I can't find a free link, but JD's article in Thursday Chronicle says that Larry Edmonson is expected to be named OC.

Does this mean that Driesbach was not available?

found the link. money quote: Also on the agenda: discussing the next move to fill the vacant offensive coordinator's job, which is expected to go to quarterback coach Larry Edmondson.


http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/r...107560.php

(01-02-2014 08:20 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  found the link. money quote: Also on the agenda: discussing the next move to fill the vacant offensive coordinator's job, which is expected to go to quarterback coach Larry Edmondson.


http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/r...107560.php

Still not a free link, but the point remains.

Obviously hard to be optimistic after the performance a couple days ago. Granted, that was against the best defense we've seen all year.

I hope this isn't a get what you pay for moment for Rice Football but it is hard not to look at it that way. I mean, I'm all for staff continuity but...

Riddikulus. My biggest complaint about Bailiff striking again? Someone tell him there are surely better offensive minds out there. Not like anyone has been beating down the door to steal Edmondson's from Rice lately.

I thought - and I could be wrong given the blur of the last few days, starting right before the game itself - that DB had stated in a pre-bowl press conference that he was going to interview candidates for the OC position, and that the job would be Edmonson's (without conducting any other interviews) only if we scored 50 against Miss. St.?

Disappointing.

You have to wonder where the AD is on this

At a minimum this should give pause to those advocating a lifetime contract for DB

(01-02-2014 09:36 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  You have to wonder where the AD is on this

At a minimum this should give pause to those advocating a lifetime contract for DB

Don't recall anyone advocating for a lifetime contract. Thought most responses were there should be some reward for this season, but an extension seemed unnecessary at this time. But, maybe I missed it while I was in Memphis.

Also, not really sure where you are going with the first comment about Dr. K.

(01-02-2014 08:28 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Riddikulus. My biggest complaint about Bailiff striking again? Someone tell him there are surely better offensive minds out there. Not like anyone has been beating down the door to steal Edmondson's from Rice lately.

+1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 08:28 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Riddikulus. My biggest complaint about Bailiff striking again? Someone tell him there are surely better offensive minds out there. Not like anyone has been beating down the door to steal Edmondson's from Rice lately.

+1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry, I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will withdraw because of it (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni.

I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here. Of course, that is saying they will continue to care...which is in question.

(01-02-2014 09:59 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 08:28 AM)mrbig Wrote:  Riddikulus. My biggest complaint about Bailiff striking again? Someone tell him there are surely better offensive minds out there. Not like anyone has been beating down the door to steal Edmondson's from Rice lately.

+1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni. I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here.

It's not the "large number" of alumni/donors we're talking about; rather, it's the big pocketed ones who would be motivated (or, in this case, demotivated) to provide leadership level gifts ($10,000 and up) to the football program. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the selection of Edmondson as our next OC would be a significant demotivating factor to a number of such alums (many of whom have only in the past month or two shown a willingness to earmark a share of their Rice giving to the football program). After this successful season, Bailiff and Dr. K have momentum behind them. They/we can ill-afford to blow that on an internal OC hire. Just one man's opinion.

(01-02-2014 10:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:59 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  +1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni. I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here.

It's not the "large number" of alumni/donors we're talking about; rather, it's the big pocketed ones who would be motivated (or, in this case, demotivated) to provide leadership level gifts ($10,000 and up) to the football program. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the selection of Edmondson as our next OC would be a significant demotivating factor to a number of such alums (many of whom have only in the past month or two shown a willingness to earmark a share of their Rice giving to the football program). After this successful season, Bailiff and Dr. K have momentum behind them. They/we can ill-afford to blow that on an internal OC hire. Just one man's opinion.

I'm just questioning how many of those donors you describe know much about the coaching staff if they have only recently decided to earmark some money for the football program.

But, if you are right and this decisions demotivates them so much, I would say two things. One, the facility issue is still real and needs to be completed. Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice. Hmm...wonder how we can fix that?

(01-02-2014 10:10 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 10:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:59 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  +1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni. I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here.

It's not the "large number" of alumni/donors we're talking about; rather, it's the big pocketed ones who would be motivated (or, in this case, demotivated) to provide leadership level gifts ($10,000 and up) to the football program. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the selection of Edmondson as our next OC would be a significant demotivating factor to a number of such alums (many of whom have only in the past month or two shown a willingness to earmark a share of their Rice giving to the football program). After this successful season, Bailiff and Dr. K have momentum behind them. They/we can ill-afford to blow that on an internal OC hire. Just one man's opinion.

I'm just questioning how many of those donors you describe know much about the coaching staff if they have only recently decided to earmark some money for the football program.

But, if you are right and this decisions demotivates them so much, I would say two things. One, the facility issue is still real and needs to be completed. Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice. Hmm...wonder how we can fix that?

Strongly disagree with you here. You're kidding yourself if you think there are not a solid number of active alums/donors who have cut back on their football-related gift-giving over the past 5 years...and very significantly so. And, sorry, but the salary issue is a cop-out excuse for hiring a guy with absolutely no experience at any level as an OC, and who has not exactly done a sterling job in his current role as QB coach. Again, if salary is hindering Bailiff from hiring from outside, Dr. K should actively seek out incremental donor funding for that specific purpose...and I would be VERY surprised if he wouldn't get the incremental funds he needed. Seriously.

Again, we're never going to have the budget to hire big-name coaches or coordinators, but those options likely would consider Rice as a career choice anyway-- even if the money was there.

(01-02-2014 10:17 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Strongly disagree with you here. You're kidding yourself if you think there are not a solid number of active alums/donors who have cut back on their football-related gift-giving over the past 5 years...and very significantly so. And, sorry, but the salary issue is a cop-out excuse for hiring a guy with absolutely no experience at any level as an OC, and who has not exactly done a sterling job in his current role as QB coach. Again, if salary is hindering Bailiff from hiring from outside, Dr. K should actively seek out incremental donor funding for that specific purpose...and I would be VERY surprised if he wouldn't get the incremental funds he needed. Seriously.

Again, we're never going to have the budget to hire big-name coaches or coordinators, but those options likely would consider Rice as a career choice anyway-- even if the money was there.

Edmondson has OC experience according to his bio. Three years at Louisiana-Lafayette and two year at SMU.

(01-02-2014 10:17 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 10:10 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 10:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:59 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  +1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni. I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here.

It's not the "large number" of alumni/donors we're talking about; rather, it's the big pocketed ones who would be motivated (or, in this case, demotivated) to provide leadership level gifts ($10,000 and up) to the football program. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the selection of Edmondson as our next OC would be a significant demotivating factor to a number of such alums (many of whom have only in the past month or two shown a willingness to earmark a share of their Rice giving to the football program). After this successful season, Bailiff and Dr. K have momentum behind them. They/we can ill-afford to blow that on an internal OC hire. Just one man's opinion.

I'm just questioning how many of those donors you describe know much about the coaching staff if they have only recently decided to earmark some money for the football program.

But, if you are right and this decisions demotivates them so much, I would say two things. One, the facility issue is still real and needs to be completed. Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice. Hmm...wonder how we can fix that?

Strongly disagree with you here. You're kidding yourself if you think there are not a solid number of active alums/donors who have cut back on their football-related gift-giving over the past 5 years...and very significantly so. And, sorry, but the salary issue is a cop-out excuse for hiring a guy with absolutely no experience at any level as an OC, and who has not exactly done a sterling job in his current role as QB coach. Again, if salary is hindering Bailiff from hiring from outside, Dr. K should actively seek out incremental donor funding for that specific purpose...and I would be VERY surprised if he wouldn't get the incremental funds he needed. Seriously.

Again, we're never going to have the budget to hire big-name coaches or coordinators, but those options likely would consider Rice as a career choice anyway-- even if the money was there.

First of all, Edmondson has 5 years of OC experience.

Secondly, Dr. K has a lot on his plate as he tries to get going as our AD. I would also say that donations is more on the development office side. Unfortunately, that group has been 50% staffed for quite a while. Makes it kind of hard to raise money then, huh? As well, I would imagine the EZF project is kind of front and center right now.

Also, I never said go get a big-name coordinator. Others here have had the pipe dream of Applewhite. I'm saying have enough money in the bank to give DB more options. And I'm saying (as others around here have said) that he doesn't have the money available to have a lot of options. I tried to push that we as a group should try to change that for this hire because I know some here have the capital to make such an impact (and I know I would chip in to project). But, that didn't happen. I guess I can blame myself for that. I've never tried organizing big donors for an effort like that but I guess I should have gotten over my fear and tried.

(01-02-2014 10:10 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice.

This is such a load of crap and I've confronted you on this before.

We just had our highest paid assistant leave, right? His salary and any other comp were vacated. That amount of comp (and conceivably more now with likely overall staff raises) is now available to be allocated (assuming the same budget). That is more than enough money to go out and hire someone from the outside. No, we won't be able to lure an OC from a BCS program, but certainly could entertain a BCS position coach, non-BCS coordinator, highschool head coach or coordinator, etc.

If Bailiff has already made up his mind or is even already strong leaning towards Edmondson then there was never a legitimate effort to consider outside candidates, which would be very disappointing and all on DB.

Ugh. I will not be thrilled if Edmonsond is named the replacement. That MSU game did little to inspire hope that he would be a successful OC.

(01-02-2014 10:45 AM)talon owl Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 10:10 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice.

This is such a load of crap and I've confronted you on this before.

We just had our highest paid assistant leave, right? His salary and any other comp were vacated. That amount of comp (and conceivably more now with likely overall staff raises) is now available to be allocated (assuming the same budget). That is more than enough money to go out and hire someone from the outside. No, we won't be able to lure an OC from a BCS program, but certainly could entertain a BCS position coach, non-BCS coordinator, highschool head coach or coordinator, etc.

Additionally, did we even try to find someone else? The timeline seems so short that I cannot imagine we did an exhaustive search.

As for Edmonson, the apprehension is not based on the bowl game only. Our QB play has been far short of stellar and we have seem limited improvement from year to year.

Because I am a glutton for punishment, I went back on watched the game on DVR after missing some stuff while socializing at the watch party. I think Edmondson's play-calling and pacing were indistinguishable from Reagan's. Not sure if that is what he was going for or if he and Reagan are just pretty similar in that regard.

(01-02-2014 10:10 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 10:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:59 AM)d1owls4life Wrote:  

(01-02-2014 09:52 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  +1000. If Edmondson is promoted I'll retract the kinder words toward Bailiff that I've used the past couple months. If the Liberty Bowl was Edmondson's audition, he failed miserably. The play calling was totally unimaginative, and we made absolutely no adjustments to what MSU was doing on defense. And let's face reality, as QB coach it's not as if he's done a standout job. If anything, McHargue regressed since his Freshman and Sophomore seasons.

Bailiff is an excellent representative of the program and the University, but he appears to be more of an admistrator-type coach rather than a hands-on Xs and Os guy. He needs strong, innovative and aggressive coordinators if he is to take the program to the next level (or even sustain this season's success). Edmondson is the opposite of that. I hope Dr. K recognizes that there will be very significant blowback if Edmondson is named OC, and we could very likely lose whatever gain we achieved this year with regards to alumni/donor activism.

Please, please say this is not so.

Actually, McHargue got better between his sophomore and junior seasons. Accuracy went down this year but his QB rating was about the same. I agree though that he didn't progress at all this year. Heard he had been nursing a sore elbow, but still, his decision-making throwing the ball wasn't any better.

Also, I'm sorry I think you are way overvaluing the importance of this decision to the majority of our alumni. I don't think this decision is going to have that big of an impact with regards to that new found "activism" (granted, for it to be "activism", doesn't that mean they have to stick around?). Maybe some people around here will (which would be a mistake), but we don't represent the large majority of alumni. I think most people are going to focus the positives from this season and hope we can push forward from here.

It's not the "large number" of alumni/donors we're talking about; rather, it's the big pocketed ones who would be motivated (or, in this case, demotivated) to provide leadership level gifts ($10,000 and up) to the football program. I can tell you with almost complete certainty that the selection of Edmondson as our next OC would be a significant demotivating factor to a number of such alums (many of whom have only in the past month or two shown a willingness to earmark a share of their Rice giving to the football program). After this successful season, Bailiff and Dr. K have momentum behind them. They/we can ill-afford to blow that on an internal OC hire. Just one man's opinion.

I'm just questioning how many of those donors you describe know much about the coaching staff if they have only recently decided to earmark some money for the football program.

But, if you are right and this decisions demotivates them so much, I would say two things. One, the facility issue is still real and needs to be completed. Two, you want to know why he made that choice? More than likely, he didn't have the budget to make any other choice. Hmm...wonder how we can fix that?

Edmondson's record developing McHargue leaves a lot to be desired, and that audition as OC was a complete failure, not so much because of the score as such, but because of the total lack of ability shown to react to a defense and make smart play calls.

I flat-out 100% refuse to believe we need to spend any more money anywhere to get a much better level of performance than that. We may need to dip down into lower football ranks to find someone who has shown potential and would love to come to our D1 job, but it can be done. I'm not opposed to the team spending more money on coaching staff and facilities -- it would be a good thing to do so -- but continuing to hear it offered as a big excuse for atrocious coaching is getting very old and just isn't true IMHO.