Owls in NFL Playoffs:
NFL Wild Card Weekend
Yesterday, #6 LA Rams defeated #3 Seattle (Luke Willson), 30-20.  Also, #2 Buffalo defeated #7 Indianapolis, 27-24.  The starting center for the Bills is Mitch Morse (Missouri ’14).  His mother Catherine Morse and Holly Jones Wright ‘88 were high school basketball teammates and his uncle is Joe Quoyeser ‘84.
Today – #6 Cleveland (Andrew Sendejo) at #3 Pittsburgh (Chris Boswell, Vance McDonald)

Cal Varner III:
Yesterday, DE Cal Varner III helped lead Katy to a 63-7 Class 6A Division II semifinal win against Buda Hays to advance to the state championship game on Saturday against Cedar Hill at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.   He is signed to play for Rice in the fall.  Listen here to his comments after yesterday’s victory.

Rice W Basketball:
Owls Win Fourth Straight (Rice Owls)
Owls out-tough UTEP, move to 4-0 (The Roost)

Rice M Basketball:
Owls Split Series with 71-68 Win at UTEP (Rice Owls)
Owls battle back for split with UTEP The Roost)

Rice Swimming:
Owls Defeat SMU Yesterday, 155-206 (Rice Owls)

Rice W Tennis:
Owls Open 2021 Campaign at TCU Invite (Rice Owls)

Dr Thomas Belote (1938-2020):
On December 6, Dr Thomas Belote passed away.  A native Texan, he earned a BA in Physics (1959) as well as a Masters (1960) and a PhD (1962) in Nuclear Physics from Rice.  After starting his career as a professor at MIT, he was a high school AP physics teacher in Wayland MA for twenty-five years.  Also, he was active in his church.  Click here for the Boston Globe obituary.

Connor Teykl:
Connor Teykl is the new Head Baseball Coach at Logos Prep Academy in Sugar Land. 

Glenn Otto:
Otto is poised to move through the Yankees system (SBNation)

Owls in NFL Playoffs:
NFL Wild Card Round
Today – LA Rams at Seattle (Luke Willson)
Tomorrow – Cleveland (Andrew Sendejo) at Pittsburgh (Chris Boswell, Vance McDonald)

Rice Basketball:
Women Take Game One from Miners (Rice Owls)
Men Drop C-USA Road Opener, 101-89, to UTEP (Rice Owls)

Rice Swimming:
Owls Win At North Texas, 175-118 (Rice Owls)

2021 Rice Datathon:
The Rice Science Data Club is sponsoring the 2021 Rice Datathon this month.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, click here. 

Robert Manning (1928-2020):
On December 30, Robert Manning passed away.  A native Houstonian, he graduated from Rice in 1946 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering where he met his future wife Betty Ann Turner ’48.  He worked designing vessels for oil refineries and later for nuclear power facilities around the world.  Also, he was a “devoted Rice Owls fan”, he was a fabulous cook and he and Betty loved to travel where he was the photographer.  He is predeceased by, among others,  Betty (she passed away in 2019).  Click here for the Chronicle obituary.

Lance Berkman:
Lance Berkman Joins UST Baseball as Assistant Coach (UST Athletics)

Baker Institute:
Baker Institute among finalist finalists for $10 million Lone Star Prize (Rice News)

Barry Wood (1928-2020):
On December 29, Barry Wood passed away.  Born in Oklahoma, he earned a BA from Rice in 1950 and a MD from UTMB Galveston in 1954.  After military service, he practice medicine in Odessa and Houston until his partial retirement in 1991 and his full retirement in 2001.  Also, he was active in the community and was involved at Rice, participating in organizations and events and holding season tickets for Rice baseball and football.  He is predeceased by his first wife Barbara (she passed away in 1957) and his second wife Betty Blount Seale ’49 (they were married in 1962 and she passed away in 2014).  Click here for the Chronicle obituary.