08/27/1998
Operation Sellout II Aims for Bigger Season Opener
BY DAVID KAPLAN
Rice News Staff
August 27, 1998
Last year, the Owls kicked off the football season in front of 53,000 fans
at Rice Stadium. This year, there could be an even bigger crowd when Rice takes
on Southern Methodist University at the Sept. 5 opener. "Operation Sellout
II" is under way and (as of press time) only about 17,500 tickets remain.
The goal, according to Mike Pede, the athletic department's director of marketing
and promotions, is an attendance of 62,000. Rice Stadium can hold 70,000 spectators,
but the north end zone will be blocked off for a post-game fireworks show.
The big event will double as a food drive. The Houston Food Bank is asking
each fan to bring seven cans of food. Food Bank officials are hoping to load
nine semitrailers with canned goods. If that goal is met, this will be the largest
single collection of food in Houston's history.
Houston Mayor Lee Brown, who will be honored at the game, noted at a recent
Operation Sellout II press conference that the Rice/SMU game might very well
be Houston's largest athletic event of the year. A former Rice professor of
sociology, Brown praised the idea of a food drive being held in conjunction
with the game, saying, "No one should go hungry." Brown will attend
the game with a group of underprivileged children. Rice President Malcolm Gillis
observed that the food drive will be a wonderful opportunity for Rice to extend
its tradition of community service. A special halftime presentation will recognize
four Owls football legends who are Rice's first-ever "Ring of Distinction"
honorees: Dicky Maegle ('57-'58), Froggy Williams ('46-'49), the late Weldon
Humble ('42-'46), and the late coach Jess Neely ('40-'66). Large marble plates
in honor of each person will be displayed on the facade of the upper east stadium
deck facing the field.
The 7 p.m. game will also feature a pregame fly-over with aircraft from the
Lone Star Flight Museum and a post-game fireworks display.
Before the game there will be a pregame tailgate party with food, drinks and
live bands, beginning at 4 p.m.
The two teams will be playing for the "Mayor's Cup," a traveling
trophy that has been created to enhance the Rice/SMU rivalry, which dates back
to 1916. Brown and Dallas Mayor Ronald Kirk have wagered that the losing mayor
must wear the winning team's jersey to the first city council meeting following
the game.
The Owls are eager to avenge their '97 loss to the Mustangs. Last year's Owls
were an impressive 7-4.
Coupons for $9 tickets are available at Whataburger. For group tickets call
Operation Sellout at (713) 737-6196.
For related information see the following Web site:
Rice athletics: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~ricesid/