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From Rice Athletics Website:
http://riceowls.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/033009aac.html

The Rice University Athletics Department, the R Association and the members of the Rice football teams from 1987-1991 are combining efforts to host "Celebration of Courage" to honor former Owl standout O.J. Brigance, on Saturday, April 18 at Rice Stadium.

A two-time All Southwest Conference selection at linebacker for the Owls, Brigance went on to win championships in both the CFL and NFL during his career. Brigance moved into the front office of the Baltimore Ravens after he retired as their Director of Player Development.

In 2007, it was announced that he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) a motor neuron disease. He has resolved to use the same drive and determination that has proven successful on the football field to win his fight against the disease, and his former teammates banded together to create a night at Rice Stadium to support his efforts.

The purpose of Celebration of Courage is to recognize the accomplishments of one of Rice's finest and to raise monies to:

* Fund an endowed scholarship in the name of O. J. Brigance
* Support the annual designation of the Brigance Courage Award
* Provide a financial contribution to the Brigance Brigade and support its efforts to promote ALS research and education (www.brigancebrigade.org).

The "Celebration of Courage" will at 6 p.m. at Rice Stadium. For information on tickets for the event, or how you can make a donation for the event, please download the event brochure, or contact Judith Duvall ( jduvall@rice.edu 713-348-6935)

A product of Willowridge High School in Missouri City, Brigance became a two-time All Southwest Conference selection at linebacker for the Owls, earning his first all conference selection despite playing most of the year with a broken hand. He was an active member of Lovett College as well as the entire Rice community during his years on campus. He served as the team's liaison to Career Services, spearheading efforts to encourage teammates to position themselves for life after Rice football.

Brigance was bypassed in the NFL Draft in 1991 and took his NFL dreams to Canada where he became a standout in the CFL, eventually winning a Grey Cup title with the Baltimore Stallions in 1995. He finally earned a spot on an NFL roster in 1996 with the Miami Dolphins. In 2000, he joined the Ravens and won a Super Bowl ring. He played two additional seasons for the St. Louis Rams. In 2004, he re-joined the Ravens as a member of the front office.

Throughout his professional career, Brigance has always found a way to embody the Rice spirit of service to others. In 1999, he was honored with the NFL Player Association's Unsung Hero award for his work with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and the Food Bank.

Today, he continues to encourage teammates to position themselves for life after athletics. He has played an integral role in developing one of the most recognized development systems in the NFL, earning the award for the league's Best Overall Player Development Program and Most Outstanding Internship Program.