Rice’s season began Saturday night with a 62-7 loss to No. 14 Stanford in Australia. But a more pressing matter faces the club than its 0-1 record.
Hurricane Harvey is still bearing down on the Owls’ native Houston, and the program is unsure when it will be able to return home.
Houston is experiencing “catastrophic, life-threatening flooding." At least 5 people are reported dead. https://t.co/88qQ8fcKZ4 pic.twitter.com/hzpO413Lbt
— Texas Tribune (@TexasTribune) August 27, 2017
This image and the forecast of what is still to fall.... This is surreal. #HoustonFlood #Harvey pic.twitter.com/zK9WojsMAH
— Matthew Sitkowski (@MattSitkowski) August 27, 2017
Head coach David Bailiff indicated following the game that Rice would head back to Los Angeles as previously scheduled and... wait.
Rice departs Sydney on Monday morning (local time) for Los Angeles. No decision on the remainder of our trip will be made until we arrive.
— Rice Football (@RiceFootball) August 27, 2017
Houston has moved its preseason preparations to Austin, and the Houston Texans flew to Dallas following a preseason game Saturday in New Orleans. With images like that now the reality in Houston and more rain in the forecast, it’s impossible to say when it will be safe for the Owls, Cougars and Texans to return home.
Rice is off until a Sept. 9 game at UTEP, but for now a more pressing matter awaits.