When President Barack Obama called to congratulate the Baltimore Ravens and Head Coach John Harbaugh on their Super Bowl victory, he made a special point to mention how inspired he and the first lady were by a story on Rice alumnus O.J. Brigance.Brigance, who is currently the Ravens' director of player development, was a standout linebacker and three-year starter for the Owls from 1987 to 1991, twice being named to the All-Southwest Conference team.After going undrafted in 1991, Brigance played in the Canadian Football League before eventually making the NFL roster of the Miami Dolphins in 1996. In 2000, Brigance joined the Baltimore Ravens and became the team's special-teams captain. When the Ravens reached Super Bowl XXXV that season, it was Brigance who recorded the game's first tackle in what would be a winning effort.In 2007, Brigance was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease. The debilitating and eventually fatal motor neuron disease robbed Brigance of his ability to use his arms, to walk and, eventually, to talk. Yet using a motorized wheelchair and communication technology, Brigance has continued in his front-office role with the Ravens, making the most of the abilities and the time he has left to continue having an impact on those around him.For more on Brigance, see the video "Heart of the Ravens" on ESPN.com or search "Brigance" at riceowls.com.
The Rice University Owls were looking to make an early peak over .500 as they battled with the University of Miami last Sunday in Coral Gables, Fla. However, Rice was hit by a Miami hurricane, falling short against the Canes 1-6.
It's midnight on Sunday, and while most people are struggling to finish last-minute homework, Ben Ong is in the Brown College basement ready to strike. Ong, a Brown senior, calls himself the laundry ninja.
Common wisdom says you can't mess up pasta. It's the first thing many people learn how to cook. Throw some spaghetti in a boiling pot of water, add a jar of tomato sauce, maybe some black pepper and voila! Tasty. Pasta's pretty much just pasta. However, those of us who have had the good fortune to try freshly-made pasta know this isn't the case. While the dried pasta sold at grocery stores can be done up impressively in exciting sauces, it simply cannot compare to the tender, silky texture and distinct, delicate flavor of fresh pasta. But unless you have an Italian grandmother in the Houston area or a pasta maker or (let's be honest) even a kitchen, you might think fresh pasta of superb quality is out of reach. No more! Near Rice there are two remarkably different, delicious Italian restaurants that both make fresh pasta in house. Giacomo's Cibo e Vino and Paulie's , both on Westheimer, offer fresh pastas in a variety of inventive and traditional sauces. Giacomo's has an intimate yet casual ambiance that would be perfect for a date. The décor is both warm and modern, with dark wooden furniture and bright accents of cherry and mint. Though they specialize in cichetti, small Italian snack dishes similar to Spanish tapas, the fresh pasta is the real menu standout. The pasta itself has such a supple, ribbon-like texture that provides an excellent canvas for whatever sauce is on top. I tried a classic Italian dish, the tagliatelle alla Bolognese. The Bolognese sauce, as tradition dictates, is rich and meaty, but did not overwhelm the taste of the fresh pasta. Another standout dish, especially for those who really want to taste the pasta itself, is the pappardelle al telefono. Wide sheets of housemade pasta tossed in a fragrant olive oil sauce with garlic, mozzarella and fresh basil add up to create a dish as delicious as it is simple. Giacomo's also has a varied wine selection and a knowledgeable staff to help you pair wine with your meal. As per their motto, "mangia poco, bene e spesso," which means, "eat little, well, and often," Giacomo's serves relatively conservative portions with half-portions available as well for many dishes. If you're still hungry after dinner, Giacomo's offers an array of gelatos to choose from. All in all, Giacomo's might be a tad pricey for an average weekend meal, but great for a special occasion, say, for a certain romantic holiday that's coming up. Paulie's serves up a similar menu of fresh pastas but has a more informal, family restaurant vibe. It may seem to be a no-frills system where customers order and pick up food at the counter, but the staff is helpful and courteous and little touches give the restaurant a certain degree of polish. Each pasta dish comes with complimentary bread for dipping and the water is infused with cucumber. I ordered the bucatini amatraciana, a spicy dish with thick homemade spaghetti-like noodles and a vibrant, tart sauce of tomato, bacon and pepper flakes. The pasta was a little thicker and not as delicate as Giacomo's, but it stood up well to the flavorful sauce. Also, notably, Paulie's is very affordable for college students, with most pasta dishes costing under $10. Before you leave, though, don't forget to try one of Paulie's cookies. It's an absolute must. I recommend either the iced shortbread cookies if you've got a taste for cute things or the chocolate-dipped peanut butter cookie if you're serious about your sweets. While Giacomo's might be a once-in-a-while, top-notch date place, Paulie's is an affordable neighborhood find with excellent food and service.
I am not ashamed to say it: I like spam. Though I have grown to appreciate Texas' crawfish tails, chicken fried steak and turkey legs, my distance from the Aloha state has induced a furious craving for the spam and eggs breakfast plate from McDonald's; spam, chili and rice from beach potlucks; and spam musubis (fried spam atop a block of rice and wrapped in nori dried seaweed) from mom's kitchen. When I first read "classic spam musubi, $3" on Phamily Bites' menu, I had three immediate reactions: 1) Is this real life? 2) This is the world's best food truck; and 3) Phamily Bites better not mess up the spam musubi; it is already a stigmatized snack and does not need another blow to its delicious ego.
The campuses of Rice University and the University of Houston are only separated by 4.6 miles, but considering the directions their respective basketball programs went in this past offseason, that distance felt a whole lot larger.
There are few log cabins at Rice University. In fact, to have said there was even a single one would have been untrue until this year, when Martel College senior Alex Weinheimer constructed his very own. Early last semester, Weinheimer, a Thresher Backpage editor, converted his room in Martel Suite 411 into a nearly exact replica of a log cabin.
Without A Net - Wayne Shorter Quartet: The first album on the historic Blue Note record label for the Jazz legend in 43 years, this collection consists of live recordings of Shorter and his quartet from their European Tour in late 2011. The tracklist includes six new compositions, new cover versions of standards such as "Plaza Real" and "Orbits," and an exclusive, 23-minute tone poem, "Pegasus," which was recorded with the Imani Winds. With over a decade of experience as a quartet, expect to hear a mature, exploratory sound.
The rugby team at Rice University has come a long way in the last four years. When the current seniors were freshmen, Rice rugby had its struggles. The team had a below .500 record in Division II rugby. The next year, Rice improved drastically, going undefeated in Division II rugby. Rice moved on to the Western Conference finals and won in the first round, earning a spot in the National Tournament. Rice lost in the first round to Pepperdine University in a close match, 31-21. Rice played a consolation game the next day against California State University, Long Beach, and won, ending the season ranked ninth in the nation in Division II rugby. Last year, Rice moved up to Division I-AA rugby, the second-highest level of collegiate rugby. Although Rice did not go undefeated, the team had great success, finishing the season in second place in Texas.
After a rough start to the year with heartbreaking losses to Texas Tech University and Mississippi State University, the Owls were back on the court last Sunday at Jake Hess Stadium looking to even out their win-loss streak. Playing Lamar University and the University of Texas, Pan American, did the job, and the Owls thrashed both teams 7-0. With the victories, Rice is back at .500 with a 2-2 record. More notably, these were the first two victories for Head Coach Efe Ustundag. Ustundag said he did not think about the first win until he talked to reporters after the fact.
This Tuesday, ESPN.com featured one of those misleading (but brilliantly crafted) Internet headlines- those designed to garner a click on a slow news day for a story that is barely even news.
Having heard from several people that Reef, the chic seafood restaurant in Midtown, had an incredible happy hour menu, I figured it was my civic duty as a college happy hour columnist to investigate such claims.
