@coachingsearch: A source tells me that Duke OC Kurt Roper has interviewed for the Arkansas State head coaching job. http://t.co/nvkX9Eav1h

Good luck to him. If he gets the job, and if recent trends continue, he'll be in line for an even better HC job this time next year.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...rent-pease

Now the rumor is Roper is going to Florida to become their new OC.

(12-24-2013 09:34 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...rent-pease

Now the rumor is Roper is going to Florida to become their new OC.

If Bailiff does take another job we would absolutely have to look at Kurt.

(12-24-2013 09:55 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(12-24-2013 09:34 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball...rent-pease

Now the rumor is Roper is going to Florida to become their new OC.

If Bailiff does take another job we would absolutely have to look at Kurt.

Tiki raises an excellent point. This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

(12-25-2013 11:20 AM)Ranger Wrote:  This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

Uh, no, I don't think so.

As I type this, there is exactly one vacancy in FBS, which is the job formerly held by Mack Brown at Texas. If anyone sees Bailiff mentioned as a candidate, please share the link in this thread. Of course a vacancy could be created when Texas makes it hire and DB could be a candidate for it.

Besides Texas, I count six jobs that are clearly or arguably better than Rice that came open and have been filled--USC, Washington, UConn, Boise, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. I have not seen any evidence that DB was a plausible candidate for any of them.

UConn hired a DC from Notre Dame with zero HC experience. Boise and USC hired former assts. with limited HC experience. Washington hired Chris Peterson, whose HC record is clearly superior to DB's. Wake hired a guy whose FBS record is similar to DB but who had a superior FCS record. Wyoming's new coach was a perennial finalist in FCS playoffs.

Bailiff is 40-47 at Rice, albeit 17-4 in his last 21. He has beaten two P-5 teams in 7 years, Kansas (twice) and Purdue, perhaps the two worst P-5 programs in the country going in to 2014 (though Kentucky and Cal have good arguments).

I am happy with the improvements Rice made this year, but it's not at all obvious that he is among the strongest candidate among non-P5 coaches for a P5 job. Just a casual scan of the league table shows fine track records at Fresno, Ball State, North Texas, UTSA, No Illinois (one year only), ULaLa. Some of these guys make a bit more than DB, more make less, but all are miles away from low end P5 money. Not sure why an AD would pick Bailiff over any of these coaches.

(12-25-2013 02:11 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 11:20 AM)Ranger Wrote:  This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

Uh, no, I don't think so.

As I type this, there is exactly one vacancy in FBS, which is the job formerly held by Mack Brown at Texas. If anyone sees Bailiff mentioned as a candidate, please share the link in this thread. Of course a vacancy could be created when Texas makes it hire and DB could be a candidate for it.

Besides Texas, I count six jobs that are clearly or arguably better than Rice that came open and have been filled--USC, Washington, UConn, Boise, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. I have not seen any credible evidence that DB was a plausible candidate for any of them.

UConn hired a DC from Notre Dame with zero HC experience. Boise and USC hired former assts. with limited HC experience. Washington hired Chris Peterson, whose HC record is clearly superior to DB's. Wake hired a guy whose FBS record is similar to DB but who had a superior FCS record. Wyoming's new coach was a perennial finalist in FCS playoffs.

Bailiff is 40-47 at Rice, albeit 17-4 in his last 21. He has beaten two P-5 teams in 7 years, Kansas (twice) and Purdue, arguably the two worst P-5 programs in the country going in to 2014 (though Kentucky and Cal have good arguments).

I am happy with the improvements Rice made this year, but I don't see him as a P-5 candidate.

That may be, but I suspect it will be a while before we have another season like this, so this is probably his best chance.

(12-25-2013 02:37 PM)Ranger Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 02:11 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 11:20 AM)Ranger Wrote:  This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

Uh, no, I don't think so.

As I type this, there is exactly one vacancy in FBS, which is the job formerly held by Mack Brown at Texas. If anyone sees Bailiff mentioned as a candidate, please share the link in this thread. Of course a vacancy could be created when Texas makes it hire and DB could be a candidate for it.

Besides Texas, I count six jobs that are clearly or arguably better than Rice that came open and have been filled--USC, Washington, UConn, Boise, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. I have not seen any credible evidence that DB was a plausible candidate for any of them.

UConn hired a DC from Notre Dame with zero HC experience. Boise and USC hired former assts. with limited HC experience. Washington hired Chris Peterson, whose HC record is clearly superior to DB's. Wake hired a guy whose FBS record is similar to DB but who had a superior FCS record. Wyoming's new coach was a perennial finalist in FCS playoffs.

Bailiff is 40-47 at Rice, albeit 17-4 in his last 21. He has beaten two P-5 teams in 7 years, Kansas (twice) and Purdue, arguably the two worst P-5 programs in the country going in to 2014 (though Kentucky and Cal have good arguments).

I am happy with the improvements Rice made this year, but I don't see him as a P-5 candidate.

That may be, but I suspect it will be a while before we have another season like this, so this is probably his best chance.

IMO, you are both right, and both wrong. Shocker, I know.

I think next year is Bailiff's year to get offers, if he can win 8 or more. I see that as a reasonable possibility, depending primarily on finding a QB quickly. We have a lot coming back, just need the engineer to make the train run. A successful year next year makes him 24+x wins in the last 33 games, and three straight bowls, at RICE. Impeccable personal reputation, good recruiter. Somebody will see him as a viable replacement. It may or may not be P5.

It could happen this year, if some dominoes fall, but next year is the likely time. If he shows he can win after graduating 23 seniors, he will get offers.

Reading the comments in the various reviews, the CUSA boards, opposing fans, Etc., it seems everybody thinks he is a good coach and Rice is well-coached. Everybody, that is, but most of the Rice fans on the Parliament. Not a bad word to be heard about him. Except here. Right now the criticism has died down, at least until he calls a running play with a 4 point lead and three minutes left. If he has had his ear to the ground, he knows he will never get any credit here. He could run off three 10 win seasons in a row and people will still want blood for Nichols State. He should take the first decent offer, whether it is tomorrow or next year. The Rice fans have thirsted for a new coach so long that they will not be denied. I hope he gets that offer and takes it. Win-win, at least for Bailiff and the fans. He gets a good job and they get a new coach. For Rice, we'll have to wait and see.

If next year is 5 wins or less, I think JK will take the opportunity to let him go.

JMHOs.

(12-25-2013 04:05 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 02:37 PM)Ranger Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 02:11 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 11:20 AM)Ranger Wrote:  This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

Uh, no, I don't think so.

As I type this, there is exactly one vacancy in FBS, which is the job formerly held by Mack Brown at Texas. If anyone sees Bailiff mentioned as a candidate, please share the link in this thread. Of course a vacancy could be created when Texas makes it hire and DB could be a candidate for it.

Besides Texas, I count six jobs that are clearly or arguably better than Rice that came open and have been filled--USC, Washington, UConn, Boise, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. I have not seen any credible evidence that DB was a plausible candidate for any of them.

UConn hired a DC from Notre Dame with zero HC experience. Boise and USC hired former assts. with limited HC experience. Washington hired Chris Peterson, whose HC record is clearly superior to DB's. Wake hired a guy whose FBS record is similar to DB but who had a superior FCS record. Wyoming's new coach was a perennial finalist in FCS playoffs.

Bailiff is 40-47 at Rice, albeit 17-4 in his last 21. He has beaten two P-5 teams in 7 years, Kansas (twice) and Purdue, arguably the two worst P-5 programs in the country going in to 2014 (though Kentucky and Cal have good arguments).

I am happy with the improvements Rice made this year, but I don't see him as a P-5 candidate.

That may be, but I suspect it will be a while before we have another season like this, so this is probably his best chance.

IMO, you are both right, and both wrong. Shocker, I know.

I think next year is Bailiff's year to get offers, if he can win 8 or more. I see that as a reasonable possibility, depending primarily on finding a QB quickly. We have a lot coming back, just need the engineer to make the train run. A successful year next year makes him 24+x wins in the last 33 games, and three straight bowls, at RICE. Impeccable personal reputation, good recruiter. Somebody will see him as a viable replacement. It may or may not be P5.

It could happen this year, if some dominoes fall, but next year is the likely time. If he shows he can win after graduating 23 seniors, he will get offers.

Reading the comments in the various reviews, the CUSA boards, opposing fans, Etc., it seems everybody thinks he is a good coach and Rice is well-coached. Everybody, that is, but most of the Rice fans on the Parliament. Not a bad word to be heard about him. Except here. Right now the criticism has died down, at least until he calls a running play with a 4 point lead and three minutes left. If he has had his ear to the ground, he knows he will never get any credit here. He could run off three 10 win seasons in a row and people will still want blood for Nichols State. He should take the first decent offer, whether it is tomorrow or next year. The Rice fans have thirsted for a new coach so long that they will not be denied. I hope he gets that offer and takes it. Win-win, at least for Bailiff and the fans. He gets a good job and they get a new coach. For Rice, we'll have to wait and see.

If next year is 5 wins or less, I think JK will take the opportunity to let him go.

JMHOs.

Is this true for Rice fans or just for some subset of this message board? Do posters represent a true cross section of Rice fans?

(12-25-2013 04:32 PM)OwlAg Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 04:05 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 02:37 PM)Ranger Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 02:11 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 11:20 AM)Ranger Wrote:  This would be the best DB is probably going to have for a while to move up. Also, given the amount of criticism levelled at him, he might think he should take advantages of any opportunities that arise. I understand that he has been nominated for the Bryant Award. His star is probably shining fairly bright. Good time to take advantage of the times.

Uh, no, I don't think so.

As I type this, there is exactly one vacancy in FBS, which is the job formerly held by Mack Brown at Texas. If anyone sees Bailiff mentioned as a candidate, please share the link in this thread. Of course a vacancy could be created when Texas makes it hire and DB could be a candidate for it.

Besides Texas, I count six jobs that are clearly or arguably better than Rice that came open and have been filled--USC, Washington, UConn, Boise, Wake Forest, and Wyoming. I have not seen any credible evidence that DB was a plausible candidate for any of them.

UConn hired a DC from Notre Dame with zero HC experience. Boise and USC hired former assts. with limited HC experience. Washington hired Chris Peterson, whose HC record is clearly superior to DB's. Wake hired a guy whose FBS record is similar to DB but who had a superior FCS record. Wyoming's new coach was a perennial finalist in FCS playoffs.

Bailiff is 40-47 at Rice, albeit 17-4 in his last 21. He has beaten two P-5 teams in 7 years, Kansas (twice) and Purdue, arguably the two worst P-5 programs in the country going in to 2014 (though Kentucky and Cal have good arguments).

I am happy with the improvements Rice made this year, but I don't see him as a P-5 candidate.

That may be, but I suspect it will be a while before we have another season like this, so this is probably his best chance.

IMO, you are both right, and both wrong. Shocker, I know.

I think next year is Bailiff's year to get offers, if he can win 8 or more. I see that as a reasonable possibility, depending primarily on finding a QB quickly. We have a lot coming back, just need the engineer to make the train run. A successful year next year makes him 24+x wins in the last 33 games, and three straight bowls, at RICE. Impeccable personal reputation, good recruiter. Somebody will see him as a viable replacement. It may or may not be P5.

It could happen this year, if some dominoes fall, but next year is the likely time. If he shows he can win after graduating 23 seniors, he will get offers.

Reading the comments in the various reviews, the CUSA boards, opposing fans, Etc., it seems everybody thinks he is a good coach and Rice is well-coached. Everybody, that is, but most of the Rice fans on the Parliament. Not a bad word to be heard about him. Except here. Right now the criticism has died down, at least until he calls a running play with a 4 point lead and three minutes left. If he has had his ear to the ground, he knows he will never get any credit here. He could run off three 10 win seasons in a row and people will still want blood for Nichols State. He should take the first decent offer, whether it is tomorrow or next year. The Rice fans have thirsted for a new coach so long that they will not be denied. I hope he gets that offer and takes it. Win-win, at least for Bailiff and the fans. He gets a good job and they get a new coach. For Rice, we'll have to wait and see.

If next year is 5 wins or less, I think JK will take the opportunity to let him go.

JMHOs.

Is this true for Rice fans or just for some subset of this message board? Do posters represent a true cross section of Rice fans?

good question. that is my impression of the Fans on the Parliament. i think there are a lot who like Bailiff but have been shouted into silence.

I think the Parliament members are generaly among those who care the most. that includes both those who post and those who lurk.

this year, the criticism has been muted by the winning, but I think it would not take much to bring it back in full roar. losses to MSU and ND should do it.

So you are predicting that either bailiff will resign because a few do us on message board are overly critical OR he will be fired by the AD for poor performance

(12-25-2013 05:13 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  So you are predicting that either bailiff will resign because a few do us on message board are overly critical OR he will be fired by the AD for poor performance

Golly Gee Whiz, how did you get that from what I wrote? I said that I think next year will be the make or break year for him. I think if he does well record-wise, he will get job offers, which, if at all decent, he would be wise to take, or if he does poorly record-wise, he might well be released by the new AD. There is a middle ground for which I offer no prediction. At no point did I suggest he would resign for any reason, least of all, pressure from this board.

I will explain further if this does not clarify it for you.

(12-25-2013 07:42 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 05:13 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  So you are predicting that either bailiff will resign because a few do us on message board are overly critical OR he will be fired by the AD for poor performance

Golly Gee Whiz, how did you get that from what I wrote? I said that I think next year will be the make or break year for him. I think if he does well record-wise, he will get job offers, which, if at all decent, he would be wise to take, or if he does poorly record-wise, he might well be released by the new AD. There is a middle ground for which I offer no prediction. At no point did I suggest he would resign for any reason, least of all, pressure from this board.

I will explain further if this does not clarify it for you.

I'll throw a bit more of an optimistic view out there. Bailiff's career at Rice has tracked that of Frank Beamer at Va Tech. Beamer's first 7 years at VT resulted in 33-43-2. Bailiff's 7 at Rice will be 40-48 or 41-47. Beamer is currently at 224–108–2 at VT. My impression is that Bailiff likes Rice and what it stands for and could very well match Beamer's next 20 year record of 191-65. And Rice fans would be very happy with that. Except for a few Parliamentarians that would be unhappy with 256 -0 in that stretch because Nichols State was rumored to have happened before that some time.

(12-26-2013 02:06 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  I'll throw a bit more of an optimistic view out there. Bailiff's career at Rice has tracked that of Frank Beamer at Va Tech. Beamer's first 7 years at VT resulted in 33-43-2.

I've seen this comparison so many times here that I shared it with a VaTech alum colleague a few weeks ago. He responded by pointing out Beamer inherited a team on probation and without 20 scholarships over his first two years. You can certainly say that Bailiff had to deal with TGraham's mess but I'm not sure those two challenges are equal. On the other hand, Beamer wasn't nearly as resource-challenged as Bailiff. This may not be a meaningful comparison.

(12-26-2013 02:06 PM)RiceDoc Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 07:42 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 05:13 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  So you are predicting that either bailiff will resign because a few do us on message board are overly critical OR he will be fired by the AD for poor performance

Golly Gee Whiz, how did you get that from what I wrote? I said that I think next year will be the make or break year for him. I think if he does well record-wise, he will get job offers, which, if at all decent, he would be wise to take, or if he does poorly record-wise, he might well be released by the new AD. There is a middle ground for which I offer no prediction. At no point did I suggest he would resign for any reason, least of all, pressure from this board.

I will explain further if this does not clarify it for you.

I'll throw a bit more of an optimistic view out there. Bailiff's career at Rice has tracked that of Frank Beamer at Va Tech. Beamer's first 7 years at VT resulted in 33-43-2. Bailiff's 7 at Rice will be 40-48 or 41-47. Beamer is currently at 224–108–2 at VT. My impression is that Bailiff likes Rice and what it stands for and could very well match Beamer's next 20 year record of 191-65. And Rice fans would be very happy with that. Except for a few Parliamentarians that would be unhappy with 256 -0 in that stretch because Nichols State was rumored to have happened before that some time.

If it were to work out that way, I would be OK with that, but this really is more of a next-August type of discussion.

(12-25-2013 07:42 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I think if he does well record-wise, he will get job offers, which, if at all decent, he would be wise to take

The only point of my post is that I disagree with this. I don't believe that Coach Bailiff will ever get a P-5 offer. Not because he lost to Nicholls; rather because I believe there will always be younger and more accomplished coaches in the non-AQ and high level FCS ranks for the moneyed programs to hire.

A win over Notre Dame or TAMU next year might change the calculus, but by how much? His next win against a ranked opponent will be his first win against a ranked opponent.

As an aside, I assert that it is silly to suggest that if Coach Bailiff does receive a competing offer, that he will weigh the comments on this board into his decision.

And back to Tiki's original point about putting Roper on our watch list for next coach--I disagree with that too, because I believe that Roper will get a P-5 head job before Bailiff does, and so we won't be able to afford him if DB ever does leave.

(12-26-2013 08:03 PM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-25-2013 07:42 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I think if he does well record-wise, he will get job offers, which, if at all decent, he would be wise to take

The only point of my post is that I disagree with this. I don't believe that Coach Bailiff will ever get a P-5 offer. Not because he lost to Nicholls; rather because I believe there will always be younger and more accomplished coaches in the non-AQ and high level FCS ranks for the moneyed programs to hire.

A win over Notre Dame or TAMU next year might change the calculus, but by how much? His next win against a ranked opponent will be his first win against a ranked opponent.

As an aside, I assert that it is silly to suggest that if Coach Bailiff does receive a competing offer, that he will weigh the comments on this board into his decision.

And back to Tiki's original point about putting Roper on our watch list for next coach--I disagree with that too, because I believe that Roper will get a P-5 head job before Bailiff does, and so we won't be able to afford him if DB ever does leave.

If Roper is available, we must give him consideration. No need to write him off prematurely.

You believe this, you believe that. We all have opinions, they are like ... wait a minute, never mind.

Look, I never said a P5 offer, just offers. But they could include some of the lower level P5s. Or he could get offers from other, nonP5, schools.

IF he has been lurking here (I doubt he has), he should know that he will never be the darling long time coach here. Too many minds made up long ago and loathe to reconsider. We are just a dropped pass away from more pitchforks. JMHO. I don't know about him, but if I knew how precarious my standing is with the Rice fans, AND got a decent offer from a decent school, I sure would give it a lot of consideration. Of course, that offer may never come, so we may never know. But if he has a good year next year (8+ wins), he will probably be on some short lists and may get offers. Frankly, I hope he does, since that will mean we had a good year. It will mean somebody is noticing us and what is happening here.

OTOH, I don't know what opinion JK has of Bailiff, but if he is listening to some of the people here, a bad year(5 or less wins) may be the impetus he needs to pull the trigger while he still can. I think the deciding factor will be "what have you done lately".

Please note the word "may", which I have used liberally. These are my opinion of what may happen, of what may be likely. No "always" or "nevers" from me, just maybes and probablys. I am not placing any bets either way. I guess we will just have to wait and see what actually happens.

I like David and wish him well. If he can have that success here, great. If not, I hope he has it elsewhere.

Meanwhile, I very much hope he has it next week.

So let's leave discussion of David's future to next August and next November. Let's see what happens.

(12-27-2013 02:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I like David and wish him well. If he can have that success here, great.

+1. I think this is the definition of interests being aligned. I hope we go 14-0 next year, and if that means the coach gets great offers, I'm happy to come back here and say I was wrong and offer suggestions about replacements. If Roper were available, I'd view him as a strong candidate.

As of today (the subject of Ranger's speculation), however, I face the following conundrum.

Has Rice over-achieved in going 17-4 over the last 21? My opinion is no. We had a couple of great wins in Marshall and SMU. But we also lost winnable games against UH and UNT. And many of those 17 wins came against teams that have won very few games. Or, looking the other way around, only 6 or 7 of the wins were over bowl eligible teams.

Then I reflect back to the period between the Texas Bowl and Memphis, when we went 11-31, and I ask myself if we under-achieved, and the answer for me is yes.

My point is simply that hiring AD's are paid to evaluate performance and DB's overall performance is mediocre or worse, although the trend is certainly strongly positive.

(12-27-2013 09:08 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-27-2013 02:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I like David and wish him well. If he can have that success here, great.

+1. I think this is the definition of interests being aligned. I hope we go 14-0 next year, and if that means the coach gets great offers, I'm happy to come back here and say I was wrong and offer suggestions about replacements. If Roper were available, I'd view him as a strong candidate.

As of today (the subject of Ranger's speculation), however, I face the following conundrum.

Has Rice over-achieved in going 17-4 over the last 21? My opinion is no. We had a couple of great wins in Marshall and SMU. But we also lost winnable games against UH and UNT. And many of those 17 wins came against teams that have won very few games. Or, looking the other way around, only 6 or 7 of the wins were over bowl eligible teams.

Then I reflect back to the period between the Texas Bowl and Memphis, when we went 11-31, and I ask myself if we under-achieved, and the answer for me is yes.

My point is simply that hiring AD's are paid to evaluate performance and DB's overall performance is mediocre or worse, although the trend is certainly strongly positive.

If you were a AD today, looking for a coach, likely you would take a short gander at Bailiff and keep looking. Probably I would too. Today.

IF (biggest word in the language), next year he adds 8+ wins to that resume, maybe I would tend to look more at the last 2.5 years and discount the earlier years. I would look at a guy who lost 23 seniors and still won 8+ games, and has a rep for integrity and good recruiting. Maybe you wouldn't. Maybe you would say, I just can't get 11-31 out of my mind, whereas I might say, I can't overlook a 75%+ recent winning percentage and three straight bowls at a tough place to win like Rice. Maybe I give him a call, you don't. I am just saying among the 20 or so ADs looking next year, there may well be one or even two like me. It's a guess, but it's my guess.

I am then further saying that IF that offer is from a decent place, one that would be at worst a lateral move and in many cases a move up, I think David would be crazy to pass on it. He may be crazy. We'll see. First we have to play next year, and win, or this is all moot.

I don't really keep track of the coaching situations at the lower level P5s, or really anyplace, but (generically) maybe a Purdue or Wake Forest or Colorado State might see him favorably. Or maybe some school like Tulsa might like him. It's happened before, to a coach with a 7-5 lifetime record. (We hadn't played the bowl when they talked to him). I think winning at Rice is impressive to a lot of people.

Hey, maybe you would make a better AD than me. Really won't know until one of us gets the job. I'm leaving a phone open, just in case.

(12-27-2013 09:08 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  

(12-27-2013 02:09 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I like David and wish him well. If he can have that success here, great.

+1. I think this is the definition of interests being aligned. I hope we go 14-0 next year, and if that means the coach gets great offers, I'm happy to come back here and say I was wrong and offer suggestions about replacements. If Roper were available, I'd view him as a strong candidate.

As of today (the subject of Ranger's speculation), however, I face the following conundrum.

Has Rice over-achieved in going 17-4 over the last 21? My opinion is no. We had a couple of great wins in Marshall and SMU. But we also lost winnable games against UH and UNT. And many of those 17 wins came against teams that have won very few games. Or, looking the other way around, only 6 or 7 of the wins were over bowl eligible teams.

Then I reflect back to the period between the Texas Bowl and Memphis, when we went 11-31, and I ask myself if we under-achieved, and the answer for me is yes.

My point is simply that hiring AD's are paid to evaluate performance and DB's overall performance is mediocre or worse, although the trend is certainly strongly positive.

+1. I was one of those with the pitchforks during the 11-31 stretch. If we had had an AD with a pulse during that time, his seat would have gotten pretty hot.

I also think the 17-4 record is due somewhat to diminished competition. Still, he didn't make the schedule and deserves credit for doing well. He also reflects our values in many other ways outside of the xs and os.

I think DB's best chance at a P5 job would be one where the school is in the throes of scandal and integrity would be a high priority.