Congrats to the players on coaching staff on earning an exciting bowl destination and a 3rd straight bowl appearance!

I do not have anything substantive to add, but let's keep the chatter in this thread focused on the game at hand, rather than other bowls, coaching staffs, or the direction of Rice football or athletics.

This would be a good place for previews of Fresno State, updates on Owl injuries (White and Callahan missed the end of the LaTech game and some have mentioned that Schantz was banged up a few weeks ago).

As my 2-year-old yells repeatedly yells whenever she sees a Rice t-shirt ... GO RICE! GO RICE! GO RICE!

Quote:Rice Owls Examiner @RiceExaminer ·
Fresno State has won all six past meeting over Rice. All came when both schools were part of the WAC between 1996 and 2004
This is the Owls first trip to the Hawaii Bowl. Fresno State played in the 2012 game, losing to SMU in Honolulu.
Rice is 2-1 all-time in the Aloha state. Owls beat Hawaii in 1999 and 2001. Lost to them in 2003.

Fresno State has a lot of good athletes. It'll be a challenge for our guys

In my latest rankings, Rice is #74 and Fresno State is #75.

(12-07-2014 05:11 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  In my latest rankings, Rice is #74 and Fresno State is #75.

Sounds like an even matchup that also emphasizes that there are a ridiculous number of bowl games.

Only common opponent, interestingly enough: Hawaii

Rice won at home 28-14
Fresno won at home 28-21

Quote:RiceFootball ‏@RiceFootball1
Bailiff on mixing in a little pleasure: "In the morning it's going to be about football. But I know we're going to Pearl Harbor for sure."

Anyone planning to go?

Tickets....
https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/rice/EN...ls/14fbhaw

sadly no....

I guess if I had been clairvoyant in August and known we were headed to Hawaii to play on Christmas Eve I would've have been seriously considering this trip. But, like many on this board, I don't think going to the Hawaii Bowl is going to be in my plans this year. Just not a great time to be taking a 10 hour flight X2.

Still, it will be a great experience and honor for the players and coaches and players' families to get to go and represent Rice.

And... A 7 pm Christmas Eve kick off will fit nicely into my plans. Relax with my family. Have dinner. And watch the Owls beat Fresno St.

(12-07-2014 05:35 PM)Antarius Wrote:  Anyone planning to go?

I won't know until Wednesday when the lottery results are announced.

Was going to scalp my ticket to the A&M-UT Texas Bowl to pay for my airfare. Too bad the Aggies decided to duck the game.

I assume team will go on a charter flight? Lowest fares I found on American and Delta from DFW for a 23-25 trip are around one grand.

The state of Hawaii helps the teams selected in covering their travel costs so that the Hawaii Bowl isn't much different than a trip to any other bowl game for the team. For the player's relatives and the team's fans it isn't pretty much a killer. The nice thing about the Wac was you could plan in advance to go and to search for the best deals depending on what you want. We went in 1999 and spent the first 4 days on Oahu and going to the game and then to the Big Island for 5 days. Great trip and great win thanks in large part to Chad Richardson and a great run to start the 2H.

(12-07-2014 06:05 PM)DFW Owl Wrote:  I assume team will go on a charter flight? Lowest fares I found on American and Delta from DFW for a 23-25 trip are around one grand.

Yeah, that's what im seeing as well. And the flights are very very full.

The DFW-HNL flight on American is operated on a 767-300 which is a 2-3-2 configuration in coach and a 2-2-2 config in Business (with angle flat beds). Generally comfortable aircraft to fly on.

IAH-HNL on United is on a 777-200 which is not international configuration typically, 3-3-3 or 2-5-2 in the back and 2-3-2 in business (recliner seats, not beds)

(12-07-2014 04:30 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

Quote:Rice Owls Examiner @RiceExaminer ·
Fresno State has won all six past meeting over Rice. All came when both schools were part of the WAC between 1996 and 2004
This is the Owls first trip to the Hawaii Bowl. Fresno State played in the 2012 game, losing to SMU in Honolulu.
Rice is 2-1 all-time in the Aloha state. Owls beat Hawaii in 1999 and 2001. Lost to them in 2003.

Okay, great. This gives Rice something to shoot for we can check a few things off our list: Beat Fresno for the first time, and win the Hawaii Bowl first time. Let's do it.

At least Fresno is a name people have heard before. Remember the old days when it seemed every year they played Bowling Green in one of the early bowls.

Hope the players and staff have a wonderful trip. If I'm a player, I'd be more stoked about visiting Hawaii than Ft. Worth or New Mexico. Go Owls!

Though I would've liked to attend a bowl game in Dallas, I'm very happy for the players - - should be a very fun and certainly a memorable trip.

(12-07-2014 05:11 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  In my latest rankings, Rice is #74 and Fresno State is #75.

Great opponent

(12-07-2014 05:32 PM)dragon2owl Wrote:  

Quote:RiceFootball ‏@RiceFootball1
Bailiff on mixing in a little pleasure: "In the morning it's going to be about football. But I know we're going to Pearl Harbor for sure."

The best at quotes no doubt about it.