(10-25-2017 12:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 11:48 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 11:04 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 10:27 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 08:20 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  You're joking right? LaTech doesn't want it? They don't want to get to .500, and get within two games of bowl eligibility with 4 winnable games remaining? You do realize they've played the hardest part of their schedule, right?

You should pull for them on Saturday.

Rather than providing a snarky reply, why don't you answer my questions? IMO, you made a ridiculous comment and I called you on it. No question LaTech has fallen from the Top 50 - 75 team they had been the previous 2 - 3 years, but they're still significantly better than we are and, unlike us, they've been competitive in their losses against quality teams.

My predictions are never correct. You should be thanking me.
But seriously, I've never met anyone so opposed to RIce football optimism before. I hope for wins every week, and I see a path to a win almost every week. I think it can happen this weekend. Louisiana Tech is down. They just lost at home. Who really knows their psyche right now? They're used to destroying Rice, so it's plausible they feel they'll do it again just by showing up and going through the motions. On the other side, we're still playing hard and we're at home. We want to win, especially against these guys, and we're way overdue for some lucky breaks. If nothing else, the weather is supposed to be beautiful. Who can have a problem with that?

Once again, you avoided answering my original questions in response to your previous post? You claim we're fighting and still playing hard, despite the fact that we're 1-6, with our only win coming against the 2nd worst ranked team in all of the FBS division, and having been blown out in all but two of our 7 games so far....yet LaTech is down and taking us lightly, despite their 3-4 record, and still very much bowl-eligible? Yes, LaTech lost it's last two games to UAB and USM-- both decent teams; one by a late blocked FG (which resulted in a 1-point loss) and the other at home in double overtime. Do you honestly think we'd be able to play that close with either UAB or USM? They also played competitive in two losses to SEC teams (USC, Miss St.). They're averaging better than 24 points per game. We're averaging 10 points per game, and have scored more than 14 points only once-- against the 2nd worst team in all of the FBS division. Take the UTEP game away, and we're averaging under 8 points per game, and that includes games against a number of teams with lousy defenses (e.g., Pitt, Army). La Tech scored 21 vs. Miss St. and 16 on the road at S.Carolina-- two teams with considerablly better defenses than Rice.

Yes, I'm down on the program and down on Bailiff, and for good reason...but I'm being realistic in my assessment. I don't expect LaTech to blow us out-- and certainly hope they don't, but they should certainly be favored by more than a TD. IMO, the current 11-point betting spread is pretty spot on. LaTech 27 - 16.

Enough. Just have a good day buddy.

(10-25-2017 01:10 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  " You claim we're fighting and still playing hard, despite the fact that we're 1-6,"

Walt, bad results do not necessarily indicate lack of effort.

I don't think anyone is questioning the players efforts. Womac pretty much proved that.

That said, our coaching staff seems to be handing out knives for our guys to take to a gun fight. And I think Walt's point is, effort with a knife isn't going to stop a bullet. That and the fact that somehow assuming we want it more than LaTech is a stretch at best; why would LaTech not want the win?

(10-25-2017 01:12 PM)Ourland Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 12:54 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 11:48 AM)Ourland Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 11:04 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 10:27 AM)Ourland Wrote:  You should pull for them on Saturday.

Rather than providing a snarky reply, why don't you answer my questions? IMO, you made a ridiculous comment and I called you on it. No question LaTech has fallen from the Top 50 - 75 team they had been the previous 2 - 3 years, but they're still significantly better than we are and, unlike us, they've been competitive in their losses against quality teams.

My predictions are never correct. You should be thanking me.
But seriously, I've never met anyone so opposed to RIce football optimism before. I hope for wins every week, and I see a path to a win almost every week. I think it can happen this weekend. Louisiana Tech is down. They just lost at home. Who really knows their psyche right now? They're used to destroying Rice, so it's plausible they feel they'll do it again just by showing up and going through the motions. On the other side, we're still playing hard and we're at home. We want to win, especially against these guys, and we're way overdue for some lucky breaks. If nothing else, the weather is supposed to be beautiful. Who can have a problem with that?

Once again, you avoided answering my original questions in response to your previous post? You claim we're fighting and still playing hard, despite the fact that we're 1-6, with our only win coming against the 2nd worst ranked team in all of the FBS division, and having been blown out in all but two of our 7 games so far....yet LaTech is down and taking us lightly, despite their 3-4 record, and still very much bowl-eligible? Yes, LaTech lost it's last two games to UAB and USM-- both decent teams; one by a late blocked FG (which resulted in a 1-point loss) and the other at home in double overtime. Do you honestly think we'd be able to play that close with either UAB or USM? They also played competitive in two losses to SEC teams (USC, Miss St.). They're averaging better than 24 points per game. We're averaging 10 points per game, and have scored more than 14 points only once-- against the 2nd worst team in all of the FBS division. Take the UTEP game away, and we're averaging under 8 points per game, and that includes games against a number of teams with lousy defenses (e.g., Pitt, Army). La Tech scored 21 vs. Miss St. and 16 on the road at S.Carolina-- two teams with considerablly better defenses than Rice.

Yes, I'm down on the program and down on Bailiff, and for good reason...but I'm being realistic in my assessment. I don't expect LaTech to blow us out-- and certainly hope they don't, but they should certainly be favored by more than a TD. IMO, the current 11-point betting spread is pretty spot on. LaTech 27 - 16.

Enough. Just have a good day buddy.

Sorry if facts and reasoned logic annoy you.

(10-25-2017 01:12 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Enough. Just have a good day buddy.

I do not know what is more scary, that Afflicted comes back again and again and again... or that there are TWO different afflicteds...

But.... But ... But.. to get to 27-16... Does that mean Womac has a fumble 6? Surely, you're not supposing the offense score 16? with nine pass attempts....

useless and fruitless talk. let's just play the game.

Unless, of course, you have money on it. Then this is all an attempt to get others to bet the same way, for some obscure reason.

(10-25-2017 01:15 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:12 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Enough. Just have a good day buddy.

I do not know what is more scary, that Afflicted comes back again and again and again... or that there are TWO different afflicteds...

Maybe if you keep saying his name he'll reappear.

Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

(10-25-2017 01:50 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  useless and fruitless talk. let's just play the game.

Unless, of course, you have money on it. Then this is all an attempt to get others to bet the same way, for some obscure reason.

Obviously the game will be played.

Whats the point of having a message board? Isn't all of it useless and fruitless? Yet you're here?

Always for the Owls but don't see them pulling this one out.

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

(10-25-2017 01:14 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:10 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  " You claim we're fighting and still playing hard, despite the fact that we're 1-6,"

Walt, bad results do not necessarily indicate lack of effort.

I don't think anyone is questioning the players efforts. Womac pretty much proved that.

That said, our coaching staff seems to be handing out knives for our guys to take to a gun fight. And I think Walt's point is, effort with a knife isn't going to stop a bullet. That and the fact that somehow assuming we want it more than LaTech is a stretch at best; why would LaTech not want the win?

I'm sure Louisiana Tech does want the win, but I wonder how excited they could be to come down to Houston and play Rice right now. There's something very wrong with a team with that degree of talent to be struggling the way it has, especially the last two weeks. Maybe they've had a lot of injuries. It's safe to assume their season has been a disappointment. On the other hand, we have to win out. We know how impossible that sounds, but young men on a football team for sure think they can do it. Perhaps Saturday will be perfect mixture of LT playing poorly, and Rice playing well enough to win. Or perhaps everyone else will be right and Rice is soundly beaten. It's only a harmless prediction in the end. My intention isn't to upset anyone with it.

(10-25-2017 02:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

Thank God! One!

(10-25-2017 02:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

Agree 100% and this is no different than when someone is accused of being against a particularly war policy that you must not be concerned about the soldiers.

(10-25-2017 02:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

Even after getting blown out on a Saturday, usually by Wednesday my optimism begins to return. This season is a bit different. I haven’t seen a whole lot to be hopeful about.
I think La Tech is having... for them.. a down year. So, maybe we can squeak out a victory. But I think for it to happen it will have to be a combination of the best game we play all season plus the worst game LaTech plays all season.
But, hey... it could happen.
Rice 17 La Tech 16

(10-25-2017 02:24 PM)Ourland Wrote:  I'm sure Louisiana Tech does want the win, but I wonder how excited they could be to come down to Houston and play Rice right now.

They've got a realistic chance at a bowl game, much more so if they beat Rice. Why wouldn't they be motivated?

(10-25-2017 02:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

And I will be sitting behind him. We are due to have a win if for no other reason than to confuse us about what to talk about on the post game walk to the parking lot.

(10-25-2017 06:36 PM)austinowl73 Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 02:09 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  

(10-25-2017 01:54 PM)Ourland Wrote:  Just out of curiosity, are there any fans here who pull for the team?

Pulling for the Owls does not equal not calling out problems that the coaching staff, AD, University Administration and BOT have allowed to occur and continue within the football program. I'd argue not doing so is worse than blindly saying "go team".

And yes I'll be there Saturday pulling for the Owls as I have done for the last 44 years.

And I will be sitting behind him. We are due to have a win if for no other reason than to confuse us about what to talk about on the post game walk to the parking lot.

Well that would be fun!