(11-21-2018 12:35 AM)Middle Ages Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 11:59 PM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 11:14 PM)Papa_Owl Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 10:57 PM)Hank16 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 09:24 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  On your comment I too watched the press conference. I was ready to jump all over your comment on how you might have misheard that. But, I have to agree. I absolutely cringed when I heard him diss pretty much everyone but the seniors and freshmen for their attitude on getting over the hump.

Wife called me in that dinner was ready as that comment ended (heh.... Chinese delivery, we are quite the chefs tonite...) so I still need to finish watching.

But that comment did make me seriously wince.

can you pass along the link?

Was able to hunt this down. Link to ODU pre-game presser.

https://youtu.be/XAmhNiyzpUg

It's at the 22 minute mark for those interested.

What's controversial? It's true. We've all watched the last few years. A losing mentality is tough to break. Ask anyone who has been a part of a turnaround.

Not an awesome way for the CEO to build confidence from a population subset he just called out. And, while we all may suspect it, it isnt a real good thing to make that airing public like that.

Do it behind closed doors, good god.

It may truly be a fact. No need to air this out, though. Unforced 'blurt' error here, imo.

That press conference was just typical football coach garbage.

And what is with the THREE middle classes? Is there now a mystery "third" class between freshman and senior???

Bloomgren looks like yet another brilliant choice for Rice football.

(11-21-2018 01:57 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  That press conference was just typical football coach garbage.

And what is with the THREE middle classes? Is there now a mystery "third" class between freshman and senior???

Bloomgren looks like yet another brilliant choice for Rice football.

Freshmen, Redshirt Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors

The conference didn’t instill confidence in me. But, he hit all the corporate talking points. Used inflection at times to pull me in. Congratulated VB and noted that they did it with a young team. Set the stage for his young players being winners too. Bashed the middle classes. He knows what it takes to be a winner and is going to stay the course. Just get more talent on board. Just have to get opponents to deep water. He likes that one. He just forgot to throw in the “robust” thing before process. It is all about the process and we have implemented one of the most robust processes in all of CUSA (ok I made that up). Emphasized ODU is FBS now and Rice has had some real tussles with this solid FBS program.

I honestly don’t see what some see that indicates that he is the answer. He uses cliches often. Defines his approach in the abstract. Says 60% of the team is a head case. Says his process will work this week and yet a month or so ago says he tried all he knew what to do. It must have been the head cases. All we need is more process, bring in better talent, and supratentoral tweaking. Got it.

Why not infratentoral tweaking?

According to the chron article on Calderon, Houston Robert requested transfer. I guess if you’re a redshirt junior and a true freshman takes your starting spot by game 4 it makes sense.

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

I find a couple of things striking:

1. It's not unusual for a coach to talk about team attitude negatively, in what would appear to be attempts to motivate, but I don't think I've ever heard classes called out in this manner--"Our seniors and freshmen are okay, but our redshirt freshmen, sophomores, and juniors suck." Those are his next three senior classes. That quote could stick around a while and be a problem. ETA: Upon reflection, I don't know that he is really "calling them out." But his words could be misunderstood, and he doesn't really need to be making those kinds of unforced errors.

2. It seems a very strange fact situation to have. The seniors who had 3 or 4 years under the prior regime and the freshmen who know nothing else have bought in, but those middle three classes are a problem? That just seems weird. I suppose you could make the case that the redshirt seniors at least had success in their freshman year (bowl win) and that the next three classes have been beaten down by losing every year, but that seems a bit of a stretch.

I'm wondering about how this might tie in with a couple of things. After the near disaster against PV, we had a couple of solid showings against the UH's, and then the wheels fell off. We have not really played well in any game, some of them against really weak opposition, for nine weeks. Being that bad consistently, week after week, is hard to do. Even Jerry Berndt's 0-11 team played TT to 36-38, Texas to 13-20, and a Cotton Bowl Arkansas team to 14-21. It's like we haven't had a pulse since Hawaii. About the same time I started hearing and reading comments about dissension and about how Bloomgren had supposedly "lost" the team. What's strange is that the comments I heard seemed to suggest that seniors (and their families) were upset because he was playing more underclassmen looking to next year, and seniors were losing playing time. It was kind of described as a struggle between classes. Now we have Bloomgren telling us that the seniors are good, it's the underclassmen that are the problem. Was it that perhaps Bloomgren was going straight to the newbies, and bypassing the juniors, sophs, and redshirt frosh for playing time? They would be the ones who were recruited after the 3 straight bowl years and with the EZF either on the way or a reality. If those three classes don't produce, it is going to be a long 3-4 years still.

Somehow this doesn't all seem to fit, and I can't think of an explanation that doesn't seem problematic.

Yeah, that was a totally unforced error by Bloomgren at the press conference but I do think what he said is pretty true.

Not sure some realize how badly we were recruiting the last few years.

(11-21-2018 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

I find a couple of things striking:

1. It's not unusual for a coach to talk about team attitude negatively, in what would appear to be attempts to motivate, but I don't think I've ever heard classes called out in this manner--"Our seniors and freshmen are okay, but our redshirt freshmen, sophomores, and juniors suck." Those are his next three senior classes. That quote could stick around a while and be a problem.

2. It seems a very strange fact situation to have. The seniors who had 3 or 4 years under the prior regime and the freshmen who know nothing else have bought in, but those middle three classes are a problem? That just seems weird. I suppose you could make the case that the redshirt seniors at least had success in their freshman year (bowl win) and that the next three classes have been beaten down by losing every year, but that seems a bit of a stretch.

I'm wondering about how this might tie in with a couple of things. After the near disaster against PV, we had a couple of solid showings against the UH's, and then the wheels fell off. We have not really played well in any game, some of them against really weak opposition, for nine weeks. Being that bad consistently, week after week, is hard to do. Even Jerry Berndt's 0-11 team played TT to 36-38, Texas to 13-20, and a Cotton Bowl Arkansas team to 14-21. It's like we haven't had a pulse since Hawaii. About the same time I started hearing and reading comments about dissension and about how Bloomgren had supposedly "lost" the team. What's strange is that the comments I heard seemed to suggest that seniors (and their families) were upset because he was playing more underclassmen looking to next year, and seniors were losing playing time. It was kind of described as a struggle between classes. Now we have Bloomgren telling us that the seniors are good, it's the underclassmen that are the problem. Was it that perhaps Bloomgren was going straight to the newbies, and bypassing the juniors, sophs, and redshirt frosh for playing time? They would be the ones who were recruited after the 3 straight bowl years and with the EZF either on the way or a reality. If those three classes don't produce, it is going to be a long 3-4 years still.

Somehow this doesn't all seem to fit, and I can't think of an explanation that doesn't seem problematic.

I think next year we will be playing alot of freshmen, sophomore and Juco kids.The freshmen had a noticeable impact on the field this season. Calderon had more interceptions than we had all of last season.

Looking through the middle classes at guys who have received decent playing time...
RS freshmen (or Sophomores)
Thornton
Royal
Baker
Bull
Trammell
Nyakwol

RS Sophomores (or juniors)
Silcox
Cephus
Myers
Linemen - greene, Osuji, Garcia

RS Juniors
Bickham
Ellerbe
Esukpa
Thompson
Wilkins
Abercrumbia

(11-21-2018 09:48 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(11-21-2018 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

I find a couple of things striking:

1. It's not unusual for a coach to talk about team attitude negatively, in what would appear to be attempts to motivate, but I don't think I've ever heard classes called out in this manner--"Our seniors and freshmen are okay, but our redshirt freshmen, sophomores, and juniors suck." Those are his next three senior classes. That quote could stick around a while and be a problem.

2. It seems a very strange fact situation to have. The seniors who had 3 or 4 years under the prior regime and the freshmen who know nothing else have bought in, but those middle three classes are a problem? That just seems weird. I suppose you could make the case that the redshirt seniors at least had success in their freshman year (bowl win) and that the next three classes have been beaten down by losing every year, but that seems a bit of a stretch.

I'm wondering about how this might tie in with a couple of things. After the near disaster against PV, we had a couple of solid showings against the UH's, and then the wheels fell off. We have not really played well in any game, some of them against really weak opposition, for nine weeks. Being that bad consistently, week after week, is hard to do. Even Jerry Berndt's 0-11 team played TT to 36-38, Texas to 13-20, and a Cotton Bowl Arkansas team to 14-21. It's like we haven't had a pulse since Hawaii. About the same time I started hearing and reading comments about dissension and about how Bloomgren had supposedly "lost" the team. What's strange is that the comments I heard seemed to suggest that seniors (and their families) were upset because he was playing more underclassmen looking to next year, and seniors were losing playing time. It was kind of described as a struggle between classes. Now we have Bloomgren telling us that the seniors are good, it's the underclassmen that are the problem. Was it that perhaps Bloomgren was going straight to the newbies, and bypassing the juniors, sophs, and redshirt frosh for playing time? They would be the ones who were recruited after the 3 straight bowl years and with the EZF either on the way or a reality. If those three classes don't produce, it is going to be a long 3-4 years still.

Somehow this doesn't all seem to fit, and I can't think of an explanation that doesn't seem problematic.

I think next year we will be playing alot of freshmen, sophomore and Juco kids.The freshmen had a noticeable impact on the field this season. Calderon had more interceptions than we had all of last season.

Looking through the middle classes at guys who have received decent playing time...
RS freshmen (or Sophomores)
Thornton
Royal
Baker
Bull
Trammell
Nyakwol

RS Sophomores (or juniors)
Silcox
Cephus
Myers
Linemen - greene, Osuji, Garcia

RS Juniors
Bickham
Ellerbe
Esukpa
Thompson
Wilkins
Abercrumbia

Thompson hasn’t played at all this season.

He had a kid at the beginning of the season and I’m not sure if he’s been around the program.

(11-21-2018 09:59 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  

(11-21-2018 09:48 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  

(11-21-2018 09:09 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

I find a couple of things striking:

1. It's not unusual for a coach to talk about team attitude negatively, in what would appear to be attempts to motivate, but I don't think I've ever heard classes called out in this manner--"Our seniors and freshmen are okay, but our redshirt freshmen, sophomores, and juniors suck." Those are his next three senior classes. That quote could stick around a while and be a problem.

2. It seems a very strange fact situation to have. The seniors who had 3 or 4 years under the prior regime and the freshmen who know nothing else have bought in, but those middle three classes are a problem? That just seems weird. I suppose you could make the case that the redshirt seniors at least had success in their freshman year (bowl win) and that the next three classes have been beaten down by losing every year, but that seems a bit of a stretch.

I'm wondering about how this might tie in with a couple of things. After the near disaster against PV, we had a couple of solid showings against the UH's, and then the wheels fell off. We have not really played well in any game, some of them against really weak opposition, for nine weeks. Being that bad consistently, week after week, is hard to do. Even Jerry Berndt's 0-11 team played TT to 36-38, Texas to 13-20, and a Cotton Bowl Arkansas team to 14-21. It's like we haven't had a pulse since Hawaii. About the same time I started hearing and reading comments about dissension and about how Bloomgren had supposedly "lost" the team. What's strange is that the comments I heard seemed to suggest that seniors (and their families) were upset because he was playing more underclassmen looking to next year, and seniors were losing playing time. It was kind of described as a struggle between classes. Now we have Bloomgren telling us that the seniors are good, it's the underclassmen that are the problem. Was it that perhaps Bloomgren was going straight to the newbies, and bypassing the juniors, sophs, and redshirt frosh for playing time? They would be the ones who were recruited after the 3 straight bowl years and with the EZF either on the way or a reality. If those three classes don't produce, it is going to be a long 3-4 years still.

Somehow this doesn't all seem to fit, and I can't think of an explanation that doesn't seem problematic.

I think next year we will be playing alot of freshmen, sophomore and Juco kids.The freshmen had a noticeable impact on the field this season. Calderon had more interceptions than we had all of last season.

Looking through the middle classes at guys who have received decent playing time...
RS freshmen (or Sophomores)
Thornton
Royal
Baker
Bull
Trammell
Nyakwol

RS Sophomores (or juniors)
Silcox
Cephus
Myers
Linemen - greene, Osuji, Garcia

RS Juniors
Bickham
Ellerbe
Esukpa
Thompson
Wilkins
Abercrumbia

Thompson hasn’t played at all this season.

He had a kid at the beginning of the season and I’m not sure if he’s been around the program.

Ah that’s right. He played previously though and was expected to be a big contributor. I’m sure I missed some other as well those were just the ones that stood out looking through the roster.

I’m not worried about WR or RB we have talent there. On offense the line and QB play need a major upgrade before we get wins. I pointed out a couple years ago how Bailiff was missing on all of his recruiting targets. If you go back and look at linemen we were basically taking whoever we could get the last couple years.

Dline was supposed to be a strength and it wasn’t. The young LBs seem to have upside and I think they’ll be playing a lot. Calderon has earned his spot. As always our CB play needs work.

I have always heard that freshmen O-linemen need time to mature and to develop. How is it then that we are going to rely on freshmen O-line next year to make us better?

(11-21-2018 08:38 AM)tanqtonic Wrote:  Why not infratentoral tweaking?

Indeed

(11-21-2018 09:40 AM)ExcitedOwl18 Wrote:  Yeah, that was a totally unforced error by Bloomgren at the press conference but I do think what he said is pretty true.

In fairness, he is a first year head coach, still learning a few things. And he did work for Rex Ryan with the Jets, so he is accustomed to head coaches shooting from the hip. Hope this one does not come back to haunt too much.

Quote:Not sure some realize how badly we were recruiting the last few years.

That is the amazing part to me. We went to three straight bowls, won two of them, and in the middle year had a conference championship, plus the EZF was either coming out of the ground or completed. Should have been primo recruiting years. And we did not.

(11-21-2018 09:48 AM)cr11owl Wrote:  I think next year we will be playing alot of freshmen, sophomore and Juco kids.The freshmen had a noticeable impact on the field this season. Calderon had more interceptions than we had all of last season.
Looking through the middle classes at guys who have received decent playing time...
RS freshmen (or Sophomores)
Thornton
Royal
Baker
Bull
Trammell
Nyakwol
RS Sophomores (or juniors)
Silcox
Cephus
Myers
Linemen - greene, Osuji, Garcia
RS Juniors
Bickham
Ellerbe
Esukpa
Thompson
Wilkins
Abercrumbia

That's six a year for three classes. Not a great showing. The ones listed are players, but not a lot of depth indicated in any of those classes. Rome's not going to get built in a day.

(11-20-2018 10:57 PM)Hank16 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 09:24 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

On your comment I too watched the press conference. I was ready to jump all over your comment on how you might have misheard that. But, I have to agree. I absolutely cringed when I heard him diss pretty much everyone but the seniors and freshmen for their attitude on getting over the hump.

Wife called me in that dinner was ready as that comment ended (heh.... Chinese delivery, we are quite the chefs tonite...) so I still need to finish watching.

But that comment did make me seriously wince.

can you pass along the link?

Btw I had to be in court Tuesday and thus couldn’t attend the press luncheon.

Final game prediction

ODU 35
Rice 24

(11-21-2018 08:38 AM)tanqtonic Wrote:  Why not infratentoral tweaking?

Because there is nothing there to tweak. Cupboard is bare. Remember?

You did make me laugh.

(11-21-2018 04:07 AM)ruowls Wrote:  I honestly don’t see what some see that indicates that he is the answer. He uses cliches often. Defines his approach in the abstract. Says 60% of the team is a head case. Says his process will work this week and yet a month or so ago says he tried all he knew what to do. It must have been the head cases. All we need is more process, bring in better talent, and supratentoral tweaking. Got it.

Looks to me like those who wanted AnybodyButBailiff got exactly what they wanted. He is indeed Anybody.

After three games I thought we had gotten exactly what I wanted. I no longer think that. He has two more years to change my mind. W's will do that, starting this week.

(11-21-2018 10:41 AM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 10:57 PM)Hank16 Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 09:24 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(11-20-2018 01:36 PM)RiceOL83 Wrote:  Just heard the presser. Sure am glad I’m not in one of the middle three classes at Rice football right now. Bloomgren just basically called them all losers. Gotta love the faith in the guys on the roster.

On your comment I too watched the press conference. I was ready to jump all over your comment on how you might have misheard that. But, I have to agree. I absolutely cringed when I heard him diss pretty much everyone but the seniors and freshmen for their attitude on getting over the hump.

Wife called me in that dinner was ready as that comment ended (heh.... Chinese delivery, we are quite the chefs tonite...) so I still need to finish watching.

But that comment did make me seriously wince.

can you pass along the link?

Btw I had to be in court Tuesday and thus couldn’t attend the press luncheon.

Hopefully the charges against you were dismissed.

(11-21-2018 11:24 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(11-21-2018 04:07 AM)ruowls Wrote:  I honestly don’t see what some see that indicates that he is the answer. He uses cliches often. Defines his approach in the abstract. Says 60% of the team is a head case. Says his process will work this week and yet a month or so ago says he tried all he knew what to do. It must have been the head cases. All we need is more process, bring in better talent, and supratentoral tweaking. Got it.

Looks to me like those who wanted AnybodyButBailiff got exactly what they wanted. He is indeed Anybody.

After three games I thought we had gotten exactly what I wanted. I no longer think that. He has two more years to change my mind. W's will do that, starting this week.

He has shown nothing to make me believe that he deserves 2 more seasons. That press conference demonstrated that he does not, and will not, recognize that "typical" motivational techniques won't work at Rice in the same way they work in other programs.