RE: NT Post Game Thread
Apologies as 'tenured' was not the proper choice of words. It is not uncommon for Universities to find homes for ex-coaches/players that brought something to the University. He may not want one but I do think he has earned a home.
It is unfair and wrong to make the attacks personal on DB. We all may not like the results on-the-field over past couple years but I do think he is a great man. Unfortunately, he is just not the right person for the next chapter/level for Rice Football that align with the goals of Rice Athletics. He did stabilize a situation and there are many facts/accomplishments on his watch (e.g., nominated for a Bear Bryant Award, Bowl Appearances, Conference Championship, no monkey business, etc, etc.).
On the field last night, it was maddening once again to see us come out for the fourth straight game solid for the first part of the game then to see a bad football team make adjustments and we did not adjust to their adjustments.
In all four games this year, we have come out of the tunnel in the first quarter ready-to-play with a gameplan that had initial success. For those on Parliament that like to blame 'preparation' as the issue, i would disagree that has been the problem this year. However, that initial success has quickly faded in all games and our in-game coaching adjustments are not there and then the basic fundamentals of throwing, running right angles, catching, and tackling disappear. It can get masked for a period of time given how hard the kids play, but eventually gets exposed/gashed for big plays. If NT were not a bad football team and did not have their own penalties/gifts and poor execution it would have been a 3 TD loss after coming out strong 17-0.
What also appears to have really regressed and lag effect now showing on-the-field is the recruiting. All of the NFL guys of years past plus solid All-CUSA guys like McH, CC, Bradshaw, Raines, etc. could make plays. We don't have those guys on-the-field anymore and now talent level is being exposed even in the depths of C-USA.
That is what made me start the initial post game post on the thread....lack of hope. If we lose to NT b/c of young guys who are really talented and you see glimpses of the talent but they just need the seasoning, then you can be patient and have some hope. That was last year as we rationalized all the young guys playing and EZF creating some hope this year for a 7-win season and competitive in the other games. Now a year later, it just looks like we are out-coached with in-game adjustments, out-talented/no playmakers, and other teams have better fundamentals of blocking, tackling, throwing, etc..
Maybe the ghost/legend of Philip Gaines in Memphis can come back and lead us to 7 W's but not betting on that...hope has faded and other than a leadership change, not sure where hope is going to come from...
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