After taking the whole off-season off (bed-rest and psychoanalysis after the 2018 sports year results), DSE and I are back for another year. First started this site in 1998; can't believe it's been 22 years. I'd figured that eventually the internet would foster more and more independent sources of Rice football information, both verbal and visual, and it's come around to that, pretty much, at last. The thought was that eventually Ricefootball.net would turn into what was mainly an aggregation site, pointing people toward multifarious Rice football info sources. Of recent, we've gotten Matt's roost site as an outstanding addition; on that I think we can all agree. Some have chided him as being a bit too much on the optimistic side, but I think he's pretty well right on target. Our recruits read this stuff. Our players' moms, dads and girlfriends read this stuff.

Also, Chuck's staff has gradually morphed into a news provider for Rice sports, rather than just the old SID cliche of stats and touts. It's really a huge task; I don't know whether all of y'all realize the effort that they've been putting in, being in the position of both news creation and general publicity.

(Slightly off topic, but do youall think that RiceOwls.com's current layout is a bit confusing and makes it more different to dig the meat out of the claws? It seems to be designed for smartphones as opposed to full-screen viewers. But apparently it's an imperative; it's a nod to the Millenials. (Matt says that typically a good 80 percent of views come from smartphones on sites like roost, but for roost itself, it's more like 60 per cent. That says something. I think it says a lot of us Owl fans of a certain age are becoming the Old Geezers of the internet world.)

Thing is, in all cases, we need to respond with clicks, clicks and more clicks. Same goes for Glynn Hill's stuff at the Chronicle. We've talked about this before on occasion, but we really need to click and comment. Matt wants comment as well; and I sense that's been his only significant disappointment in running the roost; that is, paucity of feedback and commentary.

So Ricefootball.net is trying to more into that more-of-an-aggregator role, including links to all significant stories and shorts that Matt and RiceOwls.com put up; while scouring the web for the occasional Underdog Dynasty-type story and the like, not to mention postings from media covering the opponent of the week.

Yet David and I plan to attend every road game, at this point, for the usual photos and postgame locker room presser. But the only time I'll plan to do a game writeup is when we don't have any kind of media coverage (other than RiceOwls.com). Instead we'll attempt a greater effort at digging and out and linking worthwhile media coverage from other sources. And will direct you to link conveniently and from one spot, to Matt's stuff and the SID staff's stuff (Chuck writes most of the football coverage himself, which is a labor of love because he's got, you know, like a few thousand other things to do as well.)

So if we can safely assume that we're at a critical crossroads or junction or whatever, regarding the future of Rice football, and Rice sports in general, this is just an invitation to be as active, and pro-active as you can. Not suggesting rah-rah pollyanna, just sayin' we all need to pull as much weight as we can....

And that's what Speed and I are trying to do...so let's come on and click away...

(08-11-2019 08:52 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  After taking the whole off-season off (bed-rest and psychoanalysis after the 2018 sports year results), DSE and I are back for another year. First started this site in 1998; can't believe it's been 22 years. I'd figured that eventually the internet would foster more and more independent sources of Rice football information, both verbal and visual, and it's come around to that, pretty much, at last. The thought was that eventually Ricefootball.net would turn into what was mainly an aggregation site, pointing people toward multifarious Rice football info sources. Of recent, we've gotten Matt's roost site as an outstanding addition; on that I think we can all agree. Some have chided him as being a bit too much on the optimistic side, but I think he's pretty well right on target. Our recruits read this stuff. Our players' moms, dads and girlfriends read this stuff.

Also, Chuck's staff has gradually morphed into a news provider for Rice sports, rather than just the old SID cliche of stats and touts. It's really a huge task; I don't know whether all of y'all realize the effort that they've been putting in, being in the position of both news creation and general publicity.

(Slightly off topic, but do youall think that RiceOwls.com's current layout is a bit confusing and makes it more different to dig the meat out of the claws? It seems to be designed for smartphones as opposed to full-screen viewers. But apparently it's an imperative; it's a nod to the Millenials. (Matt says that typically a good 80 percent of views come from smartphones on sites like roost, but for roost itself, it's more like 60 per cent. That says something. I think it says a lot of us Owl fans of a certain age are becoming the Old Geezers of the internet world.)

Thing is, in all cases, we need to respond with clicks, clicks and more clicks. Same goes for Glynn Hill's stuff at the Chronicle. We've talked about this before on occasion, but we really need to click and comment. Matt wants comment as well; and I sense that's been his only significant disappointment in running the roost; that is, paucity of feedback and commentary.

So Ricefootball.net is trying to more into that more-of-an-aggregator role, including links to all significant stories and shorts that Matt and RiceOwls.com put up; while scouring the web for the occasional Underdog Dynasty-type story and the like, not to mention postings from media covering the opponent of the week.

Yet David and I plan to attend every road game, at this point, for the usual photos and postgame locker room presser. But the only time I'll plan to do a game writeup is when we don't have any kind of media coverage (other than RiceOwls.com). Instead we'll attempt a greater effort at digging and out and linking worthwhile media coverage from other sources. And will direct you to link conveniently and from one spot, to Matt's stuff and the SID staff's stuff (Chuck writes most of the football coverage himself, which is a labor of love because he's got, you know, like a few thousand other things to do as well.)

So if we can safely assume that we're at a critical crossroads or junction or whatever, regarding the future of Rice football, and Rice sports in general, this is just an invitation to be as active, and pro-active as you can. Not suggesting rah-rah pollyanna, just sayin' we all need to pull as much weight as we can....

And that's what Speed and I are trying to do...so let's come on and click away...

I especially like your YouTube video interviews.

You do an amazing job. Your devotion to your task never ceases to amaze me.

And you are right to complement Chuck. Our SIDs have never gotten the support they need--Bill Whitmore, Bill Cousins, and Chuck--and have done truly amazing work under the circumstances for decades.

Welcome back. Glad to hear your health is improving (mental and physical).

I agree with you on the new riceowls.com layout - I particularly dislike how hard it is now to find stats for the various teams. That should be a primary link along with a team's schedule, roster and news IMO.

Isn’t the RiceOwls.com layout a common platform that CUSA uses?

I agree it is not particularly user friendly.

PTH - Glad to have you back in the saddle! Aggregating the information about the Owls upcoming opponents (and other newspaper coverage of the Owls) is just one of the many great things you do on your site. I greatly appreciate all of your hard work and love for the game, university and city.

(08-12-2019 08:56 AM)Kayjay Wrote:  PTH - Glad to have you back in the saddle! Aggregating the information about the Owls upcoming opponents (and other newspaper coverage of the Owls) is just one of the many great things you do on your site. I greatly appreciate all of your hard work and love for the game, university and city.

Same here, thanks PTH.

Thanks PTH!

Thank you for all the hard work and dedication. Being able to access all the articles in the nation about Rice Football is great.

(08-11-2019 08:52 PM)Ricefootballnet Wrote:  ... we need to respond with clicks, clicks and more clicks. Same goes for Glynn Hill's stuff at the Chronicle. We've talked about this before on occasion, but we really need to click and comment. Matt wants comment as well; and I sense that's been his only significant disappointment in running the roost; that is, paucity of feedback and commentary.

Welcome back, PTH (& DSE)!! So glad you're going to continue your excellent reporting/aggregating website.

We active Parliamentarians should aim to comment on one or more of the other Owl-following sites at least once a week.

Me too -- I appreciate and enjoy your work very much. Welcome back!

A bunch of new articles are up on ricefootball.net. Check them out.

(08-28-2019 01:24 PM)Ourland Wrote:  A bunch of new articles are up on ricefootball.net. Check them out.

Sorry, all, I was making what’s been an almost annual trek to the Czech Republic last couple weeks of August and regular posting was thusly waylaid. I really appreciated Matt’s Roost coverage from 5,400 miles away, though, in the interim.

DSE and I are up at West Point for the game with a couple other of The Usual Suspects and will cover the game. A few of us old birds are beginning to gather here at the almost magically-storied Thayer Hotel with several pleasant encounters and conversations ensuing. Very enjoyable visit with Joe Heikkenen, a four year starter at linebacker from the early to mid-80s.

Will try to do photos and videos not only of the game but of the surrounding activities, parade, sidelines, as this may be the last time for a while that we are able to come up here as Army goes off the schedule after next year.

Will likely take several days to get everything posted up, but in the meantime the Roost should have ample post game reportage.

Yes!