How can love lost or any amorous affair have any correlation to one of the premier private universities in the nation? One of the fun things and nice perks of being in a relationship is the opportunity to plan future events together. We pretty much had our month planned out. This past weekend was the very first weekend since May that I didn’t see her. Still, one may ask, what does this have to do with the Rice Owls? Simple. As a fun date, we had made plans to have a date at Rice Stadium. It would just so happen that two 11-man rosters would compete against each other on the gridiron for a tackle football game while we regaled ourselves about the week prior and catch up on things. Have a few drinks. Eat a burger or hot dog. Maybe even a Lone Star. For me and Emily, it would just be a date much like going to the movies. And sure all those other happenings could go ahead and take place. Bands playing. Cheerleaders doing what they do – lead cheers. We had only planned on being there a few hours anyway. Maybe 2 hours tops. Tickets? Naw we were just going to walk up to the box office at game time. Hey it’s Rice. Not Alabama. They’ll practically pay ME to attend the game.

It used to be said that in Houston if you’re caught speeding you’d get a Rice football game ticket as your punishment. A second violation and you were forced to attend.

One day you turn around, and it’s summer
Next day you turn around, and it’s fall
And the springs and the winters of a life time
Whatever happened to them all

As a man who has always had the wandering ways
Now I’m reaching back for yesterdays
‘Til a long forgotten love appears
And I find that I’m sighing softly as I near September
The warm September of my years