(01-29-2015 05:52 PM)Gravy Owl Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:39 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  At any rate, I doubt that Nichols state woul be likely to happen today.

Hard to say. I didn't think it was likely in 2007.

It is unlikely, but ODU happened last year, and I sure as hell didn't expect that.

(01-29-2015 05:56 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 05:52 PM)Gravy Owl Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:39 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  At any rate, I doubt that Nichols state woul be likely to happen today.

Hard to say. I didn't think it was likely in 2007.

It is unlikely, but ODU happened last year, and I sure as hell didn't expect that.

Don't forget that they beat La Tech.

Talk about a boom or bust team this past year.

(01-29-2015 06:04 PM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 05:56 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 05:52 PM)Gravy Owl Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:39 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  At any rate, I doubt that Nichols state woul be likely to happen today.

Hard to say. I didn't think it was likely in 2007.

It is unlikely, but ODU happened last year, and I sure as hell didn't expect that.

Don't forget that they beat La Tech.

Talk about a boom or bust team this past year.

True. LT lost to NW State also. So they were hot and cold too

Wagner Seahawks NOW listed as our first opponent for 2015 on FBschedules.com

(01-29-2015 05:52 PM)Gravy Owl Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 01:39 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  I'm not saying we should have lost.

But I do believe there is tendency for our fans to be overly dismissive of both our G5 opponents and anyone else we feel 'entitled' to be better than, or superior to. It is most pronounced in academic matters, but it crops up athletically as well.

I don't think it's a question of entitlement, more a recognition of the advantages that FBS programs have over FCS programs (much like we recognize the disadvantages of our position when we play UT or A&M).

We don't need 8 years of hindsight to see that Webb was a quality player. That was obvious at the time. But that tells us very little about their overall team.

BTW our 2007-8 teams had 5 future NFLers, plus an extraordinary college QB. And an OC who became a hot commodity.

(01-29-2015 01:39 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  At any rate, I doubt that Nichols state woul be likely to happen today.

Hard to say. I didn't think it was likely in 2007.

Fair.

But I think Jonathon's game scores, strength of schedule ratings, and median performance data for the last 10 years is at least a very strong indication, that a Nichols State type game has been increasingly less likely every year since 2007, and very unlikely the past several years.

That said, every year we are going to have what will be "the low game score for the year" by definition. Nothing says it couldn't happen against an FCS school.

To quasi-paraphrase Darrell Royal ("Hey, my 3rd-stringers have mamas in the stands too"):

Hey, FCS teams want signature wins too!

(I.E., the Wagner board had their version of Walt Greenberg hyperventilating in multiple posts from the minute the game was announced on their schedule)

Can you give me a link to the Wagner board?

If this is true, the only positive I can see us getting out of this is an easy win and a tune up for the Texas game. At least we won't go in without not having played a game. I hope a lot of underclassmen and backups get some meaningful playing time.

Speaking of Texas, I think this may be our best chance in a long time to pull off an upset over them. It's a very small chance IMO, as they'll be improved as well, but at least it's a chance. We definitely should be able to compete against them, if nothing else.

(01-29-2015 07:09 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Can you give me a link to the Wagner board?

Yes, link, please?
Guess i need to set up some links and info on ricefootball.net.

(01-29-2015 07:09 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Can you give me a link to the Wagner board?

LOL
I was posting tongue in cheek about the Wagner board. Just ribbing Walt about signature wins because it has been the topic du jour around here. Nothing serious (or mean-spirited ) was intended

Drawing casual fans will be tough as the Aggies and Toad are playing at NRG that day.

Hmmm. I wonder which match up has more curb appeal to the casual fan?

There are two positives from this: easy win and the MOB can have a field day with the whole Wagner spiel. Godspeed to our marketing team to try and get any person that doesn't already bleed blue and gray to come to this game.

(01-29-2015 06:40 PM)owlaggie Wrote:  Wagner Seahawks NOW listed as our first opponent for 2015 on FBschedules.com

Here's a direct link: http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-15/conf-...hedule.php

(01-29-2015 09:00 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  There are two positives from this: easy win and the MOB can have a field day with the whole Wagner spiel. Godspeed to our marketing team to try and get any person that doesn't already bleed blue and gray to come to this game.

I don't think that we have progressed to the point that we can say... 7 months before the season starts... That ANY game will be an easy win. I wish that was the case.
Agree with the market crank up. First game of the season. Holiday weekend. New students on campus. Three straight bowl appearances for the team. Etc etc. Lots to work with there from a marketing standpoint.... Just don't mention the opponent by name.

(01-29-2015 09:55 PM)greyowl72 Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 09:00 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  Godspeed to our marketing team to try and get any person that doesn't already bleed blue and gray to come to this game.

Lots to work with there from a marketing standpoint.... Just don't mention the opponent by name.

How about a billboard that says:

"Rice to hostNEC, notSuper Bowl Champion Seahawks!"

(01-29-2015 07:39 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  

(01-29-2015 07:09 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Can you give me a link to the Wagner board?

Yes, link, please?
Guess i need to set up some links and info on ricefootball.net.

I haven't found any substantial fan forum/message board yet. And nearly all Wagner fan sites I have found are pretty bleak and desolate:

There's a Wagner Seahawks Football information page on Facebook, but it only has "32 likes" and no news or posts.

The Wagner Seahawk (singular) Facebook page looks like an official, school-run page with posts by the SID, but few comments. It has more thatn 3,000 "likes", though, so it does have an audience. It's all basketball at this time.

How about this "Northeast Conference Football Forum" ... with one inscrutable (spam?) post from last April.

Here's the official Wagner football webpage.

Staten Island Live, published by the Staten Island Advance newspaper, appears to have the most independent news of Wagner Sports.

Recent stories about football include November articles about the Seahawks getting

• five players on the All-NEC team,,
• retirement of their long-time (34 years) football coach, Walt Hameline (he'll be AD); and
• the ascension of a young (33-year old) assistant, Jason Houghtaling, who was Wagner OC in 2011-2, OC at Cornell in 2013 and back at Wagner last year as associate head coach/offensive coordinator.
  

Fan Appreciation Day. All general admission tickets are$5. Get people inside the gates to storm concessions. Invite some high school bands to play with the MOB. Fireworks are a must. Flyover? Topless strippers? Whatever it takes. Good luck Marketing Dept.

(01-29-2015 11:52 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Fan Appreciation Day. All general admission tickets are$5. Get people inside the gates to storm concessions. Invite some high school bands to play with the MOB. Fireworks are a must. Flyover? Topless strippers? Whatever it takes. Good luck Marketing Dept.

Holiday weekend is the big problem. Play it on Friday night? Because now it just looks insignificant, and like a possible drag on season ticket sales. Wagner and another string of 11 am kicks? That's giving me pause on renewing the season tickets.

Wagner??

Makes me long for New Mexico State.

Remind me again what happened to bring us to this unfortunate circumstance. Does it somehow tie back to a piece of Greenspan incompetence?

I don't want to believe this is a deliberate action by Karlgaard.

And not as if we need any fuel, but if we win by less than 21 the Bailiff discussions will get off to an early start next year.

(01-30-2015 07:47 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  And not as if we need any fuel, but if we win by less than 21 the Bailiff discussions will get off to an early start next year.

You are assuming that they will end at some point....

(01-30-2015 07:47 AM)MemOwl Wrote:  Wagner??

I don't want to believe this is a deliberate action by Karlgaard.

Then don't. Relentless negativity is a choice.

Wagner is also playing BYU next season, by the way.