When the world thinks of college football, the powerhouse names usually are the first to come to mind. But tucked away in Houston, Texas, the Rice Owls have managed to write a legacy of their own. Their football history dates back to 1912, when Rice University fielded its first team just as the institution opened its doors.
Three years later, they joined the Southwest Conference as a founding member. Since then, the Owls have managed to create a 492–652–32 (.432) record with 8 conference titles, and split their bowl appearances right down the middle at 7–7. They’ve even claimed two division titles in 2008 and 2013.
It might not be a perfect record, but it’s an underdog story. And amidst the story is an ever-so-lovable Owl.
What Is the Rice Owls’ Mascot?
Say hello to Sammy the Owl. He is a character who started on canvas. Back in 1917, Rice’s football rivals, Texas A&M students, thought it’d be hilarious to kidnap Rice’s canvas owl mascot. Well, of course, Rice did not find this funny.
They went into detective mode and pooled their cash to hire a private investigator to recover the poor bird. The PI did the job and sent a now-legendary coded telegram. “Sammy is fairly well and would like to see his parents at eleven o’clock.” And thus the name “Sammy” was born.
View this post on Instagram
Over time, the canvas version gave way to a live owl. Sammy 2.0 actually flew into the stadium before the games. But eventually, the live bird was replaced by students in owl suits, and today, Sammy is a position filled by an elected student each spring.
But even student Sammy has seen drama. In 1995, a game-day incident with Texas A&M caused debates over who should really control the mascot. The decision eventually was to let the students keep Sammy, but the athletics department would keep a close eye on him.
Why Was the Rice Owls’ Mascot an Owl?
The Rice Owl isn’t just some random animal plucked from the bird kingdom. It is symbolic of the Rice roots. Back in 1912, when Rice University was still in its infancy. A designer named Pierre de Chaignon la Rose crafted the university seal. He took cues from the coats of arms of the “Rice” and “Houston” families.
But the highlight of the seal was the owl of Athena, a symbol of wisdom.
KEEP READING: Ranking College Football’s Top 25 Rushing Quarterbacks: Utah’s Devon Dampier and Navy’s Blake Horvath Top the List
The owl design was inspired by a silver coin from ancient Greece. This was an ode to a 5th-century tetradrachm. When sports kicked off at Rice that same year, it only made sense to use the same wise creature from the seal as their mascot.
Over the years, Sammy’s taken many forms: canvas, live bird, costume, even a feature in Playboy in 2004. But through every version, he’s stayed true to his roots. And let’s not forget the wild football memories.
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
