Tudor Fieldhouse was packed with frenetic energy Tuesday night as new Rice University students represented their residential colleges while cheering on the Rice sports teams.
“This is unbelievable energy,” Rice head men’s basketball coach Rob Lanier said while addressing the raucous crowd. “If you bring it like this at our home games, we will have one of the best home energies in all of college sports.”
While new students and their upperclassmen advisors entered the building decked out in their residential college gear, the colleges chanted back and forth at one another in good spirit. But the students quickly set aside their friendly intercollege rivalries, coming together to celebrate Rice’s student-athletes.
Players were announced by name and met by roars from the crowd as they entered the court one team at a time. Sammy the Owl made his presence felt, energizing the colleges to get louder as the squads introduced themselves.
For new Rice student-athletes, the welcoming atmosphere showed them a glimpse of the support they can expect from the student section when their seasons begin.
“This week so far has been very chaotic, but it’s been a lot of fun,” said Rylee Coyne, a transfer student from George Washington University. “And I’m so glad they include transfers in that process, because it really has shown me the Rice way.”
Coyne is one of two student-athletes who will be the first to compete in diving for the Owls in over 30 years as the university recently reintroduced the women’s diving team.
“I thought that was a really good way to appreciate the student-athletes,” Coyne said. “O-Week has shown me how integrated the whole student body is, which is definitely something I was looking for.”
Aaron Powell, an incoming freshman point guard on the men’s basketball team, is joining Rice from Los Angeles. He was the first to run out when the men’s basketball team was announced, oozing enthusiasm for his new school.
“Me being a freshman coming from a small high school, Campbell Hall, I think that’s definitely the biggest environment that I’ve been in,” Powell said. “Rice is definitely special because it’s way more intimate than other schools. I think it’s more of a family vibe where everyone can come together and be one unit here.”
Coaches of the respective teams encouraged the Class of 2028 to show its support during all Rice sporting events this upcoming school year and beyond.
To learn more about Rice Athletics, visit riceowls.com.
Rice O-Week participants are encouraged to include #RiceOWeek2024 on their social media posts and videos. For a full schedule of O-Week events, click here.
