Rice University’s Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren and his Owls introduced international students and scholars to American football during an international football clinic Aug. 24.
Held at the Brian Patterson Sports Performance Center, the popular event made its return for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, teaching international undergraduate and graduate students the basics of football and all the traditions around and leading up to game days.
“This clinic is for new students who didn’t grow up in the U.S. and have maybe never had any exposure to football,” said Bridget Gorman, dean of undergraduates and professor of sociology at Rice. “As we know, American football is quite different from football in pretty much any other place, so it’s a really good opportunity for our students.”
“Football is such a big part of a lot of things in the fall in U.S. society. If you’re going to somebody’s house for a picnic on a Sunday or a Saturday, there’s going to be football on TV, so our students really benefit from learning the basics,” said Seiichi Matsuda, dean of graduate and postdoctoral studies at Rice.
Participating students started on the field, going through drills, catching passes, tackling dummies and even rehearsing touchdown celebrations while being coached by some of the Rice Football staff. They then transitioned into the team meeting room, where they met with Coach Bloomgren and a few Rice players, who went through some of the basics of the game. After the on- and off-field lessons, they left with international football clinic T-shirts and a newfound interest in Rice Football one week before the season-opening game.
“Hopefully these students leave here more in love with our game and wanting to be in the stands to support this team, knowing that it could be an integral and fun part of their great career at Rice,” Bloomgren said.
“The international component is an awesome part of this campus, and sometimes they don't have the history of everything that is American culture. Certainly, football is part of the fabric of American culture. The more we can educate them and get them to enjoy this game, I really believe it’ll help their experience at Rice University.”
Shaurya Kandoi, an incoming freshman from India studying engineering, said he’s always wanted to learn more about American football, and this event was the perfect chance to do so.
“The camp is being taught in a way that breaks every aspect of the game down for us, which makes it a lot easier for us to understand,” Kandoi said. “I now feel like I’ll be able to get more into the events around the football games and understand what’s going on. I’m really excited because I know American football is a really big deal out here, and I want to learn more.”
“Today, we learned that Rice fight never dies,” said Xinyi Tai, an incoming freshman from China. “This is a really cool event because everyone is so hype and excited. I’ve met so many people from different backgrounds and countries.”
For international graduate students like Megha Bahl, getting to know the U.S. through sports has been “an amazing thing.”
“I think just being exposed to a society through a different medium, that’s the most important thing for me here — not just through books and not through the computer screen, but by engaging in a sports activity, which is so central and fundamental to the society — that’s my biggest pleasure,” said Bahl, a Ph.D. anthropology student from India.
The Owls will kick off the 2024 football season at Rice Stadium Aug. 31 versus nonconference foe Sam Houston State University.
To learn more about Rice Football, visit riceowls.com/sports/football.