(06-22-2017 03:22 PM)mrbig Wrote:  I think the 5-year average of Rice's pseudo-RPI shows a pretty demonstrable and steady decline the last 4 years, below where Rice had been in the late 1990's when the team first started going to the CWS. And if the fall continues or accelerates, it starts to look like a cliff.

I hate graphs like that. Plot it with the Y axis showing all ~250 D1 teams, then tell me whether it's a cliff or more like noise.

Another factor is that Mike Taylor has a brother that is a pro scout that would steer players to Rice. Graham hired some good assistants that were very helpful in building the program. It is similar to the situation TCU is in now with some great assistants. Either one of those guys would be good to consider taking over.