This Owl win will look better later in the year. ULaLa has talent. Their QB was top-10 QB recruit in country for a reason. His health/legs and WR's dropping fewer balls = a bunch of wins.

In meantime, hope to see some improvement with more 'spread' and more 'option' and less Sam up the middle and Jenkins keeping ball next week. It took 2.5 quarters for ULaLa to adjust and shut it down. It will take less than series or two for Coog D to shut it down.

This win is huge for us. Builds an incredible amount of confidence.
Here’s to Rice football and, hopefully a winning season.

(08-30-2025 10:28 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:24 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Really liked how the RBs followed the blockers in the 1H. Don’t know where that went after halftime.

ULaLa started run blitzing on a regular basis the 2nd half. Our OL was outnumbered and overpowered. To counter that we needed to throw a couple 1st down passes-- even really short ones-- which would have been really effective and forced their defense to play less aggressively.

Maybe a Hatfield wheel route or two. Gotta keep them honest.

I assume the running game will have more wrinkles, misdirection as the season progresses.

Agree with some of the criticisms of the playcalling. I'm assuming that as the season goes on, we'll mix in some more early down throws. Definitely not a finished product on that side of the ball. But it must be noted that there were numerous plays where the offensive line got serious push or opened up big holes...we did NOT see a lot of that over the past few years.

Yes looks nice and the capacity is 35000.

(08-30-2025 10:32 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Tonight's announced attendance at the first game at ULL's newly renovated ($65 million) Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium was 22,148. Isn't that about what our home games' attendance typically is?

Really nice renovation it appears and for a decent price.

The post-game article lede I'd love to see:


BTW ... This 2021 article tells the story behind the renovated stadium's new name:

"The University of Louisiana Lafayette Ragin Cajuns received funding for a new stadium project with Our Lady of Lourdes (Regional Medical Center) claiming naming rights.

"On Tuesday (June 15, 2021), UL Lafayette Athletics announced that Lourdes would be providing $15 million in funding for their stadium renovation project.

"With that funding, Lourdes also secured naming rights to the new stadium upon its completion. Fans will be watching the Ragin Cajuns football team on Cajun Field at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium, officials said.

"UL Lafayette and Our Lady of Lourdes have been partnering since 1980, creating scholarships for athletes and supporting athletic programs with medical teams and health services."

September 2021 marked 50 years since the first game at Cajun Field.

Sources: https://www.katc.com/news/lafayette-pari...nt-tuesday
https://www.fmolhs.org/locations/acadian...cal-center
https://www.sportstravelmagazine.com/lou...l-hospital

(08-30-2025 08:52 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Getting lucky with a couple dropped passes by ULaLa.

What did DKR say about passes? 3 things can happen and 2 are bad?

(08-30-2025 10:34 PM)ausowl Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:28 PM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:24 PM)Tiki Owl Wrote:  Really liked how the RBs followed the blockers in the 1H. Don’t know where that went after halftime.

ULaLa started run blitzing on a regular basis the 2nd half. Our OL was outnumbered and overpowered. To counter that we needed to throw a couple 1st down passes-- even really short ones-- which would have been really effective and forced their defense to play less aggressively.

Maybe a Hatfield wheel route or two. Gotta keep them honest.

I assume the running game will have more wrinkles, misdirection as the season progresses.

I worry that long term Jenkins is not enough of a passing threat to prevent teams from stacking the box. I hope he proves me wrong. Guess we’ll see. Will save that worry for another day. Tonight I’m pumped. Go Owls!

(08-30-2025 10:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Tonight's announced attendance at the first game at ULL's newly renovated ($65 million) Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium was 22,148. Isn't that about what our home games' attendance typically is?

Keep in mind that Rice counts tickets sold, not turnstile.

2023
Total home attendance: 143794
Average home attendance: 20542

2024
Total home attendance: 108856
Average home attendance: 18143

It’s up.

Abell already more accomplished than ol Bloomgren.

Rice Fight

(08-30-2025 11:10 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Tonight's announced attendance at the first game at ULL's newly renovated ($65 million) Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium was 22,148. Isn't that about what our home games' attendance typically is?

Keep in mind that Rice counts tickets sold, not turnstile.

2023
Total home attendance: 143794
Average home attendance: 20542

2024
Total home attendance: 108856
Average home attendance: 18143

Everyone counts tickets sold.

Sent from my Pixel 8a using CSNbbs mobile app

(08-30-2025 11:49 PM)loki_the_bubba Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 11:10 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Tonight's announced attendance at the first game at ULL's newly renovated ($65 million) Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium was 22,148. Isn't that about what our home games' attendance typically is?

Keep in mind that Rice counts tickets sold, not turnstile.

2023
Total home attendance: 143794
Average home attendance: 20542

2024
Total home attendance: 108856
Average home attendance: 18143

Everyone counts tickets sold.

Sent from my Pixel 8a using CSNbbs mobile app

And Rice (and others with low attendance) sell 'tickets' in exchange for sponsorship to inflate 'tickets sold' when butts-in-seats may be 10-20% of the attendance announced.

(08-30-2025 10:14 PM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  A win on the road in a game we weren’t favored. Not a bad start.

The defense is still solid, and absolutely won the game for Rice. The offense needs to improve.

Agreed. And, a win to open the season is rare for the Owls. In 14 of the past 16 seasons, Rice has lost the first game.

(08-30-2025 11:10 PM)Grungy Wrote:  

(08-30-2025 10:30 PM)Almadenmike Wrote:  Tonight's announced attendance at the first game at ULL's newly renovated ($65 million) Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium was 22,148. Isn't that about what our home games' attendance typically is?

Keep in mind that Rice counts tickets sold, not turnstile.

2023
Total home attendance: 143794
Average home attendance: 20542

2024
Total home attendance: 108856
Average home attendance: 18143

EVERYBODY (college and pro) count tickets sold, not turnstile. That's true of every single sport.

(08-30-2025 10:29 PM)Texasowl Wrote:  Dang. I picked us to win by 3. Great win for once after Bloomgren disaster. UH will be interesting. Our passing effeciency has to improve against UH.You know they will stack the box.

Congrats!

And I picked us to win by exactly 2, which is exactly what we did!

I did have the “over”, though. I was wrong (and Loki was right) about that one.

Rice is undefeated. Texas and Alabama aren’t. Wonder when was the last time that happened.

I called that one right for once, saying that if we didn't turn the ball over we'd win. Great win and I'm pumped about the rest of the season.

Did you guys see all the Rice fans that made the trip? There must have been about 200 celebrating in the stands after the game

I missed the game unfortunately. But can anyone comment on Jenkins? I understand he barely passed but, of the throws did he attempt, how limited are the capabilities?

(08-31-2025 10:06 AM)Intellectual_Brutality Wrote:  I missed the game unfortunately. But can anyone comment on Jenkins? I understand he barely passed but, of the throws did he attempt, how limited are the capabilities?

Our pass plays were hurried. He didn't have time. I think he only attempted about seven passes all night. We didn't have enough passing to keep their defense honest, and I didn't see much option football in the second half. It looked mostly read-option directly to the running back to me. We'll definitely have to open things up. Jenkins is very athletic and quick, but I know we're protecting him.