(09-15-2016 06:33 AM)chuckk3 Wrote:  We have enjoyed our games with Rice also. You guys are terrific conference mates, and a classy bunch. We'd definitely miss you.

Thanks. I have several friends who went to Tech.

I know we feel CUSA isn't the right match for us, but I've seen posts from fans on other sites stating what an honor it is to be in the same conference as Rice. That should be appreciated.

(09-15-2016 08:05 AM)JSA Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 06:33 AM)chuckk3 Wrote:  We have enjoyed our games with Rice also. You guys are terrific conference mates, and a classy bunch. We'd definitely miss you.

Thanks. I have several friends who went to Tech.

I know we feel CUSA isn't the right match for us, but I've seen posts from fans on other sites stating what an honor it is to be in the same conference as Rice. That should be appreciated.

Yep. As much as I think the AAC is a better match for us institutionally, I enjoy the CUSA board and find the AAC one insufferable. And not just because the former seems to appreciate us a lot more. AAC fans seem to have a serious case of status insecurity. I guess if we move there I'll have to stop calling it the Hyacinth Bucket conference...

(09-15-2016 09:37 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 08:05 AM)JSA Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 06:33 AM)chuckk3 Wrote:  We have enjoyed our games with Rice also. You guys are terrific conference mates, and a classy bunch. We'd definitely miss you.

Thanks. I have several friends who went to Tech.

I know we feel CUSA isn't the right match for us, but I've seen posts from fans on other sites stating what an honor it is to be in the same conference as Rice. That should be appreciated.

Yep. As much as I think the AAC is a better match for us institutionally, I enjoy the CUSA board and find the AAC one insufferable. And not just because the former seems to appreciate us a lot more. AAC fans seem to have a serious case of status insecurity. I guess if we move there I'll have to stop calling it the Hyacinth Bucket conference...

If you think the AAC board is insufferable, take a look at mwcboard.com.

(And I don't disagree with you re: the AAC board.)

(09-15-2016 09:37 AM)JustAnotherAustinOwl Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 08:05 AM)JSA Wrote:  

(09-15-2016 06:33 AM)chuckk3 Wrote:  We have enjoyed our games with Rice also. You guys are terrific conference mates, and a classy bunch. We'd definitely miss you.

Thanks. I have several friends who went to Tech.

I know we feel CUSA isn't the right match for us, but I've seen posts from fans on other sites stating what an honor it is to be in the same conference as Rice. That should be appreciated.

Yep. As much as I think the AAC is a better match for us institutionally, I enjoy the CUSA board and find the AAC one insufferable. And not just because the former seems to appreciate us a lot more. AAC fans seem to have a serious case of status insecurity. I guess if we move there I'll have to stop calling it the Hyacinth Bucket conference...

That's Bou-quet.

(09-14-2016 12:35 PM)raptorsareout Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 11:32 AM)Bailiff_Lingo_Bingo Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 09:35 AM)raptorsareout Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 02:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-13-2016 10:06 PM)Owl1912 Wrote:  Any of the three would be a huge plus for Rice. My rank as best outcome for us is:
1) Big 12
2) AAC
3) Mt West
78) staying in CUSA

Agree 100%, but I'd move CUSA "outside the Top 100".

I'd miss playing Louisiana Tech though. They have a good program and we're developing a rivalry

Rivalry? Because we played (lost to) them a handful of times?

We've played a lot of good games against those guys since the SWC broke up. Remember that 2003 heartbreaker? They're the only team I'd miss playing from CUSA.

Not 2003. It was 2001.

(09-14-2016 12:35 PM)raptorsareout Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 11:32 AM)Bailiff_Lingo_Bingo Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 09:35 AM)raptorsareout Wrote:  

(09-14-2016 02:07 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(09-13-2016 10:06 PM)Owl1912 Wrote:  Any of the three would be a huge plus for Rice. My rank as best outcome for us is:
1) Big 12
2) AAC
3) Mt West
78) staying in CUSA

Agree 100%, but I'd move CUSA "outside the Top 100".

I'd miss playing Louisiana Tech though. They have a good program and we're developing a rivalry

Rivalry? Because we played (lost to) them a handful of times?

We've played a lot of good games against those guys since the SWC broke up. Remember that 2003 heartbreaker? They're the only team I'd miss playing from CUSA.

I think LaTech and SMiss are two that I'd miss. That said, I don't think Rice should schedule games against teams that rely on one-and-done players that don't care about school. I don't think there's any benefit to it, and it was pretty clear to me after going to Ruston two years ago that neither the players nor fans cared a lick about players going to class. This is part of the reason that I hate being in CUSA with what are mostly Sunbelt conference schools. Rice is playing against a mix of players - some of whom are good enough to play for P5 schools but are not good enough academically to qualify for those schools, and some of whom did play for P5 schools but left because of issues that may be academic or playing time related. Playing in the Sunbelt - by any name - is death for Rice football because it's bad for Rice's recruiting and the four-year student-athlete model is no longer the norm for the conference.

Yeah I agree with that, and trust me, I'd quickly get over not playing Louisiana Tech every year if we went to the MWC.