Is there anybody out there worth pursuing (that might actually consider coming to Rice) that we should make a move earlier rather than later?

Will a continuation of the current free fall for another year irreparably damage the program?

A move definitely needs to occur after this season.

I don't think there is anybody who would be worth firing Graham midseason for.. You almost never see that in college baseball unless their has been some type of misconduct.

I like the Dallas Baptist coach, the SELa coach, and the Skip Johnson (at OU now), in that order. I'll pass on Berkman.

Karl Kuhn - pitching coach at Virginia. Since 2005 Virginia owns a 3.17 cumulative earned run average, second lowest in the nation.

Sarloos knows Texas pretty well, is a fantastic recruiter, and knows how to work the scholarship limit to his advantage.

SELA's coach. He graduated from Tulane with a degree in (I believe) bio-medical engineering. And he's obviously a good baseball coach. Would need to hire some assistants with Texas recruiting links. Still look forward to winning the CUSA tournament and keeping the streak of NCAA appearances alive.

Don't know much about him, but what about the San jac coach-arent they shutting down bb?

(04-02-2017 04:48 PM)mrbig Wrote:  SELA's coach. He graduated from Tulane with a degree in (I believe) bio-medical engineering. And he's obviously a good baseball coach. Would need to hire some assistants with Texas recruiting links. Still look forward to winning the CUSA tournament and keeping the streak of NCAA appearances alive.

Agree. Someone's going to snag Matt Riser from SELA sooner rather than later.

(04-02-2017 05:32 PM)HooCares Wrote:  

(04-02-2017 04:48 PM)mrbig Wrote:  SELA's coach. He graduated from Tulane with a degree in (I believe) bio-medical engineering. And he's obviously a good baseball coach. Would need to hire some assistants with Texas recruiting links. Still look forward to winning the CUSA tournament and keeping the streak of NCAA appearances alive.

Agree. Someone's going to snag Matt Riser from SELA sooner rather than later.

I'll agree on this one, as well. Probably the best choice available and the best fit. However, I don't see The OG leaving or being fired before his contract expires AFTER next season...and given all he has meant to the University and Rice athletics in general, we do owe him that much. Having said that, I'd love to see Dr. K convince Wayne to announce his retirement after the 2018 season immediately after this season, and for him to agree to the hiring of his heir apparent ASAP, serving as deputy head coach next season (at full head coach salary). This will allow continuity in both coaching and recruiting. (Though Stanford is having a great season thanks to an upperclass laden squad, the fact that they've yet to name Marquess' replacement, despite his announcement made 1 1/2 years ago, is going to do damage down the road.) Wayne may not like this set-up, but if I were Joe, I'd tell him this is the only acceptable option.

Rice Baseball is still a VERY highly coveted coaching destination, especially with the approved upcoming enhancements to Reckling. The RBI Club provides a very attractive source of incremental funding and a base of VERY active and ardent donors....we have a strong nucleus coming back next year (IMO, we will only lose Otto, Warren, Wunderlich and Dunlap), coupled with what may be our best recruiting class in several years. As frustrating and disheartening as this season has been-- and I have personally roadtripped to witness 18 of our first 29 games, I think the future looks bright.

(04-02-2017 06:09 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-02-2017 05:32 PM)HooCares Wrote:  

(04-02-2017 04:48 PM)mrbig Wrote:  SELA's coach. He graduated from Tulane with a degree in (I believe) bio-medical engineering. And he's obviously a good baseball coach. Would need to hire some assistants with Texas recruiting links. Still look forward to winning the CUSA tournament and keeping the streak of NCAA appearances alive.

Agree. Someone's going to snag Matt Riser from SELA sooner rather than later.

I'll agree on this one, as well. Probably the best choice available and the best fit. However, I don't see The OG leaving or being fired before his contract expires AFTER next season...and given all he has meant to the University and Rice athletics in general, we do owe him that much. Having said that, I'd love to see Dr. K convince Wayne to announce his retirement after the 2018 season immediately after this season, and for him to agree to the hiring of his heir apparent ASAP, serving as deputy head coach next season (at full head coach salary). This will allow continuity in both coaching and recruiting. (Though Stanford is having a great season thanks to an upperclass laden squad, the fact that they've yet to name Marquess' replacement, despite his announcement made 1 1/2 years ago, is going to do damage down the road.) Wayne may not like this set-up, but if I were Joe, I'd tell him this is the only acceptable option.

Rice Baseball is still a VERY highly coveted coaching destination, especially with the approved upcoming enhancements to Reckling. The RBI Club provides a very attractive source of incremental funding and a base of VERY active and ardent donors....we have a strong nucleus coming back next year (IMO, we will only lose Otto, Warren, Wunderlich and Dunlap), coupled with what may be our best recruiting class in several years. As frustrating and disheartening as this season has been-- and I have personally roadtripped to witness 18 of our first 29 games, I think the future looks bright.

We lose Sheppard too.

I don't see Otto getting drafted much higher than the 7th or 8th round after his performance this year.

This guy:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/articl...bout-trust

(04-02-2017 07:15 PM)WestGrayStreetOwl Wrote:  This guy:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/articl...bout-trust

Sorry, but I wouldn't opt for an assistant coach to replace Wayne.

(04-02-2017 07:23 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(04-02-2017 07:15 PM)WestGrayStreetOwl Wrote:  This guy:

http://www.ncaa.com/news/baseball/articl...bout-trust

Sorry, but I wouldn't opt for an assistant coach to replace Wayne.

Working out OK for MS State

I have stayed out of the baseball scrutiny to this point....just to add some further thought to the future of Rice BB and possibly football.....is it possible that the Rice braintrust sees baseball as overrated and costly for an academic institution of this caliber? In other words, let the athletics fizzle out and use the present real estate occupied by Reckling and the football stadium to support the economic income of the academic institution via income? Just a thought.

(04-02-2017 08:37 PM)justahooter Wrote:  I have stayed out of the baseball scrutiny to this point....just to add some further thought to the future of Rice BB and possibly football.....is it possible that the Rice braintrust sees baseball as overrated and costly for an academic institution of this caliber? In other words, let the athletics fizzle out and use the present real estate occupied by Reckling and the football stadium to support the economic income of the academic institution via income? Just a thought.

No I haven't seen anything to indicate that.

(04-02-2017 08:37 PM)justahooter Wrote:  I have stayed out of the baseball scrutiny to this point....just to add some further thought to the future of Rice BB and possibly football.....is it possible that the Rice braintrust sees baseball as overrated and costly for an academic institution of this caliber? In other words, let the athletics fizzle out and use the present real estate occupied by Reckling and the football stadium to support the economic income of the academic institution via income? Just a thought.

I think this is impossible, given the recent and ongoing infrastructure and facilities investments in both sports. And again, no way someone with JK's pedigree signs on as AD just to supervise the slow death of Rice athletics. I really believe there is a 0% chance that this is true, as much as I question recent decision-making (in football, particularly).

You mean close baseball and football, make rice a 10000 students university.

Berkman is the guy we should want and need. I have said this before...He and Pettitte would the best combination anywhere. They will be able to recruit anyone they want. You will not get that with any other hire.

Having anyone share the dugout with Wayne for 2018 will not work. It hasn't even worked at practices with former players trying to help out.

(04-03-2017 08:18 AM)DirtyBirds52 Wrote:  Berkman is the guy we should want and need. I have said this before...He and Pettitte would the best combination anywhere. They will be able to recruit anyone they want. You will not get that with any other hire.

How exactly are they the best option? Neither have more than 1 year of high school coaching experience. I'd love to have either one or both come on as assistant coaches, but neither is ready for a head coaching job at Rice at this time.

(04-03-2017 08:24 AM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Having anyone share the dugout with Wayne for 2018 will not work. It hasn't even worked at practices with former players trying to help out.

This would be an entirely different situation, Tiki; one in which Wayne acknowledges he's retiring and the heir apparent is already named and in the dugout. Wayne would have two choices-- accept it and make it work, or step aside a year early.