Rice Rally and block parties bring out Owl spirit during O-Week

Deafening roars echoed throughout Tudor Fieldhouse as bleachers filled with incoming Rice freshmen cheered on their student-athletes at the annual Rice Rally Aug. 14. Between team-building games and performances by the Rice University Marching Owl Band and the Rice Owls Dance Team, new students received rousing welcomes from head men’s basketball coach Scott Pera, head baseball coach Matt Bragga and head football coach Mike Bloomgren.

Afterward, freshmen wound down at music-filled “block parties” — one each for the North and South colleges. They enjoyed a picnic dinner of pasta salad, turkey sandwiches, watermelon, cinnamon-coated churros and more, courtesy of Rice Housing and Dining, as the sun set on the fourth day of O-Week. (Photos by Jeff Fitlow)