(04-01-2013 01:33 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  Besides baseball, Rice has done nothing athletically for the conference. Their academics are great, but Houston has the better athletic program and better support. Here's the thing...when Houston hosts Rice in football, its pretty much a full stadium, when Rice hosts Houston there are 20K empty seats (plus the empty ones under the tarps.)

Actually, the truth is Rice draws as well or better than Houston for the UH-Rice game when played at Rices' on-campus stadium. The reason there are so many empty seats for this game at Rice Stadium is that Rice Stadium can seat up to 70,000 (they just remove the tarps if they need to- takes only a day or two to do) and Houston's stadium seats only like 34-35,000.

From Rice's past few Bowl games, Rice actually traveled better than several other larger schools in other small bowls. Rice fans my be smaller in number overall, but they DO show up when we have a team that is worthy. The problem has been having winning teams consistently in other things besides baseball. (And Rice draws VERY WELL in baseball compared to all other schools.)

I want Rice in this conference for all sports. I want Navy in this conference for all sports. I want Army in this conference for all sports. I want BYU in this conference for all sports (it's not happening).

I do not believe that basketball RPI - which comes and goes over time - should be a primary factor in conference membership. It's probably the only thing right now that is keeping Rice out. Rice was absolutely deplorable in basketball this past season.

(04-01-2013 01:58 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 01:33 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  There is no reason for making things more complicated. Army-yes as Navy's natural partner. But they have to want to.

As for that I think Southern Miss would be on the table because of their overall performance and bringing in a new market. Besides baseball, Rice has done nothing athletically for the conference. Their academics are great, but Houston has the better athletic program and better support. Here's the thing...when Houston hosts Rice in football, its pretty much a full stadium, when Rice hosts Houston there are 20K empty seats.

Given that Houston's stadium seats 34k and Rice's 62k (maybe 50 with the south endzone benches removed, that sounds like its about the same.

And given that Rice Stadium is literally 15 minutes from UH's campus, what does that really say about us? The case against Rice is that it lacks an institutional commitment to FBS football.

Rice could easily be the Duke of whatever league if they spent some money out of their billions. Private, non-religious, research heavy school and it's in Houston.

(04-01-2013 03:32 PM)CheeseSndwch Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 01:58 PM)bullet Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 01:33 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  There is no reason for making things more complicated. Army-yes as Navy's natural partner. But they have to want to.

As for that I think Southern Miss would be on the table because of their overall performance and bringing in a new market. Besides baseball, Rice has done nothing athletically for the conference. Their academics are great, but Houston has the better athletic program and better support. Here's the thing...when Houston hosts Rice in football, its pretty much a full stadium, when Rice hosts Houston there are 20K empty seats.

Given that Houston's stadium seats 34k and Rice's 62k (maybe 50 with the south endzone benches removed, that sounds like its about the same.

Rice seats 45K now.

I think the point that was trying to be made is that UH fans travel to Rice but Rice fans will not reciprocate.

As a fan of both schools, I can confirm that this is absolutely true. When UH is winning, they always bring 6 or 7 thousand fans to Rice Stadium. It's a much different story when the team is losing. On the other hand, no matter how the team is doing, Rice will barely bring 700 fans to a game at Robertson. It's maddening! I spend a lot of time on the Rice board. Many fans over there are so frustrated about "being left behind." If Rice fans want Rice football to be taken seriously and to be in a place where they believe it should be, they can start by making a concerted effort at traveling well regionally, especially to a game that's only 5 miles away. There's no excuse why Rice shouldn't take 4 thousand fans to a road game that's practically next door. I hope moving this game to Reliant on a long-term basis builds up this rivalry, so much so that casual fans who don't have a connection to either school, attend regularly and in big numbers.

I think Rice could be a great addition to the Aresco conf. Their academics are top notch, and their sports are improving.

(04-01-2013 01:49 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 01:42 PM)Theodoresdaddy Wrote:  

(04-01-2013 01:33 PM)HP-TBDPITL Wrote:  There is no reason for making things more complicated. Army-yes as Navy's natural partner. But they have to want to.

As for that I think Southern Miss would be on the table because of their overall performance and bringing in a new market. Besides baseball, Rice has done nothing athletically for the conference. Their academics are great, but Houston has the better athletic program and better support. Here's the thing...when Houston hosts Rice in football, its pretty much a full stadium, when Rice hosts Houston there are 20K empty seats.

UMass has a stadium issue to deal with in Amherst otherwise they are likely on the short list.

what's the time frame for the new stadium

They are spending $30 mill on a new football facility and to increase capacity to 25K by 2014. That's still small though but may be utilized for weeknight games until 2016 under the MAC contract.

Personally I don't think UMass should be considered until they can get their capacity up over 30K, but Tulane's will be small so maybe UMass can get a Tulane exception type deal since they can schedule a big OOC game at Gillette.

Actually, UMASS is not adding seats. Staying at 17K. If this site is to be believed. I just don't think they feel they need more seats yet...

http://maroonmusket.com/2012/10/no-expan...i-stadium/

What they ARE doing seems pretty nice, and necessary, just not more seats yet. Some updated graphics are here:
http://www.umass.edu/fp/projectmanagemen...mupgrades/

Stopped reading at Rice.

Rice is an excellent small college with a large endowment. Great college baseball program.

I live in Houston. Rice has virtually no fans. It is too small to be noticed with the competition around here. The living alumni base wouldn't fill their stadium. The casual fan in the Houston metro will follow UH and not Rice. Rice doesn't really have a shot at getting those casual fans either Rice doesn't add any television revenue or interest.

I can't understand why a conference focusing on potential would be interested in a school which doesn't really have any potential to generate more revenue than it takes from television contracts, tourney shares, etc.