(10-19-2018 05:01 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:29 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:16 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 09:31 AM)tanqtonic Wrote:  Look, I have to say that a certain part of me is sympathetic to Antarius's point --- if there is a goal to *not* be D3, and *not* be the cellar dweller of a dumpster fire conference, then it is clear *something* needs to change.

To be honest, I have zero insight as to the explicit (or implicit, for that matter) decision making process, let alone *what* the overall goal is with respect to Football, C-USA, or, being D1 or D3 for that matter.

*If* the goal is as stated above, as noted, *something* needs to change. Not knowing the explicit stated goal, nor any aspect of that decision process, I cannot tell you *what* needs to change (if anything) let alone 'Roll. Heads. Roll', let alone still whom should be the subject of such Mdm. DeFarge sentiments, if anyone.

And, also, I am not in the camp of "D1, now and forever". *If* the expenditures of that outweigh the benefits, then by all means we should explore the opposite side, perhaps even implement that opposite side. I am not firmly and absolutely convinced that D1 is what Rice should be implementing. But, as long as Rice does, you can damn well color me as supporting that decision.

And, to be honest, at the last two somewhat-serious Rice events I attended, to be blunt, I was utterly surprised by the numbers of ex- scholarship athletes (BB (men's and womens, BaseBall, and FB) that I personally knew as an undergraduate who were *not* opposed to that line of thinking. Not saying all, not even close to all, but a *far* greater number than I would have ever suspected.

To the first part - that is my thought process. The people that hired and vetted Greenspan - some are still here. That includes people directly involved on the search committee, people who signed off directly such as Leebron and people who signed off indirectly, such as the BOT and donors who have influence.

It amazes me that such a gigantic cockup didn't result in everyone being summaririly removed from future hires (I mean, it amazes me conceptually, not actually given the crony nature of such operations). We still have people who screwed up then, screwed up with Braun with extending Bailiff with keeping Bailiff etc etc. around and making decisions. This callous zero consequence behavior keeps Rice stuck in a rut of bad decisions, no decisions and no real upward potential.

To the latter part, the above is part of the problem. We will be d1 zealots (while operating a program that carries the d1 title in name only) because the above decisionmakers do not exibhit any foresight with regards to athletics. All the hiring and firing decisions are after rock bottom when there is no option - not once in the last decade (save for Huston being fired and shockingly that was by Slick Rick) has Rice made a proactive decision relating to personnel. We aimlessly wander through an ever collapsing conference with no willingness to act either way.

Dropping to D3 should be an option on the table, but due to chronic incapable management, it isn't. Given that I haven't used an airline analogy in a long time, we are like Air India - a product no one wants and no one will invest in to make it better. Just a loss making mess that exists for the sake of existing.

But do you realize how amazingly unproductive it is to yell 'Heads. Roll. Must.' without specifics?

I will grant to you unerringly that past decisions have reflected very serious bad issues; perhaps even past 'non' decisions.

I think *everyone* involved with Rice Athletics realizes a problem has/had/might even still exists.

But from my perspective, not knowing the harsh back-facts, I cannot see how screaming (in a posting board manner) and channeling a Mdm DeFarge-esque "Off with their heads, *someones*, *anyones*" is in *any* way constructive.

Thus, the onus placed on you to seemingly 'name names' and 'name facts' as opposed to some revolutionary fervor for blood. Just saying....

I do realize that. At the same time, I do not think people involved with Rice Athletics really see the magnitude of the problem on hand - well, either that or they see it and don't give a damn/won't take any actions. We still had people here supporting the last regime as the ship sank. We had people touting Greenspan's "plan", we had people telling us that C-USA + MWC was as good as a P5... a slew of absolute nonsense that leads me to believe that we have successfully deluded ourselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right.

As for names, I know some - but not all. So listing off people who have influence but short of a full list is equally pointless. Nor am I interested in a nitpick squabble with OO either. To the above, the only list we need are the BOT members, as the buck stops there.

At the same time, Jeff Smisek, who was forced out by United for bribery, remains on the Rice BOT. It is abundantly clear that, in line with our behavior in Athletics, abdecation of responsibility is the modus operandi at Rice.

So the head rolling list is now Leebron and Smisek.

Damn, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of you.

I am reminded of a U. S. Senator who said he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department." But he never read the names into the record.

If we have a cabal who are actively trying to push rice into
D3 or worse, let's have the names and run them out. I would think you would want my support in this. But I cannot rail against this shadow conspiracy. Might as well blame the Templars.

If we have a core of people who are incompetent, let's run them out. But maybe a list of those we want out and their failures would help, else we just might as well fire everybody and let God sort them out.

If you are going to make accusations, be prepared to back them up.

(10-19-2018 05:11 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:01 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:29 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:16 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 09:31 AM)tanqtonic Wrote:  Look, I have to say that a certain part of me is sympathetic to Antarius's point --- if there is a goal to *not* be D3, and *not* be the cellar dweller of a dumpster fire conference, then it is clear *something* needs to change.

To be honest, I have zero insight as to the explicit (or implicit, for that matter) decision making process, let alone *what* the overall goal is with respect to Football, C-USA, or, being D1 or D3 for that matter.

*If* the goal is as stated above, as noted, *something* needs to change. Not knowing the explicit stated goal, nor any aspect of that decision process, I cannot tell you *what* needs to change (if anything) let alone 'Roll. Heads. Roll', let alone still whom should be the subject of such Mdm. DeFarge sentiments, if anyone.

And, also, I am not in the camp of "D1, now and forever". *If* the expenditures of that outweigh the benefits, then by all means we should explore the opposite side, perhaps even implement that opposite side. I am not firmly and absolutely convinced that D1 is what Rice should be implementing. But, as long as Rice does, you can damn well color me as supporting that decision.

And, to be honest, at the last two somewhat-serious Rice events I attended, to be blunt, I was utterly surprised by the numbers of ex- scholarship athletes (BB (men's and womens, BaseBall, and FB) that I personally knew as an undergraduate who were *not* opposed to that line of thinking. Not saying all, not even close to all, but a *far* greater number than I would have ever suspected.

To the first part - that is my thought process. The people that hired and vetted Greenspan - some are still here. That includes people directly involved on the search committee, people who signed off directly such as Leebron and people who signed off indirectly, such as the BOT and donors who have influence.

It amazes me that such a gigantic cockup didn't result in everyone being summaririly removed from future hires (I mean, it amazes me conceptually, not actually given the crony nature of such operations). We still have people who screwed up then, screwed up with Braun with extending Bailiff with keeping Bailiff etc etc. around and making decisions. This callous zero consequence behavior keeps Rice stuck in a rut of bad decisions, no decisions and no real upward potential.

To the latter part, the above is part of the problem. We will be d1 zealots (while operating a program that carries the d1 title in name only) because the above decisionmakers do not exibhit any foresight with regards to athletics. All the hiring and firing decisions are after rock bottom when there is no option - not once in the last decade (save for Huston being fired and shockingly that was by Slick Rick) has Rice made a proactive decision relating to personnel. We aimlessly wander through an ever collapsing conference with no willingness to act either way.

Dropping to D3 should be an option on the table, but due to chronic incapable management, it isn't. Given that I haven't used an airline analogy in a long time, we are like Air India - a product no one wants and no one will invest in to make it better. Just a loss making mess that exists for the sake of existing.

But do you realize how amazingly unproductive it is to yell 'Heads. Roll. Must.' without specifics?

I will grant to you unerringly that past decisions have reflected very serious bad issues; perhaps even past 'non' decisions.

I think *everyone* involved with Rice Athletics realizes a problem has/had/might even still exists.

But from my perspective, not knowing the harsh back-facts, I cannot see how screaming (in a posting board manner) and channeling a Mdm DeFarge-esque "Off with their heads, *someones*, *anyones*" is in *any* way constructive.

Thus, the onus placed on you to seemingly 'name names' and 'name facts' as opposed to some revolutionary fervor for blood. Just saying....

I do realize that. At the same time, I do not think people involved with Rice Athletics really see the magnitude of the problem on hand - well, either that or they see it and don't give a damn/won't take any actions. We still had people here supporting the last regime as the ship sank. We had people touting Greenspan's "plan", we had people telling us that C-USA + MWC was as good as a P5... a slew of absolute nonsense that leads me to believe that we have successfully deluded ourselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right.

As for names, I know some - but not all. So listing off people who have influence but short of a full list is equally pointless. Nor am I interested in a nitpick squabble with OO either. To the above, the only list we need are the BOT members, as the buck stops there.

At the same time, Jeff Smisek, who was forced out by United for bribery, remains on the Rice BOT. It is abundantly clear that, in line with our behavior in Athletics, abdecation of responsibility is the modus operandi at Rice.

So the head rolling list is now Leebron and Smisek.

Damn, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of you.

I am reminded of a U. S. Senator who said he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department." But he never read the names into the record.

If we have a cabal who are actively trying to push rice into
D3 or worse, let's have the names and run them out. I would think you would want my support in this. But I cannot rail against this shadow conspiracy. Might as well blame the Templars.

If we have a core of people who are incompetent, let's run them out. But maybe a list of those we want out and their failures would help, else we just might as well fire everybody and let God sort them out.

If you are going to make accusations, be prepared to back them up.

Did you not see the BOT called out above? Or do I need to go copy paste each name for you over here from the list?

(10-19-2018 01:21 PM)illiniowl Wrote:  Let me be the ghost of Christmas future here. Time and mortality will see to it that in roughly 25-30 years, the composition of the BOT and donor class will tip to being primarily composed of alums who have no recollection of ever being in the SWC, and who have known only the uninspiring and completely incongruous associations that followed (if they even bothered to notice). Having had whatever affinity they might have developed for Rice football strangled in the crib as it were, they will then have the numbers and clout to finally pull the plug (either drop to D-3 or just drop football but stay D-1 and add 85 scholarships' worth of new sports, which would be my preferred option).

We have no plan in the present that has a prayer of averting this scenario. The stated plan is, everything stays the same, but let's just be more aggressive about holding coaches accountable if they are not moving us toward consistent Top-25 rankings. Good luck with that. We can't get there from here.

Some people think if we could just get back to having a winning season, that could lead to stringing a few of those together, and that could lead to knocking off some big names, and then we'd be cooking with gas. I am here to say that at Rice, the conditions for such a progression are not and will not ever be present . . . unless I win the $1B prize in MegaMillions tonight! In which case I'll be dangling a 9-figure donation in Leebron's and Karlgaard's faces contingent on us implementing my long-advocated plan to go independent and play a P5-type schedule. But failing that or some other angel investor with a similarly audacious plan dropping out of the sky, Rice football's days are inexorably numbered.

I'm not convinced we can get anywhere either. We had a slim slim chance about a decade and a half ago but spent that decade+ watching CUSA crumble, the P5 get monstrous media deals and us get left behind while TCU (a team we used to whipsaw) moved up to the Big XII. But here we are.

The downside to waiting 30 years to have this moment of realization is that we would have spent a billion USD on this. One. Billion. A number so staggering compared to the negative ROI and zero interest that it continues to confound.

EDIT: And thats 1 billion projecting at the current rate. Add in inflation and our asymptomatic revenue decline curve, and the number is much larger.

(10-19-2018 05:17 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:11 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:01 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:29 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:16 PM)Antarius Wrote:  To the first part - that is my thought process. The people that hired and vetted Greenspan - some are still here. That includes people directly involved on the search committee, people who signed off directly such as Leebron and people who signed off indirectly, such as the BOT and donors who have influence.

It amazes me that such a gigantic cockup didn't result in everyone being summaririly removed from future hires (I mean, it amazes me conceptually, not actually given the crony nature of such operations). We still have people who screwed up then, screwed up with Braun with extending Bailiff with keeping Bailiff etc etc. around and making decisions. This callous zero consequence behavior keeps Rice stuck in a rut of bad decisions, no decisions and no real upward potential.

To the latter part, the above is part of the problem. We will be d1 zealots (while operating a program that carries the d1 title in name only) because the above decisionmakers do not exibhit any foresight with regards to athletics. All the hiring and firing decisions are after rock bottom when there is no option - not once in the last decade (save for Huston being fired and shockingly that was by Slick Rick) has Rice made a proactive decision relating to personnel. We aimlessly wander through an ever collapsing conference with no willingness to act either way.

Dropping to D3 should be an option on the table, but due to chronic incapable management, it isn't. Given that I haven't used an airline analogy in a long time, we are like Air India - a product no one wants and no one will invest in to make it better. Just a loss making mess that exists for the sake of existing.

But do you realize how amazingly unproductive it is to yell 'Heads. Roll. Must.' without specifics?

I will grant to you unerringly that past decisions have reflected very serious bad issues; perhaps even past 'non' decisions.

I think *everyone* involved with Rice Athletics realizes a problem has/had/might even still exists.

But from my perspective, not knowing the harsh back-facts, I cannot see how screaming (in a posting board manner) and channeling a Mdm DeFarge-esque "Off with their heads, *someones*, *anyones*" is in *any* way constructive.

Thus, the onus placed on you to seemingly 'name names' and 'name facts' as opposed to some revolutionary fervor for blood. Just saying....

I do realize that. At the same time, I do not think people involved with Rice Athletics really see the magnitude of the problem on hand - well, either that or they see it and don't give a damn/won't take any actions. We still had people here supporting the last regime as the ship sank. We had people touting Greenspan's "plan", we had people telling us that C-USA + MWC was as good as a P5... a slew of absolute nonsense that leads me to believe that we have successfully deluded ourselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right.

As for names, I know some - but not all. So listing off people who have influence but short of a full list is equally pointless. Nor am I interested in a nitpick squabble with OO either. To the above, the only list we need are the BOT members, as the buck stops there.

At the same time, Jeff Smisek, who was forced out by United for bribery, remains on the Rice BOT. It is abundantly clear that, in line with our behavior in Athletics, abdecation of responsibility is the modus operandi at Rice.

So the head rolling list is now Leebron and Smisek.

Damn, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of you.

I am reminded of a U. S. Senator who said he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department." But he never read the names into the record.

If we have a cabal who are actively trying to push rice into
D3 or worse, let's have the names and run them out. I would think you would want my support in this. But I cannot rail against this shadow conspiracy. Might as well blame the Templars.

If we have a core of people who are incompetent, let's run them out. But maybe a list of those we want out and their failures would help, else we just might as well fire everybody and let God sort them out.

If you are going to make accusations, be prepared to back them up.

Did you not see the BOT called out above? Or do I need to go copy paste each name for you over here from the list?

Hey, it's your conspiracy theory. I'm just amazed to find out the BOT is calling the plays.

(10-20-2018 12:25 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:17 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:11 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:01 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:29 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  But do you realize how amazingly unproductive it is to yell 'Heads. Roll. Must.' without specifics?

I will grant to you unerringly that past decisions have reflected very serious bad issues; perhaps even past 'non' decisions.

I think *everyone* involved with Rice Athletics realizes a problem has/had/might even still exists.

But from my perspective, not knowing the harsh back-facts, I cannot see how screaming (in a posting board manner) and channeling a Mdm DeFarge-esque "Off with their heads, *someones*, *anyones*" is in *any* way constructive.

Thus, the onus placed on you to seemingly 'name names' and 'name facts' as opposed to some revolutionary fervor for blood. Just saying....

I do realize that. At the same time, I do not think people involved with Rice Athletics really see the magnitude of the problem on hand - well, either that or they see it and don't give a damn/won't take any actions. We still had people here supporting the last regime as the ship sank. We had people touting Greenspan's "plan", we had people telling us that C-USA + MWC was as good as a P5... a slew of absolute nonsense that leads me to believe that we have successfully deluded ourselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right.

As for names, I know some - but not all. So listing off people who have influence but short of a full list is equally pointless. Nor am I interested in a nitpick squabble with OO either. To the above, the only list we need are the BOT members, as the buck stops there.

At the same time, Jeff Smisek, who was forced out by United for bribery, remains on the Rice BOT. It is abundantly clear that, in line with our behavior in Athletics, abdecation of responsibility is the modus operandi at Rice.

So the head rolling list is now Leebron and Smisek.

Damn, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of you.

I am reminded of a U. S. Senator who said he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department." But he never read the names into the record.

If we have a cabal who are actively trying to push rice into
D3 or worse, let's have the names and run them out. I would think you would want my support in this. But I cannot rail against this shadow conspiracy. Might as well blame the Templars.

If we have a core of people who are incompetent, let's run them out. But maybe a list of those we want out and their failures would help, else we just might as well fire everybody and let God sort them out.

If you are going to make accusations, be prepared to back them up.

Did you not see the BOT called out above? Or do I need to go copy paste each name for you over here from the list?

Hey, it's your conspiracy theory. I'm just amazed to find out the BOT is calling the plays.

If that's the takeaway, you're being dense on purpose.

So here is MY question....

If our focus is squarely on the value of our undergraduate education, then why is there no mention of our ranking for undergraduate education (which iirc is #3, ahead of a number of 'names') anywhere?

Interesting...while Rice has seemingly done most everything it can to kill football, another Texas school sees things differently. UT-Arlington looking into restarting football:

linky: https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college...-disbanded


The Odessa Permian sideline at UTA's Maverick Stadium during the Class 6A Division I area-round playoff game in Arlington, Texas, on November 24, 2017. (Michael Ainsworth/Special Contributor)

(11-10-2018 11:27 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  RE: Transformation vs Incrementalism

Not sure we're making progress on either of these big 2 right now.

Time to retire this tired old thread.

It's still relevant to our current situation, especially in football. At season's start, it definitely looked like we had some momentum. Most were pleased/impressed by the game-play and optics of what we did with UH. it looked like we had a chance to take a decent sized step forward this season under our new head coach. Further in to the season, several of the complains against the former coach have surfaced with surprising regularity in the game threads.

I believe some can see some places of progress during the games, and special teams overall seem a lot better (or less worse) than they have appeared recently. But my concern is that any incremental change forward appears to have stalled at best, or turned back some. A lot of this seems due to the QB situation. I do think coach Bloom seems to be more concerned with future seasons at the moment and so may be sacrificing this year more than many would appear to like. That's understandable, and also that as he has gotten to know these Bailiff recruited players' abilities better he has decided to push forward to his changes at possibly some of their expense. One gets the feeling not many of the current players would have been recruited by Coach Bloom.

It a difficult thing to watch, and he's still too new to really determine if his approach and decisions will put us on the track of being more successful overall down the road. A change was definitely needed, years before it happened in many people's apparent opinions, but a change was finally made. Whether it was the right one will take some time to know.

Now in Men's hoops, so far Coach Pera's second season looks a tiny it brighter potentially than some thought at last season's end. His freshmen seem a step better than in recent years' past. It seems he is making incremental progress toward winning and building something good. The transfer thing looms large as per usual recently and that may be his biggest hurdle into whether he can step up to a Basketball transformation, or just eke up to .500 some day and then fade back.

I'm hopeful one or better both of these coaches will pan out higher than things look right now. Women's hoops has the current highest upside, but would need to be sustained for many consecutive years at a very high level to begin to help contribute to a transformed image for some of Rice athletics. I'm hoping it does.

Whether these factors turn the tide for Rice athletics is and will continue to be an ongoing question. So I'll keep bringing it up occasionally as we mark the time. Meantime, it appears you have transformed from OptimisticOwl to RatherPessimisticOwl. Perhaps that can change incrementally back the other way in time.

(11-13-2018 02:11 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  One gets the feeling not many of the current players would have been recruited by Coach Bloom.

Here's an interesting line of questioning for the board's analysis/perspective:

Many of you are former players--some recent and some longer ago. How many of you, in ANY sport, experienced a head coaching change during your tenure at Rice? What was that like for you, personally, and in your opinion for others you played with, and for your team(s) overall? In light of your answers to the above, how does that color what you are seeing currently with our various new coaches? Thanks!

(11-13-2018 02:11 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  So I'll keep bringing it up occasionally as we mark the time. Meantime, it appears you have transformed from OptimisticOwl to RatherPessimisticOwl. Perhaps that can change incrementally back the other way in time.

I was always pessimistic that just firing Bailiff and putting another body in his office would make a difference. i was pessimistic that it would just be the beginning of a thrice a decade head coach change, a la the 70-80's. Looks like that is where we are going. So far, nothing indicates I was wrong. people are saying give him three years, then we'll plug in another coach. Three years here, three years there, pretty soon you have some real time wasted.

At my age (73) I think I will never never see Rice find a coach who can bring us success and respect. I think Bloom is a one-outer(GO will understand the reference).

What I feared is coming to pass.

Now, in 56 years as an Owl, I have one conference championship to enjoy. I went 40+ years without a bowl. You guys didn't enjoy the 2006-2014 time period. I did.

Some will say I want bailiff back. That is their kneejerk reaction. No. He had his chance, and he failed. I do thank him for that CC and those bowls. I wonder if we will ever have that same level of success again in my lifetime. I doubt it.

We had an AD, Bobby May, who under the most trying of circumstances, brought us Goldsmith, Hatfield, and Wayne Graham. Since then, not much.

Yeah, i am pessimistic. About Rice athletics and about our fan base.

But this incrementalism/transformationalism stuff isn't helping.

We have a chance for this 2018 to set a Rice record for losses - 12. Hope not. But some people think Bloom has tossed the idea of winning this year out the window in exchange for some practice time for his underclassmen. I hate the idea of not trying to win. I think every coach we ever had tried to win. I hope Bloom is trying to win.

Bloomgren is an unmitigated disaster.

(11-13-2018 06:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Bloomgren is an unmitigated disaster.

So whom would you like to see instead?

Fact check: OO, not one but TWO conference championships in the last 56 years

Third option to the OP: How about Teleportation?

(11-13-2018 08:40 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fact check: OO, not one but TWO conference championships in the last 56 years

True, technically, the 5 way tie with us at 5-6 and the real champ ineligible. Somehow, that is not as satisfying as the win on the field in 2013.

But you are right. It is two. And I think we shall never see another. Not at this rate.

But we'll always have 2013.

One thing about going independent - you never have to worry about winning the conference.

(11-13-2018 07:24 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 06:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Bloomgren is an unmitigated disaster.

So whom would you like to see instead?

Simply pointing out the obvious will not obligate me to coming up with an alternative.

As I referenced before, the rosters of conference teams are not filled with 4 and 5 star recruits. In a situation such as this, there is a relatively even playing field when it comes to talent (particularly when compared with the talent level of a typical P5 team).

Therefore, in this league, coaching makes a world of difference. But, when a team such as ODU can defeat North Texas, it becomes clear that to there is not a great gulf in talent level. With that in mind, it is astonishing that Rice not only has not won a conference game, but with the exception of a portion of the second half against lowly UTEP, has not been at all competitive.

Only a poorly coached team could have results this bad, especially in the worst conference in FBS football.

(11-13-2018 11:12 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 08:40 PM)owl at the moon Wrote:  Fact check: OO, not one but TWO conference championships in the last 56 years

True, technically, the 5 way tie with us at 5-6 and the real champ ineligible. Somehow, that is not as satisfying as the win on the field in 2013.

But you are right. It is two. And I think we shall never see another. Not at this rate.

But we'll always have 2013.

One thing about going independent - you never have to worry about winning the conference.

But more satisfying than being division co-champs in 2008 AND the only team with one or fewer CUSA losses that year. I think we should claim a third championship.

(11-14-2018 02:40 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 07:24 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 06:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Bloomgren is an unmitigated disaster.

So whom would you like to see instead?

Simply pointing out the obvious will not obligate me to coming up with an alternative.

Perhaps not, but it is kind of chicken**** to criticize so stridently without even pretending to have an alternative. Or maybe your approach is just to piss and moan about everything without bothering to try to be constructive.

(10-20-2018 12:25 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:17 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:11 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 05:01 PM)Antarius Wrote:  

(10-19-2018 12:29 PM)tanqtonic Wrote:  But do you realize how amazingly unproductive it is to yell 'Heads. Roll. Must.' without specifics?
I will grant to you unerringly that past decisions have reflected very serious bad issues; perhaps even past 'non' decisions.
I think *everyone* involved with Rice Athletics realizes a problem has/had/might even still exists.
But from my perspective, not knowing the harsh back-facts, I cannot see how screaming (in a posting board manner) and channeling a Mdm DeFarge-esque "Off with their heads, *someones*, *anyones*" is in *any* way constructive.
Thus, the onus placed on you to seemingly 'name names' and 'name facts' as opposed to some revolutionary fervor for blood. Just saying....

I do realize that. At the same time, I do not think people involved with Rice Athletics really see the magnitude of the problem on hand - well, either that or they see it and don't give a damn/won't take any actions. We still had people here supporting the last regime as the ship sank. We had people touting Greenspan's "plan", we had people telling us that C-USA + MWC was as good as a P5... a slew of absolute nonsense that leads me to believe that we have successfully deluded ourselves into thinking everything will somehow be all right.
As for names, I know some - but not all. So listing off people who have influence but short of a full list is equally pointless. Nor am I interested in a nitpick squabble with OO either. To the above, the only list we need are the BOT members, as the buck stops there.
At the same time, Jeff Smisek, who was forced out by United for bribery, remains on the Rice BOT. It is abundantly clear that, in line with our behavior in Athletics, abdecation of responsibility is the modus operandi at Rice.

So the head rolling list is now Leebron and Smisek.
Damn, it's like pulling teeth to get a straight answer out of you.
I am reminded of a U. S. Senator who said he had a list of "members of the Communist Party and members of a spy ring" who were employed in the State Department." But he never read the names into the record.
If we have a cabal who are actively trying to push rice into
D3 or worse, let's have the names and run them out. I would think you would want my support in this. But I cannot rail against this shadow conspiracy. Might as well blame the Templars.
If we have a core of people who are incompetent, let's run them out. But maybe a list of those we want out and their failures would help, else we just might as well fire everybody and let God sort them out.
If you are going to make accusations, be prepared to back them up.

Did you not see the BOT called out above? Or do I need to go copy paste each name for you over here from the list?

Hey, it's your conspiracy theory. I'm just amazed to find out the BOT is calling the plays.

From my conversations with a number of board members over the years, I have gotten the distinct impression that at least a sizable portion of the BOT would be ecstatic to see Rice football averaging 10 wins a year and playing to full houses in Rice Stadium, with at least the occasional G5 slot in the New Year’s Six bowls. But they’re not micro managers and most of them know little or nothing about running an athletic program. Moreover, that’s not the only, or even primary, concern for most if not all of them. They rely on hired hands to run things, make day to day decisions, and present them with plans for improvement. For 50 years, those hired hands have failed to come up with solutions to the problems. So we have drifted along, alternating between slowly getting worse and quickly getting worse. The program was salvageable into the 1990s. I just don’t know any more. I do know this—finishing last in CUSA is a far cry from finishing last in the SWC, and definitely what we need.

(11-14-2018 07:22 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-14-2018 02:40 AM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 07:24 PM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(11-13-2018 06:48 PM)WRCisforgotten79 Wrote:  Bloomgren is an unmitigated disaster.

So whom would you like to see instead?

Simply pointing out the obvious will not obligate me to coming up with an alternative.

Perhaps not, but it is kind of chicken**** to criticize so stridently without even pretending to have an alternative. Or maybe your approach is just to piss and moan about everything without bothering to try to be constructive.

At least I go to games, rather than ignorantly pontificate from Huntsville, as do some "know-it-all" posters.