If RICE picks a high school coach...

[Drake]

If Rice picks Dodge, or any other high school coach, it'll mean to me that they are NOT committed to rebuilding the program because I believe such a move would be in an effort to save money.

To win at the college level a program must get players. There are too many other schools with top-notch facilities for Rice to think they'll ever get the talent necessary to win consitently without major upgrades to those.

LSU and Oklahome State are prime examples of schools that started getting better talent once they commited the resources.

Obviously, Dodge knows what he's doing when he's coaching and has the ability to coach in higher ranks. But, I don't believe anyone can turn Rice around until they're attitude about athletics changes...

[yankee]

If Rice picks Dodge, or any other high school coach, it'll mean to me that they are NOT committed to rebuilding the program because I believe such a move would be in an effort to save money.

To win at the college level a program must get players. There are too many other schools with top-notch facilities for Rice to think they'll ever get the talent necessary to win consitently without major upgrades to those.

LSU and Oklahome State are prime examples of schools that started getting better talent once they commited the resources.

Obviously, Dodge knows what he's doing when he's coaching and has the ability to coach in higher ranks. But, I don't believe anyone can turn Rice around until they're attitude about athletics changes...
i dont think they will change their minds anytime soon.

[ftballin11]

Stick to baseball Rice...

[SLCDad]

Rice hasn't released any list of candidates. The Houston Chronicle reporter did his own list for his article and added Todd Dodge's name. That list has little, if any, credibility.

[rancher52]

Rice hasn't released any list of candidates. The Houston Chronicle reporter did his own list for his article and added Todd Dodge's name. That list has little, if any, credibility.
You are absolutely correct (and it was mentioned yesterday). The FW Startlegram did not help matters any since it ran the story as if the Houston paper was citing some official source. Now I have found this story being picked up on boards and in papers all over. Goes to show you how info gets distorted.

[BigWhiteJake]

you do know todd dodge played quarterback at UT right? not to mention hes had an unparalleled run in 5A football...maybe not a greg davis or MAJOR APPLEWHITE, but hes good for any job

[Orangebred]

I'm as big a longhorn fan as they come but I thought Major's name on that list was just ridiculous. He hasn't even proven that he's a good QB coach yet. Maybe some day but certainly not now.

I expect that Rice will hire a college coach but it may very well be an up and coming high school coach. Dodge would fit that bill. Rice's problem is that they may have a hard time getting a college coach. They don't pay a lot but it is still much more than most asst coaches make. And it is a head coaching position but at the same time, Rice has hardly been known as a stepping stone job.

They will need to upgrade their facilities and put some money into the program just to attract a coach and I'm not sure if they have the time to do much...or if they have/want to spend the money except over several years.

Rice's biggest problem is not academics because football players do not have to pass Rice's normal admission standards...they do have to be smart enough to make it once they get there though so it's not like they'll take just anyone.

Their biggest problem is that they will never bring in big revenue from football and that is what usually pays for everything else. They have to be subsidized by the school. The reason they'll never make much off football is because since the school is so small (+/- 3000) you could put sell season tickets to every single living alumni and still not come close to selling out a game. They had a total of about 50,000 people watch home games this season and I don't know that it would be appreciably more if they were winning. 50,000 is not much more than half of what Texas gets every game.

It's hard to compete without the money.

I will say this though, I think towards the end of the season Rice showed that they could compete in C-USA and I think with the right coach they'll be competing for conf championships in a few years. That's really their niche anyway. Going 6-5 or 7-4 every year with a run at the conference every couple of years is successful at Rice...and graduating good players. And at Rice I see nothing wrong with that.

[iloveslater77]

id pick johnny ringo

[lonny23]

I'm as big a longhorn fan as they come but I thought Major's name on that list was just ridiculous. He hasn't even proven that he's a good QB coach yet. Maybe some day but certainly not now.

I expect that Rice will hire a college coach but it may very well be an up and coming high school coach. Dodge would fit that bill. Rice's problem is that they may have a hard time getting a college coach. They don't pay a lot but it is still much more than most asst coaches make. And it is a head coaching position but at the same time, Rice has hardly been known as a stepping stone job.

They will need to upgrade their facilities and put some money into the program just to attract a coach and I'm not sure if they have the time to do much...or if they have/want to spend the money except over several years.

Rice's biggest problem is not academics because football players do not have to pass Rice's normal admission standards...they do have to be smart enough to make it once they get there though so it's not like they'll take just anyone.

Their biggest problem is that they will never bring in big revenue from football and that is what usually pays for everything else. They have to be subsidized by the school. The reason they'll never make much off football is because since the school is so small (+/- 3000) you could put sell season tickets to every single living alumni and still not come close to selling out a game. They had a total of about 50,000 people watch home games this season and I don't know that it would be appreciably more if they were winning. 50,000 is not much more than half of what Texas gets every game.

It's hard to compete without the money.

I will say this though, I think towards the end of the season Rice showed that they could compete in C-USA and I think with the right coach they'll be competing for conf championships in a few years. That's really their niche anyway. Going 6-5 or 7-4 every year with a run at the conference every couple of years is successful at Rice...and graduating good players. And at Rice I see nothing wrong with that.
Rice has a huge endowment and can be a good football school if they want to. All you need to do is look at Stanford and Duke to see what Rice COULD be athletically.

[Bootsdaddy]

id pick johnny ringo

I thought Doc Holliday took care of him.

[Bootsdaddy]

Rice has a huge endowment and can be a good football school if they want to. All you need to do is look at Stanford and Duke to see what Rice COULD be athletically.

I dont think the faculty, the administration, the students, or the city care about Rice football. Isnt it possible for them to play Div 1-AA football and remain Div 1 in basketball and baseball. Like Villanova.

[lonny23]

I dont think the faculty, the administration, the students, or the city care about Rice football. Isnt it possible for them to play Div 1-AA football and remain Div 1 in basketball and baseball. Like Villanova.
They could do that if the Southland Conference would take them. Football is the hardest sport to play at a high level. Houston is just a bad sports town and probably always will be. They had too many people move in during the 80's who don't have loyalty to the local teams.

[Bootsdaddy]

They could do that if the Southland Conference would take them. Football is the hardest sport to play at a high level. Houston is just a bad sports town and probably always will be. They had too many people move in during the 80's who don't have loyalty to the local teams.

Ive always been a Houston fan but Id have to agree with you. They're frontrunners-although the Astros were still drawing good last year when they were stinking up the place. Rice and UH have no chance. Rice is too small and UH is a commuter school with a lot of foreign students and neither will draw well competing with pro sports franchises.

[lonny23]

Ive always been a Houston fan but Id have to agree with you. They're frontrunners-although the Astros were still drawing good last year when they were stinking up the place. Rice and UH have no chance. Rice is too small and UH is a commuter school with a lot of foreign students and neither will draw well competing with pro sports franchises.
My uncle played for UH and I hate how few they draw for football. Basketball is on the upswing, but football still has a ways to go. They can't even keep the local kids in town for college.

The Astros couldn't hardly get a crowd for most of the 90's, but they do have better support in Minute Maid. They do support the Astros right now since McLane has spent some money.

[Lufkin_Class_Of_08]

all rice has to do is look at the 2 teams that played today for the c-usa championship...tulsa (8-4 conference champs) had just 1 win 3 years ago (like rice this year) and ucf (8-4...was 0-11 last year)...these 2 teams are the perfect model of a team turning it around