Texas Longhorns Football Tickets

Rice Football to provide free tickets for military personnel, first responders

Rice Athletics and Gallery Furniture are teaming up to allow members of the military as well as first responders who serve locally to enjoy the 100th season of Rice Football free of charge.

Members of all branches of the military, along with members of fire, police and rescue squads will be able to sign up for tickets for themselves and their immediate family by submitting a request online or by calling (713) 522-OWLS. Tickets can be picked up either in advance at the Tudor Fieldhouse Box Office or on the day of the game at Rice Stadium. Participants in the program will be asked for proof of affiliation when picking up their tickets.

"Thanks to the generosity of Gallery Furniture and Jim McIngvale, we are able to honor these individuals throughout the season," Rice Director of Athletics Rick Greenspan said. "We understand the sacrifices they make to protect our great country and its freedom, and we are proud to recognize them on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and honor them all season through this program."

"Gallery Furniture is a huge supporter of both the military and our local first responders." McIngvale said.

Owls head football coach David Bailiff said he’s glad that the athletic department is honoring American heroes.

"As we remember the anniversary of the attacks on our country, I am inspired by the selflessness and courage of all involved that day, and grateful for the sacrifices they make every day in service to our nation," Bailiff said.

"I am proud to join Gallery Furniture in honoring these incredible families. I know every member of our football team will take great pride in knowing we will have some very special guests in the stands each week," Bailiff said.

Rice opens its 100th season of college football on Sept. 3 when the Owls travel to Austin to face the Texas Longhorns.

The program will kick off with a special on-field ceremony prior to the Owls' 2011 home opener against Purdue on Sept. 10 as part of national recognition of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America.

Longhorn Network Causing Problems : Football Tickets Online

It should come as no surprise.   When you mix a network with sports nothing is ever right afterwards.  Look at the precedents.

Networks moved World Series games to night and then late in the evening so more and more games end after midnight.  NBA games are enduring the same situation.  Now ESPN has funded the Longhorn Network for the University of Texas and a nightmare ensued.

ESPN has $300 million invested into the new network over 20 years.  Certainly none of the Big 12 schools are happy about it.  Mack Brown isn’t pleased with the amount access the network wants from him and his team.  Now the NCAA has come down with a ruling that ESPN and Texas High Schools cannot be happy with.

Thursday the NCAA announced that it will not allow events involving high school athletes on television networks that are affiliated with universities or athletic conferences.  NCAA president Mark Emmert said the governing body’s staff had concluded that televising events involving high school athletes was impermissible under existing NCAA bylaws.

If, as Emmert responded, televising events involving HS athletes was impermissible under existing NCAA bylaws; did it take so long to rule on?  Most of the schools in the conference first brought this issue to light immediately.  It was brought to light on this forum by this writer in June.

All they had to do was look at the Big Ten network.  In existence for years, the Big Ten network has never asked nor even promoted any High School activities on their network.  Yet upon implementation of the new network, ESPN and the University announced they would look into televising High School games.

High School games on the Longhorn network were seen as a recruiting advantage to Texas.  Other Big 12 schools would not be showcased and thus, only Texas would be mentioned to these athletes.  Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds has not uttered a comment.

Emmert said a meeting already scheduled for Aug. 22 in Indianapolis will allow for discussion on the entire issue of university- and conference-affiliated networks will be held.  Why is a meeting needed to discuss this issue when ESPN is suddenly involved?  Emmert says the NCAA needs to get their arms around this issue.

Jim Delany, commissioner of the Big Ten formed the Big Ten Network.  At first ESPN wanted to be involved however the conference declined their overtures.  No problems have arisen from this network.  However now ESPN has instituted the Longhorn Network and suddenly there are problems.

The Alcalde

Longhorn Football, An Illustrated History

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The Alcalde

The Alcalde