(04-25-2016 05:10 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 04:52 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Lagniappe?

A cajun word for 'a little bit extra, thrown in, no charge'.

One of the greatest words in the American lexicon!
It is Louisiana French certainly, but not specifically Cajun: it is more associated with New Orleans than with Acadiana, and New Orleans is definitely not Cajun.

(04-25-2016 05:25 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 05:23 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 03:32 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  A real owl at all the home games would be great. They stopped doing that in the 80's and I don't know why. The handler could walk the bird around the concourses for the fans to see. Some birds are trained to do things like fly circles. Having one fly around the stadium after touchdowns, or as the team takes the field would be so cool. I saw one at Dickens on the Strand in Galveston two years ago. That owl would do anything for food. It was really impressive.

I've heard (before my time) that students used to take care of the owls and several of them died (Racoon got into the cage?). Definitely not allowed these days. You have to have a raptor license and I don't think we have a department that would fall into. The zoo is across the street though and they house Shasta for UH. I always wondered why we didn't have a Sammy over there that could be transported to Rice on game days... The cost would be minimal and they could call it public education. Several big Rice donors contributed to the new gorilla enclosure... Maybe they could add a "Parliament" at the zoo...

So tempted...

This was the phrase that caught my eye...

(04-25-2016 06:39 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 05:49 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 05:23 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 03:32 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  A real owl at all the home games would be great. They stopped doing that in the 80's and I don't know why. The handler could walk the bird around the concourses for the fans to see. Some birds are trained to do things like fly circles. Having one fly around the stadium after touchdowns, or as the team takes the field would be so cool. I saw one at Dickens on the Strand in Galveston two years ago. That owl would do anything for food. It was really impressive.

I've heard (before my time) that students used to take care of the owls and several of them died (Racoon got into the cage?). Definitely not allowed these days. You have to have a raptor license and I don't think we have a department that would fall into. The zoo is across the street though and they house Shasta for UH. I always wondered why we didn't have a Sammy over there that could be transported to Rice on game days... The cost would be minimal and they could call it public education. Several big Rice donors contributed to the new gorilla enclosure... Maybe they could add a "Parliament" at the zoo...

The owl cage was in Lovett quad when I was at Rice. Two great horned owls. We really should get this back even if they are housed at the zoo.

Without a doubt.

Wild raptor handlers are required by law to only show the birds for "educational" purposes. Air Force brought their falcon back in 1996 at an Operation Sellout game. Right before the game, the handler gave a quick show with the bird on the 50. It was great.

I'm sure it would be very easy to contract with a bird handler to bring an owl to Rice Stadium. Those guys love showing their birds. It would add a lot to the gameday environment.

From a thread a couple of years ago, here's a link to a Dec. 9, 1965, Thresher article by a cheerleader who was deeply involved in caring for two of the mid-60s live owl mascots.

There's also this article on pp. 2-3 of the March 17, 1995, Thresher that summarizes some of the problems that prevented, at that time, return of the live owls.

My roommate my sophomore year (1974-5) was the owlkeeper. There were two great horned owls at that time, Sammy and another one, plus Annie, a barred owl. The two main things I remember were the week of the Aggie game, when he kept them in the room, and the day that Annie vanished, except for a cage full of feathers, and Sammy didn't eat for a week.

(04-26-2016 01:53 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  My roommate my sophomore year (1974-5) was the owlkeeper. There were two great horned owls at that time, Sammy and another one, plus Annie, a barred owl. The two main things I remember were the week of the Aggie game, when he kept them in the room, and the day that Annie vanished, except for a cage full of feathers, and Sammy didn't eat for a week.

Cool experience.

Back building is finished encased in the white. Now scaffolding all across the glass front of the building. Is it just for the top portion or will they be covering the glass with the blue owl graphics shown in the rendering?

The whole facility matches the rest of the stadium perfectly. They've done an amazing job.

Hmm. The scaffolding appears to have 3 levels, and part of it on the right hand side appears to come out from under the overhang so they can maybe address the lip of the roof and get that finished off? I guess they can use the scaffolding to address finishing the six front columns as well?

Pictures from this morning's ride

From the north


From the east

Scaffolding appears to be there to apply the finished surface to the "front" edge of the roof.
Stucco?
Haven't looked at the back or sides closely enough to tell...
They also added a stub wall below the player ramp today.
Unclear how far that will extend, upwards, at this point.

(05-09-2016 04:15 PM)Grungy Wrote:  Scaffolding appears to be there to apply the finished surface to the "front" edge of the roof.
Stucco?
Haven't looked at the back or sides closely enough to tell...
They also added a stub wall below the player ramp today.
Unclear how far that will extend, upwards, at this point.

I'd guess we might see the scoreboard soon? Anyone have inside info on the dimensions/when it will arrive? Like I said awhile back I really hope it's bigger than the frame and extends out on either side of it.

(05-09-2016 04:36 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(05-09-2016 04:15 PM)Grungy Wrote:  Scaffolding appears to be there to apply the finished surface to the "front" edge of the roof.
Stucco?
Haven't looked at the back or sides closely enough to tell...
They also added a stub wall below the player ramp today.
Unclear how far that will extend, upwards, at this point.

I'd guess we might see the scoreboard soon? Anyone have inside info on the dimensions/when it will arrive? Like I said awhile back I really hope it's bigger than the frame and extends out on either side of it.

Main video screen due in June.

(05-09-2016 04:36 PM)cr11owl Wrote:  I'd guess we might see the scoreboard soon? Anyone have inside info on the dimensions/when it will arrive? Like I said awhile back I really hope it's bigger than the frame and extends out on either side of it.

If this is at all accurate, it appears to be about a 2:1 rectangle.
And that stub wall may very well grow to concourse level, and hide the upper ramp entirely.

(05-09-2016 04:15 PM)Grungy Wrote:  Scaffolding appears to be there to apply the finished surface to the "front" edge of the roof.
Stucco?
Haven't looked at the back or sides closely enough to tell...
They also added a stub wall below the player ramp today.
Unclear how far that will extend, upwards, at this point.

They sure are busy working on the front today.

They are 'dozing in front of the ramp today. Getting ready to build up that front wall?

gloomy today. not much action outside. Painting the walls inside?

stacks of bricks have appeared in front of the ramp.

Finally building up the brick wall in front of the ramp today! Many workers working on it outside at the moment.

They had all the lights on inside last night. Looked nice lit up from the back.