One of the many events for the participating teams of the Texas Bowl is the annual Rodeo Bowl. This event, the only one where both teams get together in the same venue prior to game day, pitted members of each team against one another in competitions ranging from "chalk branding" to "calf penning."
The event was held at the George Ranch Historical Park outside Houston, Texas. The evening began with the teams entereing the compound escorted by local police and welcomed by employees of the ranch on horseback, who lined the stone path leading to the ranch. Western Michigan and Rice were greeted with hats and handkerchiefs. After a rousing rendition of the National Anthem, each teams' captains opened the competition with a coin toss - WMU was represented by its captains, Tim Hiller, Louis Delmas, E.J. Biggers and Branden Ledbetter.
The competitions included an offensive linemen touchdown celebration dance off, chalk branding, calf penning and roping the mascots. WMU's Buster Bronco was on hand to take part in the last event mentioned, serving as a statue for players like Drew Burdi and Fernand Kashama to attempt to lasso.
Western Michigan's only native of the Lone Star State, Seth Patterson, took part in the "chalk" branding where players "branded" calfs with chalk brands. Patterson showed that he may have worked with calves on a ranch at some point growing up in Round Rock, Texas, with his efforts in the pit.
The Broncos' Alex Jagels showed he wasn't just involved in the calf ribbon pull, he was committed, throwing himself into the mud to try and grab the ribbon tied to a calf's tail. Running back Jaron Deshazor gave assistance and came up with more than a ribbon in his hand during the competition.
Hiller and Jamarko Simmons competed in the balloon toss where the two players had to run side by side the length of the rodeo pit and back tossing a water balloon back and forth without dropping or breaking it. The offensive duo won the competition with head coach Bill Cubit in the pit looking on.
The evening ended with a true Texas-style barbecue dinner and each player branding their respecting school's logo into wood and taking it home as a momento of the night and the Texas Bowl experience.
