In filling out the latest post-MBB game survey emailed by Rice, I mentioned there was an ongoing commentary regarding the current look sported by Sammy. I'd imagine RU ( Athletics Dept ? ) would control of the mascot's appearance as an IP. Independently supplying a new costume might not be received well.

Checking the web shows better mascotumes cost $ 1500 and up. I wonder. If a group of donors offered to cover costs would RU consider a new look Sammy. Can you imagine the drama if we started a crowd sourcing account to raise the funds ?

(01-26-2015 09:37 AM)Antarius Wrote:  Looking at the picture, was there a raised section in the end zone?

Yes for the big games during the 50's and very early 60's there were raised bleachers placed on the concrete concourse (especially the north endzone where these bleachers were in front of the structure that housed the cokes/popcorn/etc that were sold by vendors throughout the stadium). In general they raised the capacity by something like 1000-1500 per endzone. The capacity was usually listed as 70,000 but the bleachers brought it up to 72 or 73,000. The last time I can remember them used was the 1964 UT game.

(01-27-2015 05:27 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(01-26-2015 09:37 AM)Antarius Wrote:  Looking at the picture, was there a raised section in the end zone?

Yes for the big games during the 50's and very early 60's there were raised bleachers placed on the concrete concourse (especially the north endzone where these bleachers were in front of the structure that housed the cokes/popcorn/etc that were sold by vendors throughout the stadium). In general they raised the capacity by something like 1000-1500 per endzone. The capacity was usually listed as 70,000 but the bleachers brought it up to 72 or 73,000. The last time I can remember them used was the 1964 UT game.

Thanks!

(01-26-2015 02:52 PM)Da.Owl Wrote:  I'd imagine RU ( Athletics Dept ? ) would control of the mascot's appearance as an IP. Independently supplying a new costume might not be received well.

Saying "RU controls the mascot's appearance" is a far, far different thing from saying that "the current look is the result of a thoughtful decision by qualified people at Rice."

- The former may or may not have been the case -- there have been times in past decades when a student committee funded and picked out the Sammy costume; equally, it might have been chosen by an intern who was handed a catalog one morning with no guidance and told "pick something you like."

- In any case, the present result proves res ipsa loquitur that the latter was not the case.

One of the things I really like about Joe Karlgaard's team is that they seem committed to better-informed and more thoughtful decision making in all aspects of athletic operations. It's a wonderful thing to see.

I know schools just have one mascot. So why don't we field multiples? Say, 11 or so?
There are so many opinions of which one we like best - lets "make everyone happy" and have one of each, plus a couple of truly off-beat ones.
We have a small enrollment and (currently) low attendance. But we could lead the country in mascots.
Get the entire band to perform a show wearing Owl costumes to build it up even more.
How Rice-y is that???

(01-23-2015 12:10 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  That's the same one I was bowing to in 1963.

I was going to ask what owl bowling was. Then, I realized I wasn't wearing my glasses. I wonder how many years I've heard of bowing and thought "bowling" every time, but never thought to ask.

(01-28-2015 07:58 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I know schools just have one mascot. So why don't we field multiples? Say, 11 or so?
There are so many opinions of which one we like best - lets "make everyone happy" and have one of each, plus a couple of truly off-beat ones.
We have a small enrollment and (currently) low attendance. But we could lead the country in mascots.
Get the entire band to perform a show wearing Owl costumes to build it up even more.
How Rice-y is that???

This could also help our eventual entry to the SEC to join up with:
Auburn War Eagle Tigers Plainsmen
Alabama Roll Tide Elephants
Texas A&M Aggie Collie Dogs
Ole Miss Colonel Reb Bears
Tennessee Hound Dog Volunteers

(01-28-2015 07:58 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I know schools just have one mascot. So why don't we field multiples? Say, 11 or so?
There are so many opinions of which one we like best - lets "make everyone happy" and have one of each, plus a couple of truly off-beat ones.
We have a small enrollment and (currently) low attendance. But we could lead the country in mascots.
Get the entire band to perform a show wearing Owl costumes to build it up even more.
How Rice-y is that???

Why?

And yes, it is Rice-y in the way that we have and still seem to like to do things differently, for the sake of being different. Not necessarily better, but different.

(01-28-2015 10:10 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 12:10 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  That's the same one I was bowing to in 1963.

I was going to ask what owl bowling was. Then, I realized I wasn't wearing my glasses. I wonder how many years I've heard of bowing and thought "bowling" every time, but never thought to ask.

I read it as "bowling" the first time as well. that would actually be a funny halftime stunt for the students and generate some publicity/excitement for Rice; Along the lines of the MLB "Sausage race" and "president's race"

Construct a set of 10 fiberglass "Sammy Owl" pins, and get one of those giant inflatable balls you can ride inside and have students "Bowl" by pushing it to knock over the pins!


(I'd lose the red bumpers and just have bigger Sammy pins spread out a bit more.)
I'll bet students would compete and come out to see that. You could have 2 colleges try per home game, and have a "playoff" between the top 2 at the end of season or if we make the Championship game, or bowl. That would be a heck of a prize!

(01-28-2015 01:09 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  

(01-28-2015 10:10 AM)I45owl Wrote:  

(01-23-2015 12:10 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  That's the same one I was bowing to in 1963.

I was going to ask what owl bowling was. Then, I realized I wasn't wearing my glasses. I wonder how many years I've heard of bowing and thought "bowling" every time, but never thought to ask.

I read it as "bowling" the first time as well. that would actually be a funny halftime stunt for the students and generate some publicity/excitement for Rice; Along the lines of the MLB "Sausage race" and "president's race"

Construct a set of 10 fiberglass "Sammy Owl" pins, and get one of those giant inflatable balls you can ride inside and have students "Bowl" by pushing it to knock over the pins!


(I'd lose the red bumpers and just have bigger Sammy pins spread out a bit more.)
I'll bet students would compete and come out to see that. You could have 2 colleges try per home game, and have a "playoff" between the top 2 at the end of season or if we make the Championship game, or bowl. That would be a heck of a prize!

If only the legal drinking age were back down to 18 ... then you could have Beer-Bowling in conjunction with Beer-Bike. Could be hilarious.

(01-28-2015 01:13 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  If only the legal drinking age were back down to 18 ... then you could have Beer-Bowling in conjunction with Beer-Bike. Could be hilarious.

Yeah, beer chugging combined with rolling someone upside down and all over encased in plastic in the Texas sun and Houston humidity... what could go wrong with that combination?

ack to the mascot....

he Owl s the perfect symbol for Rice ath
Etics, embodying both wisdom and fierceness. But it is difficult to morph a bird suit for a primate amd put on a a face that does not look weird.

perhaps we should sponsor a competition to submit mew designs for costumes.

(01-29-2015 02:28 AM)JHG722 Wrote:  

i like the live owls, but they cannot cheer and celebrate. Your human mascot is better than most. I wamt even better.

Stella cheers and celebrates in her own way :)

(01-29-2015 02:28 AM)JHG722 Wrote:  

Been there, done that years ago. From '68 on into the late '70s we had a live Great Horned Owl in the Lovett Owl House. He'd go on a Lovett students' leather-gloved arm to football and basketball games. I remember my roommate (RME) and I would make food runs to Richwood. I'd get Mateus Rose' and he'd get packets of raw beef liver for Sammy. Rascal would inhale it whole....

Sammy was on ABC13 this morning, goodness that uniform is atrocious

Story Link: Owl You Need To Know About Owl Mascots


It's Tricky at Temple (Hooter, formerly Victor E. Owl)


FAU's Owlsley


Kennesaw State University's Scrappy


You Know Hoo!

Sammy visited the STEM-letics kids a couple of weeks ago, to do stretching exercises with them in the morning.
Chuck says that she lost about 10 pounds of water weight during the session.
The costume was left out to dry and I had to try it out.
Not volunteering for this duty.
(That I cannot dance a step should be reason enough.)

Grungy you don’t need to dance to play Sammy.

But can you turn your head 45/90/180?