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Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
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Chef Owl Offline
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Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
I was just thinking that this bowl could very well be one of Rice's most important bowls in it's bowl history. Think about it. While the previous three were good and historical, I don't think they have the potential impact that this Liberty Bowl has. Playing in the New Orleans bowl was great because, as we all know it was Rice's first bowl berth in 40 some odd years. Loosing against Troy was unfortunate, but still, a momentous occasion for the Rice program. Winning the Texas Bowl two years later gave us our first bowl victory in decades and the first ten win season, if I am not mistaken. All that was great, but at the same time we played against a directional state university. Last year's bowl was good because it showed that Rice can get to bowls more than just once in a person's lifetime. However, I think this bowl blows the others out of the water in significance due to our status as conference champions and who we are playing. We are playing someone who has some name recognition from the SEC, who some say is the strongest college football conference. This is Rice's opportunity to show something and no longer be just ignored. I am not saying this will get Rice automatic recognition and respect, but beat Miss. St. and we are truly heading in the right direction. When conference realignment talks happen again it sure would be a great feather in Rice's hat to say they won the Liberty Bowl by beating an opponent from the mighty SEC. And who knows, maybe the SEC is thinking of expanding and upping its academic profile... I don't know. Maybe I am being overly dramatic or even a bit naive, but I see this as a golden opportunity for Rice to show what it can do and maybe no longer be looked down upon as much as before.
12-16-2013 05:08 PM
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owl at the moon Offline
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Post: #2
Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
To the contrary, if anything you are being "underly" dramatic. I agree with your assessment 200%.
12-16-2013 05:21 PM
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Antarius Offline
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Post: #3
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
Quote:Maybe I am being overly dramatic or even a bit naive, but I see this as a golden opportunity for Rice to show what it can do and maybe no longer be looked down upon as much as before.

I agree with owl at the moon as well. This is not overly dramatic at all. In the context of realignment and the future of college football, this game is huge.

The train is leaving the station and may never come back. This game could give us the boost to grab on and go on to bigger and better things.
12-16-2013 05:27 PM
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wrysal Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
Although we probably have more to gain now, I would still put our major bowls beginning with the '47 Orange Bowl and ending with the '61 Sugar Bowl as being more important at the time they were played. The nation's eyes and ears were glued to those five games.
(This post was last modified: 12-16-2013 06:57 PM by wrysal.)
12-16-2013 06:55 PM
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Converted Rice Offline
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Post: #5
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
A win in this bowl coupled with a tangible commitment by Rice University to upgrade facilities could have far reaching effects in recruiting.
12-16-2013 07:12 PM
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ricex Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
I'd qualify it by saying its the most important/significant bowl in modern Rice history.
12-16-2013 07:13 PM
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MemOwl Offline
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Post: #7
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-16-2013 07:13 PM)ricex Wrote:  I'd qualify it by saying its the most important/significant bowl in modern Rice history.

or modern college football history. I'm not exactly sure when modern college football history began, but I'm pretty sure it was after our last Jan-1 bowl.

I'd place it somewhere between the integration of the SWC and the formation of the initial CFA cable deals.
12-16-2013 08:12 PM
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Orange County Owl Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit.

While I think that this is clearly the most high profile of our most recent bowl games, I would caution against the thought that winning in Memphis will drive all kinds of "look at me" upside re: conference realignment.

Boise State won big for years before the MWC would invite them from the WAC - and that happened only after the MWC started to fall apart.

Correspondingly, Tulane hadn't won anything - at all - before the AAC invite came floating their way.

A consistently winning football program will go a long way towards moving up in the world, but it will involve much more than that - some of which will be out of our control.
(This post was last modified: 12-16-2013 08:32 PM by Orange County Owl.)
12-16-2013 08:31 PM
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Rick Gerlach Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-16-2013 08:31 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit.

While I think that this is clearly the most high profile of our most recent bowl games, I would caution against the thought that winning in Memphis will drive all kinds of "look at me" upside re: conference realignment.

Boise State won big for years before the MWC would invite them from the WAC - and that happened only after the MWC started to fall apart.

Correspondingly, Tulane hadn't won anything - at all - before the AAC invite came floating their way.

A consistently winning football program will go a long way towards moving up in the world, but it will involve much more than that - some of which will be out of our control.

This. (unfortunate, but true)

Also, I'm fairly sure the 1949 team was the first to win 10 games (9-1 regular season and a Cotton Bowl win as we finished Top 5) - addressing a point made in the first post.
12-16-2013 08:45 PM
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d1owls4life Offline
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Post: #10
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-16-2013 08:31 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit.

While I think that this is clearly the most high profile of our most recent bowl games, I would caution against the thought that winning in Memphis will drive all kinds of "look at me" upside re: conference realignment.

Boise State won big for years before the MWC would invite them from the WAC - and that happened only after the MWC started to fall apart.

Correspondingly, Tulane hadn't won anything - at all - before the AAC invite came floating their way.

A consistently winning football program will go a long way towards moving up in the world, but it will involve much more than that - some of which will be out of our control.

Well said. This game is important for the perception of the program for sure. But when it comes to realignment, a win obviously won't hurt but I don't think it has much effect at all.
12-16-2013 08:57 PM
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waltgreenberg Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-16-2013 08:57 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  
(12-16-2013 08:31 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit.

While I think that this is clearly the most high profile of our most recent bowl games, I would caution against the thought that winning in Memphis will drive all kinds of "look at me" upside re: conference realignment.

Boise State won big for years before the MWC would invite them from the WAC - and that happened only after the MWC started to fall apart.

Correspondingly, Tulane hadn't won anything - at all - before the AAC invite came floating their way.

A consistently winning football program will go a long way towards moving up in the world, but it will involve much more than that - some of which will be out of our control.

Well said. This game is important for the perception of the program for sure. But when it comes to realignment, a win obviously won't hurt but I don't think it has much effect at all.

I agree that the win, in and of itself, will have little effect; however, the impact of the win on galvonizing alumni/donor/student/administration support could have a very positive and significant effect. We need to capture the moment, and capitalize on it. To keep the momentum going, I'm hoping Dr. K is readying his vision and 5-year plan for release soon after the new year.
12-16-2013 09:28 PM
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OwlAg Offline
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Post: #12
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-16-2013 08:57 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  
(12-16-2013 08:31 PM)Orange County Owl Wrote:  I'm going to play devil's advocate a little bit.

While I think that this is clearly the most high profile of our most recent bowl games, I would caution against the thought that winning in Memphis will drive all kinds of "look at me" upside re: conference realignment.

Boise State won big for years before the MWC would invite them from the WAC - and that happened only after the MWC started to fall apart.

Correspondingly, Tulane hadn't won anything - at all - before the AAC invite came floating their way.

A consistently winning football program will go a long way towards moving up in the world, but it will involve much more than that - some of which will be out of our control.

Well said. This game is important for the perception of the program for sure. But when it comes to realignment, a win obviously won't hurt but I don't think it has much effect at all.

Perhaps as important as a win is how well we travel to the game. I'm hoping we can match our Armed Forces Bowl numbers (8000). While we have more alums in DFW, this is higher profile bowl and a better Rice team.
12-16-2013 10:07 PM
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texd Offline
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Post: #13
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
This. I thought last year was pretty big from the standpoint of showing bowls that we will bring fans even when (a) it's not in Houston, (b) our season record is not even especially strong, and © we're not a generation-and-a-half starved for a bowl game.

(12-16-2013 10:07 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  Perhaps as important as a win is how well we travel to the game. I'm hoping we can match our Armed Forces Bowl numbers (8000). While we have more alums in DFW, this is higher profile bowl and a better Rice team.
12-16-2013 10:41 PM
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OptimisticOwl Offline
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Post: #14
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
One year, one bowl, one game won't do it, but each game is important in building the image that we need to make other things happen.

This time next year, we need to be going after our third straight bowl victory and second straight over a major team, and for that to be means we need to win this game.

So it is important. Losing is not the end of the world and winning is not the ticket to sports Nirvana, but it is important. The first and last games each year are the biggest for image.
12-16-2013 11:37 PM
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Buho00 Offline
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Post: #15
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
I don't think winning this game would be as big as winning the next game...@Notre Dame.
12-17-2013 12:40 AM
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NolaOwl Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
This Bowl game is the most significant game Rice has played in many decades. But if our program is to rise to the next level, we will do so brick by brick. Winning the Liberty Bowl this year would do wonders for our self-perception and it might influence the school choice of a few prize recruits in the South. Even if we lost in a competitive game, our stature would be much greater than it was at the beginning of the year. Getting stomped, however, would lead to the conclusion that we are the same old plucky underdog.

Whatever happens, however, we have had a great year and the players, under DB, have done us proud. Going forward, it is up to us, as members of the Rice community, to keep the momentum going by improving the facilities, increasing attendance and attracting the best student athletes we can get. In other words, alot of behind the scenes hard work. It will take some time, but if we can be consistent winners, our uniqueness will surely provide us with future opportunities to excel.
12-17-2013 02:32 AM
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Post: #17
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
if we win, we are 17-4 over last 21

Much more important of course is that the win would be by far the high water mark in quality of wins during that stretch.

And that would be true even if we had beaten Tulsa last year, or UH or UNT this year.

SMU last year and Marshall this year were great wins. This would be at a different level, both in terms of Sagarin rating and public perception.

If I had to choose just won win, I'd take notre dame next year. but that is not a choice we have to make.
12-17-2013 06:29 AM
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Post: #18
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
I'm going a different route - winning or losing this game makes no long-term difference at all. Beating Marshall and winning the conference was MUCH more important historically and going forward.

We already ended our bowl appearance drought. We already ended our bowl win drought. We even already ended our major conference win drought. This year we ended our conference championship drought (outright and tied - 1994 was before the freshmen class was born!). By comparison what will beating Miss St do? What kind of donor wasn't conviced by the conference championship but will be pushed over the edge by a win over a middling SEC team?

We've already accomplished all of our major on-the-field goals, and this season is already a huge success. Winning the bowl game would be the cherry on top, but without the cherry we still have a delicious sundae to enjoy!
12-17-2013 09:15 AM
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waltgreenberg Offline
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RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-17-2013 09:15 AM)NicevilleWRC Wrote:  I'm going a different route - winning or losing this game makes no long-term difference at all. Beating Marshall and winning the conference was MUCH more important historically and going forward.

We already ended our bowl appearance drought. We already ended our bowl win drought. We even already ended our major conference win drought. This year we ended our conference championship drought (outright and tied - 1994 was before the freshmen class was born!). By comparison what will beating Miss St do? What kind of donor wasn't conviced by the conference championship but will be pushed over the edge by a win over a middling SEC team?

We've already accomplished all of our major on-the-field goals, and this season is already a huge success. Winning the bowl game would be the cherry on top, but without the cherry we still have a delicious sundae to enjoy!

This is true if we're isolating our discussion to internal to Rice perception...however, from a national perspective, this bowl win would be much more significant, and would keep the momentum-- and fire-- with regards to development and approval of a true 5-year plan. As far as donations are concerned-- especially major ones in excess of $10,000 - $25,000 per pop (let alone those over $100,000), the donor base can be a fickle lot; a win keeps the funding momentum going and gives Dr.K another thing to promote to supporters. You better believe a Liberty Bowl win would push some donors "over the edge" (who might have still been holding back after the conference championship). Remember, it the world of sports, for good or bad, it's more a case of what have you done for us lately.

No one is debating the success of the season, which has been cemented regardless to the outcome of the Liberty Bowl. Having said that, I agree with those who argue the importance of this game to the future of the program. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong, a Liberty Bowl victory over Mississippi State would be another small step (and notch on the belt) for the 2014 Owls, but a HUGE leap forward for the football program and all of Rice athletics. Certainly, not quite the statement of the 2003 baseball national championship, but probably the 2nd most important athletic event at Rice in the past 50 years.
(This post was last modified: 12-17-2013 09:54 AM by waltgreenberg.)
12-17-2013 09:23 AM
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Rick Gerlach Offline
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Post: #20
RE: Most important/significant bowl in Rice history?
(12-17-2013 09:15 AM)NicevilleWRC Wrote:  I'm going a different route - winning or losing this game makes no long-term difference at all. Beating Marshall and winning the conference was MUCH more important historically and going forward.

We already ended our bowl appearance drought. We already ended our bowl win drought. We even already ended our major conference win drought. This year we ended our conference championship drought (outright and tied - 1994 was before the freshmen class was born!). By comparison what will beating Miss St do? What kind of donor wasn't conviced by the conference championship but will be pushed over the edge by a win over a middling SEC team?

We've already accomplished all of our major on-the-field goals, and this season is already a huge success. Winning the bowl game would be the cherry on top, but without the cherry we still have a delicious sundae to enjoy!

I understand Walt's point, and I think that the point is that people are talking about two different things.

That said, I tend to agree with the post above. Some say this bowl will be the most significant game we've played in since 1961.

Well if getting in the game is that significant, that makes the last two wins, first over Tulane and then over Marshall incredibly significant. In essence those were 'must win' games. Getting to the Liberty depended completely on winning those two.
12-17-2013 10:45 AM
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