(06-23-2014 11:31 AM)LonghornOwl Wrote:  This has probably already been said, but with a healthy Lemond and Ditman to close out games Rice would be the equal of any of the CWS teams (or at least most of them).

Just a personal observation - at the beginning of the year it always appears Rice has too many quality pitchers for each to get enough work and opportunity and at the end of the year there seem to be too few quality pitchers. I'm not really talking about the injury factor - just the fact that so many seemingly talented pitchers end up not being reliable enough to put in a game.

Spot on, IMO.

Now 9-8 in B8 with 2 outs and tying run on 3d. Groundout ends the frame.

(06-23-2014 09:00 PM)Leoguy Wrote:  I'm conflicted. I like Vanderbilt but dislike the SEC. On the other hand, I don't mind UVA but would rather the ACC didn't win a second NC.

My thoughts exactly. But I'm not that conflicted in that I'd rather Vandy win then see ACC win.

The final comes down to two schools I applied to and chose Rice over. (Similar to the book by Rice historian Melissa Kean's book on desegregating private institutions in the south, except that also included Rice).

A little love from Kendall, naming his favorite CWS winners:

Quote:Rice (2003): Owls head coach Wayne Graham has done a tremendous job with his program over the years, and dating back to his days at San Jacinto Junior College. He finally reached the pinnacle of college baseball in '03, beating rival Texas on the way to the program's first national title, beating Stanford in the CWS Finals. The Owls had one of the best rotations in NCAA history that season with Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend and Philip Humber leading the way. The Owls also had a true spark plug that season in gritty, hard-nosed Chris Kolkhorst. That team stands alone as the most decorated in Rice history.

(06-23-2014 10:51 PM)texd Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 09:00 PM)Leoguy Wrote:  I'm conflicted. I like Vanderbilt but dislike the SEC. On the other hand, I don't mind UVA but would rather the ACC didn't win a second NC.

My thoughts exactly. But I'm not that conflicted in that I'd rather Vandy win then see ACC win.

The final comes down to two schools I applied to and chose Rice over. (Similar to the book by Rice historian Melissa Kean's book on desegregating private institutions in the south, except that also included Rice).

We're still the only private school outside of Cailfornia and Florida to have won the CWS in the past 59 years. I'd like to keep it that way. Rice seems to compete heads-up against Vandy in so many ways. I'd prefer not to see a billboard at the Southwest Freeway and Greenbriar touting a Vanderbilt national championship.

I like Vandy. My wife's a Vandy grad. But still...

Hi-tech ESPN

(06-25-2014 06:21 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 10:51 PM)texd Wrote:  

(06-23-2014 09:00 PM)Leoguy Wrote:  I'm conflicted. I like Vanderbilt but dislike the SEC. On the other hand, I don't mind UVA but would rather the ACC didn't win a second NC.

My thoughts exactly. But I'm not that conflicted in that I'd rather Vandy win then see ACC win.

The final comes down to two schools I applied to and chose Rice over. (Similar to the book by Rice historian Melissa Kean's book on desegregating private institutions in the south, except that also included Rice).

We're still the only private school outside of Cailfornia and Florida to have won the CWS in the past 59 years. I'd like to keep it that way. Rice seems to compete heads-up against Vandy in so many ways. I'd prefer not to see a billboard at the Southwest Freeway and Greenbriar touting a Vanderbilt national championship.

I like Vandy. My wife's a Vandy grad. But still...

I went to Vandy for graduate school and couldn't stand it (thankfully jwn was also in town or I would've gone crazy). Mainly my impression was that Vandy fans had the SEC arrogance even if they spent years of being the doormat across many sports combined. I know it makes me seem like such a wonderful VU alum, but I'd rather Virginia win.

Having watched alot of UVA baseball in person over the last seven or eight years, I can tell you that Brian O'Connor and his staff have built a first class program, where young men are well spoken, go to class (9 baseball players made the ACC Academic Honor roll last fall), more often than not graduate, and those who do go on to big pro contracts acknowledge what they learned there with hefty donations to the program (Ryan Zimmerman, Danny Hultzen). I am hoping they close the deal tonight rather than yet another $EC team, even one that was once upon a time a perennial doormat. Go Hoos!

Rice got some nice mentions from the ESPN announcers during B3 of tonight's Game 3. They were talking about the similar turnarounds that the Vandy and UVa coaches had made at those good academic schools ... then broadened the discussion to include the quality programs at Stanford, Rice & UNC. Kyle Peterson noted that only 2, maybe 3, players on the field tonight will make enough money from baseball not to have to worry anything else ... so players should think about going to the school they'd really like to be at even if baseball wasn't a factor.

(06-25-2014 08:34 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Rice got some nice mentions from the ESPN announcers during B3 of tonight's Game 3. They were talking about the similar turnarounds that the Vandy and UVa coaches had made at those good academic schools ... then broadened the discussion to include the quality programs at Stanford, Rice & UNC. Kyle Peterson noted that only 2, maybe 3, players on the field tonight will make enough money from baseball not to have to worry anything else ... so players should think about going to the school they'd really like to be at even if baseball wasn't a factor.

I was pleased and encouraged by that exchange. Now it's time for Rice to reappear at Omaha! Go Owls!

(06-25-2014 08:48 PM)Leoguy Wrote:  

(06-25-2014 08:34 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Rice got some nice mentions from the ESPN announcers during B3 of tonight's Game 3. They were talking about the similar turnarounds that the Vandy and UVa coaches had made at those good academic schools ... then broadened the discussion to include the quality programs at Stanford, Rice & UNC. Kyle Peterson noted that only 2, maybe 3, players on the field tonight will make enough money from baseball not to have to worry anything else ... so players should think about going to the school they'd really like to be at even if baseball wasn't a factor.

I was pleased and encouraged by that exchange. Now it's time for Rice to reappear at Omaha! Go Owls!

Good point Leoguy

Congrats to Vandy!

Celebration time. But, ESPN is so busy they need to switch on something else...

(06-25-2014 10:59 PM)grol Wrote:  Celebration time. But, ESPN is so busy they need to switch on something else...

A 4+ hour game like that will mess up a network's schedule and commercial slotting.

I was surprised that Vandy's coach, Tim Corbin, didn't leave the dugout area after the final out. The NCAA rep handed the championship trophy to a seemingly random player during the on-field celebration ... and it was a few minutes later that another player decided to run over to the coach and gave the trophy to him, along with a hug. There will be no clips for Vandy fans like the fabulous one of the 2003 World Champion OG running out of the dugout exuberantly with flailing arms.

ESPN does it to itself with the commercials, etc. Seriously, you need 3:45 for a 3-2 ballgame, with only 2 pitching changes on each side? That kind of college ballgame can be done in less than 2:30, and maybe closer to 2 hours, without TV.

As Sorenson said:

Quote:2- Poor Vanderbilt, they happened to win a National Championship in college baseball on the same day that Tim Lincicum throws a no-hitter, the World Cup was going hot and heavy, Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and Miami Heat/Lebron James news took precedent over them. Believe it or not, the College World Series was the 5th story on SportsCenter tonight.

I haven't been waiting on the edge of my seat for the basketball draft, and care little for NBA rumors, etc. It just continues to puzzle me that ESPN doesn't have a core of committed college baseball fans -- besides Kyle Peterson (the most public). Jeremy and Eric and Roons are doing their thing well, but they are not yet running the mothership of all things sports.

(06-26-2014 08:16 AM)grol Wrote:  As Sorenson said:

Quote:2- Poor Vanderbilt, they happened to win a National Championship in college baseball on the same day that Tim Lincicum throws a no-hitter, the World Cup was going hot and heavy, Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and Miami Heat/Lebron James news took precedent over them. Believe it or not, the College World Series was the 5th story on SportsCenter tonight.

I haven't been waiting on the edge of my seat for the basketball draft, and care little for NBA rumors, etc. It just continues to puzzle me that ESPN doesn't have a core of committed college baseball fans -- besides Kyle Peterson (the most public). Jeremy and Eric and Roons are doing their thing well, but they are not yet running the mothership of all things sports.

True, but it's not just college baseball. The Stanley Cub finals hardly got any coverage on ESPN despite having NY and LA teams in the finals.

(06-26-2014 08:16 AM)grol Wrote:  As Sorenson said:

Quote:2- Poor Vanderbilt, they happened to win a National Championship in college baseball on the same day that Tim Lincicum throws a no-hitter, the World Cup was going hot and heavy, Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and Miami Heat/Lebron James news took precedent over them. Believe it or not, the College World Series was the 5th story on SportsCenter tonight.

They should be thankful there wasn't a Tim Tebow sighting.

The Tebow sightings start NLT August, as the SEC Network kicks off.

(06-26-2014 10:06 AM)Gravy Owl Wrote:  

(06-26-2014 08:16 AM)grol Wrote:  As Sorenson said:

Quote:2- Poor Vanderbilt, they happened to win a National Championship in college baseball on the same day that Tim Lincicum throws a no-hitter, the World Cup was going hot and heavy, Carmelo Anthony trade rumors and Miami Heat/Lebron James news took precedent over them. Believe it or not, the College World Series was the 5th story on SportsCenter tonight.

They should be thankful there wasn't a Tim Tebow Johnny Football sighting.

FIFY. Today all the news is whether he'll party during training camp and what Joe Montana tweeted at him.