(05-11-2016 07:50 AM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Well-presented event and I felt proud of my University and our athletic programs.

Bingo

Austin event is this evening, 6:30 at Cover 3 downtown.

(05-11-2016 08:05 AM)chrisc Wrote:  Austin event is this evening, 6:30 at Cover 3 downtown.

Debbie and I will be there.

Sounds like a great time and thanks to all for the reports. Seeing as the Caravan doesn't make a stop down in the Valley, I won't be attending.

But I wonder if someone asked, or would ask, Dr. K for his thoughts on the possible conference realignment ongoing and what Rice's role in that will be. I would assume we would get a stock answer, or something very political, but I'd just be curious to hear what he has to say. Thanks!

(05-11-2016 09:24 AM)Pimpa Wrote:  Sounds like a great time and thanks to all for the reports. Seeing as the Caravan doesn't make a stop down in the Valley, I won't be attending.

But I wonder if someone asked, or would ask, Dr. K for his thoughts on the possible conference realignment ongoing and what Rice's role in that will be. I would assume we would get a stock answer, or something very political, but I'd just be curious to hear what he has to say. Thanks!

Along similar lines, I would be curious if Rice has considered, discussed, or studied the possibility of going independent in football. Not the results of those considerations, discussions, or studies!

(05-11-2016 09:34 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 09:24 AM)Pimpa Wrote:  Sounds like a great time and thanks to all for the reports. Seeing as the Caravan doesn't make a stop down in the Valley, I won't be attending.

But I wonder if someone asked, or would ask, Dr. K for his thoughts on the possible conference realignment ongoing and what Rice's role in that will be. I would assume we would get a stock answer, or something very political, but I'd just be curious to hear what he has to say. Thanks!

Along similar lines, I would be curious if Rice has considered, discussed, or studied the possibility of going independent in football. Not the results of those considerations, discussions, or studies!

I guess related to my and mrbig's proposed questions would be a question asking Dr. K about the purported decrease in television rights fees for CUSA and how that will impact Rice's operation of the athletic programs, as well as its long term prospects within CUSA itself.

(05-11-2016 11:03 AM)Pimpa Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 09:34 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 09:24 AM)Pimpa Wrote:  Sounds like a great time and thanks to all for the reports. Seeing as the Caravan doesn't make a stop down in the Valley, I won't be attending.

But I wonder if someone asked, or would ask, Dr. K for his thoughts on the possible conference realignment ongoing and what Rice's role in that will be. I would assume we would get a stock answer, or something very political, but I'd just be curious to hear what he has to say. Thanks!

Along similar lines, I would be curious if Rice has considered, discussed, or studied the possibility of going independent in football. Not the results of those considerations, discussions, or studies!

I guess related to my and mrbig's proposed questions would be a question asking Dr. K about the purported decrease in television rights fees for CUSA and how that will impact Rice's operation of the athletic programs, as well as its long term prospects within CUSA itself.

I would ask about "signature wins." Ask Bailiff and JK each to define exactly what they think one is and isn't, and is the concept different (a lower bar) for Rice than other national schools? Related: Will Rice ever get a signature win in football (or another one, depending on how broadly they might define it) under Bailiff at Rice, and are multiple signature wins asking too much?

Related to that, can we get into JK's past stated goal of Top 25 ranking in football without signature wins as defined by national audiences not affiliated with Rice?

Finally, exactly how much longer is the expected wait in JK's timeline for a Top 25 football ranking for Rice? How long does Bailiff expect Rice to wait to be ranked Top 25 in football?

Did anyone ask if relevance is a step function?

Just returned from Austin event.

Positives
Good turnout

JK/Coaches enthusiasm/optimism was evident and authentic; they looked like a team who supports each other

Lots of anecdotes about academics first, athletics second and pride around that with examples of kids, overall graduation rates, etc.

Rhodes very clear about wanting to play in NCAA tourney; thinking/aiming big and very excited about depth for next season

Langley excited about recruit from Ohio who has little WBB experience due to academic focus but highly recruited

DB saying Patterson Center helping FB recruiting

Good local media turnout doing interviews for Austin TV

Cons
Could be a pro to many but for Parliament, I will put it as a con. Perhaps other Caravan environments will be different; but for the tough questions mentioned on this thread; much more of a ‘rah rah’ event than any substance. Not a forum/event for any tough questions as most in crowd were just fans of Rice, not a Parliament crowd who wanted answers about the disappointment on FB, conference situation, changes coming, holding anyone accountable, etc.; more theme of ‘feel good about Rice, get involved, attend games, donate $, etc’ event.

JK very optimistic but light on new details on anything.

DB not sure about German’s shoulder and ability to throw; may be full-time WR but hinted that if he can throw, he will get look to be the QB

DB had knee replacement and was clearly not comfortable; hope he feels better.

DB a bit defensive when asked about meerkat but did say things would be more up tempo next year. (Maybe a pro but DB’s defensive response was a bit of a con)

Funny moment was someone asked...'we are 3-0 against Alabama, when do we get our next shot?' DB laughed and answered we have Baylor and Stanford this year so why not run the table and potentially get a shot?'

owl40, Bill....unfortunately I couldn't make it --- how many constituted a "good turnout" in Austin?

I'm notoriously bad at estimating crowds, but I estimated 40 or so people there. Debbie estimated 50.

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Not a forum/event for any tough questions as most in crowd were just fans of Rice, not a Parliament crowd who wanted answers about the disappointment on FB, conference situation, changes coming, holding anyone accountable, etc.; more theme of ‘feel good about Rice, get involved, attend games, donate $, etc’ event.

...which, after all, is the entire purpose of the Caravan. If the Caravan stops became mostly cranky or inquisitional in tone, they would cease to serve those purposes and would likely (and quite reasonably) be discontinued.

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Funny moment was someone asked...'we are 3-0 against Alabama, when do we get our next shot?' DB laughed and answered we have Baylor and Stanford this year so why not run the table and potentially get a shot?'

Good question and great answer!!

(05-11-2016 09:55 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Not a forum/event for any tough questions as most in crowd were just fans of Rice, not a Parliament crowd who wanted answers about the disappointment on FB, conference situation, changes coming, holding anyone accountable, etc.; more theme of ‘feel good about Rice, get involved, attend games, donate $, etc’ event.

...which, after all, is the entire purpose of the Caravan. If the Caravan stops became mostly cranky or inquisitional in tone, they would cease to serve those purposes and would likely (and quite reasonably) be discontinued.

On the other hand this is why some choose not to attend.

(05-12-2016 07:35 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 09:55 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Not a forum/event for any tough questions as most in crowd were just fans of Rice, not a Parliament crowd who wanted answers about the disappointment on FB, conference situation, changes coming, holding anyone accountable, etc.; more theme of ‘feel good about Rice, get involved, attend games, donate $, etc’ event.

...which, after all, is the entire purpose of the Caravan. If the Caravan stops became mostly cranky or inquisitional in tone, they would cease to serve those purposes and would likely (and quite reasonably) be discontinued.

On the other hand this is why some choose not to attend.

I doubt it's a net loss.

Interview with DB done by an Austin TV host. I assume it is from the Austin Caravan.

Liked what DB says, just wish it didn't take such a down year for him to have these realizations...

https://www.facebook.com/DennisdelaPenaF...377622625/

(05-12-2016 07:35 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 09:55 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Not a forum/event for any tough questions as most in crowd were just fans of Rice, not a Parliament crowd who wanted answers about the disappointment on FB, conference situation, changes coming, holding anyone accountable, etc.; more theme of ‘feel good about Rice, get involved, attend games, donate $, etc’ event.

...which, after all, is the entire purpose of the Caravan. If the Caravan stops became mostly cranky or inquisitional in tone, they would cease to serve those purposes and would likely (and quite reasonably) be discontinued.

On the other hand this is why some choose not to attend.

The main purpose of the Caravan is to keep the fan base engaged, not to provide a forum for the coaches to reveal their game plans or a confessional where they can repent and scourge themselves.

Bailiff spoke of changes, without details, except when he said they had changed the way of getting signals in that would be about 50% quicker. Rhoades plan is no secret, but he didn't list his starting five or his top subs.

I understand why the details would not be laid out for public consumption, as that would aid other teams in their prep. let them watch film or spend time in practice preparing for what "may" come.

There were several Parliamentarians there. Questions were asked about time outs, penalties, scheduling, etc, topics we find here. Apparently in Austin the meercat was asked about. If you want questions asked, attend. Otherwise, STFU. But don't expect a Dr. Phil show, with weeping and recriminations and promises to change one's life. It is not an intervention.

(05-11-2016 10:24 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  

(05-11-2016 08:47 PM)owl40 Wrote:  Funny moment was someone asked...'we are 3-0 against Alabama, when do we get our next shot?' DB laughed and answered we have Baylor and Stanford this year so why not run the table and potentially get a shot?'

Good question and great answer!!

Yes, why not?

I think one great goal for the Rice football program to set for itself would be to get our team into position where we can schedule Alabama a little farther down the road (on a 2 for 1, 3 for 1 or 4 for 1, whatever it takes) and then be in a position to make the game outcome in doubt one of those 3 or four or five contests (and perhaps steal one!)

A goal like that would set a tone and standard for whether we are achieving day-to day and season to season "enough." Boise worked themselves up into a position to defeat Oklahoma in a Big Bowl. Va Tech worked themselves up from nothing to the very top. TCU and Baylor worked from where Rice was up to being ranked in the very top of the Top25 where everyone interested in college football clearly can see then, including recruits, not at the bottom of the rankings among the also-rans. Go back and look up how they did it. Their records looked a bit different over the preceding seasons than ours.

(05-11-2016 09:34 PM)rice-76-03-06 Wrote:  I'm notoriously bad at estimating crowds, but I estimated 40 or so people there. Debbie estimated 50.

It was good to see you and Debbie Bill. Maybe see you at Reckling this weekend? Get the Austin contingent in the stands.

About 30 in San Antonio. It was a very nice event and kudos to David Darr for hosting.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk