Let us see what develops for a bowl game then make the decision to go or not go. I remember Jess Neely did not go to a bowl game one year because he felt his team did not deserve to go even though they had a winning record.
(11-30-2014 10:51 AM)FresnoTXOwl Wrote:
(11-30-2014 09:58 AM)Buho00 Wrote: This team played up to its expectations. A lot of us predicted 7-5 for this season knowing the weakness of the schedule. To act like this season has been a disaster or like we should decline a bowl game is bogus. We faced adversity in a re-building kind of year but still won 6 straight and took the conference race down to the last game. We probably go 6-6 in the old C-USA, but maybe the same 7-5 (we would beat Tulane, SMU, Tulsa this season, and UH would sub for ODU, we played two old C-USA east teams including the best one in Marshall). We're in the top 70, so why would we not deserve to go to a bowl game? I know we could compete against most 6-6 P5 teams, and all but the very best G5 teams. Driphus needs the reps, to continue improving heading into his senior season. And the young players, especially in the secondary could use the practice.
I'll take going to bowl games every year in a weaker C-USA than going 5-7 in a still weak AAC or the equivalent, but that's just me. I think the exposure, extra game and practices helps and has made a difference when you compare the past 3 Rice seasons to say, SMU. This team is similar to the 7-6 team that beat Air Force in the bowl game. The next season it went on to win the conference. You bet the AFA game helped prepare us for the next season's championship run.
So we've now graduated from complaining about our conference mates to complaining about our bowl opponents?
Join the real world. The way this program was run in the late '60s, '70s, and 80s, were lucky to have what we have. We need to change our own program, not fret over everything but us.
(11-30-2014 11:42 AM)temchugh Wrote: Here is what will happet (my prediction).
Conference champ: HOD
Runner up: Boca
UTEP: New Mexico
WKU: Bahamas
Rice: Hawaii
Seems pretty sensible.
At this point I'm hoping for the Hawaii bowl. I know we wanted HOD so more fans could travel and we get a P5 team but I don't see it happening. Hawaii isn't a bad bowl. Great for the players and lots of people watch because it gets a prime ESPN spot. Don't forget Alabama was there not too long ago. I went one year when I happened to be in Hawaii and it had a pretty solid attendance (mostly locals).
(11-30-2014 11:42 AM)temchugh Wrote: Here is what will happet (my prediction).
Conference champ: HOD
Runner up: Boca
UTEP: New Mexico
WKU: Bahamas
Rice: Hawaii
Hawaii is right for this year. Might catch a really weak MWC opponent (some predict Fresno State) and post a nice W for those who care to watch on Christmas Eve.
Expect plenty of conference grumbling if our 6-6 teams (UAB, Middle Tennessee, and Old Dominion) all sit at home.
When are they announced? If Hawaii if like to try to make sure I can get that time off and book tickets.
Someone said weakest opponent above. I want the biggest baddest well known opponent we can get. Personally would rather be in a position to have a signature win than beat some random directional school. Beating Western Michigan and it's ilk doesn't help us.
(11-30-2014 11:42 AM)temchugh Wrote: Here is what will happet (my prediction).
Conference champ: HOD
Runner up: Boca
UTEP: New Mexico
WKU: Bahamas
Rice: Hawaii
Hawaii is right for this year. Might catch a really weak MWC opponent (some predict Fresno State) and post a nice W for those who care to watch on Christmas Eve.
Expect plenty of conference grumbling if our 6-6 teams (UAB, Middle Tennessee, and Old Dominion) all sit at home.
I wonder if the conference champ may choose to go to Hawaii over facing some of the teams mentioned for the HOD, Boca, etc.
(This post was last modified: 11-30-2014 02:33 PM by At Ease.)
(11-30-2014 02:28 PM)Antarius Wrote: When are they announced? If Hawaii if like to try to make sure I can get that time off and book tickets.
Someone said weakest opponent above. I want the biggest baddest well known opponent we can get. Personally would rather be in a position to have a signature win than beat some random directional school. Beating Western Michigan and it's ilk doesn't help us.
bold part reminded me of this:
"There will be no signature win this season."
edit: to clarify--not meaning we won't win (I still hope we do) it just won't be an opponent most college football fans would really care about.
(This post was last modified: 11-30-2014 02:53 PM by GoodOwl.)
(11-30-2014 12:09 AM)jhruzek Wrote: For a team that I thought was going to be in a rebuilding year, I am proud if what they accomplished this year. We may be down on them for their showing against La Tech, but I wish for them the best bowl possible. HoD would be my choice for proximity to Houston. For achieving 3 bowls in 3 years with a beat up QB and without their stud D lineman for most of the season, I am very happy with our season. Says a lot about how far we have come that a 7-5 season is disappointing! Y'all should have been around for the four years I was there. I don't remember 7 wins in four years!
I couldn't have said it better myself. The team gave it everthing they had against LTU, they just got tired against a better opponent. No one quit and 7-5 is what I expected from this team. Get off their backs!
(11-30-2014 11:17 AM)OldOwl Wrote: Let us see what develops for a bowl game then make the decision to go or not go. I remember Jess Neely did not go to a bowl game one year because he felt his team did not deserve to go even though they had a winning record.
(11-30-2014 10:51 AM)FresnoTXOwl Wrote:
(11-30-2014 09:58 AM)Buho00 Wrote: This team played up to its expectations. A lot of us predicted 7-5 for this season knowing the weakness of the schedule. To act like this season has been a disaster or like we should decline a bowl game is bogus. We faced adversity in a re-building kind of year but still won 6 straight and took the conference race down to the last game. We probably go 6-6 in the old C-USA, but maybe the same 7-5 (we would beat Tulane, SMU, Tulsa this season, and UH would sub for ODU, we played two old C-USA east teams including the best one in Marshall). We're in the top 70, so why would we not deserve to go to a bowl game? I know we could compete against most 6-6 P5 teams, and all but the very best G5 teams. Driphus needs the reps, to continue improving heading into his senior season. And the young players, especially in the secondary could use the practice.
I'll take going to bowl games every year in a weaker C-USA than going 5-7 in a still weak AAC or the equivalent, but that's just me. I think the exposure, extra game and practices helps and has made a difference when you compare the past 3 Rice seasons to say, SMU. This team is similar to the 7-6 team that beat Air Force in the bowl game. The next season it went on to win the conference. You bet the AFA game helped prepare us for the next season's championship run.
What he said
OldOwl, you're almost right in your recollection, but Neely did not make the decision. He left it up to the players, and the vote was not close. None of us felt that we deserved a bowl game. Of course, if we had known that Rice would not return to a bowl game until the 2006 season, the vote might have been different.
(11-30-2014 09:58 AM)Buho00 Wrote: This team played up to its expectations. A lot of us predicted 7-5 for this season knowing the weakness of the schedule. To act like this season has been a disaster or like we should decline a bowl game is bogus. We faced adversity in a re-building kind of year but still won 6 straight and took the conference race down to the last game. We probably go 6-6 in the old C-USA, but maybe the same 7-5 (we would beat Tulane, SMU, Tulsa this season, and UH would sub for ODU, we played two old C-USA east teams including the best one in Marshall). We're in the top 70, so why would we not deserve to go to a bowl game? I know we could compete against most 6-6 P5 teams, and all but the very best G5 teams. Driphus needs the reps, to continue improving heading into his senior season. And the young players, especially in the secondary could use the practice.
I'll take going to bowl games every year in a weaker C-USA than going 5-7 in a still weak AAC or the equivalent, but that's just me. I think the exposure, extra game and practices helps and has made a difference when you compare the past 3 Rice seasons to say, SMU. This team is similar to the 7-6 team that beat Air Force in the bowl game. The next season it went on to win the conference. You bet the AFA game helped prepare us for the next season's championship run.
What he said
Me too. Some people are just determined to be miserable. Let them be so.
Additionally the bowl is the culmination of a great run by the current senior class that accomplished something not done before at Rice. Three consecutive bowl games. They are deserving of our support!
The talk of not going to a bowl game is ridiculous. We need to go to continue building our brand. If we harbor any hopes of moving up to another conference, we have to win the games in front of us. Anyone, anytime, anywhere. Just win.
(11-30-2014 12:09 AM)jhruzek Wrote: For a team that I thought was going to be in a rebuilding year, I am proud if what they accomplished this year. We may be down on them for their showing against La Tech, but I wish for them the best bowl possible. HoD would be my choice for proximity to Houston. For achieving 3 bowls in 3 years with a beat up QB and without their stud D lineman for most of the season, I am very happy with our season. Says a lot about how far we have come that a 7-5 season is disappointing! Y'all should have been around for the four years I was there. I don't remember 7 wins in four years!
I couldn't have said it better myself. The team gave it everthing they had against LTU, they just got tired against a better opponent. No one quit and 7-5 is what I expected from this team. Get off their backs!
Just got tired? They stopped LaTech twice all game - once on the first drive, and once on an intercepted pass. They were outclassed by a better opponent.
(11-30-2014 03:57 PM)Pimpa Wrote: The talk of not going to a bowl game is ridiculous. We need to go to continue building our brand. If we harbor any hopes of moving up to another conference, we have to win the games in front of us. Anyone, anytime, anywhere. Just win.
(11-30-2014 12:09 AM)jhruzek Wrote: For a team that I thought was going to be in a rebuilding year, I am proud if what they accomplished this year. We may be down on them for their showing against La Tech, but I wish for them the best bowl possible. HoD would be my choice for proximity to Houston. For achieving 3 bowls in 3 years with a beat up QB and without their stud D lineman for most of the season, I am very happy with our season. Says a lot about how far we have come that a 7-5 season is disappointing! Y'all should have been around for the four years I was there. I don't remember 7 wins in four years!
I couldn't have said it better myself. The team gave it everthing they had against LTU, they just got tired against a better opponent. No one quit and 7-5 is what I expected from this team. Get off their backs!
Just got tired? They stopped LaTech twice all game - once on the first drive, and once on an intercepted pass. They were outclassed by a better opponent.
I mentioned that they were beaten by a better opponent. And wouldn't you be tired after having to play man to man coverage the whole game?
(11-30-2014 12:09 AM)jhruzek Wrote: For a team that I thought was going to be in a rebuilding year, I am proud if what they accomplished this year. We may be down on them for their showing against La Tech, but I wish for them the best bowl possible. HoD would be my choice for proximity to Houston. For achieving 3 bowls in 3 years with a beat up QB and without their stud D lineman for most of the season, I am very happy with our season. Says a lot about how far we have come that a 7-5 season is disappointing! Y'all should have been around for the four years I was there. I don't remember 7 wins in four years!
I couldn't have said it better myself. The team gave it everthing they had against LTU, they just got tired against a better opponent. No one quit and 7-5 is what I expected from this team. Get off their backs!
Just got tired? They stopped LaTech twice all game - once on the first drive, and once on an intercepted pass. They were outclassed by a better opponent.
I mentioned that they were beaten by a better opponent. And wouldn't you be tired after having to play man to man coverage the whole game?
If you want to feel sorry for someone - feel sorry for their cheerleaders. They must be exhausted after 474 pushups.
(11-30-2014 03:57 PM)Pimpa Wrote: The talk of not going to a bowl game is ridiculous. We need to go to continue building our brand. If we harbor any hopes of moving up to another conference, we have to win the games in front of us. Anyone, anytime, anywhere. Just win.
Post of the year. +100000000000000
We don't have the luxury of moral high grounds and pooh poohing at bowl games. We take the best opponent we can get and need to find a way to win.
Also, if my schedule allows me to go, I will go. Whether or not I agree with the decision to go to war, I believe in supporting the troops - similarly, my issues with the coaches (or couches ) will not affect my support for the team and players.
(11-30-2014 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:
(11-30-2014 03:58 PM)I45owl Wrote:
(11-30-2014 03:18 PM)Afflicted Wrote:
(11-30-2014 12:09 AM)jhruzek Wrote: For a team that I thought was going to be in a rebuilding year, I am proud if what they accomplished this year. We may be down on them for their showing against La Tech, but I wish for them the best bowl possible. HoD would be my choice for proximity to Houston. For achieving 3 bowls in 3 years with a beat up QB and without their stud D lineman for most of the season, I am very happy with our season. Says a lot about how far we have come that a 7-5 season is disappointing! Y'all should have been around for the four years I was there. I don't remember 7 wins in four years!
I couldn't have said it better myself. The team gave it everthing they had against LTU, they just got tired against a better opponent. No one quit and 7-5 is what I expected from this team. Get off their backs!
Just got tired? They stopped LaTech twice all game - once on the first drive, and once on an intercepted pass. They were outclassed by a better opponent.
I mentioned that they were beaten by a better opponent. And wouldn't you be tired after having to play man to man coverage the whole game?
WHY is Louisiana Tech a superior team??? This is the crux of the problem, teams like LT, Marshall etc. somehow become "powerhouses" and thus we can justify/accept losing to them. LT lost to Old Dominion, a team that we lost to with half our defense injured (not an excuse, we still should have won).
We were outclassed by a former WAC team in year 8 of our coaches tenure. We can discuss how we should or should not expect to beat teams like aTm all day long, but we really have no business losing 76-31 to Louisiana Tech.
RE: What is your bowl preference? 
) will not affect my support for the team and players.