Owls football lends a hand for troops

Owls head football coach David Bailiff and members of the team spent the morning of Dec. 9 at Houston’s Luling City Market restaurant, where they put together care packages of snacks, toiletries and other supplies for U.S. armed forces who are overseas this holiday season.

While the football team takes part in this goodwill activity multiple times a year, this month’s participation took on extra special meaning, as the Owls will play the Air Force Falcons in the Armed Forces Bowl Dec. 29 in Fort Worth.

Rice Athletics has been supportive of members of the U.S. military and veterans over the years. In 2009, Bailiff visited troops in Afghanistan, and he organized a supply drive for deployed servicemen and women when the Owls hosted Navy at Rice Stadium. Bailiff has participated in Ride Across America, which raises money for Wounded Warriors Project. Rice Athletics has held a Birdies for the Brave golf tournament, which benefits military families through various organizations.

Rice head football coach David Bailif and Luling's John Granato

Owls football players Klein Kubiak and Derek Brown

Rice Owl Jamael Thomas