Artist: Pat DiNizio
Album: Green Thoughts (Smithereens)
Song: "Something New"
Songwriter: Pat DiNizio
Performance: Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, OH on Saturday, November 7, 2009
March 22, 1988 Enigma Records
(This post was last modified: 10-30-2026 10:53 AM by GoodOwl.)
Actually, according to the CollegeAD Newsletter, the "virtual" interviews for the position are scheduled to start on November 9th and continue that week followed by "in-person interviews" with the "goal, sources familiar with the process told us, is for Rice to have a new AD in place by Thanksgiving break".
I'm sure the search firm has done some background work and will probably limit the in person interviews to three or four outside candidates (assuming the Eric will obviously be a strong candidate for the job).
Looking forward some pretty prompt action at this point.
(08-06-2026 02:43 PM)SmurfGlazer Wrote: I’m not sure who you are arguing with, Walt? In the revenue sharing era, there’s no longer a distinction between external NIL and internal money. Schools can pay the players directly.
Sorry for resurrecting this comment, but I'd like to address it and I've been preoccupied and hadn't seen this thread
My comment would be 'not at Rice'.
The details can get minute, but the simplest comment would be that there are rules about funding on campus, some of which date back to the founding that create clear distinctions between external and internal money. The best example I can give is the stadium and gateway redo. Much of it is designed to increase suite revenue, to increase food and beverage revenue, to increase rental revenue from other events hosted at the stadium and to increase the connection between vendors in the Village to athletics... specifically because the University has more freedom to spend on facilities and upkeep than it does on almost anything else. We have a board of trustees whose job it is to protect and preserve the trust... and not a board of directors nor even regents who can change as the will of the government changes. While I wouldn't say there is 'no way' for the University to pay NIL out of the endowment, my strong opinion is that the majority of trustees have looked and haven't yet found it.
The growth of the University, the expansion of graduate programs and other campus actions have all had at least some consideration of athletics in those conversations. I think this is correct as we were FOUNDED with highly competitive athletics to go along with our academics. It's part of being an Owl
(09-12-2026 05:19 PM)Owlman49 Wrote: As a Rice graduate, a four-year letter winner, former assistant coach at Rice, former corporate executive and more recently a college AD, I have a few thoughts on this.
The university and board have already made a serious commitment. Gateway makes that pretty clear, and the people who made it happen deserve credit. The next AD needs to build on that, not come in pretending nobody has done anything.
We also have to be honest about Rice. A lot of our alumni love the university but couldn’t care less about Saturday’s score. We have former athletes who give generously, but we can’t build the whole effort around them. There’s a much bigger Rice community we need to connect with.
This is a great response. I hope you don't mind that I'm adding a few comments
Quote:My suggestions:
1. Recruit for the school we are and focus of Texas athletes (Either High School or those from other Universities in the portal)
Rice isn’t going to admit somebody just because they can play. We need talented athletes who can handle the academics, and coaches who know how to find and develop them. Get academic questions answered early, recruit those families hard, and show them why Rice is worth choosing. Hiring someone whose plan depends on Rice becoming a different school doesn’t make much sense.
Absolutely. That said, I think there has been and can continue to be substantial focus on the grad transfer portal. We are really set up well here to recruit guys who have played and perhaps done very well at other places who see life beyond athletics, but still want that athletics experience. SOme guys will still take the money instead... but I think we can make this better, especially if we can make strides in our competitiveness.
Quote:2. Give our athletes someone in their corner beyond their coach.
I’d love to see more alumni take an athlete under their wing. Rice already does some of this, but I’d make it a bigger part of the experience. Not just lunch once a year. Someone who gets to know them, makes introductions, helps them find internships and stays involved after graduation.
That should include legal and financial guidance from qualified alumni who aren’t trying to sell them something. Whether an athlete goes pro or takes a regular job, knowing how to handle money and choose good advisers matters. Our alumni can make a real difference here without knowing a thing about sports.
There are some things in existence and also in the works that are along these lines. The Brotherhood is a great resource and the Owl Club/R Association also have numerous resources and connections where this is the design. Further, our partnership with First Community could lend some of the money management resources that you're talking about. Of course there are numerous alumni in these spaces who would also be great resources so we can absolutely do more. I'm hoping that part of the use of our upgraded facilities (there IS more to come) would include seminars on money management and other such issues that might be of interest well beyond athletes.
Quote:3. Stop assuming everybody needs the same reason to support athletics.
Some people want to help us beat whoever is on the schedule. Others would rather help a student become a doctor, start a company or get their first job. There’s room for both.
My business experience tells me you start by understanding what matters to the other person. The AD needs to get out and have those conversations, working with the people raising money for the rest of Rice. We need dependable annual support, and we won’t get there by making the same ask of the same people forever.
This x 1000.
Quote:4. Make sure our athletes give something back to Rice.
This has to go both ways. We want the campus to support our athletes, but our athletes also need to be part of campus life. Show up for classmates. Participate in the residential colleges. Get involved in things that have nothing to do with their sport. Coaches need to make room for that, too.
Then stay connected after graduation. Mentor another student. Hire a Rice grad. Come back and help. People are more likely to support athletics when they know the athletes and see what they contribute to the university.
******** and I'm going to put this in large print and will repeat it elsewhere ********
IN THE NEXT WEEK OR SO, THERE WILL BE A LETTERWINNERS CHALLENGE AROUND HOMECOMING WHERE LETTERWINNERS WILL BE ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OWL CLUB (which is the HOME of all of our fundraising for athletics... NIL, SIGs, Gateway etc)
IT IS IMPERITIVE THAT OUR FORMER ATHLETES CONTRIBUTE TO THIS!! IT DOESN"T NEED TO BE A LARGE DONATION (of course we will accept those) BUT IT NEEDS TO SHOW THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN WHAT HAPPENS. THIS PARTICULAR FUNDRAISER IS ABOUT RECONNECTING FORMER ATHLETES TO ATHLETICS AND CURRENT ATHLETES. IF YOU HAVE TIME BUT NOT MONEY, MAKE A SMALL DONATION AND WHEN THEY RESPOND BACK, LOOK FOR WAYS TO GIVE OF YOUR TIME. IF YOU HAVE MONEY BUT NOT TIME, DONATE 'SOME' TO THIS AND THEN YOU CAN GET CONNECTED TO LARGER NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES. IF YOU HAVE NEITHER, DONATE $5 TO SHOW THAT WHAT HAPPENS IN ATHLETICS MATTERS TO YOU.
BUT PARTICIPATE
Quote:5. And yes, win.
None of this is an excuse for losing. It should help us recruit better athletes, keep them and build better teams. We still need competitive athlete compensation, good coaches and the resources to develop players. Gateway’s opportunities also need a real sales effort behind them. Those seats and sponsorships won’t sell themselves.
Support the coaches who deliver, including in sports that don’t get much discussion here. Make changes when reasonable time and support aren’t producing progress. We should expect winning seasons, conference championships and NCAA appearances.
I don’t expect every Rice alum to become a sports fan. But I do think we can give more of them a reason to care about our athletes and feel good about what Rice is investing in them.
When we win while wearing the R we give the university, former athletes, and alum reasons to be proud. That’s a program worth getting behind.
Under a previous regime, student seating at basketball and baseball was pushed away from good seats to not-so-good. At the time, I felt that this was boneheaded because you create future (alumni) fans, in part, by giving them good experiences while they are students. It's not as if side court stands are filled, anyway.
(Yesterday 03:24 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote: Under a previous regime, student seating at basketball and baseball was pushed away from good seats to not-so-good. At the time, I felt that this was boneheaded because you create future (alumni) fans, in part, by giving them good experiences while they are students. It's not as if side court stands are filled, anyway.
Agree. I am a Rice basketball fan largely due to my undergrad experience. Former season ticket holder.
(This post was last modified: Yesterday 08:57 PM by OptimisticOwl.)
RE: New Rice AD Hunt 
