FWIW the quote of the offense running faster came from Edmunson. Definitely noted our guys smarter than yours.

(07-30-2014 08:42 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Apparently that lead gift on the EZF was $12 Million according to JD and Mark Berman.

Intriguing that Mello mentioned we were about that close to funding the EZF in his opening remarks. He hoped things could begin rolling after the FB season. Makes me wonder if someone in the room was the benefactor ?

After viewing the video ... Rick said " five million" left to fund

Well the Chron has picked up the story, so I hope it actually happens this time. They said the same thing at last year's Caravan - that construction would begin at the end of last season. The funding seems much more secure this time, though $5 million is a significant gap to close in the next few months.

(07-31-2014 10:15 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Well the Chron has picked up the story, so I hope it actually happens this time. They said the same thing at last year's Caravan - that construction would begin at the end of last season. The funding seems much more secure this time, though $5 million is a significant gap to close in the next few months.

I take it as someone ponied up $ 12M AFTER Rick said we needed $ 5M. Sounds like the goal was met shortly after the Caravan shut down.

(07-31-2014 10:55 AM)Da.Owl Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 10:15 AM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Well the Chron has picked up the story, so I hope it actually happens this time. They said the same thing at last year's Caravan - that construction would begin at the end of last season. The funding seems much more secure this time, though $5 million is a significant gap to close in the next few months.

I take it as someone ponied up $ 12M AFTER Rick said we needed $ 5M. Sounds like the goal was met shortly after the Caravan shut down.

No, we still need about $5-6 million. JD and Berman were just reporting the lead gift that has gotten us to that 80% mark. Still plenty of work to do, but getting close.

(07-30-2014 08:51 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  FWIW the quote of the offense running faster came from Edmunson. Definitely noted our guys smarter than yours.

But he didn't say "comparable to Duke", but rather that "we're gonna try to do some of that". (last winter's Duke vs. A&M bowl game WAS amazing, so I'm glad our coaches received at least a small inoculation of that)

Interesting though that Thurmann pointed out that one of his defense's best weapons was our offense's ranking among the top in TOP. Running a faster offense (as much as I'd like to see it) would counter that advantage.

Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year. Proof will be what is exhibited in camp on the field come fall. Interesting that they chose to go to a school (Duke) that had just lost its coveted OC (and Rice alum) to study the offense. Wouldn't have been my first choice.


Interesting, somewhat encouraging update on the EZF. But like someone mentioned, roughly the same was said before prior seasons. Getting a bulk gift of that size to the FB program is definitely good progress though.

I would be willing to bet that the donor was waiting until RG left and the whole atmosphere was clearly on the improvement trail. I certainly did exactly that, but not at that level of giving.

(07-31-2014 02:12 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year. Proof will be what is exhibited in camp on the field come fall. Interesting that they chose to go to a school (Duke) that had just lost its coveted OC (and Rice alum) to study the offense. Wouldn't have been my first choice.


Interesting, somewhat encouraging update on the EZF. But like someone mentioned, roughly the same was said before prior seasons. Getting a bulk gift of that size to the FB program is definitely good progress though.

Learning from Cutliffe makes a lot of sense to me.. The Rice coaches went and visited a coach who knows a thing or two about coaching successful QBs (I believe the last name of two of those QBs were Manning) and someone who is accomplishing what we want to accomplish, at a school very similar to us.

(07-31-2014 02:22 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 02:12 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year. Proof will be what is exhibited in camp on the field come fall. Interesting that they chose to go to a school (Duke) that had just lost its coveted OC (and Rice alum) to study the offense. Wouldn't have been my first choice.


Interesting, somewhat encouraging update on the EZF. But like someone mentioned, roughly the same was said before prior seasons. Getting a bulk gift of that size to the FB program is definitely good progress though.

Learning from Cutliffe makes a lot of sense to me.. The Rice coaches went and visited a coach who knows a thing or two about coaching successful QBs (I believe the last name of two of those QBs were Manning) and someone who is accomplishing what we want to accomplish, at a school very similar to us.

Yeah, but he's not a hurry-up spread guy, in terms of his roots. That offense at Duke evolved mainly from Roper (who yes is a long time Cutcliffe disciple) who left for Florida before the off-season.

Of course there's some value in meeting with Cutcliffe and Co., but if the goal was to learn about the hurry-up spread, there are other programs and coaches more specialized.

(07-31-2014 02:12 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year.

Of course it was. I went for the beer.

I was suprised that they were not set up to accept credit cards at the event for walk up attendees.

(07-31-2014 02:02 PM)Barney Wrote:  Interesting though that Thurmann pointed out that one of his defense's best weapons was our offense's ranking among the top in TOP. Running a faster offense (as much as I'd like to see it) would counter that advantage.

I have never seen "shorten the game" as a useful priority for Rice. Some of our fans complain about depth, but it's not like our opponents have future NFLers sitting on the bench either -- and if they do, then we have bigger problems than the clock.

I chalk Thurmond's comment up to diplomacy. Rice has had clock-chewing offenses for most of the past 20 years, but the defense has improved dramatically in his 2 seasons as DC.

FTR, I am all in favor of long, clock-consuming drives. But I'd rather do it by running a lot of plays than by wasting a lot of time between plays.

(07-31-2014 02:12 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year.

How detailed should these meetings be? I would think any great revelations of changes in philosophy and attack would be of some help to the next couple of opponents.

Quote: Proof will be what is exhibited in camp on the field come fall.

True dat. And I hope it all comes as a pleasant surprise to us and an unpleasant one to our opponents.

(07-31-2014 05:49 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-31-2014 02:12 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Sounds like the same semi-contradictory and fluffy gobblety-gook we get at this event every year.

How detailed should these meetings be? I would think any great revelations of changes in philosophy and attack would be of some help to the next couple of opponents.

If General Eisenhower could take the Allied press corps into his confidence on the eve of Operation Husky, surely Rice fans could be trusted not to reveal strategic information provided in confidence.

Then again, maybe not.

These meetings are for the purpose of rallying the troops, not detailing strategies.

The $12 million is a huge lift! Yes! It would be so cool if there could be a groundbreaking ceremony at the last home game.

I wish they would move this event to the R-room or somewhere else accept St Arn. The acoustics are terrible here.

(07-31-2014 08:42 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  The $12 million is a huge lift! Yes! It would be so cool if there could be a groundbreaking ceremony at the last home game.