(10-01-2017 05:51 PM)temchugh Wrote: Maybe he will start a trend of CUSA coaches stepping down after losing to Army.
Rice could lose to Army by 42 Points and Bailiff would keep his job. JK is on record saying he doesn't favor midseason firings. Maybe after the end of the season.
From the November 29, 2016 "Houston Comical"
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It's bowl or bust in 2017
Before the 2015 season, Bailiff seemed to have turned a corner with a Rice program needing resuscitation when he arrived in 2007. The Owls made four bowls in seven years and won a Conference USA title in 2013. The 2008 Texas Bowl victory was the first bowl win for the program since 1954. After that 2013 season, Bailiff signed a five-year contract extension, which ends in 2018.
All the winning seems like a distant memory. Bailiff said he and Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard met Monday and established a plan to turn things around.
"We plotted a path to the future of what I need to do to improve this program," Bailiff said. "I'm responsible for this program. Everything begins and ends with me."
The plan starts with finding a way to lighten the injury report. Much like the 2015 season, 2016 saw the injuries pile up for Rice. The Owls used eight combinations on the offensive line, and at one point, there wasn't a senior on the defensive line's two-deep list.
Bailiff said that's where the optimism lies, however. Rice isn't losing any key seniors in the trenches and has talents like freshman receiver Kylen Granson and sophomore running back Sam Stewart returning.
There will be new blood at quarterback, too. Rice will have sophomores J.T. Granato and Jackson Tyner and redshirt freshman Sam Glaesmann competing for the starting spot. Tyner impressed in a season-ending 44-24 win over UTEP.
Bailiff expects Rice to have the explosive offense and lockdown defense it has been missing the last two years.
"I have full intentions of being in a bowl game next season," he said.
Karlgaard said earlier in the season that he didn't favor midseason firings and wanted to wait to see how 2016 finished. A comeback win at Charlotte and the home rout of UTEP somewhat lessened the sting of the early-season woes.
Time to recruit
"While we are all disappointed with the results, there is a plan to turn things around under his leadership next season, and I have made the expectations for 2017 very clear to coach," Karlgaard said in a statement released by the school. "After two straight seasons without a winning record, we need to acknowledge that we are not meeting an acceptable competitive standard for this university.
"Our ambitions remain very high. We expect to be competitive in every game and to compete for conference championships. When nearly two-thirds of college football programs participate in bowl games every year - including slots for half of Conference USA members - bowl games should be a regular part of our seasons."
Bailiff said the next step is the recruiting trail, where his assistants are now. Bailiff will be on the road Wednesday in that regard. The Owls have 13 pledges to date for their 2017 class.
http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/r...643637.php