(02-27-2020 11:21 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:02 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 10:55 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Kiddy was the worst scholarship pull by far. He was the first 2019 commit and Rice was his dream school. Was committed for over 2 years and told numerous school "no thank you" because of his commitment to Rice. Also, being that he had a 27-3 career record with a 0.80 era over 3 years and led his team to back to back State finals appearances......we could probably use him about now.

Just my opinion...

Terrible to hear. A winner with a strong track record.

x2 on loving to have a guy like that now.

I think we all agree that pulling scholarships-- even parcial ones-- is not a good look. And Kiddy may very well prove to be the real deal during his college career, but I believe Bordwine had similar giddy numbers to Kiddy in high school, and he continues to struggle at the D1 level.

(02-27-2020 11:23 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:21 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:02 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 10:55 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Kiddy was the worst scholarship pull by far. He was the first 2019 commit and Rice was his dream school. Was committed for over 2 years and told numerous school "no thank you" because of his commitment to Rice. Also, being that he had a 27-3 career record with a 0.80 era over 3 years and led his team to back to back State finals appearances......we could probably use him about now.

Just my opinion...

Terrible to hear. A winner with a strong track record.

x2 on loving to have a guy like that now.

I think we all agree that pulling scholarships-- even parcial ones-- is not a good look. And Kiddy may very well prove to be the real deal during his college career, but I believe Bordwine had similar giddy numbers to Kiddy in high school, and he continues to struggle at the D1 level.

THSBCA is one of the last groups we want to piss off. Lots and lots of clout/influence.

Numbers do not always translate but success generally indicates as much in the future. Some kids bloom late, some early. It is a shame to not give a kid an opportunity to prove himself when promises had been made.

Walt, please do not try to semi-validate pulling the poor guy's scholarship because of another player's struggles. LOL

(02-27-2020 11:31 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:23 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:21 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 11:02 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 10:55 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Kiddy was the worst scholarship pull by far. He was the first 2019 commit and Rice was his dream school. Was committed for over 2 years and told numerous school "no thank you" because of his commitment to Rice. Also, being that he had a 27-3 career record with a 0.80 era over 3 years and led his team to back to back State finals appearances......we could probably use him about now.

Just my opinion...

Terrible to hear. A winner with a strong track record.

x2 on loving to have a guy like that now.

I think we all agree that pulling scholarships-- even parcial ones-- is not a good look. And Kiddy may very well prove to be the real deal during his college career, but I believe Bordwine had similar giddy numbers to Kiddy in high school, and he continues to struggle at the D1 level.

THSBCA is one of the last groups we want to piss off. Lots and lots of clout/influence.

Numbers do not always translate but success generally indicates as much in the future. Some kids bloom late, some early. It is a shame to not give a kid an opportunity to prove himself when promises had been made.

Walt, please do not try to validate pulling the poor guy's scholarship because of another player's struggles. LOL

Did you even read my post? I'm not validating anything, and specifically said I'm against pulling scholarships, and that it is a very bad look. Rather, I was responding to the previous poster who was saying he'd love to have a winner like Kiddy right now, and cautioning that high school success does not necessarily translate to success in college.

(02-27-2020 10:11 AM)Owl 69/70/75 Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 07:43 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  

(02-26-2020 09:45 PM)RiceOwl Wrote:  Walt, you described a player as human kerosene...

Walt does no wrong. It’s everyone else’s fault that we take it that way. Haven’t you figured that out yet?
“Best offense in a decade”

Walt has occasionally been known to engage in hyperbole.

I'm familiar with that condition.
Walt should've been a surgeon. Might be wrong..but never in doubt.

I always read your posts, in fact I find them the most entertaining in here.

Reality is we all argue over spilled milk way too often; coaching hires, players, scholarships, etc. We gotta play with the cards we are dealt.

Roel will not be throwing tonight. His arm is still sore from last week. When it rains it pours...

(02-27-2020 10:10 AM)esposito Wrote:  

(02-27-2020 10:02 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  I'm thinking about going to Friday night's game. Is Missouri State any good?

They had a down year last year. Won 40 games 2 years ago. Lost to Bragga at Tennessee Tech in the championship of their regional. Lost to TCU in Super Regionals the year before.

Solid program.

And Rice beat them 25-6 in Lubbock to advance to our first Omaha way back in the day. (1997)

(02-27-2020 11:42 AM)waltgreenberg Wrote:  Rather, I was responding to the previous poster who was saying he'd love to have a winner like Kiddy right now, and cautioning that high school success does not necessarily translate to success in college.

Well, we wouldn't be any worse than 0-8 if we had him.

In various baseball game threads, I have been surprised by what I have read. I have read posts calling our players pathetic, human kerosene, and prima donnas. Do you tell these kids parents that also?

There is no doubt in my mind that these guys are playing hard. Why would they not? Most of these kids want to get to the next level, and you don't get there by mailing it in. They know when they are not playing well and have made mistakes. Also, maybe some of you have forgotten how hard baseball is. A 300 hitter fails 70% of the time. No matter what school you play, there are guys with scholarships to play division 1 baseball. Sometimes you make a really good pitch, but the hitter makes a better swing. It's baseball.

The season is long and there are lots of games. You have games where you just don't have it for whatever reason. You have streaks both good and bad. These kids want success. Again, they know if they are not playing well, miss a pitch, boot a ball, etc.

(02-28-2020 10:39 AM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  In various baseball game threads, I have been surprised by what I have read. I have read posts calling our players pathetic, human kerosene, and prima donnas. Do you tell these kids parents that also?

There is no doubt in my mind that these guys are playing hard. Why would they not? Most of these kids want to get to the next level, and you don't get there by mailing it in. They know when they are not playing well and have made mistakes. Also, maybe some of you have forgotten how hard baseball is. A 300 hitter fails 70% of the time. No matter what school you play, there are guys with scholarships to play division 1 baseball. Sometimes you make a really good pitch, but the hitter makes a better swing. It's baseball.

The season is long and there are lots of games. You have games where you just don't have it for whatever reason. You have streaks both good and bad. These kids want success. Again, they know if they are not playing well, miss a pitch, boot a ball, etc.

Bravo. You communicated this message much more effectively than I am capable of.

Make or break weekend ahead, Go Owls.

(02-28-2020 10:45 AM)RiceOwl Wrote:  

(02-28-2020 10:39 AM)Owl Is In Chains Wrote:  In various baseball game threads, I have been surprised by what I have read. I have read posts calling our players pathetic, human kerosene, and prima donnas. Do you tell these kids parents that also?

There is no doubt in my mind that these guys are playing hard. Why would they not? Most of these kids want to get to the next level, and you don't get there by mailing it in. They know when they are not playing well and have made mistakes. Also, maybe some of you have forgotten how hard baseball is. A 300 hitter fails 70% of the time. No matter what school you play, there are guys with scholarships to play division 1 baseball. Sometimes you make a really good pitch, but the hitter makes a better swing. It's baseball.

The season is long and there are lots of games. You have games where you just don't have it for whatever reason. You have streaks both good and bad. These kids want success. Again, they know if they are not playing well, miss a pitch, boot a ball, etc.

Bravo. You communicated this message much more effectively than I am capable of.

Make or break weekend ahead, Go Owls.

Best comments of the season by far!!! Thank you for sharing.

Honest question: is Rice being held to a different standard than other schools re: the pulled scholarships?

I am a total outsider and have zero insight into the politics/relationships of Texas sports (or sports anywhere), but it seems like pulling scholarships is a pretty common practice especially when a new coach takes over.

I'm not saying I support the practice and it seems like in Bragga's case the upside (getting a few of his guys vs. a few of WG's guys) was far outweighed by the downside (upsetting TX HS coaches). Still, it's surprising that coaches are straight up telling kids not to commit to Rice because of this, when it's my understanding that it happens everywhere and even more so at big state schools.

I could be totally off-base, but would appreciate any insight /thumbs up emoji

(02-28-2020 11:22 AM)BSWBRice Wrote:  Honest question: is Rice being held to a different standard than other schools re: the pulled scholarships?

I am a total outsider and have zero insight into the politics/relationships of Texas sports (or sports anywhere), but it seems like pulling scholarships is a pretty common practice especially when a new coach takes over.

I'm not saying I support the practice and it seems like in Bragga's case the upside (getting a few of his guys vs. a few of WG's guys) was far outweighed by the downside (upsetting TX HS coaches). Still, it's surprising that coaches are straight up telling kids not to commit to Rice because of this, when it's my understanding that it happens everywhere and even more so at big state schools.

I could be totally off-base, but would appreciate any insight /thumbs up emoji

I think if the guys Bragga brought in were making an impact immediately, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I know we are only 7 games into the season, but the highest batting average by a first year player is .200 (not counting Benitez with just 2 AB's).

Kane has been solid and hopefully Cienfuegos can keep his good momentum rolling. We just did not add too many pieces to the roster over the off season. Hopefully they can develop and we bring in better recruiting classes moving forward.

(02-27-2020 11:22 AM)Owl1998 Wrote:  Regardless of the situation/kid.....the immediate pulling of scholarship offers of long time commits is a terrible way to start off in this state. Texas has such a strong and independent coaches organization and they WILL try to protect their players. Bragga, not knowing this apparently, made a giant mistake in my opinion.

Exactly. My story about John Bridgers and Rusty Clark was not about pulling scholarships but it was about doing something that both THSCA and THSBCA didn't like. Bridgers didn't recover, and it took Baylor a while to recover.

Charlie Strong is another example of a guy who didn't really go after the THSCA the way he could and should have. He'd speak at coaching clinics, but he wouldn't stay around to drink beer and play dominoes afterwards. And Texas didn't recruit under him the way they had been accustomed. Mensa is trying--and I think succeeding--in that area, which is easier for him because he already had many of those relationships.

Matt Rhule was another outsider with no connections to THSCA. So he brought in Joey McGuire and David Wetzel to build those relationships at Baylor. The rest, as they say, is history. Last year, Texas Football did a poll of HS coaches to ask which Texas D-1 coaches they trusted the most. Gary Patterson was #1, no surprise there. But Matt Rhule was #2. And don't think that didn't help him rebuild Baylor in no time flat.

I still think Rice needs to do national recruiting to find enough players with the academics as well as athletics. But I don't think you can succeed without success in the Houston and Texas areas. Wayne won a national championship with what was largely a Houston-area team. I think hiring head coaches who 1) lack connections in the region, and 2) don't address it as affirmatively and aggressively as Rhule did, is a major mistake.