Tulane kicks FG on 1st down - wins 36-33

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)ricex Wrote:  This kind of play is why I refuse to travel with this team. Painful even when we win.

Ah-ha!

FBO, get a rope.

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)ricex Wrote:  This kind of play is why I refuse to travel with this team. Painful even when we win.

Just think, we've been saying this for only about 45 years.

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

So how many games does one have to attend to be able to complain about our coaching? I've been at 4 of 6 this year, plus about 90% of the home games since 1973. Is that enough for you?

If you can ***** about the fans, I can do the same about the coaching staffs, previous ADs and Administraton (including BOTs) that has allowed this to go on for so long.

Congratulations Owls. How is Callahan? Was Ross still hurt? Wonder if he was 100% for the game?

(10-12-2013 08:04 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

So how many games does one have to attend to be able to complain about our coaching? I've been at 4 of 6 this year, plus about 90% of the home games since 1973. Is that enough for you?

If you can ***** about the fans, I can do the same about the coaching staffs, previous ADs and Administraton (including BOTs) that has allowed this to go on for so long.

FFS, if there is anyone who DOESN'T deserve criticism, it's the fans. Seriously? We're gonna call out the customers? For what? What business blames its customers for not buying the product? Football is entertainment. That's pretty subjective but I'm pretty comfortable saying that for a long time Rice football has lacked a consistently entertaining fan experience. I think a savvy AD will understand what is needed and i am hopeful we've got one of those.

(10-12-2013 10:29 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 08:04 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

So how many games does one have to attend to be able to complain about our coaching? I've been at 4 of 6 this year, plus about 90% of the home games since 1973. Is that enough for you?

If you can ***** about the fans, I can do the same about the coaching staffs, previous ADs and Administraton (including BOTs) that has allowed this to go on for so long.

FFS, if there is anyone who DOESN'T deserve criticism, it's the fans. Seriously? We're gonna call out the customers? For what? What business blames its customers for not buying the product? Football is entertainment. That's pretty subjective but I'm pretty comfortable saying that for a long time Rice football has lacked a consistently entertaining fan experience. I think a savvy AD will understand what is needed and i am hopeful we've got one of those.

we aremore than customers -or less, or maybe just different. We are fans. We are partisan. we care about the outcomes. if all I want is entertainment, there is always the IMAX.

(10-12-2013 10:49 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 10:29 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 08:04 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

So how many games does one have to attend to be able to complain about our coaching? I've been at 4 of 6 this year, plus about 90% of the home games since 1973. Is that enough for you?

If you can ***** about the fans, I can do the same about the coaching staffs, previous ADs and Administraton (including BOTs) that has allowed this to go on for so long.

FFS, if there is anyone who DOESN'T deserve criticism, it's the fans. Seriously? We're gonna call out the customers? For what? What business blames its customers for not buying the product? Football is entertainment. That's pretty subjective but I'm pretty comfortable saying that for a long time Rice football has lacked a consistently entertaining fan experience. I think a savvy AD will understand what is needed and i am hopeful we've got one of those.

we aremore than customers -or less, or maybe just different. We are fans. We are partisan. we care about the outcomes. if all I want is entertainment, there is always the IMAX.

Of course! But FBO can't possibly be talking to us, right? I mean, at best 'we' are a few thousand people. High four figures? Please don't tell me that the few loyal fans we have are being bashed here for skipping a few games.

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I think we're 3-0 in conference for the first time since 2001? Something like that.

I can understand some frustration but we are 3-0 with two road conference wins. And I'm sorry New Mexico State will be the worst team we play all year long. If we come back home 5-2, we deserve a big crowd for UTEP.

And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

Here's the deal on this, and always has been...

If I were fewer than 1500 miles away, I'd probably be there... but even when I was there, I had other obligations...

For the typical person, they have obligations like taking their children to birthday parties or attending their games or shows... and if it were #55 Rice against #35 UH or Tech or SMU or even New Mexico or whomever... they'd give up lots of things to go. There are fewer things most would give up to see #80 Rice play #120 UTEP... particularly when they have reason to expect that despite being the far better team that it will be a nail-bighter that we might actually lose and put them in a bad mood for their family. That's just human nature. What if an Owl married a Longhorn or their child goes to UT? You think they're going to San Antonio or Dallas today?

We have about 8,000 die-hard... every week fans. We probably have about another 6,000 that would show up for a winner... regardless of the opponent...

but we're not going to get many more than that playing this schedule... no matter HOW many we win.

My bet is that UTSA outdraws us at home in 3 years if we don't start beating some better teams.

First of all, congrats to the Owls on a great win and a great record.

Now - you cannot shame or berate people into becoming fans or attending games. No matter how much you may want to, it doesn't work, won't work, has never worked, ever, in the history of sports or any kind of entertainment. People will come if they want to and for no other reason. Hambone is right - if we want fans, we must put on a compelling and friendly product, market it effectively and appropriately, make the purchase decision easy, and produce results. I, personally, am not overly hung up on evaluating our program in the context of number of fans - we aren't really a company and there are goals other than selling the product. But if you do want to focus on fan attendance, then there is no - zero - absolutely no - point in trying to guilt or shame people, here or anywhere, into attending. It accomplishes precisely nothing except to increase the level of negativity. It will not put even a single more butt in a seat, ever.

(10-13-2013 02:30 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I think we're 3-0 in conference for the first time since 2001? Something like that.

I can understand some frustration but we are 3-0 with two road conference wins. And I'm sorry New Mexico State will be the worst team we play all year long. If we come back home 5-2, we deserve a big crowd for UTEP.

And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

Here's the deal on this, and always has been...

If I were fewer than 1500 miles away, I'd probably be there... but even when I was there, I had other obligations...

For the typical person, they have obligations like taking their children to birthday parties or attending their games or shows... and if it were #55 Rice against #35 UH or Tech or SMU or even New Mexico or whomever... they'd give up lots of things to go. There are fewer things most would give up to see #80 Rice play #120 UTEP... particularly when they have reason to expect that despite being the far better team that it will be a nail-bighter that we might actually lose and put them in a bad mood for their family. That's just human nature. What if an Owl married a Longhorn or their child goes to UT? You think they're going to San Antonio or Dallas today?

We have about 8,000 die-hard... every week fans. We probably have about another 6,000 that would show up for a winner... regardless of the opponent...

but we're not going to get many more than that playing this schedule... no matter HOW many we win.

My bet is that UTSA outdraws us at home in 3 years if we don't start beating some better teams.

UTSA already significantly outdraws us.

2012 average
Rice 20,325
UTSA 29,226

(10-13-2013 08:53 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(10-13-2013 02:30 AM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  I think we're 3-0 in conference for the first time since 2001? Something like that.

I can understand some frustration but we are 3-0 with two road conference wins. And I'm sorry New Mexico State will be the worst team we play all year long. If we come back home 5-2, we deserve a big crowd for UTEP.

And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

Here's the deal on this, and always has been...

If I were fewer than 1500 miles away, I'd probably be there... but even when I was there, I had other obligations...

For the typical person, they have obligations like taking their children to birthday parties or attending their games or shows... and if it were #55 Rice against #35 UH or Tech or SMU or even New Mexico or whomever... they'd give up lots of things to go. There are fewer things most would give up to see #80 Rice play #120 UTEP... particularly when they have reason to expect that despite being the far better team that it will be a nail-bighter that we might actually lose and put them in a bad mood for their family. That's just human nature. What if an Owl married a Longhorn or their child goes to UT? You think they're going to San Antonio or Dallas today?

We have about 8,000 die-hard... every week fans. We probably have about another 6,000 that would show up for a winner... regardless of the opponent...

but we're not going to get many more than that playing this schedule... no matter HOW many we win.

My bet is that UTSA outdraws us at home in 3 years if we don't start beating some better teams.

UTSA already significantly outdraws us.

2012 average
Rice 20,325
UTSA 29,226

I think Ham was talking about UTSA having more fans at a Rice Stadium game than us.

(10-12-2013 10:29 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 08:04 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 06:17 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  And I don't understand how some people here are so eager to belittle the coaches and administration but hardly anyone ever calls out our fans (besides me I guess). We need folks in the stands in two weeks!!

So how many games does one have to attend to be able to complain about our coaching? I've been at 4 of 6 this year, plus about 90% of the home games since 1973. Is that enough for you?

If you can ***** about the fans, I can do the same about the coaching staffs, previous ADs and Administraton (including BOTs) that has allowed this to go on for so long.

FFS, if there is anyone who DOESN'T deserve criticism, it's the fans. Seriously? We're gonna call out the customers? For what? What business blames its customers for not buying the product? Football is entertainment. That's pretty subjective but I'm pretty comfortable saying that for a long time Rice football has lacked a consistently entertaining fan experience. I think a savvy AD will understand what is needed and i am hopeful we've got one of those.

I think this is just two posters here going on about this... it's silly and can be annoying, but I would only worry if they both had previous affiliation to the athletic department and this reflected some general ill-conceived sentiment among those in charge of righting the ship for Rice.

(10-13-2013 03:14 AM)OwlFan98 Wrote:  ...People will come if they want to and for no other reason....

The prof in the on-line course I'm taking about media might say that today's world of "information abundance" means (a) you can get Rice football game coverage/information through several methods other than physically attending the game and (b) there are a lot of other football teams competing with Rice for coverage and fans. If you want fans at Rice football games, you have to focus your resources on providing value in ways that are not undermined by information abundance. That is, you have to create value in the Rice game day atmosphere and in things like the immediacy of the experience. Personalization and customization provide value in the information abundance world, too.

To illustrate, consider going to a movie theater. Why would you pay $10+ per person to see a movie in a theater when you can wait a few weeks and catch it for free (or nearly free) on-line or on-demand and won't have to deal with travel, parking, high concession prices, people who won't shut off their phones, etc.? Well, perhaps you value the environment: the smell of the popcorn, the audience reacting en masse to a funny joke or a fright, the surround sound, and so on. Perhaps you value the immediacy of seeing the movie as soon as it is released. Those are the factors that get you out of your house. If movie theaters want to survive, the movie-going experience is where they need to focus their efforts. Relying on a scarcity of opportunities to watch the movie isn't going to work.

(10-12-2013 04:55 PM)Caelligh Wrote:  
OMG! Rice fans should wear these to games! YES!


Can you imagine a section full of these? A stadium full?

(10-12-2013 05:52 PM)Hambone10 Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 05:51 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-12-2013 05:48 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Did that get tipped at the line?

JP said he thought TMcH's arm may have been hit, so who knows?

Ah. Must have been a run then