(11-30-2012 10:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 07:03 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice could be primed for its best season in a long time (at least comparable to the 2008 team which was 10-3). However we do tend to be a streaky team and if we had injuries to key positions, I suppose it could go downhill quickly. I'd be shocked if Rice and Tulsa aren't the two top picks for CUSA West.

First of all, we'll return 18-19 starters and two other guys who are 2 to 3-year starters on defense who were injured this season. Basically we'll lose our top 3 tight ends and 1 key WR on offense, and a DE and LB on defense. And we need to come up with a punter - not like we had one this year really but one of the TEs is also our part-time punter. Taylor McHargue will be a four-year starter at QB, and Chris Boswell is one of the nation's top kickers - those are the two marquee players but there are other all-conference types for sure.

The schedule is pretty manageable too outside of our bodybag game at Texas A&M. Some Rice fans aren't a big fan of the head coach (David Bailiff) but if he can't win at least 8 games with this team and schedule, he'll be gone after 2013.

Agree. With Tulsa at home, we finally beat the Golden Hurricane and host ECU in the title game (at least for next year, it will be easier to put up a fancy conference record in the West because I think ECU, Louisiana Tech and Marshall will all be capable of beating each other). Seeing North Texas and UTSA predicting the Rice visit as a win for their program is silly, but shows we still have a ways to go for respect.

It's going to take 3-5 years of winning 8+ games in dominating fashion before people give Rice respect. Despite the fact that we have 8 Seniors graduating, a very young O-Line and D-Line, a huge junior class with major contributions from freshman and sophomores, and lost three games by 4pts and a game to UH with our starting QB out, no one will deign to think of their game with Rice as a loss. One 4pt loss was to Memphis on the road in a storm with our back QB hurt and our starter playing hurt, one was to Tulsa where we had that game won until an incredible run by their running back with 1 min left, and another to Marshall at home where our starting QB gets hurt just before regulation on what should have been a game winning drive. But that's okay. We are Rice after all.

I am interested to see how we fare against LaTech and Tulsa next year.

(11-30-2012 10:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 07:03 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice could be primed for its best season in a long time (at least comparable to the 2008 team which was 10-3). However we do tend to be a streaky team and if we had injuries to key positions, I suppose it could go downhill quickly. I'd be shocked if Rice and Tulsa aren't the two top picks for CUSA West.

First of all, we'll return 18-19 starters and two other guys who are 2 to 3-year starters on defense who were injured this season. Basically we'll lose our top 3 tight ends and 1 key WR on offense, and a DE and LB on defense. And we need to come up with a punter - not like we had one this year really but one of the TEs is also our part-time punter. Taylor McHargue will be a four-year starter at QB, and Chris Boswell is one of the nation's top kickers - those are the two marquee players but there are other all-conference types for sure.

The schedule is pretty manageable too outside of our bodybag game at Texas A&M. Some Rice fans aren't a big fan of the head coach (David Bailiff) but if he can't win at least 8 games with this team and schedule, he'll be gone after 2013.

Agree. With Tulsa at home, we finally beat the Golden Hurricane and host ECU in the title game (at least for next year, it will be easier to put up a fancy conference record in the West because I think ECU, Louisiana Tech and Marshall will all be capable of beating each other). Seeing North Texas and UTSA predicting the Rice visit as a win for their program is silly, but shows we still have a ways to go for respect.

UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 07:03 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice could be primed for its best season in a long time (at least comparable to the 2008 team which was 10-3). However we do tend to be a streaky team and if we had injuries to key positions, I suppose it could go downhill quickly. I'd be shocked if Rice and Tulsa aren't the two top picks for CUSA West.

First of all, we'll return 18-19 starters and two other guys who are 2 to 3-year starters on defense who were injured this season. Basically we'll lose our top 3 tight ends and 1 key WR on offense, and a DE and LB on defense. And we need to come up with a punter - not like we had one this year really but one of the TEs is also our part-time punter. Taylor McHargue will be a four-year starter at QB, and Chris Boswell is one of the nation's top kickers - those are the two marquee players but there are other all-conference types for sure.

The schedule is pretty manageable too outside of our bodybag game at Texas A&M. Some Rice fans aren't a big fan of the head coach (David Bailiff) but if he can't win at least 8 games with this team and schedule, he'll be gone after 2013.

Agree. With Tulsa at home, we finally beat the Golden Hurricane and host ECU in the title game (at least for next year, it will be easier to put up a fancy conference record in the West because I think ECU, Louisiana Tech and Marshall will all be capable of beating each other). Seeing North Texas and UTSA predicting the Rice visit as a win for their program is silly, but shows we still have a ways to go for respect.

UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

bowl game with 6 wins

I hope like hell we work out a deal with the Sun Belt to join CUSA for 2013 football. We return nearly everyone from both sides of the ball. We lose our best receiver and a key defensive lineman, but that's about it. On paper, our team should be incredible next year. If we're not in CUSA we'll likely be picked first in the Sun Belt.

OOC games include Western Carolina and Memphis at home and BYU on the road. We have one final game yet to be announced but it's likely that it's an ACC opponent on the road.

I can see us pulling off a few somewhat surprising wins in CUSA if it happens. Definitely a bowl game. I'm crossing my fingers.

(11-30-2012 10:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 07:03 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice could be primed for its best season in a long time (at least comparable to the 2008 team which was 10-3). However we do tend to be a streaky team and if we had injuries to key positions, I suppose it could go downhill quickly. I'd be shocked if Rice and Tulsa aren't the two top picks for CUSA West.

First of all, we'll return 18-19 starters and two other guys who are 2 to 3-year starters on defense who were injured this season. Basically we'll lose our top 3 tight ends and 1 key WR on offense, and a DE and LB on defense. And we need to come up with a punter - not like we had one this year really but one of the TEs is also our part-time punter. Taylor McHargue will be a four-year starter at QB, and Chris Boswell is one of the nation's top kickers - those are the two marquee players but there are other all-conference types for sure.

The schedule is pretty manageable too outside of our bodybag game at Texas A&M. Some Rice fans aren't a big fan of the head coach (David Bailiff) but if he can't win at least 8 games with this team and schedule, he'll be gone after 2013.

Agree. With Tulsa at home, we finally beat the Golden Hurricane and host ECU in the title game (at least for next year, it will be easier to put up a fancy conference record in the West because I think ECU, Louisiana Tech and Marshall will all be capable of beating each other). Seeing North Texas and UTSA predicting the Rice visit as a win for their program is silly, but shows we still have a ways to go for respect.

The UNT guy's post was tongue in cheek - predicted 11-1. But yeah, *I'm* not even confident that we will perform up to our potential with Bailiff as HC, so I guess we can't blame others. FTR, I'd love for Bailiff to prove me wrong and win the division and maybe the conference...

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:17 AM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 07:03 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Rice could be primed for its best season in a long time (at least comparable to the 2008 team which was 10-3). However we do tend to be a streaky team and if we had injuries to key positions, I suppose it could go downhill quickly. I'd be shocked if Rice and Tulsa aren't the two top picks for CUSA West.

First of all, we'll return 18-19 starters and two other guys who are 2 to 3-year starters on defense who were injured this season. Basically we'll lose our top 3 tight ends and 1 key WR on offense, and a DE and LB on defense. And we need to come up with a punter - not like we had one this year really but one of the TEs is also our part-time punter. Taylor McHargue will be a four-year starter at QB, and Chris Boswell is one of the nation's top kickers - those are the two marquee players but there are other all-conference types for sure.

The schedule is pretty manageable too outside of our bodybag game at Texas A&M. Some Rice fans aren't a big fan of the head coach (David Bailiff) but if he can't win at least 8 games with this team and schedule, he'll be gone after 2013.

Agree. With Tulsa at home, we finally beat the Golden Hurricane and host ECU in the title game (at least for next year, it will be easier to put up a fancy conference record in the West because I think ECU, Louisiana Tech and Marshall will all be capable of beating each other). Seeing North Texas and UTSA predicting the Rice visit as a win for their program is silly, but shows we still have a ways to go for respect.

UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

We lose 6 total (team-wise)... 3 of which were starters or saw significant playing time, only 1 of which was on offense.

I expect TU to be a little better on offense and a little worse on defense next season. On D the line will be good but thin, LB will be about the same, corner and SS should be the same or better but we take a hit at FS losing McCoil.

On offense the line will be good, two of three RBs return and a sophomore and RS-freshman step up to get some playing time. Top receivers all return. QB should improve and there will be more options with a highly touted RS-freshman available.

I expect TU to win 3 OOC and go through conference with no more than one loss.

As many have pointed out, it's way early to tell, particularly with the changes coming to the conference in 2013.

First, I'm going to make a couple assumptions:

1) That our offense doesn't remain Top 10 but does stay around Top 25 in the country
2) That our new DC will improve our defense to at least average (anywhere between 60th and 80th in the country)

I'm not sure if this is the guaranteed schedule with the new conference members coming in, but it's what I'll go with:


Miami OH: W - No clue who they have returning, but they went 4-8 this year with a terrible rush attack, solid passing game and weak defense. Marshall fans should be really up for this one, as it's at home and arguably our most hated rival from the MAC.

FCS Team: W - By default. Hoping we get a SoCon team in for the older fans.

@ Ohio: W - I believe I recall from an earlier Ohio game this season, hearing that Ohio had TONS of 4th, 5th and 6th year seniors that they'll be losing for 2013. Prime reason I'm calling a W here, despite returning Tettleton for his senior year.

@ VT: L - Games against VT have not gone well for the Herd. I realize they've been down in 2012 but I don't see that lasting long for them.

ECU: L - This game is great every year and it seems like we'll get the last one as conference mates at home. Would love to win this one and have our last 4 games played go L-W-L-W but they seem to be getting back to the classic ECU ways with an 8-4 season this year.

Southern Miss: W - I expect Southern Miss to get back to their winning ways quickly, but at a low rate (possible 6-6 season next year for USM?). I expect us to squeak out one of their losses with this being at home.

UAB: W - I expect UAB to be on the upside with the new coaching staff, solid offense in 2012 and new conference opponents coming in. No reason to think we'll lose this one at home, though.

North Texas: W - We'll get this one at home and while neither team has broken 0.500 regularly lately, Marshall has done it more consistently than North Texas. A previous poster mentioned they'll be breaking in a new QB and WR's and their major stats were all middle-of-the-road this season.

@ UTEP: L - We struggle on games in Texas, making UTEP a safe L to pick and I'm one of the few that think Price was a bad HC for them; should be a step up for the program regardless of who takes his place

@ FIU: W - Lots of positivity around FIU before this season. Haven't followed them close, so not sure why they took such a step back in 2012 except that I know they lost T.Y. Hilton to the NFL. I expect all of our southern FL recruits to get up for a "home" game and pull out a strong W.

@ LaTech: L - They may lose their HC this year and QB Cameron is a senior, but Dixon is a freshman RB who'll return. LaTech seems to be a somewhat consistent program that I expect will take a step back next season but not by much. Tough road loss for the Herd.

@ Tulane: W - Another team I haven't followed too closely this year. Hopefully the new coach can turn it around for them, but I don't see any reason we can't get a win here.

That's 8-4 without a whole lot of knowledge on opposing teams' returning players. Knowing the past few years, though, I'm going to realistically expect another 6-6 disappointment with a crummy bowl. If we go 5-7 or 6-6 again, that seat for Doc is going to get really, really hot. 8-4 would be a great step in a basically entirely new CUSA that will be re-vamped again in 2014.

(11-30-2012 11:21 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

We lose 6 total (team-wise)... 3 of which were starters or saw significant playing time, only 1 of which was on offense.

I look forward to the games with UTSA, and already have the 2013 game in San Antonio circled as my road trip for next season. But we won this year in Houston 34-14, and also beat Kansas, Tulane, and UTEP on the road in 2012. Will you be 21 points better in San Antonio?

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

What? How do you only have 8 seniors on the roster??? Were there a bunch of early graduations or what? Where is your huge class right now? I remember after 2009 ECU lost thirty something seniors and it really put us in a tough spot for 2010. Inexperience everywhere. Of course this will be good for Rice next year (as it was for ECU in 2008 and 2009) but at some point it's probably going to be bad.

(11-30-2012 01:43 PM)TheEastisPurple Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

What? How do you only have 8 seniors on the roster??? Were there a bunch of early graduations or what? Where is your huge class right now? I remember after 2009 ECU lost thirty something seniors and it really put us in a tough spot for 2010. Inexperience everywhere. Of course this will be good for Rice next year (as it was for ECU in 2008 and 2009) but at some point it's probably going to be bad.

Marshall had one of the youngest rosters too. If not for the 2 Boston College transfers and the Penn State transfer we would of only had 5 seniors I think.

Maybe they are talking about losing seniors that were on the 2-deep?

(11-30-2012 12:59 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 11:21 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

We lose 6 total (team-wise)... 3 of which were starters or saw significant playing time, only 1 of which was on offense.

I look forward to the games with UTSA, and already have the 2013 game in San Antonio circled as my road trip for next season. But we won this year in Houston 34-14, and also beat Kansas, Tulane, and UTEP on the road in 2012. Will you be 21 points better in San Antonio?

With 30k screaming fans at the Dome, its pretty doable.

Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2

(11-30-2012 01:43 PM)TheEastisPurple Wrote:  What? How do you only have 8 seniors on the roster??? Were there a bunch of early graduations or what? Where is your huge class right now? I remember after 2009 ECU lost thirty something seniors and it really put us in a tough spot for 2010. Inexperience everywhere. Of course this will be good for Rice next year (as it was for ECU in 2008 and 2009) but at some point it's probably going to be bad.

We have roughly 25 Juniors, 22 Sophomores, and 48 Freshmen comprised of RS Freshmen, True Freshmen (playing), and Freshmen that will redshirt.

Each class is contributing right now, but you can make the case the 2014 may be a transition year because Taylor McHargue (starting QB) will graduate in 2013. However, we expect Driphus Jackson (RS Freshman) to be the heir and so he is already playing this year.

(11-30-2012 01:53 PM)CurveItAround Wrote:  Maybe they are talking about losing seniors that were on the 2-deep?

Nope, 8 seniors. Actually, I looked again and the number is 9. We have a 2nd string OL graduating early. But of the original 8, 5 were starters (McDonald and Wilson co-starters at TE, Williams at DE, McGuffie at WR, Prater at LB), 2 saw significant playing time at 2nd string (Cook at TE, Thomas at DT), and 1 was a third string QB (Poynter).

Rice and Marshall were among the youngest teams in Div-1A in 2011 and 2012.

(11-30-2012 01:58 PM)UTSAMarineVet09 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 12:59 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 11:21 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

We lose 6 total (team-wise)... 3 of which were starters or saw significant playing time, only 1 of which was on offense.

I look forward to the games with UTSA, and already have the 2013 game in San Antonio circled as my road trip for next season. But we won this year in Houston 34-14, and also beat Kansas, Tulane, and UTEP on the road in 2012. Will you be 21 points better in San Antonio?

With 30k screaming fans at the Dome, its pretty doable.

Sent from my HTC_Amaze_4G using Tapatalk 2

Looking forward to it.

If Maryland and Rutgers negotiate and are allowed to leave in 2013, you'll see ECU, Tulane and Louisville's shifts bumped up to 2013.

Waiting to see who our new coach is before saying much. Good nucleus of players back but we had that this year too and it did not translate into wins. We were competitive against a lot of teams and a few more good bounces of the ball would have been helpful.

I'm picking Rice to win the west next year followed closely by Tulsa. After that its a crap shoot.

(11-30-2012 02:42 PM)MinerInWisconsin Wrote:  Waiting to see who our new coach is before saying much. Good nucleus of players back but we had that this year too and it did not translate into wins. We were competitive against a lot of teams and a few more good bounces of the ball would have been helpful.

I'm picking Rice to win the west next year followed closely by Tulsa. After that its a crap shoot.

How is your QB situation looking? And Jordan Leslie...good grief that guy is a beast. Rice recruited him bad, but I'm glad that he stayed in CUSA.

(11-30-2012 12:59 PM)ESE84 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 11:21 AM)warcat Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:57 AM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(11-30-2012 10:49 AM)warcat Wrote:  UTSA will be full of junior and seniors on both sides of the ball that have been playing together for 3 full seasons (and practicing together for 4 in the seniors' case). No disrepect intended towards Rice at all... you'll have a great team next season, no doubt.

Rice has the same situation. We only lose 8 seniors this year.

We lose 6 total (team-wise)... 3 of which were starters or saw significant playing time, only 1 of which was on offense.

I look forward to the games with UTSA, and already have the 2013 game in San Antonio circled as my road trip for next season. But we won this year in Houston 34-14, and also beat Kansas, Tulane, and UTEP on the road in 2012. Will you be 21 points better in San Antonio?

Well... there are a couple things about the 2012 Rice game that made a difference in the outcome...

#1- Rice was the first "named" program that UTSA faced in school history. Although they'd never admit it, our boys were kinda "starstruck" (so to speak) being on the same field with a team that everyone has heard of. Nerves played a big role in giving up the early lead. One erased mistake here or there (there were quite a few... errant throws, drops, blown coverages, etc.) would have given the team the confidence they needed in feeling they belonged on the same field with Rice... and the outcome would have been much closer (or possibly a UTSA win... remember, you guys were very down at that point and may have closed shop if we had taken a good lead on you).

#2- Our starting QB fractured his hip early in the game... and played thru it (not at 100%).

You basically saw the worst game UTSA played all season in that Rice game. Yes, some of it was caused by Rice, but some of it was also caused by our very own players.

Expect to see a much better showing next season. Basically, the same (or better since the players are gaining an additional spring of experience and strength) type of showing we had in every other game we played at full strength.