(06-15-2018 09:40 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ultimately, I don’t think this hire totally alienates anyone from the program.

If JK had gone out and hired someone like Mosiello, I (and many others) beyond the 50 former players would have lost all faith and hope in Rice Athletics. That would’ve been a huge problem for him.

At least with Bragga, even if you would’ve preferred Berkman (as I did), you can “see where he was coming from.” In a situation like that, if Bragga has a good season next year or even the year after, most of the animosity between factions is smoothed over.

JMHO.

Popping back in briefly because several friends texted me about this. I do not think this mattered that much - lets be honest, Rice Athletics is on par with Zimbabwe's elections and their ilk, in terms of legitimacy of operation. As a result, double digit fans walking away doesn't really change the paradigm - the hegemony has run thousands to hundreds to tens now - losing a handful more matters none.

Heck, considering Bryan Colangelos' wife equivalent has been allowed to run rampant here disparaging players and supporters alike for years unchecked shows exactly what kind of banana republic is really in charge.

Best way to summarize this is, no one is happy, no one is unhappy and the money spend vanishes for no return. Almost like how Mswati III runs thing. Simply put, Burn baby burn.

#Disco inferno.

(06-15-2018 10:50 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 09:40 PM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Ultimately, I don’t think this hire totally alienates anyone from the program.

If JK had gone out and hired someone like Mosiello, I (and many others) beyond the 50 former players would have lost all faith and hope in Rice Athletics. That would’ve been a huge problem for him.

At least with Bragga, even if you would’ve preferred Berkman (as I did), you can “see where he was coming from.” In a situation like that, if Bragga has a good season next year or even the year after, most of the animosity between factions is smoothed over.

JMHO.

Popping back in briefly because several friends texted me about this. I do not think this mattered that much - lets be honest, Rice Athletics is on par with Zimbabwe's elections and their ilk, in terms of legitimacy of operation. As a result, double digit fans walking away doesn't really change the paradigm - the hegemony has run thousands to hundreds to tens now - losing a handful more matters none.

Heck, considering Bryan Colangelos' wife equivalent has been allowed to run rampant here disparaging players and supporters alike for years unchecked shows exactly what kind of banana republic is really in charge.

Best way to summarize this is, no one is happy, no one is unhappy and the money spend vanishes for no return. Almost like how Mswati III runs thing. Simply put, Burn baby burn.

#Disco inferno.

Wow tanq...that is an impressive outburst. Let's wait at least wait until week 1 of CFB to burn the house down. Also, I don't think JK or the guy from princess bride is an administrator here, so we will just have to deal with the busy bodies in our own ways.

(06-15-2018 10:58 PM)flash3200 Wrote:  Wow tanq...that is an impressive outburst. Let's wait at least wait until week 1 of CFB to burn the house down. Also, I don't think JK or the guy from princess bride is an administrator here, so we will just have to deal with the busy bodies in our own ways.

Sorry, tanq has nothing to do with this. I'll accept the compliment for impressive, but definitely not tanq ( I wish I was as eloquent)

Oh man. I whiffed on that one. Too many cervezas while message board posting on a phone. I, as well as Bragga, got a new job recently so my attention span has been greatly attenuated when it comes to message board activity.

Edit: Does anyone else think it was a small-time move by JK by implying that the coach would be announced prior to the CWS and/or Super Regional round when we were hiring a guy from a supposed front runner for the Supers and a outside but not longshot for Omaha? Why not give your boy some confidence on day 1 and say we locked up someone who is going to Omaha (and then just announce early)? Bad form on that one.

(06-15-2018 09:35 PM)Minnewaska Owl Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 09:31 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

Quote:Mark Berman
‏@MarkBermanFox26
56m56 minutes ago
More
New @RiceBaseball Coach Matt Bragga (@BraggaMatt) with a message to Owls fans: "We're going to get after it on the field.This is going to be 1 of the toughest,most passionate, most energetic teams in the country..This is still in my opinion 1 of the elite programs in the country"

Quote:Mark Berman
‏@MarkBermanFox26
1h1 hour ago
More
Matt Bragga (@BraggaMatt) on getting the @RiceBaseball job: "Oh my goodness, what an incredible opportunity, a program with an incredible, storied history. Wayne Graham did a marvelous job. I'm just thrilled to be the new head coach for Rice." @TNTech_Baseball

I do like the sound of that.

Coachspeak?

(06-15-2018 05:59 PM)Baconator Wrote:  Mark Berman has a video interview with JK on his Twitter.

https://twitter.com/markbermanfox26/stat...20545?s=21

JK states (paraphrasing) that D1 head coaching experience was a requirement for this job.

Thanks for the link, I watched the interview. But your paraphrase is completely inaccurate.

(06-16-2018 06:53 AM)JOwl Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 05:59 PM)Baconator Wrote:  Mark Berman has a video interview with JK on his Twitter.

https://twitter.com/markbermanfox26/stat...20545?s=21

JK states (paraphrasing) that D1 head coaching experience was a requirement for this job.

Thanks for the link, I watched the interview. But your paraphrase is completely inaccurate.

You are correct. I rewatched with sound up. The interviewer asked “...college experience, or had coached at the college level.” The first time I watched I heard, “...a head coach st the college level...”

Apologies.

The Chronicle article this morning, with numerous quotes from JK...

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/...999047.php

(06-16-2018 07:22 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  The Chronicle article this morning, with numerous quotes from JK...

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/...999047.php

This was a reassuring article that pulled me off the ledge. The shout out to Wayne Graham seems genuine.

I think it's almost insulting to committed, successful, honorable, and experienced head coaches like Bragga to suggest that others (Berkman, Pettitte) would be preferable due to their celebrity. I think our new man will do great things here.

(06-16-2018 07:10 AM)Baconator Wrote:  

(06-16-2018 06:53 AM)JOwl Wrote:  

(06-15-2018 05:59 PM)Baconator Wrote:  Mark Berman has a video interview with JK on his Twitter.

https://twitter.com/markbermanfox26/stat...20545?s=21

JK states (paraphrasing) that D1 head coaching experience was a requirement for this job.

Thanks for the link, I watched the interview. But your paraphrase is completely inaccurate.

You are correct. I rewatched with sound up. The interviewer asked “...college experience, or had coached at the college level.” The first time I watched I heard, “...a head coach st the college level...”

Apologies.

Also, he just agreed with the interviewer that college coaching experience was "an important factor", he didn't say it was a requirement.

Perfect! Watched Coach Bragga in the Regionals and Supers, very impressive. High energy guy and his players follow his lead.

(06-16-2018 09:58 AM)Barney Wrote:  I think it's almost insulting to committed, successful, honorable, and experienced head coaches like Bragga to suggest that others (Berkman, Pettitte) would be preferable due to their celebrity. I think our new man will do great things here.

I appreciate your perspective, but keep in mind that at the beginning stage of every head coach's career, they were selected over candidates with head coaching experience when they themselves had none. Every head coach that exists had an AD that gives them their opportunity to start their head coaching career. Karlgaard gave Mike Bloomgren that opportunity, for instance. Sam Houston gave David Pierce that opportunity. Head coaching candidates with head coaching experience were available for both roles at the time Bloomgren and Pierce were selected. My point is in order to compete with the big boys, Rice has to take calculated risks in order to achieve an upside scenario. Doing what everyone else does won't get it done when we are at a disadvantage from a financial, academic standards, and size perspective versus our competition.

And I'd also say that there was more to Berkman/Pettitte's candidacy than celebrity. Their accomplishments on the field, who they'd learned under, their baseball networks, Lance's knowledge of Rice and its fan base and leadership, their ability to attract donations, and even their accomplishments at Second Baptist are additional factors.

But I'll support Bragga and the players -- I just disagree with Karlgaard's decision here.

Is there going to be a press conference or anything?

Rumors now swirling that Berkman/Pettitte top choice for TN tech to replace Bragga.

(06-16-2018 10:22 AM)Volente Beach Owl Wrote:  

(06-16-2018 09:58 AM)Barney Wrote:  I think it's almost insulting to committed, successful, honorable, and experienced head coaches like Bragga to suggest that others (Berkman, Pettitte) would be preferable due to their celebrity. I think our new man will do great things here.

I appreciate your perspective, but keep in mind that at the beginning stage of every head coach's career, they were selected over candidates with head coaching experience when they themselves had none. Every head coach that exists had an AD that gives them their opportunity to start their head coaching career.

The vast majority of the beginning stage of a head coach's career, they *at the least* had a modicum of assistant coach experience. You gloss over that in your analysis, though.

Quote:Karlgaard gave Mike Bloomgren that opportunity, for instance. Sam Houston gave David Pierce that opportunity.

Thank you for making my point. Equating selecting a Bloomgren (associated head coach and offensive coordinator) or Pierce (a good history of assistant coaching experience with pedigreed programs) in no way is an argument for selecting a candidate with either *zero* D1 coaching experience *at all* or a highly minimal stint as a 'volunteer coach.'

Quote:And I'd also say that there was more to Berkman/Pettitte's candidacy than celebrity. Their accomplishments on the field, who they'd learned under, their baseball networks, Lance's knowledge of Rice and its fan base and leadership,

I guess using that list Capn Norm was an exceptionally viable candidate as well.

Quote: their ability to attract donations,

Can you specifically point to donations that they have attracted? Or are you just automatically assuming this as a set-in-stone fact?

Quote:and even their accomplishments at Second Baptist are additional factors.

2 years at a high school are additional factors for stepping into a D1 coaching position..... Could be. If so, the weight is so small as to be utterly inconsequential.

Quote:But I'll support Bragga and the players -- I just disagree with Karlgaard's decision here.

I will as well to the former statement, but disagree with your latter.

(06-15-2018 10:02 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Both of the high profile coaches we've hired this spring have MB as their initials. If we need a new men's basketball coach, who will be the obvious front runner?

Matt Bullard
Mel Brooks
Mark Berman

Everybody I know who knows anything about Bragga says he is an excellent hire. So I’m actually pretty excited.

I hope he hires staff that can recruit Houston, and a solid pitching coach. Pope could be both of those or he could go a different direction. I would like to see some former Rice player or players on the staff.

But none of those are things that can’t be addressed.

Have to give a +1 Owl#s ---- Bragga is going to *have* to pull in assistant coaches fully steeped in Texas in general and Houston in particular recruiting backgrounds.