Rice Dad
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-21-2020 06:15 PM)Intellectual_Brutality Wrote: I believe Collins has 2 years of eligibility. I'm excited to see him. If he beat out everyone including 2nd year Jovani, that's a very promising sign re: his talent
Collins should be the best QB on the roster for a lot of reasons. I am confident neither Bloom nor Mack have any idea how to develop a QB.
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10-21-2020 09:15 PM |
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Fort Bend Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-21-2020 08:56 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: ESPN now has the Owls with a 90.2% chance of winning. Based on...?????
Must be the same “formula”’ chron.com has the Owls as the #5 D1 team in Texas with a “haven’t played yet, but did scrimmage” record.
Probably based on the fact that Middle Tennessee allowed 768 yards (!) to North Texas in a bad loss, including 462 yards on the ground (in just 49 carries).
In terms of the secondary from an earlier post, I'll assume Nyakwol and Smith are hurt - those two might have been the returning starters who are now absent from the 2 deep. Thornton did transfer, so it's not exactly correct all 4 starters returned.
We did move quite a few guys around in the secondary last year and Calderon, Lockhart and McCord all played quite a bit. So I'm not surprised they're listed as starters (I think McCord has a lot of potential - especially if he's gotten any stronger between last year and this year as he is definitely the tallest DB but was quite thin last year). I also think the true freshmen in the secondary might be among our most heralded recruits, so I'm eager to see how they look.
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10-22-2020 06:20 AM |
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NYNightOwl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-21-2020 08:56 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote: ESPN now has the Owls with a 90.2% chance of winning. Based on...?????
Must be the same “formula”’ chron.com has the Owls as the #5 D1 team in Texas with a “haven’t played yet, but did scrimmage” record.
It does seem odd that Rice has a 90% chance of winning, yet is only a 3.5 point favorite.
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10-22-2020 05:01 PM |
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dragon2owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Looks like there are about 150 cut outs in the stands.
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10-22-2020 05:08 PM |
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Buho00
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Some pre-game thoughts:
- I expect our running backs, namely Ottaviano and Griffin, to have big games. Bloomgren raved about freshman Griffin's dominance in scrimmages no matter if it was the first or second team o-line blocking, and regardless of which defense he was facing. If he was able to dominate our first team D, I expect him to have an impact in his first game vs a weak rush defense of the Blue Raiders.
- Even if Collins is as good as advertised, will a Jovani package be part of the gameplay? He's a proven rusher.
- Which WR will step up? Without Rozner and without Knipe, Trammell will need help from somebody else. My bet is Pitre III who has improved each time I see him, but hoping for a breakout from Bailey or maybe the frosh Mason.
- How will the Rice secondary hold up? Middle Tenn may not be the most potent passing attack, but our young corners and safeties will be tested. Much like the WR spot, injuries and the like leave some question marks. I really like the DC Brian Smith. From what I can tell, he's the best DC we've had here and somebody I would look to promote or extend if the defense continues to perform.
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10-23-2020 12:25 PM |
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Pan95
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-23-2020 12:25 PM)Buho00 Wrote: Some pre-game thoughts:
- I expect our running backs, namely Ottaviano and Griffin, to have big games. Bloomgren raved about freshman Griffin's dominance in scrimmages no matter if it was the first or second team o-line blocking, and regardless of which defense he was facing. If he was able to dominate our first team D, I expect him to have an impact in his first game vs a weak rush defense of the Blue Raiders.
- Even if Collins is as good as advertised, will a Jovani package be part of the gameplay? He's a proven rusher.
- Which WR will step up? Without Rozner and without Knipe, Trammell will need help from somebody else. My bet is Pitre III who has improved each time I see him, but hoping for a breakout from Bailey or maybe the frosh Mason.
- How will the Rice secondary hold up? Middle Tenn may not be the most potent passing attack, but our young corners and safeties will be tested. Much like the WR spot, injuries and the like leave some question marks. I really like the DC Brian Smith. From what I can tell, he's the best DC we've had here and somebody I would look to promote or extend if the defense continues to perform.
Good thoughts
Offense - While I am anxious to see how Collins performs, I am more anxious to see how the offensive does. I look to see them decisively win the trenches and open the way for guys like Ottaviano and Griffen. It seems criminal that we are leaving Jawan King out of the equation. I would love to see Rice run through Middle Tenn. As for the subject of receivers, I am confident that we will see someone step up as we were in the same spot last year wondering how we would replace the production of Aaron Cephus.
Defense - Secondary youth aside, it sounds as though Gabe Taylor is going to be a star on this defense. With that said, I hope that we get Naeem Smith, George Nyakwol, and Tre'shon Devones back asap.
And Brian Smith needs a hard look at his contract as I think that he is very talented and still relatively under the radar.
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10-23-2020 02:22 PM |
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Fort Bend Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Fun exercise between now and game time - name all of Rice's colorful opponents that the Owls have hosted through the years at Rice Stadium (since this is the first time Rice is hosting the Blue Raiders). I'll start with the two obvious ones - the Blue and Red Raiders (Texas Tech). There are at least 10 others, including several on this year's schedule.
Bonus point if you can name the current Owl who played for a different Raiders team (just the Raiders - no colors involved).
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10-23-2020 10:49 PM |
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WRCisforgotten79
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-23-2020 10:49 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: Fun exercise between now and game time - name all of Rice's colorful opponents that the Owls have hosted through the years at Rice Stadium (since this is the first time Rice is hosting the Blue Raiders). I'll start with the two obvious ones - the Blue and Red Raiders (Texas Tech). There are at least 10 others, including several on this year's schedule.
Bonus point if you can name the current Owl who played for a different Raiders team (just the Raiders - no colors involved).
Tulane Green Wave
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Army Black Knights
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
North Texas Mean Green
Creighton Bluejays
Cornell Big Red
Duke Blue Devils
California Golden Bears
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Florida International Golden Panthers
Almost hosted Stanford Cardinal
Note: I'm including the old Rice Stadium
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10-23-2020 11:31 PM |
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wiessguy
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
ESPN picking us today on Gameday
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10-24-2020 10:24 AM |
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Tomball Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-24-2020 10:24 AM)wiessguy Wrote: ESPN picking us today on Gameday
I would hope so as they now have the Owls with a 90.6% chance of winning, up slightly from what they’ve shown all week. The spread has also increased, but still only 4.5. I’m sure ESPN has done extensive research on both a 1-5 MTSU and a yet to play, but has scrimmaged, Rice.
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10-24-2020 10:40 AM |
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Fort Bend Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Middle's lone win was a 3 point win over a winless FIU team. The same FIU team which lost yesterday to Jacksonville State 19-10, amassing just 156 yards to become the first FBS team to lose to a FCS team in the 2020 season.
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10-24-2020 10:46 AM |
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DFW Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Last time Rice was undefeated on Oct 24 was 1934. The last time unbeaten or untied was 1919.
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10-24-2020 12:56 PM |
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illiniowl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-23-2020 11:31 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote: (10-23-2020 10:49 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote: Fun exercise between now and game time - name all of Rice's colorful opponents that the Owls have hosted through the years at Rice Stadium (since this is the first time Rice is hosting the Blue Raiders). I'll start with the two obvious ones - the Blue and Red Raiders (Texas Tech). There are at least 10 others, including several on this year's schedule.
Bonus point if you can name the current Owl who played for a different Raiders team (just the Raiders - no colors involved).
Tulane Green Wave
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Army Black Knights
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
North Texas Mean Green
Creighton Bluejays
Cornell Big Red
Duke Blue Devils
California Golden Bears
Minnesota Golden Gophers
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Florida International Golden Panthers
Almost hosted Stanford Cardinal
Note: I'm including the old Rice Stadium
Alabama Crimson Tide (hosted them in 1955 and 1956 and of course we beat them since as everyone knows we're 3-0 all-time)
Lamar Cardinals? Can I get a ruling? Isn't the bird named for the color (in turn named for the prelate)?
In any event, we did host Stanford in 1957 and 1963 (beating them both times) . . . but they were the Indians until 1972, so good job on avoiding that trap.
We hosted the Bluebonnet Bowl in 1961 (losing to Kansas).
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10-24-2020 12:58 PM |
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elw4796
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Don't know about everybody else, but I'm excited to have football back. Ready to have my heart ripped out and to criticize the playcalling ad nauseam...but also excited.
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10-24-2020 01:16 PM |
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gsloth
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
Somehow along the way, I missed that Gabe Taylor is the late Sean Taylor's brother. (I do see a brief mention of that when he signed.)
Great article on that, and more on him and Rice, in the Washington Post yesterday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/20...fety-rice/
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10-24-2020 01:23 PM |
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NYNightOwl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-24-2020 01:16 PM)elw4796 Wrote: Don't know about everybody else, but I'm excited to have football back. Ready to have my heart ripped out and to criticize the playcalling ad nauseam...but also excited.
+1
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10-24-2020 02:31 PM |
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DFW Owl
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
00-00 is score per ESPN3. Color man has audio issues.
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10-24-2020 02:39 PM |
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greyowl72
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
(10-24-2020 02:39 PM)DFW Owl Wrote: 00-00 is score per ESPN3. Color man has audio issues.
Yes he does. And we should be able to hear him.. because he’s one of our own.
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10-24-2020 02:44 PM |
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westsidewolf1989
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RE: Rice vs. Middle Tenn
03-00 Rice
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10-24-2020 02:46 PM |
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