CSNbbs

I guess it's official.

HOUSTON -
Rice baseball coach Wayne Graham told FOX 26 Sports his career with the Owls will end at the conclusion of this season.

“The athletic director (Joe Karlgaard) has informed me that my contract will not be extended at the end of the 2018 season,” Graham said. “I am totally committed to this year’s team and will give everything I have to place this team in the postseason. I love teaching and coaching and have no plans to retire.

Graham, who has been the Owls baseball coach since 1991, is in the final year of his contract at Rice.

“Multiple sources have informed me that a former player has been campaigning for my job, and has solicited the aid of other former players,” Graham said. “This has been extremely hurtful to my wife and I since we have loved and supported all these players.

Graham did not identify who that former player is. He did say that situation has been going on for more than a year.

“Perhaps it is time to exit Rice,” Graham said. “My wife and I love Rice and what it has stood for. So we leave reluctantly. I’m making this public statement to Rice Nation so that the people we have served all these years know exactly how I feel.”

Graham, 82, led the Owls to the College World Series title in 2003.

On his watch Rice has been to the NCAA Tournament 23 consecutive years, the third-longest active streak in the nation behind Florida State and Cal-State Fullerton.

That remarkable streak is in jeopardy.

The Owls are currently in ninth place in Conference USA, with the top eight advancing to the C-USA postseason tournament.

Graham's Owls have won or shared the conference regular season or postseason tournament title 21 of the past 22 years.

Karlgaard declined comment when reached by FOX 26.

And now its official .

I hope now that the uncertainty is past, we do something special no matter how the rest of the season goes

Tough day but it is the right decision. Hopefully we will send Wayne out a winner the rest of the year. Then we need to get the hire right.

I'm completely in favor of this but Karlgaard looks totally incompetent in this.

Why is he letting Graham totally control the media narrative on this and refusing to comment?

Unconventional wisdom.

“Multiple sources have informed me that a former player has been campaigning for my job, and has solicited the aid of other former players,” Graham said. “This has been extremely hurtful to my wife and I since we have loved and supported all these players.”

Comes off as petty in my opinion. He really must not like Lance (only player I can think of who would be in the running)

(04-25-2018 12:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: [ -> ]I'm completely in favor of this but Karlgaard looks totally incompetent in this.

Why is he letting Graham totally control the media narrative on this and refusing to comment?

Unconventional wisdom.

I have to agree. Karlgaard should not be declining to comment at this point.

(04-25-2018 12:03 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: [ -> ]I'm completely in favor of this but Karlgaard looks totally incompetent in this.

Why is he letting Graham totally control the media narrative on this and refusing to comment?

Unconventional wisdom.

I have to agree. Karlgaard should not be declining to comment at this point.

What would he say?

He lost the chance to control the narrative. Now all he can do is issue a boilerplate denial and gratitude of service to Graham which isn't going to tilt the narrative at all.

He should have been in front of this a long time ago.

(04-25-2018 12:05 PM)Antarius Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:03 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:01 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote: [ -> ]I'm completely in favor of this but Karlgaard looks totally incompetent in this.

Why is he letting Graham totally control the media narrative on this and refusing to comment?

Unconventional wisdom.

I have to agree. Karlgaard should not be declining to comment at this point.

What would he say?

He lost the chance to control the narrative. Now all he can do is issue a boilerplate denial and gratitude of service to Graham which isn't going to tilt the narrative at all.

He should have been in front of this a long time ago.

He should issue a statement that there's no truth to the rumor that former players are conspiring to oust Graham.

But yes, Karlgaard is too enigmatic for his own good.

Quote:Kendall Rogers
‏@KendallRogers
.@UHCougarBB HC Todd Whitting told me it would be “just wrong” for #Rice to force Wayne Graham out before he’s ready. Said Graham was a legend in our game, etc.

BREAKING: I spoke with @RiceBaseball head coach Wayne Graham and he reiterates that he will not return after this season, and that his contract ends on July 1st. Tough day around #Rice to say the least.

Wayne Graham said he wants to see the #Rice program succeed when he leaves, and that he loved the idea that he was making so much of a difference with the @RiceBaseball program.

Wayne will not mention the former player’s name that people are talking about, but sources have told me for a while that Lance Berkman has been angling for the #Rice job. Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Joe Karlgaard.

The @RiceBaseball job is a terrific job. Premier academic institution, incredible access to talent and rich tradition. One guy I would look very hard at if I am Karlgaard: #TCU’s Kirk Saarloos. He checks a lot of boxes for me.

(04-25-2018 12:09 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]

Quote:Kendall Rogers
‏@KendallRogers
.@UHCougarBB HC Todd Whitting told me it would be “just wrong” for #Rice to force Wayne Graham out before he’s ready. Said Graham was a legend in our game, etc.

BREAKING: I spoke with @RiceBaseball head coach Wayne Graham and he reiterates that he will not return after this season, and that his contract ends on July 1st. Tough day around #Rice to say the least.

Wayne Graham said he wants to see the #Rice program succeed when he leaves, and that he loved the idea that he was making so much of a difference with the @RiceBaseball program.

Wayne will not mention the former player’s name that people are talking about, but sources have told me for a while that Lance Berkman has been angling for the #Rice job. Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Joe Karlgaard.

The @RiceBaseball job is a terrific job. Premier academic institution, incredible access to talent and rich tradition. One guy I would look very hard at if I am Karlgaard: #TCU’s Kirk Saarloos. He checks a lot of boxes for me.

Why all the commotion over a minor sport that doesn’t mean anything?

Who cares? Let’s talk Spring Game.

(04-25-2018 12:15 PM)BufflOwl Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:09 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]

Quote:Kendall Rogers
‏@KendallRogers
.@UHCougarBB HC Todd Whitting told me it would be “just wrong” for #Rice to force Wayne Graham out before he’s ready. Said Graham was a legend in our game, etc.

BREAKING: I spoke with @RiceBaseball head coach Wayne Graham and he reiterates that he will not return after this season, and that his contract ends on July 1st. Tough day around #Rice to say the least.

Wayne Graham said he wants to see the #Rice program succeed when he leaves, and that he loved the idea that he was making so much of a difference with the @RiceBaseball program.

Wayne will not mention the former player’s name that people are talking about, but sources have told me for a while that Lance Berkman has been angling for the #Rice job. Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Joe Karlgaard.

The @RiceBaseball job is a terrific job. Premier academic institution, incredible access to talent and rich tradition. One guy I would look very hard at if I am Karlgaard: #TCU’s Kirk Saarloos. He checks a lot of boxes for me.

Why all the commotion over a minor sport that doesn’t mean anything?

Who cares? Let’s talk Spring Game.

Kendall Rogers takes a particular interest in college baseball.

Commotion? Look out your window and tell if me if people are running around with their arms in the air.

(04-25-2018 12:15 PM)BufflOwl Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:09 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]

Quote:Kendall Rogers
‏@KendallRogers
.@UHCougarBB HC Todd Whitting told me it would be “just wrong” for #Rice to force Wayne Graham out before he’s ready. Said Graham was a legend in our game, etc.

BREAKING: I spoke with @RiceBaseball head coach Wayne Graham and he reiterates that he will not return after this season, and that his contract ends on July 1st. Tough day around #Rice to say the least.

Wayne Graham said he wants to see the #Rice program succeed when he leaves, and that he loved the idea that he was making so much of a difference with the @RiceBaseball program.

Wayne will not mention the former player’s name that people are talking about, but sources have told me for a while that Lance Berkman has been angling for the #Rice job. Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Joe Karlgaard.

The @RiceBaseball job is a terrific job. Premier academic institution, incredible access to talent and rich tradition. One guy I would look very hard at if I am Karlgaard: #TCU’s Kirk Saarloos. He checks a lot of boxes for me.

Why all the commotion over a minor sport that doesn’t mean anything?

Who cares? Let’s talk Spring Game.

Yawn.

Stop making ridiculous strawman arguments.

(04-25-2018 12:19 PM)Antarius Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:15 PM)BufflOwl Wrote: [ -> ]

(04-25-2018 12:09 PM)dragon2owl Wrote: [ -> ]

Quote:Kendall Rogers
‏@KendallRogers
.@UHCougarBB HC Todd Whitting told me it would be “just wrong” for #Rice to force Wayne Graham out before he’s ready. Said Graham was a legend in our game, etc.

BREAKING: I spoke with @RiceBaseball head coach Wayne Graham and he reiterates that he will not return after this season, and that his contract ends on July 1st. Tough day around #Rice to say the least.

Wayne Graham said he wants to see the #Rice program succeed when he leaves, and that he loved the idea that he was making so much of a difference with the @RiceBaseball program.

Wayne will not mention the former player’s name that people are talking about, but sources have told me for a while that Lance Berkman has been angling for the #Rice job. Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Joe Karlgaard.

The @RiceBaseball job is a terrific job. Premier academic institution, incredible access to talent and rich tradition. One guy I would look very hard at if I am Karlgaard: #TCU’s Kirk Saarloos. He checks a lot of boxes for me.

Why all the commotion over a minor sport that doesn’t mean anything?

Who cares? Let’s talk Spring Game.

Yawn.

Stop making ridiculous strawman arguments.

I'm not a strawman. I'm a real boy!

It is probably more to the story what Graham is saying but anyway should have been handled better by Dr K

https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-90/dp/B00K87MYFY

From my perspective, it’s Graham who isn’t handling this situation well. If he was on a roll, forcing him out might be questioned. But he’s 82 years old and the team is in a fairly dramatic, sustained downhill slide. He had a chance to retire to acclaim for all he accomplished. His attitude has tainted that. If I was Karlgaard, I’d stay quiet, too. [/i]

Putting a statement out like (paraphrasing here) "a former player is campaigning for my job" is not exactly selling the viewpoint that you want Rice to succeed once you're gone. If Lance IS campaigning for the job by making it known to people that he wants the job, it COULD very well be that Lance realizes that at 83 years old, Coach Graham won't be the coach very much longer and that he would go after it when its open. Its not irrational to think that way. If Coach Graham were 53 or 63, ok.....but at 83 one can certainly surmise that sooner rather than later, the job would be open.

Maybe, just maybe, Lance really wants the job and really wants to do great things for the program and Coach Graham isn't necessarily handling this the right way.

Man, a couple of you are kind of harsh. Graham has been at Rice for two decades and has won an unfathomable number of games; of course he is going to take this personally, even if releasing him is the right thing to do. I don't think he said anything close to out of line, not to mention that he is wishing the university nothing but the best for the future.

Best of luck to Wayne is his future endeavors. I wonder where he would go to coach now?

(04-25-2018 12:57 PM)uconnbaseball Wrote: [ -> ]Man, a couple of you are kind of harsh. Graham has been at Rice for two decades and has won an unfathomable number of games; of course he is going to take this personally, even if releasing him is the right thing to do. I don't think he said anything close to out of line, not to mention that he is wishing the university nothing but the best for the future.

Best of luck to Wayne is his future endeavors. I wonder where he would go to coach now?

Take over for Lance at Second Baptist?

(04-25-2018 12:02 PM)cr11owl Wrote: [ -> ]“Multiple sources have informed me that a former player has been campaigning for my job, and has solicited the aid of other former players,” Graham said. “This has been extremely hurtful to my wife and I since we have loved and supported all these players.”

Comes off as petty in my opinion. He really must not like Lance (only player I can think of who would be in the running)

...but it's precisely what has happened.