Quote:Rice coach David Bailiff says DT Christian Covington "will have a tough decision" whether to leave early for NFL "but he'll have a degree." -Joseph Duarte @Chronicle_Owls

Yikes...the 2015 draft just got interesting. And so did 2015 recruiting.

Quote:Rice coach David Bailiff says new starting QB Driphus Jackson has "cemented himself as team leader." -Joseph Duarte @Chronicle_Owls

I don't usually go by gut feelings, but I'm really getting a good feeling about this 2014 team.

Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

Well, Tennessee is a bit of a step up from any of the teams listed for A&M. But yeah, Bob needs to shove it.

(07-23-2014 10:04 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

Quote:Rice coach David Bailiff says DT Christian Covington "will have a tough decision" whether to leave early for NFL "but he'll have a degree." -Joseph Duarte @Chronicle_Owls

Yikes...the 2015 draft just got interesting. And so did 2015 recruiting.

If he leaves early, it's likely for the first round. Which, all things considered, would be a positive for the program.

Definitely need to hold on to these 2 DT commits for 2015, regardless of Covington's future plans.

(07-23-2014 10:22 AM)talon owl Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:04 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

Quote:Rice coach David Bailiff says DT Christian Covington "will have a tough decision" whether to leave early for NFL "but he'll have a degree." -Joseph Duarte @Chronicle_Owls

Yikes...the 2015 draft just got interesting. And so did 2015 recruiting.

If he leaves early, it's likely for the first round. Which, all things considered, would be a positive for the program.

Definitely need to hold on to these 2 DT commits for 2015, regardless of Covington's future plans.

It will be interesting to see how his season goes.

If he has another outstanding season, with the way DTs are valued in the NFL, it would surprise me to see him go in the top 15.

(07-23-2014 10:22 AM)talon owl Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:04 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

Quote:Rice coach David Bailiff says DT Christian Covington "will have a tough decision" whether to leave early for NFL "but he'll have a degree." -Joseph Duarte @Chronicle_Owls

Yikes...the 2015 draft just got interesting. And so did 2015 recruiting.

If he leaves early, it's likely for the first round. Which, all things considered, would be a positive for the program.

Definitely need to hold on to these 2 DT commits for 2015, regardless of Covington's future plans.

+1000

A few more from JP Heath @RiceOwlsVoice:

Quote:JP Heath @RiceOwlsVoice
Taylor says the biggest key on the offense will be the guys stepping up on the OL. Also expect a big yr from Mario Hull, who has fought inj.

Quote:JP Heath @RiceOwlsVoice
Malcolm expects the defense to be a lot more athletic this season, specifically with speed.

Quote:JP Heath @RiceOwlsVoice
Malcolm Hill expects to play a lot of CB and S this season with pt at S depending on young CBs stepping up. He expects to begin year at CB.

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

Lamar and Louisiana-Monroe? A&M should be embarrassed. I don't care how tough their SEC schedule is.

(07-23-2014 11:23 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

Lamar and Louisiana-Monroe? A&M should be embarrassed. I don't care how tough their SEC schedule is.

ULM did beat "#8" Arkansas two years ago. Of course Arky finished 4-8 that season, but they're no slouch compared to Lamar.

(07-23-2014 03:37 PM)That Guy 2012 Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 11:23 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:
Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"
Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

Lamar and Louisiana-Monroe? A&M should be embarrassed. I don't care how tough their SEC schedule is.

ULM did beat "#8" Arkansas two years ago. Of course Arky finished 4-8 that season, but they're no slouch compared to Lamar.

Lamar is a step down to be sure. Probably not much to choose between Rice, SMU, and La-Monroe versus OU's slate.

(07-23-2014 04:36 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 03:37 PM)That Guy 2012 Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 11:23 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:
Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"
Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

Lamar and Louisiana-Monroe? A&M should be embarrassed. I don't care how tough their SEC schedule is.

ULM did beat "#8" Arkansas two years ago. Of course Arky finished 4-8 that season, but they're no slouch compared to Lamar.

Lamar is a step down to be sure. Probably not much to choose between Rice, SMU, and La-Monroe versus OU's slate.

Last year's final computer rankings (Massey combined):

61. Tennessee
106. Tulsa
113. Louisiana Tech
-------------------------------------------------
57. Rice
89. SMU
91. Louisiana-Monroe

Historically speaking, Louisiana-Monroe is weak. They may break out and have a decent season every 10 years or so, but they do usually stink. But anyway, scheduling teams like Lamar and ULM is the only way A&M will get their seven or eight home games a year.

(07-23-2014 06:37 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Historically speaking, Louisiana-Monroe is weak. They may break out and have a decent season every 10 years or so, but they do usually stink. But anyway, scheduling teams like Lamar and ULM is the only way A&M will get their seven or eight wins a year.

Fixed it for you

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

This quote is extremely annoying and frustrating, especially coming off of a 10-win, conference championship season, but 15-20 years ago this could/would have been said about TCU, Boise, Northwestern as well. Up to us (Bailiff and the boys) to change this perception. Last year is a great foundation- but we have to build on it like the aforementioned teams did in the recent past or it loses all meaning in the public arena (though it will always be special to us)

(07-23-2014 09:36 PM)Middle Ages Wrote:  

(07-23-2014 10:07 AM)07owl Wrote:  Related:

Brett McMurphy @McMurphyESPN
Bob Stoops mentions Texas A&M’s non-conference schedule: “Lamar, Rice, SMU, La-Monroe. Those are all a bunch of toughies"

Stoops must see a meaningful difference between that and OU's non-conference schedule of Louisiana Tech, Tulsa, and Tennessee, but I don't

This quote is extremely annoying and frustrating, especially coming off of a 10-win, conference championship season, but 15-20 years ago this could/would have been said about TCU, Boise, Northwestern as well. Up to us (Bailiff and the boys) to change this perception. Last year is a great foundation- but we have to build on it like the aforementioned teams did in the recent past or it loses all meaning in the public arena (though it will always be special to us)

+1...but in addition to sustaining our overall success in CUSA, we desperately need a signature win if we truly hope to make any headway in the public arena. Now that DB has put us in a position to be a perennial contender in conference, I assume he recognizes this and will be putting a much greater priority on winning at Notre Dame and College Station this year. Returning to bowl games is Step 1...winning the conference championship is Step 2...Step 3 is the toughest of all, but that signature win is now what's needed to take it to the next level.