I was watching our Halloween game from 2 years ago earlier today, and it brought back some fun memories from that night. Last season Rice got their revenge. My brother (a Rice season ticket holder) and I are really enjoying how this series is developing. I think both games have been competitive and entertaining.

I know Rice enjoyed a long football history with SMU, but was that series highly regarded by the Rice fans in the final seasons? Did those last few games draw decent crowds? How do Rice fans view trading SMU for North Texas?

Thanks.

I don't think many Rice fans are all that upset about losing SMU (although perhaps we're a little jealous of their success in men's basketball). So UNT has been an adequate replacement in my eyes. But we do miss some of the other teams (UT, UH, A&M primarily).

I'm not really responding to the question here, but I, for one, miss the annual game against Rice. It meant a something to me and my friends. Nothing can replace it. Hopefully we reinstate the game, and push it past a single home for home. Nothing like watching Houston v. Rice at Rice Memorial Stadium.

EDIT: Sorry for severely derailing the thread.

(04-25-2015 11:09 PM)canewton Wrote:  I'm not really responding to the question here, but I, for one, miss the annual game against Rice. It meant a something to me and my friends. Nothing can replace it. Hopefully we reinstate the game, and push it past a single home for home. Nothing like watching Houston v. Rice at Rice Memorial Stadium.

EDIT: Sorry for severely derailing the thread.

Agreed - it will be good for all to renew acquaintances

I don't miss SMU. UNT Has more potential and more fans.

I miss SMU. They were there with us from 1916, when we beat them 146-3, so just recently. I was part of that from 1963 on. When the SWC broke up, we were all in the same boat. Too much history there to just ignore.

Give it time. If UNT and Rice remain associated, the same relationship will evolve. I enjoyed my only trip to Denton for a game, and like the fans of UNT. Pretty sensible bunch.

(04-25-2015 11:09 PM)canewton Wrote:  I'm not really responding to the question here, but I, for one, miss the annual game against Rice. It meant a something to me and my friends. Nothing can replace it. Hopefully we reinstate the game, and push it past a single home for home. Nothing like watching Houston v. Rice at Rice Memorial Stadium.

EDIT: Sorry for severely derailing the thread.

Back to SMU, I have to say I don't miss that series because the SMU fans in Houston stopped caring. What gripes me, though, is the Rice and SMU football programs have been rather comparable lately, although SMU has not won a conference title. After the SMU death penalty, Rice won 8 in a row, and after that the last 15 games were Rice 8, and SMU 7. Yet SMU was perceived as the higher ceiling program, even before their men's basketball program caught fire.

I think that North Texas has a greater number of fans willing to come to Rice for a football game than I remember from the SMU days. It is interesting to watch what happens now when SMU, Tulsa, and Tulane visit UH.

(04-26-2015 09:43 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(04-25-2015 11:09 PM)canewton Wrote:  I'm not really responding to the question here, but I, for one, miss the annual game against Rice. It meant a something to me and my friends. Nothing can replace it. Hopefully we reinstate the game, and push it past a single home for home. Nothing like watching Houston v. Rice at Rice Memorial Stadium.

EDIT: Sorry for severely derailing the thread.

Back to SMU, I have to say I don't miss that series because the SMU fans in Houston stopped caring. What gripes me, though, is the Rice and SMU football programs have been rather comparable lately, although SMU has not won a conference title. After the SMU death penalty, Rice won 8 in a row, and after that the last 15 games were Rice 8, and SMU 7. Yet SMU was perceived as the higher ceiling program, even before their men's basketball program caught fire.

I think that North Texas has a greater number of fans willing to come to Rice for a football game than I remember from the SMU days. It is interesting to watch what happens now when SMU, Tulsa, and Tulane visit UH.

My guess is they stripped Dallas of a CUSA team because two from Houston is less desirable and they wanted UH, CUSA headquarters is in Dallas, giving us a slap in the face, and it would be very hard to replace a team in the Dallas metro without going UNT which also sticks it to the Sunbelt.

I'm loathe to give the meatball that much credit in planning this move but it makes sense, strategically.

I definitely miss SMU as a Rice fan who grew up in Dallas. That rivalry was always the big game in my family when I was growing up. Several family members and friends went to SMU, while no family members and few friends went to UNT. UNT was always sort of an afterthought to me growing up. That being said, I have nothing but good things to say about UNT in the conference. It's just not the same history/connection I have with SMU, and it won't ever be for me

(04-26-2015 03:41 PM)07owl Wrote:  I definitely miss SMU as a Rice fan who grew up in Dallas. That rivalry was always the big game in my family when I was growing up. Several family members and friends went to SMU, while no family members and few friends went to UNT. UNT was always sort of an afterthought to me growing up. That being said, I have nothing but good things to say about UNT in the conference. It's just not the same history/connection I have with SMU, and it won't ever be for me

+1, I am much more interested in Rice vs SMU. The game has been played 90 times whereas our next closest series in the new CUSA+SunBelt is UTEP at 18 games. Rice lost long-time rivals with the last raid and is the biggest reason I'd like to get us back in the AAC.

I never cared for or about SMU. Even in the SWC they were the least interesting to me. Texas, aTm, and Arkansas were big names. Houston was cross-town. Lots of friends went to Tech and Baylor. TCU and SMU were afterthoughts. But I preferred and still prefer Ft Worth to Dallas. So SMU was at the bottom of my interest.