Our next discussion involves Wagner @ Rice. For those of you unfamiliar with the Wagner Seahawks, they are from Staten Island in New York City, and play in the FCS Northeast Conference. They are not completely unfamiliar to C-USA teams as they played FIU last year in Miami and the Panthers thumped them pretty hard in a 34-3 win over the Seahawks. They finished last year's season at 7-4.

This is not one of those FCS match-ups that I like to see. I'm not a big fan of them in any regard, unless they match in-state, or nearby, colleges. This certainly doesn't fit that criteria, but it does present a nice tune-up game for the Owls.

I think Driphus Jackson will kick start the offense well, and this is a good game to get a relatively unseasoned defense off to a good start. The only danger might be in looking ahead to the Texas game the following week.

But otherwise, I see a blow out win in Houston. Rice wins 35-7.

I don't think any Rice fans are all that happy with this scheduling either, but it was the result of unique circumstances, not a pattern with us. That being said, I wouldn't mind an easy win to get things rolling. Last few years we've had some tough opponents early and we didn't look ready. Maybe we improved over the year, maybe the competition got worse, maybe both...but I like the idea of getting things working in a game situation before we play Texas and Baylor

I pretty much agree with 07. I worry a little about it being a trap game for us. We have on occasion played down to our opponents. I would just note that Texas also has a tune up game...against Notre Dame.

Rice wins by 4-5 TDs

The Owls should have no worries of any kind. Rice wins going away with starters on the bench most of the second half.

Wagner also played FAU very tough 3 years ago (FAU won 7-3). But that was back in FAU's days in Sunbelt.

Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

(06-29-2015 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

The Parliament might not take kindly to 10 Wagner points, especially if they score a touchdown early on blown secondary coverage.

Rice wins big, no question. Wagner is a not very good FCS school that got smashed by FIU last year. That says enough!

49-0 Rice wins in a shutout. You'll have chances to make it 56-0 but your coach keeps it classy.

(06-29-2015 06:26 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

The Parliament might not take kindly to 10 Wagner points, especially if they score a touchdown early on blown secondary coverage.

The Parliament wouldn't take kindly to just 3 Wagner points and any less than 60 Rice points.

(06-29-2015 08:51 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 06:26 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

The Parliament might not take kindly to 10 Wagner points, especially if they score a touchdown early on blown secondary coverage.

The Parliament wouldn't take kindly to just 3 Wagner points and any less than 60 Rice points.

60 is the minimum. I won't be truly happy without triple digits.

(06-30-2015 07:11 AM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 08:51 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 06:26 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

The Parliament might not take kindly to 10 Wagner points, especially if they score a touchdown early on blown secondary coverage.

The Parliament wouldn't take kindly to just 3 Wagner points and any less than 60 Rice points.

60 is the minimum. I won't be truly happy without triple digits.

The most interesting part of the game will be our halftime tribute to Wagner and his operas. And whether our PA announcer refers to their school as Wagner or Vagner.

(06-30-2015 09:06 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  The most interesting part of the game will be our halftime tribute to Wagner and his operas. And whether our PA announcer refers to their school as Wagner or Vagner.

Do we still have time for Brock to brew us a special Saint Arnold for the game?

(06-29-2015 08:51 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 06:26 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(06-29-2015 04:12 PM)Afflicted Wrote:  Those Wagner guys are gonna melt in that heat. Rice wins 45 -10.

The Parliament might not take kindly to 10 Wagner points, especially if they score a touchdown early on blown secondary coverage.

The Parliament wouldn't take kindly to just 3 Wagner points and any less than 60 Rice points.

IF the blowout happens, then Bailiff will have a dilemma (at least if he wants to avoid being vilified on the Parliament)...

Does he send in the reserves, thus making happy those who want to see the reserves, especially the freshmen, on the field getting PT?

Or does he leave in the starters, thus making happy those who want to see big scores being run up, pedal to the metal all the way?

Only at Rice does a big win become a lose-lose situation.

Of course, if this situation does not manifest, then he loses, even if he wins. 31-14 Rice is a loss for bailiff.

My personal thought is that he needs to leave in the starters a long time, not to RUTS, but to prepare them for Texas the next week, but I think he will call off the dogs and anger everybody.

I'm sticking with 222-0 here.

Everybody gets PT but we can roll four lines "hockey style" to keep everyone on their toes and head in the game.

(07-14-2015 06:44 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I'm sticking with 222-0 here.

Everybody gets PT but we can roll four lines "hockey style" to keep everyone on their toes and head in the game.

In an unsportsmanlike and un-Bailifflike fit, Bailiff runs up the score, final 223-0. Rice covers.

Seriously, this is a trap game. Trap games always worry me.

(07-14-2015 07:34 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-14-2015 06:44 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I'm sticking with 222-0 here.

Everybody gets PT but we can roll four lines "hockey style" to keep everyone on their toes and head in the game.

In an unsportsmanlike and un-Bailifflike fit, Bailiff runs up the score, final 223-0. Rice covers.

Seriously, this is a trap game. Trap games always worry me.

Hopefully we're on the winning end of the score. I would be happy if we only win by one point...
...
...on average per PLAY

(07-14-2015 07:34 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(07-14-2015 06:44 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  I'm sticking with 222-0 here.

Everybody gets PT but we can roll four lines "hockey style" to keep everyone on their toes and head in the game.

In an unsportsmanlike and un-Bailifflike fit, Bailiff runs up the score, final 223-0. Rice covers.

Seriously, this is a trap game. Trap games always worry me.

1. How in the world is the opening game of the season (with all the time in the world to prepare for it) a "trap game". By most people's definition, a trap game is one after a "big", emotional win and prior to a rivalry type game or one against a top opponent. Though the team might be looking ahead to the Texas game, they will not be coming back from any game; let alone an emotionally packed game.

2. Per your previous comment, Rice should have been preparing for the Texas game ever since the kickoff of Spring practice. No way you risk injury or fatigue against a weak Wagner team. Once you have the game comfortably in hand (certainly by mid-3Q), you take out the key starters.

3. Bailiff NEVER runs up the score. Once we have a comfortable lead (3+ TDs), he will call off the dogs by both going ultra conservative on offense and putting in subs. The Parliament will not react negatively as the Wagner game means nothing; it's the Texas game that is the one we're targeting (especially since most of us don't believe we have a chance in hell against Baylor on the road the following week). We're obviously not going to run our full playbook against Wagner, as we want to minimize UT's ability to scout us