Owl spirit soars at Rice Rally and block parties

Bleachers shook and roars echoed throughout Tudor Fieldhouse as incoming Rice freshmen cheered on their student athletes at the annual Rice Rally Aug. 20. Team-building games and performances by the Rice University Marching Owl Band and the Rice Owls Dance Team helped hype up the crowd, which then wound down at music-filled “block parties” — one each for the North and South colleges — featuring picnic-style dinners from Housing & Dining and Slip ‘N Slides to beat the heat. (Photos by Jeff Fitlow)