Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
Author Message
owlman70 Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 616
Joined: Jun 2007
Reputation: 17
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: West U - Houston

Football GeniusNew Orleans Bowl
Post: #1
To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
Wondering why I should continue to show my support of Owls football program by buying season tickets this year.

I am a longtime fan and have bought them for over 35 years, but am hesitant to invest another year in the DB regime.

Seems that the only small way to show my displeasure and frustration is through cancellation of my tickets.

Any comments or counter-arguments I should consider?

Rice Fight Never Dies !
07-26-2017 08:10 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


waltgreenberg Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 33,146
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation: 138
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: Chicago

The Parliament Awards
Post: #2
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I feel your pain, and was in the exact same boat. I sent a message to JK and the athletic department by holding out (and they all knew why I was doing it, and what my beefs were). However, i finally gave in last week with the "Beat the Heat" promo last week, and got my season tickets (but not my renewed seats) for $90. Given I'm likely going to make it down for only 1 - 2 games, and I spend much of my time up in the Stadium Club, the actual seat locations are almost irrelevant to me.
07-26-2017 09:51 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
jhruzek Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,612
Joined: May 2013
Reputation: 10
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: Houston
Post: #3
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I am more optimistic this year than last. With the new defensive scheme, large O line, strong RB depth, I think we will surprise some folks. I don't know if we can make it back to a bowl, but I expect more wins than most predict. Now where did I put my rose colored glasses and Koolaid...
(This post was last modified: 07-26-2017 10:35 PM by jhruzek.)
07-26-2017 10:18 PM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Rick Gerlach Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 5,529
Joined: Jun 2005
Reputation: 70
I Root For:
Location:

The Parliament AwardsCrappiesNew Orleans Bowl
Post: #4
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-26-2017 10:18 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I am more optimistic this year than last. With the new defensive scheme, large O line, strong RB depth, I think we will surprise some folks. I don't know if we can make it back to a bowl, but I expect more wins than most predict. Now where did I put my rose colored glasses and Koolaid...

I think the new defensive coaches and the new defensive scheme are interesting at least. There's certainly reason to hope the defense will be improved this year, and if that's the case, there's hope that the team will improve on their record the past 2 years.

Bailiff has had good records when he's had talented players. The question will be whether the current players have gained sufficient size and strength and whether any of the new players can step right in and contribute.

It's July and there's plenty of room for hope at this point. Whether there's enough hope to justify season tickets is an individual decision.
07-26-2017 10:42 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Tomball Owl Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 12,293
Joined: Oct 2005
Reputation: 71
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: Comal County
Post: #5
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-26-2017 08:10 PM)owlman70 Wrote:  Wondering why I should continue to show my support of Owls football program by buying season tickets this year.

I am a longtime fan and have bought them for over 35 years, but am hesitant to invest another year in the DB regime.

Seems that the only small way to show my displeasure and frustration is through cancellation of my tickets.

Any comments or counter-arguments I should consider?

Rice Fight Never Dies !

ESPN is giving the Owls a 1.7% chance if defeating Stanford. Does that help your decision?

BTW - I renewed.
07-27-2017 12:00 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
greyowl72 Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 5,643
Joined: Apr 2008
Reputation: 60
I Root For: Rice
Location: Permanent Basement
Post: #6
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I have a very low bar for measuring success this season. I'm optimistic our defense will be improved. I'm hopeful that our offense is more imaginative.
I'll be relatively satisfied if we are at least competitive against teams that have cleaned our clocks the past 2 seasons... LaTech, USM, Stanford etc.
I'm looking at this season as a prelude to a winning season in 2018.
I renewed.
07-27-2017 09:21 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


waltgreenberg Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 33,146
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation: 138
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: Chicago

The Parliament Awards
Post: #7
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-27-2017 09:21 AM)greyowl72 Wrote:  I have a very low bar for measuring success this season. I'm optimistic our defense will be improved. I'm hopeful that our offense is more imaginative.
I'll be relatively satisfied if we are at least competitive against teams that have cleaned our clocks the past 2 seasons... LaTech, USM, Stanford etc.
I'm looking at this season as a prelude to a winning season in 2018.
I renewed.

??? Even in Bailiff's best seasons we have not been competitive with teams ranked inside the Top 75 (with only one or two exceptions).
07-27-2017 09:26 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Owl 69/70/75 Offline
Just an old rugby coach
*

Posts: 80,655
Joined: Sep 2005
Reputation: 3192
I Root For: RiceBathChelsea
Location: Montgomery, TX

DonatorsNew Orleans Bowl
Post: #8
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I think it's a indication of something, just not sure what, that as I sit here reading this thread I don't know whether I've bought them or not.
07-27-2017 09:57 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
OptimisticOwl Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 58,540
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation: 854
I Root For: Rice
Location: DFW Metroplex

The Parliament AwardsNew Orleans BowlFootball GeniusCrappiesDonatorsDonators
Post: #9
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
Simple. If you think your nonrenewal will hasten the departure of Bailiff and the arrival of Coach Whozat, don't renew.

otherwise, renew.

(Based on the assumption that Bailiff is the critical factor in a judgement to renew or not renew)
07-27-2017 10:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
illiniowl Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,162
Joined: Dec 2006
Reputation: 77
I Root For:
Location:
Post: #10
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
No need to agonize over this decision IMO. Rice is gonna Rice no matter what you do with your tickets.

The athletic budget is around $35M. Rice subsidizes most of that and IIRC ticket sales (across all sports, not just FB) account for maybe just 10%. Upticks and downticks in that number don't cause enough economic pressure to affect decision making. Rice doesn't run the athletic department with profit in mind, anyway; the ambition of our athletic program is driven by much larger, institutional-level concerns such as: What level of athletic program (starting with football) is it beneficial for a first-and-foremost elite academic institution to maintain? Or even appropriate to have?

Stanford, Notre Dame, Northwestern, et al., have answered those questions one way. UChicago, MIT, Caltech, et al., have answered another way. We, ahem, appear to be alone amongst our peers (unless we're now considering Tulane a peer 05-stirthepot) in pursuing a wholly unsatisfying third way. To the extent you would like to influence that decision making, I'd suggest (assuming a nine-figure donation is out of the question) writing emails or otherwise lobbying the powers that be at Rice. (And good luck with that.)

In the meanwhile, buy tickets and go to games -- or not -- as you wish. If you enjoy fall Saturdays on campus, great! If you like the MOB, if you like tailgating with friends, if you just love watching football no matter the level . . . if you can enjoy our games for what they are, and the fact that they are inconsequential, lower-division contests against schools we have nothing in common with does not detract from that, then why deny yourself those pleasures to send a message that will never even be felt? Heck, for that matter, if you want to go in a different direction coaching-wise, buy tickets so you can boo DB and staff - that is frankly more likely to be noticed than one more empty seat in a veritable sea of them.

Sorry to be so cynical, but 30 years of attendance and alumnihood have convinced me that to the extent Rice even notices ticket sales fluctuations, it interprets dwindling interest as justification to not upgrade the athletic program, and interprets rising interest as justification to stay the course . . . i.e., not upgrading the athletic program.
07-27-2017 10:23 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
greyowl72 Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 5,643
Joined: Apr 2008
Reputation: 60
I Root For: Rice
Location: Permanent Basement
Post: #11
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-27-2017 09:26 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  
(07-27-2017 09:21 AM)greyowl72 Wrote:  I have a very low bar for measuring success this season. I'm optimistic our defense will be improved. I'm hopeful that our offense is more imaginative.
I'll be relatively satisfied if we are at least competitive against teams that have cleaned our clocks the past 2 seasons... LaTech, USM, Stanford etc.
I'm looking at this season as a prelude to a winning season in 2018.
I renewed.

??? Even in Bailiff's best seasons we have not been competitive with teams ranked inside the Top 75 (with only one or two exceptions).

As I said... I have a low bar for success this season.
I don't think we wil beat any of those teams I mentioned. I just want us to look like we belong on the same field as they do. Competitive. More than 3 wins? 3-5 wins? Wow. 6 wins... a dream.
As for Bailiff, well I'm from the school of "let's not beat a dead horse". I've got nothing to add to the unending argument.
The season is in his hands.
07-27-2017 11:03 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


tanqtonic Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 19,112
Joined: Nov 2016
Reputation: 775
I Root For: rice
Location:
Post: #12
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I will count 3 wins as a minor success of staying to expectations. 4 wins will be positive. Anything over 4 wins and I'll be downright giddy.

2 wins and I will count it as a failure. Too bad the expectation of wins is so low, which means the corresponding cliff to the downside is that much steeper....
07-27-2017 12:11 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
loki_the_bubba Offline
Heisman
*

Posts: 5,697
Joined: Jul 2010
Reputation: 701
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location:
Post: #13
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
I'm a sucker. Just bought our season tickets plus the UH game since wife is an alum.
07-27-2017 12:31 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
franklyconfused Online
Special Teams
*

Posts: 948
Joined: Nov 2015
Reputation: 16
I Root For: Rice
Location: Houston
Post: #14
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
Somebody in the department called me to renew a few months ago (March/April?). I declined and, when asked, cited the retention of the coaching staff. I can't have much more impact than that while I'm still paying off student loans and living a couple thousand miles away.
07-27-2017 08:35 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
OptimisticOwl Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 58,540
Joined: Apr 2005
Reputation: 854
I Root For: Rice
Location: DFW Metroplex

The Parliament AwardsNew Orleans BowlFootball GeniusCrappiesDonatorsDonators
Post: #15
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-27-2017 08:35 PM)franklyconfused Wrote:  Somebody in the department called me to renew a few months ago (March/April?). I declined and, when asked, cited the retention of the coaching staff. I can't have much more impact than that while I'm still paying off student loans and living a couple thousand miles away.

Just curious, but if you were still paying off student loans and living a couple of thousand miles away, but we had a new coach who brought in a new slate of assistants, would you renew?

Frankly, I don't expect Bailiff to be around much longer, and I wonder how many people we can expect to get season tickets when we hire a new guy.
07-27-2017 08:54 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
SaintsOwl Offline
2nd String
*

Posts: 455
Joined: Nov 2014
Reputation: 4
I Root For: Rice
Location:
Post: #16
To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-26-2017 10:42 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  
(07-26-2017 10:18 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I am more optimistic this year than last. With the new defensive scheme, large O line, strong RB depth, I think we will surprise some folks. I don't know if we can make it back to a bowl, but I expect more wins than most predict. Now where did I put my rose colored glasses and Koolaid...

I think the new defensive coaches and the new defensive scheme are interesting at least. There's certainly reason to hope the defense will be improved this year, and if that's the case, there's hope that the team will improve on their record the past 2 years.

Bailiff has had good records when he's had talented players. The question will be whether the current players have gained sufficient size and strength and whether any of the new players can step right in and contribute.

It's July and there's plenty of room for hope at this point. Whether there's enough hope to justify season tickets is an individual decision.

Most coaches have good records when they have talented players right?

I did not renew my tickets. Difficult to go see Bailiff clapping. I'm only looking forward to his excuses and quotes. He's the best at it.
07-28-2017 08:12 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


franklyconfused Online
Special Teams
*

Posts: 948
Joined: Nov 2015
Reputation: 16
I Root For: Rice
Location: Houston
Post: #17
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-27-2017 08:54 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  
(07-27-2017 08:35 PM)franklyconfused Wrote:  Somebody in the department called me to renew a few months ago (March/April?). I declined and, when asked, cited the retention of the coaching staff. I can't have much more impact than that while I'm still paying off student loans and living a couple thousand miles away.

Just curious, but if you were still paying off student loans and living a couple of thousand miles away, but we had a new coach who brought in a new slate of assistants, would you renew?

Frankly, I don't expect Bailiff to be around much longer, and I wonder how many people we can expect to get season tickets when we hire a new guy.

I would have bought as a show of support for the new staff unless it were an egregiously terrible hire (like straight from HS coaching or an unreformed disgrace like Tim Beckman). The cost of the tickets isn't the problem; I budgeted this for the year, and I'm still saving the same as if I did buy this year. I meant to suggest that I won't be able to make a donation large enough for my opinion to have any weight while I'm still working off the loans. I show up as a downtick in ticket statistics, and I suppose/hope they analyze reasons people didn't renew. I haven't been contacted since even though I made an Owl Club donation in the end of fiscal year drive, so they did record my complaint.
07-28-2017 08:13 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
owlman70 Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 616
Joined: Jun 2007
Reputation: 17
I Root For: Rice Owls
Location: West U - Houston

Football GeniusNew Orleans Bowl
Post: #18
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-28-2017 08:12 PM)SaintsOwl Wrote:  
(07-26-2017 10:42 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  
(07-26-2017 10:18 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I am more optimistic this year than last. With the new defensive scheme, large O line, strong RB depth, I think we will surprise some folks. I don't know if we can make it back to a bowl, but I expect more wins than most predict. Now where did I put my rose colored glasses and Koolaid...

I think the new defensive coaches and the new defensive scheme are interesting at least. There's certainly reason to hope the defense will be improved this year, and if that's the case, there's hope that the team will improve on their record the past 2 years.

Bailiff has had good records when he's had talented players. The question will be whether the current players have gained sufficient size and strength and whether any of the new players can step right in and contribute.

It's July and there's plenty of room for hope at this point. Whether there's enough hope to justify season tickets is an individual decision.

Most coaches have good records when they have talented players right?

I did not renew my tickets. Difficult to go see Bailiff clapping. I'm only looking forward to his excuses and quotes. He's the best at it.

I think the persistent clapping and the previous meerkatting pushed me over the edge.
07-29-2017 12:14 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
75src Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,591
Joined: Mar 2009
Reputation: 25
I Root For: Rice
Location:
Post: #19
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
Bought a season ticket but have dropped down to general admission the last 2 years. Been a Rice fan since around 1960 so hard to give it up even though it is a disappointment the downward direction of the program since then. I do not see much of a future if we stay stuck in a minor conference but I might not be around to see the very end of it.
07-29-2017 01:54 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
tanqtonic Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 19,112
Joined: Nov 2016
Reputation: 775
I Root For: rice
Location:
Post: #20
RE: To Buy or Not to Buy - FB Season Tickets
(07-29-2017 12:14 AM)owlman70 Wrote:  
(07-28-2017 08:12 PM)SaintsOwl Wrote:  
(07-26-2017 10:42 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  
(07-26-2017 10:18 PM)jhruzek Wrote:  I am more optimistic this year than last. With the new defensive scheme, large O line, strong RB depth, I think we will surprise some folks. I don't know if we can make it back to a bowl, but I expect more wins than most predict. Now where did I put my rose colored glasses and Koolaid...

I think the new defensive coaches and the new defensive scheme are interesting at least. There's certainly reason to hope the defense will be improved this year, and if that's the case, there's hope that the team will improve on their record the past 2 years.

Bailiff has had good records when he's had talented players. The question will be whether the current players have gained sufficient size and strength and whether any of the new players can step right in and contribute.

It's July and there's plenty of room for hope at this point. Whether there's enough hope to justify season tickets is an individual decision.

Most coaches have good records when they have talented players right?

I did not renew my tickets. Difficult to go see Bailiff clapping. I'm only looking forward to his excuses and quotes. He's the best at it.

I think the persistent clapping and the previous meerkatting pushed me over the edge.

If I want to see high school level coaching and clapping, I think I will just head over to Austin High this fall to see that.

If I want to see well coached efforts, I'll go watch Westlake or Cedar Park.

I made day trips to see almost all the Rice games last year. No way in hell I will do that this year; nor will that effort or monies head that way either.

Thought about doing the season ticket thing just to give a show of support even if I didn't make the day trips, but there are other Rice endeavors that can actually be productive with those some expenditures.

I might head down to Homecoming, but if I do I'll buy a ticket the day of.
07-30-2017 01:06 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.