(06-03-2022 10:48 AM)BSWBRice Wrote: There was a brief spell with Bailiff (early 2010s) where I thought Rice football had settled into into a groove. Shows what I know lol
Very good point. Bailiff strung together the most successful three seasons in contemporary Rice Football history, and he did it while working with low coaching salaries and very little infrastructure. The bottom fell out when all the best schools left CUSA.
It can be done at Rice. An average of six or seven wins a year should be the norm, not the exception. We need Texas coaches with recruiting connections. There are more than enough athletes nearby to win in the AAC.
Bailiff didn't just forget how to coach football...he was successful and won the conference championship with a really good team and went on to win a couple of bowls, etc..maybe the decline in the football team's record is not all his responsibility.
Bailiff has been very successful at A&M-Commerce and probably was one of the main reasons that they were successful in moving to the Southland Conference this year...maybe we should look at all of the causes for the recent issues in the men's sports.
Oh yeah I didn't bring that up to knock Bailiff, just saying that we got a brief glimpse into what it's like being an OK football program. Obviously, it didn't last, whatever the reason(s).
(06-03-2022 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: Two, what I need from each of you is to tell me exactly what you need in the way of support to accomplish them.
And immediately after this, I presume you will hit the brick wall that every other Rice AD has hit for the last 5ish decades. We continually criticize Rice for being incompetent/ignorant/naïve/etc when it comes to college athletics but that doesn't make sense. There are too many smart people who have worked on that campus for too long for that to be the case. This is deliberate. I don't believe the administration has wanted athletics to go away but I do believe they are uncomfortable with even a perception that athletics might take on too much importance on South Main. I think most/all of us here agree or at least can nod our heads at the notion that athletics are the "front porch" of a university. But my assumption is the Rice Administration is uncomfortable with that, and goodness knows we've had periods with strong anti-athletics lobbying from faculty (tbh I don't know if that's currently the case).
I know we've talked about needing a Todd Graham style bull-in-a-china-shop AD who can disrupt things, but I'm pessimistic there's a person out there who could be disruptive enough to obtain the resources needed without also alienating Admin stakeholders. And I'm afraid the institutional inertia is just too great.
(06-03-2022 01:47 PM)BSWBRice Wrote: Oh yeah I didn't bring that up to knock Bailiff, just saying that we got a brief glimpse into what it's like being an OK football program. Obviously, it didn't last, whatever the reason(s).
We agree. He was a good man and a decent coach. Something at a higher level brought about his demise, things that were largely out of his control. Some of those problems still exist today, but at least the salaries are competitive now.
(06-03-2022 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: Two, what I need from each of you is to tell me exactly what you need in the way of support to accomplish them.
And immediately after this, I presume you will hit the brick wall that every other Rice AD has hit for the last 5ish decades. We continually criticize Rice for being incompetent/ignorant/naïve/etc when it comes to college athletics but that doesn't make sense. There are too many smart people who have worked on that campus for too long for that to be the case. This is deliberate. I don't believe the administration has wanted athletics to go away but I do believe they are uncomfortable with even a perception that athletics might take on too much importance on South Main. I think most/all of us here agree or at least can nod our heads at the notion that athletics are the "front porch" of a university. But my assumption is the Rice Administration is uncomfortable with that, and goodness knows we've had periods with strong anti-athletics lobbying from faculty (tbh I don't know if that's currently the case).
I know we've talked about needing a Todd Graham style bull-in-a-china-shop AD who can disrupt things, but I'm pessimistic there's a person out there who could be disruptive enough to obtain the resources needed without also alienating Admin stakeholders. And I'm afraid the institutional inertia is just too great.
(06-03-2022 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: Two, what I need from each of you is to tell me exactly what you need in the way of support to accomplish them.
And immediately after this, I presume you will hit the brick wall that every other Rice AD has hit for the last 5ish decades.
Number one, I wouldn't take the job without some reassurances that I would be given a chance to overcome that wall. It is my belief that the Board would be generally supportive of such efforts, but the problem as been punching past the gate-keepers in the administration.
Number two, before starting I would spend time cultivating relationships with those alumni and friends of the university and its athletic program that could help me overcome those things. I happen to know a sizable number of Board members personally, and would line them up on board with my plan before starting.
Number three, I would reach an understanding with my coaches that if they identified needs, they would be expected to support whatever efforts were needed to provide those needs. Basically, I would expect every coach to take the Wayne Graham proactive approach to program-building.
Basically, it is the Bear Bryant approach to program-building that he detailed in his book:
1) Have a plan
2) Sell the plan
3) Execute the plan
(This post was last modified: 06-03-2022 05:31 PM by Owl 69/70/75.)
(06-03-2022 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: Two, what I need from each of you is to tell me exactly what you need in the way of support to accomplish them.
And immediately after this, I presume you will hit the brick wall that every other Rice AD has hit for the last 5ish decades.
Number one, I wouldn't take the job without some reassurances that I would be given a chance to overcome that wall. It is my belief that the Board would be generally supportive of such efforts, but the problem as been punching past the gate-keepers in the administration.
Number two, before starting I would spend time cultivating relationships with those alumni and friends of the university and its athletic program that could help me overcome those things. I happen to know a sizable number of Board members personally, and would line them up on board with my plan before starting.
Number three, I would reach an understanding with my coaches that if they identified needs, they would be expected to support whatever efforts were needed to provide those needs. Basically, I would expect every coach to take the Wayne Graham proactive approach to program-building.
Basically, it is the Bear Bryant approach to program-building that he detailed in his book:
1) Have a plan
2) Sell the plan
3) Execute the plan
(06-03-2022 07:15 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote: Two, what I need from each of you is to tell me exactly what you need in the way of support to accomplish them.
And immediately after this, I presume you will hit the brick wall that every other Rice AD has hit for the last 5ish decades.
Number one, I wouldn't take the job without some reassurances that I would be given a chance to overcome that wall. It is my belief that the Board would be generally supportive of such efforts, but the problem as been punching past the gate-keepers in the administration.
Number two, before starting I would spend time cultivating relationships with those alumni and friends of the university and its athletic program that could help me overcome those things. I happen to know a sizable number of Board members personally, and would line them up on board with my plan before starting.
Number three, I would reach an understanding with my coaches that if they identified needs, they would be expected to support whatever efforts were needed to provide those needs. Basically, I would expect every coach to take the Wayne Graham proactive approach to program-building.
Basically, it is the Bear Bryant approach to program-building that he detailed in his book:
1) Have a plan
2) Sell the plan
3) Execute the plan
I think this is excellent.
I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
(06-04-2022 08:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
If nominated I will not run. If elected I will demand a recount.
OO, I'm only 2-3 years younger than you, and like you I have reached the point where my energy simply ain't what it used to be.
I will gladly accept a position as head of the AD search committee, provided that the search consists of the rest of the committee meeting with Bobby Williams and me at the Starbucks on 105 near April Sound, and convincing him to take the job. Of course, I have discussed this enough with Bobby to know that my three conditions would be the same for him.
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2022 11:24 AM by Owl 69/70/75.)
(06-04-2022 08:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
If nominated I will not run. If elected I will demand a recount.
OO, I'm only 2-3 years younger than you, and like you I have reached the point where my energy simply ain't what it used to be.
I will gladly accept a position as head of the AD search committee, provided that the search consists of the rest of the committee meeting with Bobby Williams and me at the Starbucks on 105 near April Sound, and convincing him to take the job. Of course, I have discussed this enough with Bobby to know that my three conditions would be the same for him.
It was just an INTERIM job, but I would accept you as the entire search committee if necessary.
(06-04-2022 08:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
If nominated I will not run. If elected I will demand a recount.
OO, I'm only 2-3 years younger than you, and like you I have reached the point where my energy simply ain't what it used to be.
I will gladly accept a position as head of the AD search committee, provided that the search consists of the rest of the committee meeting with Bobby Williams and me at the Starbucks on 105 near April Sound, and convincing him to take the job. Of course, I have discussed this enough with Bobby to know that my three conditions would be the same for him.
You do know that I live a mere 10 minute drive from that Starbucks location. I would be more than happy to crash the meeting and offer my "expert" opinion. I still have a little energy left.
(06-04-2022 08:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
If nominated I will not run. If elected I will demand a recount.
OO, I'm only 2-3 years younger than you, and like you I have reached the point where my energy simply ain't what it used to be.
I will gladly accept a position as head of the AD search committee, provided that the search consists of the rest of the committee meeting with Bobby Williams and me at the Starbucks on 105 near April Sound, and convincing him to take the job. Of course, I have discussed this enough with Bobby to know that my three conditions would be the same for him.
You do know that I live a mere 10 minute drive from that Starbucks location. I would be more than happy to crash the meeting and offer my "expert" opinion. I still have a little energy left.
And your presence at that meeting would be welcomed. Bobby and I are actually overdue for coffee. If you'd be interested in making the 10-minute drive, I'd see if we could do it when you could join us. You and Bobby would probably both enjoy the conversation.
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2022 12:57 PM by Owl 69/70/75.)
(06-04-2022 08:21 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote: I nominate Owl 69/70/75 for interim AD and head of the AD search committee.
If nominated I will not run. If elected I will demand a recount.
OO, I'm only 2-3 years younger than you, and like you I have reached the point where my energy simply ain't what it used to be.
I will gladly accept a position as head of the AD search committee, provided that the search consists of the rest of the committee meeting with Bobby Williams and me at the Starbucks on 105 near April Sound, and convincing him to take the job. Of course, I have discussed this enough with Bobby to know that my three conditions would be the same for him.
You do know that I live a mere 10 minute drive from that Starbucks location. I would be more than happy to crash the meeting and offer my "expert" opinion. I still have a little energy left.
And your presence at that meeting would be welcomed. Bobby and I are actually overdue for coffee. If you'd be interested in making the 10-minute drive, I'd see if we could do it when you could join us. You and Bobby would probably both enjoy the conversation.
In the 80's and 90's, I'm convinced that there was an apparatus in place on campus that ensured athletics didn't become so successful that it detracted from the 'academic' focus of the university. Professors and BOT members actively controlled funds as a way of suppressing success. I think today we still see small vestiges of that push back. It will have to be overcome. I'd love to see the new president at least make a strong statement in favor of athletics, and an admonishment of the persistent failures up to this point. Coaches an ADs must be held accountable. There's no reason that football, basketball, and baseball can't win half of its games every season. That should be the minimal amount of success expected.
(06-06-2022 10:55 AM)Ourland Wrote: There's no reason that football, basketball, and baseball can't win half of its games every season. That should be the minimal amount of success expected.
(06-06-2022 10:55 AM)Ourland Wrote: There's no reason that football, basketball, and baseball can't win half of its games every season. That should be the minimal amount of success expected.
