Rice checking news on hurricane status
Harvey wreaking havoc in Houston
Rice University players were using social media to check on news from Texas and Hurricane Harvey before their season opener late Saturday night against Stanford in Sydney, Australia.
The Houston university tweeted out a video with Owls coach David Bailiff reflecting on the team’s experience with Hurricane Ike in 2008, which was the previous significant hurricane to make landfall in the state and which devastated the Upper Texas-coast.
“This morning we made sure all the coaches and their families … we reached out to them to let them know where to go, who has generators and who hasn’t,” Bailiff said in the video. “We are trying to ease the anxiety of the coaching staff and the players.”
Rice football spokesman Chuck Pool said Saturday that the university’s travel partners were monitoring the situation concerning the team’s return Monday to the United States. The team is scheduled to leave Sydney early Monday morning for Los Angeles, with a short layover scheduled there before flying on to Houston.
“Meanwhile, we just focus on getting the team ready for [the game],” Pool said
The Owls have been in Australia since Tuesday preparing for their matchup against No. 14 Stanford late Saturday night at Allianz Stadium. The National Hurricane Center said late Friday that the eye of the Category 4 hurricane made landfall about 10 p.m. about 30 miles east-northeast of Corpus Christi between Port Aransas and Port O’Connor, Texas, bringing with it 130 mph sustained wind and flooding rain.
Heavy rain and possible storm surges are forecast for the Houston area over the next several days.
Saturday’s games
Colorado State’s defense forced five turnovers and the Rams opened their new on-campus stadium with a 58-27 win against visiting Oregon State. … Tanner Mangum completed 16 of 27 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown to help BYU beat visiting Portland State, 20-6. … Ryan Stanley ran for a touchdown and threw for another score to help Florida A&M beat visiting Texas Southern, 29-7.