So this is what College Football Feels like...

What a game.. what an atmosphere over at Rice Stadium Saturday.  The Battle for the Bayou Bucket lived up to its billing.  Rice and U of H going toe to toe for the bucket.  Its not that the Cougars played all that bad, Rice just played better.   Both defenses gave up tons of yards, but the Owls make the stops they needed to give their offense the field.  Chase Clement, James Casey and company explode for the 56 - 42 victory.

You have to feel good for this Rice team and especially for Head Coach David Bailiff. The second year Owls coach is one of the good guys in the sport, one that gets his players to believe in themselves, one who puts his players in position to succeed on and off the field. Congrats to Bailiff and the Owls, nine wins in a season for the first time in 55  years.

The Owls look to be headed to the Texas Bowl and a match-up against Notre Dame.  The Irish are down and everyone is wondering what's going to happen to Charlie Weis. Charlie and the Irish and the nation will get a good look at what Rice is all about if the two meet in Reliant on Dec. 30th.   A beat down of Notre Dame could take the Owls to the next level.

Bob Slovak