

Thoughts?
[/quote

Halloween may work. Generally, weekday, Thanksgiving week, and holiday games are all nightmares for Rice attendance...

Here's what we'd like, though... how about a visiting professor from the UNT music school to come to Rice for a year to revitalize and involve Shepherd School music students' participation in Marching Owl Band, without fear of penalty for participating. (Yes.) Even, heaven forbid, offer a course credit for band participation.

(10-26-2014 06:10 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  Last season Rice came to Denton and played us on Halloween. Although Rice fans were not happy about the score, it was a great event. I was wondering if Rice fans would be interested in making our annual match-up a regular Halloween event on Fox Sports 1? Personally, I'd rather sit in a stadium at 7p.m. and enjoy possibly being the only nationally televised game, verses baking in mid-day heat and humidity for regional coverage.

I missed the game here in North Texas last year because of Halloween. This will probably be my son's last year trick-or-treating, so I think I could make it up here next time. You've got an interesting thought, as I'm sure there's some demand for dads who stay home to have a game to watch.

Anything to establish a tradition. C-USA needs some.

I just don't think this will work because Halloween is on a different day every year and it's just not feasible to be playing games on certain nights (Sunday and Monday come to mind most prominently).

(10-26-2014 07:08 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I just don't think this will work because Halloween is on a different day every year and it's just not feasible to be playing games on certain nights (Sunday and Monday come to mind most prominently).

Ok, so if Halloween is on a Sunday or Monday, then play the game on the prior Saturday. If Halloween parties don't have to be on Halloween, then neither does the game. Schedule conflict with NOD could be a problem, but not insurmountable.

(10-26-2014 06:23 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  Here's what we'd like, though... how about a visiting professor from the UNT music school to come to Rice for a year to revitalize and involve Shepherd School music students' participation in Marching Owl Band, without fear of penalty for participating. (Yes.) Even, heaven forbid, offer a course credit for band participation.

+1000.

And I think the Halloween idea might work. UNT as an institution, to my mind, may be our next best brethren in CUSA scholastically/culturally, and their band is the best.

BTW, I was at the game, and it continues to amaze me how well the MOB plays with so VERY few members. Hats off to them - - they deserve MUCH more recognition than they get.

(10-26-2014 06:10 PM)Side Show Joe Wrote:  First, other than the score, I had a great time at the game yesterday. Rice Stadium is a great place and the Rice fans were all very nice and friendly.

Last season Rice came to Denton and played us on Halloween. Although Rice fans were not happy about the score, it was a great event. I was wondering if Rice fans would be interested in making our annual match-up a regular Halloween event on Fox Sports 1? Personally, I'd rather sit in a stadium at 7p.m. and enjoy possibly being the only nationally televised game, verses baking in mid-day heat and humidity for regional coverage.

Annual holiday match-ups are few and far between, and Thanksgiving is already taken by a few teams. Rice and UNT would have a fairly captive national audience. Millions of college football fans (and recruits) would tune in every year to watch our game while they hand out candy. Students love it because they get to dress up in costumes and get on T.V.

Initially, I believe overall attendance would take a hit, but neither of our programs is selling out our stadiums. Over a few years, I believe this game would become an important local Halloween event in Houston and DFW. I believe an annual Halloween night game on Fox Sports 1 would help us build more national recognition for our programs and generate needed local interest for our teams.

Thoughts?

I have an odd question. Have the North Texas regents ever thought of renaming the school to something like Denton University or the University of Denton?

I like the idea as well. Even if Halloween isn't on that Saturday you could still have the spirit of the holiday. Agree with Frizzy Owl any traditions would be nice.

Love it.
Game was on Thursday *because* of TV last year.
We went and we dressed up.

But I don't care what day of the week it's on - even if (gasp) playing on Sunday or Monday means no TV the first couple of years. Could also just do a late 9 pm start on Saturday (if Halloween is on Sunday) and we'll see for which team the clock strikes "midnight"

UNT game on the road is a big deal for us because of large # of DFW area alumni.

Make it happen.

(10-26-2014 06:23 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  Halloween may work. Generally, weekday, Thanksgiving week, and holiday games are all nightmares for Rice attendance...

Here's what we'd like, though... how about a visiting professor from the UNT music school to come to Rice for a year to revitalize and involve Shepherd School music students' participation in Marching Owl Band, without fear of penalty for participating. (Yes.) Even, heaven forbid, offer a course credit for band participation.

This is a really good idea.

(10-27-2014 10:26 AM)cthrockmorton Wrote:  

(10-26-2014 06:23 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  Halloween may work. Generally, weekday, Thanksgiving week, and holiday games are all nightmares for Rice attendance...

Here's what we'd like, though... how about a visiting professor from the UNT music school to come to Rice for a year to revitalize and involve Shepherd School music students' participation in Marching Owl Band, without fear of penalty for participating. (Yes.) Even, heaven forbid, offer a course credit for band participation.

Trick-or-treat at the stadium! Maybe student and community organizations can set up trick-or-treat stations. Maybe someone could set up a haunted house. (Haunted Press Box? Locker Room of Doom? Restroom of Death?) Concourse graveyard! Live Owls! Game announcers describing sacks as the arrival of the Zombie Apocalypse!

(10-27-2014 04:39 PM)Caelligh Wrote:  Trick-or-treat at the stadium! Maybe student and community organizations can set up trick-or-treat stations. Maybe someone could set up a haunted house. (Haunted Press Box? Locker Room of Doom? Restroom of Death?) Concourse graveyard! Live Owls! Game announcers describing sacks as the arrival of the Zombie Apocalypse!

+1

Way back in 1987 Jim Harris was in his second year as the Director of the Owl Club and he had arranged for various "ghouls" from Astroworld and other entertainment venues to be stationed around Rice Stadium for the Oct 31 game against Arkansas. He went around looking at all of the blood splattered makeup and costumes then turned to a long forgotten intern and said "didn't they send any happy looking monsters?"

(10-27-2014 06:23 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(10-27-2014 04:39 PM)Caelligh Wrote:  Trick-or-treat at the stadium! Maybe student and community organizations can set up trick-or-treat stations. Maybe someone could set up a haunted house. (Haunted Press Box? Locker Room of Doom? Restroom of Death?) Concourse graveyard! Live Owls! Game announcers describing sacks as the arrival of the Zombie Apocalypse!

+1

Way back in 1987 Jim Harris was in his second year as the Director of the Owl Club and he had arranged for various "ghouls" from Astroworld and other entertainment venues to be stationed around Rice Stadium for the Oct 31 game against Arkansas. He went around looking at all of the blood splattered makeup and costumes then turned to a long forgotten intern and said "didn't they send any happy looking monsters?"

Ah, yes, the Halloween game against Arkansas. The MOB got in trouble for its show that day, too. Arkansas fans didn't have much of a sense of humor - and it wasn't really aimed at them too much.

Was that the game when the Arkansas mascot clobbered Sammy from behind? I always thought that was a cheap shot and could've done serious harm.