University of Houston Athletics
Administaff Signs On As Title Sponsor For Bayou Bucket, Bayou Cup Games
July 25, 2002
Houston-based Administaff has signed on to become the title sponsor of the annual Bayou Bucket football game between Rice University and the University of Houston, officials from the two schools announced Thursday.
The three-year agreement includes sponsorship of the Administaff Bayou Bucket game between the Owls and Cougars as well as the creation of the new "Administaff Bayou Cup", the trophy to be given to the winner of the annual men's basketball contest. The Owls and Cougars have agreements in place to play each other in each sport for the foreseeable future.
Adminstaff is a leading personnel management company that serves as a full-service human resources department, with corporate offices located in Houston. Administaff serves 5,000 businesses and 75,000 worksite employees nationwide. Administaff had 2001 revenues of $4.4 billion and ranks number-376 on the Fortune 500 list.
"We are pleased to be the title sponsor of this Houston football tradition," said Jay Mincks, Administaff executive vice president for marketing. "It is a privilege to support Rice University and the University of Houston in light of the tremendous contributions they make to our community."
Representing the schools as the announcement were Rice athletic director Bobby May, head football coach Ken Hatfield, Houston AD Dave Maggard and head coach Dana Dimel.
"The Rice-Houston game, and specifically the Bayou Bucket, is extremely important to both institutions and the city of Houston, " said Maggard. "Speaking on behalf of the University of Houston, we?re very pleased to be partnering in this endeavor and we thank Administaff for this important support."
"The Rice/UH cross-town rivalry is fast becoming one of the best in college sports," said May. "The addition of Administaff as the title sponsor to this rivalry will bring an important local business connection to the games which will add value to the contests and heighten the awareness of Administaff in this community. The sponsorship is a win/win for the universities and for Administaff."
Since its creation by the Houston Touchdown Club in 1974, the Bayou Bucket has been the prize for all but two games in the series, with Houston holding at 20-9 advantage. The first Bayou Bucket game was in 1974, with Houston winning 21-0. Rice has won the last two Bayou Bucket contests by scores of 30-27 in OT and 21-14 in 2001.
The teams met each year from 1972 to 1995, when the Bayou Bucket contest was the final football game in the history of the Southwest Conference. Houston won 18-17 at Rice Stadium on Dec. 2, 1995.
After a four-year absence as both teams entered new leagues, the game returned in 1999 when it was the first played at Houston?s newly-refurbished Robertson Stadium. Houston won 28-3 in front of a sellout crowd of 32,000. The 2000 game at Rice garnered a crowd of more than 42,000 and was played as the opener at Houston in 2001 with the Owls getting the win in both.
With the Administaff Bayou Cup now on the line, the men?s basketball teams will play this year at Autry Court at Rice on Nov. 27. Houston leads the series that began in 1972 48-9.
Last season, the Cougars won the game 62-61 on a three-point shot at the buzzer. Rice had won two of the last three games in the series before last season, including the first college game for Clyde Drexler and the first game in the city for current Cougar head coach Ray McCallum.
Upcoming Bayou Bucket Events Thurs., Aug. 29 Bayou Bucket Luncheon, 11:30 am, Owl Club, Rice Stadium Fri. Aug. 30 Administaff Bayou Bucket Golf Tournament, 9 am, Sienna Plantation Golf Club Sat. Aug. 31 Administaff Bayou Bucket Game,7 pm, Rice Stadium