The Rice Football Webletter -- 2020 season

UAB 21, Rice 16

Rice OL turns UAB defense topsy-turvy as Jordan Myer bulls for first down on fourth and one, first possession (David Speed Elder photo)

Jake Bailey threads sidline for big first-down gain in fourth quarter; but Rice kept running up the middle and had to settle for field goal (David Speed Elder photo)

The latest headlines....
Putting imperfect Rice season into perspective
(The Roost -- Dec. 13)
UAB postame Rice press briefing
(RiceOwls.com -- Dec. 13)
Razorbacks set to host Rice in 2021
(ArkansasRazorbacks.com -- Aug. 19, 2019)
After 70 years, Rice Stadium remains a landmark
(Houston Chronicle -- Dec. 10)
Rice finishes season with loss to UAB
(Houston Chronicle -- Dec. 12)
Owls couldn't overcome explosive UAB offense
(The Roost -- Dec. 12)
Quarter by quarter look at UAB's win over Rice
(Birmingham News -- Dec. 12)

DO NOT PASS GO! Opportunistic Rice defense displayed precision, poise and consistency in earning unprecedented road shutout over ranked team (PTH photo)

PICK SIX! Naeem Smith turns on afterburners upon third-quarter interception of MU quarterback Grant Wells, bulling his way into the end zone to give Owls 20-0 lead (David Speed Elder photo)

COFFIN NAIL -- This bat-down of an MU pass by big Elijah Garcia shut down Herd for the afternoon and preserved Rice shoutout (David Speed Elder photo)

HUNTINGTON, WV (Dec. 5) – It was clear something was afoot. As the Marshall Thundering Herd team emerged from their den and gathered behind the inflatable for a pre-kickoff runon, a number of them seemed more interested in taunting the underdog foe than focusing on their game assignments.

The visitors from South Main, however, if they paid attention at all, laughed it off, breathing in the cool, dry mountain air as they flexed in eagerness to get onto the field.

This little-observed scene foreshadowed the game’s opening drive, when the homestanding Herd, before a surprisingly large and unsurprisingly vocal home crowd, moved the pigskin at first but stalled with a fourth-and-ten on the Rice 27 yard line.
Continues.... Rice-Marshall stat book....

Rice tries to keep momentum going against UAB
(Houston Chronicle -- Dec. 11)
UAB to face Rice with division title on line
(WVTM13.com -- Dec. 11)
UAB has the run defense to hold up
(College Football News -- Dec. 11)
Local scribes still whining over MU loss to Owls
(Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- Dec. 11)
Rice hopes to finish strong on Senior Day
(The Roost -- Dec. 10)
TMG Newsmaker of the Week: Rice Owls
(TMG Sports -- Dec. 10)
Winning record on the line for Rice
(Texas Football -- Dec. 10)
UAB determined to play Rice despite COVID tests
(Al.com -- Dec. 9)
Dozen key UAB players are out for Rice
(WBRC.com -- Dec. 9)
Rice win over Marshall, Owls in general top them all
(Washington Post -- Dec. 8)
Rice Owls have entered the chat
(Texas Football -- Dec. 7)
Rice-UAB game preview
(The Roost -- Dec. 6)
Rice-Marshall postgame press briefing

(RiceOwls.com -- Dec. 6)
Pregame chalk talk, postgame celebration

(RiceOwls.com -- Dec. 5)
Rice stuns Herd 20-0; first-ever shutout at Edwards Stadium
(Charleston Gazette-Mail -- Dec. 5)
Rice uses five interceptions to upset Thundering Herd

(CBS Sports HQ -- Dec. 5)
Unintimidated Owl defense did just about everything right
(The Roost -- Dec. 5)
College football world stunned by Marshall's upset loss to Rice
(The Spun -- Dec. 5)
Loss to Rice will be difficult to forget
Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- Dec. 5)
Rice intercepts five passes and shuts out ranked Marshall
(Reuters -- Dec. 5)
Number 15 Marshall shut out by Rice in first loss of season
(Sports Illustrated -- Dec. 5)
Owls came in as three-TD underdog but flew away winners

(The Roost <Podcast> -- Dec. 5)
Rice intercepts five passes in shutting out Marshall
(Underdog Dynasty -- Dec. 5)
Smith's pick-six highlights stellar team defensive effort
(Saltwirecom -- Dec. 5)
Rice defense's taking offense led to shutdown shutout
(Kentucky New Era/AP -- Dec. 5)
Rice pulls off upset of No. 21 Marshall
(Houston Chronicle -- Dec. 5)
Defense stifles No. 15 Marshall in 20-0 shutout
(RiceOwls.com -- Dec. 5)
Doc: 'They played better than we did and won'
(Herdzone -- Dec. 5)
Shut out by a bad Rice team? Woof. That's bad, bad
(Herd Nation -- Dec. 5)
x
Rice-Marshall: Game on...

HOUSTON (Nov. 28) – By what would have been halftime of the Rice-UTEP game scheduled for a noon kickoff at Rice Stadium here today, the Miner team was on the bus to the airport, headed back home to El Paso.

The reason: well, the Rice game was a last-minute cancel; the announcement had it that pregame COVID testing of UTEP players turned up one or more positives, and contract tracing eliminated a whole host of Miners for game participation.

Of course it didn’t hep matters that a pouring rain was putting a literal damper on the proceedings as well.

Rice officials first announced a “hold” on kickoff around 11 a.m. Moments later, a 2:00 p.m. kickoff was announced. But after a second round of COVID-19 testing, just after noon, the game officially was given the quietus.

“(That was) obviously disappointing and for many reasons,” Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren said of the postponement. “Some of the things we pointed to this week, we won’t get to do.

‘You wake up ready to play and everything’s going. It shows you that none of us are immune and it can impact any large group at any time. We have to remain vigilant and continue to do the right things. We’re going to worry about what we can control.

“At this time, we have nobody in quarantine and we have nobody in isolation.”

There was no comment from UTEP officials, who apparently were focused on getting back to the team plane and up in the air, headed for home.

So the Owls now have but two games remaining on the schedule – Marshall on the road this coming Saturday, and UAB at Rice Stadium on December 12.

Rice up next in Marshall's quest for league title
(Charleston Gazette-Mail -- Dec. 4)
Rice faces difficult return after long layoff
(Houston Chronicle -- Dec. 4)
Aggressive Marshall defense inclined to overpursue
(The Roost -- Dec. 4)
Marshall beat Middle Tennessee by 28 in most recent game
(Winners and Whiners -- Dec. 4)
Rice, Marshall set to return after extended down time
(13 WOWK -- Dec. 3)
Transfer QB elevates Rice offense
(Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- Dec. 2)
No. 15 Herd to face Owls on Senior Day
(MU Parthenon -- Dec. 1)
Inside the Hedges: Rice-Marshall preview
(RiceOwls.com -- Dec. 2)
Rested Herd begins preparations for Rice
(Charleston Gazette-Mail -- Nov. 29)
Ranked Marshall one of toughest tests yet
(The Roost -- Nov. 29)
No. 15 Herd to face Owls on Senior Day
(MU Parthenon -- Dec. 1)
Said false positives led to UTEP game cancellation
(KVIA ABC7 -- Nov. 30)
Owls looking for a statement win
(Sports Chat Place -- Nov.. 29)
Holliday proud of team's season-long efforts
(Charleston Gazette-Mail -- Nov. 30)
Herd moves up in national ranking
(Huntington News -- Nov. 30)
Herd's Wells named to Davey O'Brien award group
(Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- Dec. 1)
Herd back up to 15th in rankings
(Huntington Herald-Dispatch -- Nov. 30)
Season in flux encounters third postponement
(The Roost -- Nov. 29)
Rice-UTEP cancelled after positive within Miner program
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 28)
Rice football vs. UTEP cancelled
(The Roost -- Nov. 28)
UTEP game cancelled after program COVID positive
(El Paso Times -- Nov. 28
Coach Bloom talks to press after cancellation
(RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 28)

UNT 27, Rice 17 x

Robert French (18), Charlie Mendes (99) et al. not happy as they gaze up at the video board as UNT adds coffin-nail TD in fourth quarter (PTH photo)

DENTON (Nov. 22) – Rice Owl football fortunes definitely looked as if they were on the up and up early in the second quarter of the Institute Boys’ game with North Texas here Saturday.

Having won four out of their last five, and – hell, it should have been five in a row, what with that crazy quadruple bounce field-goal that wasn’t – a fifth out of six would have been a neat launchpad for a liftoff to greater heights. And this game was taking off quite nicely.

The Flock was up, 10-0, but it just as easily could’ve been 17-0, good guys at that point. A 97-yard touchdown drive executed with precision by Owl quarterback Mike Collins and his motley crew of young backs and receivers combined with three straight shutdowns thrown up by the Rice defense, with just a couple of mis-steps that kept the score down at that point.

Still, with Rice driving once again and facing a fourth-and-2 at the UNT 12 yard, the choice seemed one between taking the chips off the table and going up 13-0 by field goal, or letting ‘er ride with a go at the first down – or maybe a shot in the end zone. Rice played the latter.

Continues....

FOUL OWLS ON THE PROWL --Rice defense was on top of things for a quarter and a half; then, roof fell in with Bean's 66-yard TD run (PTH photo)

Trammell nabs another TD pass -- this one in the first quarter to put Owls up 10-0 (PTH photo)
Note: many more photos to be posted later this week, including individual player shots; also look for new features in right column

Rice-UNT complete statistics....

How they match up: UTEP vs. Rice
(El Paso Times -- Nov. 27
Owls still aiming to pick up first rushing TD of season vs UTEP
(CBS Sports -- Nov. 27)
Coach Bloom: 'We've got to be better with our techniques'
(The Roost -- Nov. 27)
Last time at Rice Stadium, UTEP broke 20-game loss streak
(Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 26)
How to fix what went wrong last week
(The Roost -- Nov. 26)
Rice Owls Insider: UTEP preview
(RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 26)
Rice scored only 17 against horrendous UNT defense
(College Football News -- Nov. 25)
Rice building steadily in Bloomgren's third year
(El Paso Times -- Nov. 25)
UTEP week Rice football podcast
(The Roost -- Nov. 25)
Rice falls to North Texas
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 24)
UTEP hopes to get to .500 against smart, disciplined Rice
(El Paso Times -- Nov. 23)
Rice has only itself to blame in UNT loss
(The Roost -- Nov. 23)
UTEP started 3-1, but has lost 3 straight
(Sports Chat Place -- Nov. 23)
Rice hopes to rebound against UTEP
(The Roost -- Sept. 23)
Rice, UTEP have played every year since 1999
(El Paso Times -- Sept. 23)
Rice brings typically good special teams
(El Paso Times -- Sept. 23)
Owls start fast, fade just as quickly
(The Roost -- Nov. 21)
UNT's was quality win over improving opponent
(GoMeanGreen -- Nov. 22
North Texas took advantage of Rice miscues
(RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 21)
Novil heads strong outing for defense in win
(Mean Green Sports -- Nov. 21)
Shorthanded Mean Green come alive in second quarter
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 21)
'Tough to block' Novil leads way for UNT defense
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 21)
UNT defense now clicking solidly
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 21)
Rice falls to North Texas, 27-17
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 21)
Owls stumbled over themselves
(24-7 Sports -- Nov. 21)
New Canaan's Collins making most of his time as QB at Rice
(Stamford Advocate -- Nov. 21)
Bean's 66-yard TD run sparks North Texas over Rice
(Tribtown.com -- Nov. 21)
Novil headlines strong outing for defense in win
(GoMeanGreen.com -- Nov. 21)
North Texas overcomes slow start to upend Rice
(Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 21)

HOUSTON (Nov. 12) – Now it’s Louisiana Tech bailing out on Rice due to Covid issues.

Sure enough, Saturday's road football game between Rice and the LA Tech folks has been postponed due to announced “COVID-19 related issues within the Bulldogs' program.”

“We are very disappointed that we cannot host Rice this weekend, but it is simply a case of not having enough healthy players at one position,” said LA Tech VP and Director of Athletics Eric Wood. “Injuries have really affected the position and now a couple of COVID positives along with contact tracings to the same group have made this decision for us.

Wait a minute. Let’s parse that. They have a bunch of injuries at one “position group” and now they get contact tracings to the same group; maybe one or two positives among them. ‘Course Rice has had virtually its entire defensive secondary out with injury ever since first teeing it up with Middle Tennessee on Halloween.

Ironic, isn’t it?

So it is that Rice carefully held its football program participants out of game competition for the entire first half of the season, resulting a well-cared-for, healthy squad read to take on all comers.

Problem is, all the comers all seemed to get in six, seven, even eight games to launch the season, only in the process to have the vile virus catch up with them just in time to wipe out their scheduled bouts with the Institute.

Next week’s schedule road game at North Texas is also very possibly a goner, what with the Mean Green losing out on this week’s game with UAB, having registered thirty-some positives among program participants in testing a couple of days ago.

Rice Athletic Director Joe Kaarlgard had been working with league officials to try and swap out the recently rescheduled Dec. 5 game at Marshall for a local matchup with UTSA. Or now, maybe LA Tech. Or maybe even UNT.

Whatever the eventuality, the season is, for all practical purposes…how does one say it?....

--PTH

Rice, UTSA to work with league on possible rescheduling of game

HOUSTON (Nov. 6) -- Saturday's home football game between Rice and UTSA has been postponed due to COVID-19 related issues within the Roadrunner program.

This year's meeting at Rice Stadium was to have been the ninth consecutive between the schools since the inaugural contest in 2012. The schools will work with Conference USA to attempt to reschedule the game.

"After a great win last week at Southern Miss, I know our team was excited to get back on the field at home and renew the series with UTSA," Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard said. "But the virus remains a constant challenge to our efforts to play this season. I know Coach (Mike) Bloomgren and his staff will regroup our team and turn their attentions to Louisiana Tech."
--Rice Sports Information

HOUSTON (Nov. 3) – For sure, Rice’s 30-6 win over Southern Miss Saturday was a game, and an outcome, that Owl head man Mike Bloomgren has been waiting for ever since the day he first came inside the Hedges.

In a frustrating two-year sojourn, thus far his offensive philosophy of “pound the rock, run the clock and play great defense” was not much more than a pipe dream, if not a complete no-show, on the turf of Rice Stadium.

It wasn’t that his defense hadn’t shown signs of life. Under the tutelage of Defensive Coordinator Brian Smith, Owl defenders showed spunk and acumen throughout. But that offense, man, that offense…sure enough it was plenty offensive, in theory and design. Of course, it might’ve been less so had it featured among its X’s and O’s a number of those four- and five-star signees Coach Bloom was favored to work with on The Farm in Palo Alto.
Continues....

Buh-bye....see ya'.....

Austin Trammell leaves a half-dozen USM defenders in his wake en route to a 72-yard touchdown catch-and-run that opened the flood gates for the Owls (DSE photo)
Rice 30, Southern Miss 6

Austin Trammell celebrates with his QB, Mike Collins, after his third TD reception of the day, this one putting the Owls into the catbird seat in a going-away win over USM (PTH photo)

HATTIESBURG (Oct. 31) – First, a little bookkeeping is in order: were it not for that damnable quadruple doink last week, this Rice Owl team right now would be flying on the wings of a five-game winning streak. Let that soak in a bit.

As it was, Rice’s resounding win over Southern Mississippi here Saturday afternoon might’a, could’a, just maybe will be’a harbinger of bluebird days to come, as a solid offensive and defensive effort, led by -- who else, senior chief cook and bottle-washer Austin Trammell, in consistent comport with his grad senior quarterback Mike Collins -- led the Owls as three second-quarter turnovers were quickly converted into touchdowns in one of the more satisfying Rice victories of recent campaigns

Look, there were plenty of yeoman Owl efforts laid down on the field of M M Roberts Stadium his afternoon, on both sides of the ball. But this win starts and stops with the efforts of Mr. Trammell, whose seven receptions for 143 yards and three - count ‘em – three touchdown receptions a dominating effort for which the homestanding 1-5 Golden Eagles had no answer.

A sideline pass designed just to pick up the first down, was turned into a 72-yard thing of beauty by Austin, who outdueled his defender trying for the pick, and then simply outran the USM corner who seemed to have the angle on him, in zooming all the way to put the Owls up, 10-0, first play of the second quarter. It as the longest pitch-and-catch for a TD that the Owl offense had produced since, egad, 2014.

And now it’s onward and upward.

Rice coaches Mack, Smith keep pushing for diversity gains
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 21)
We know what the Owls bring to the table
(24-7 Sports -- Nov. 20)
No, it wasn't Rice's only victory of 2019 season
(SB Nation -- Nov. 20)
Rice one of most physical teams in league
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 20)
UNT turned MT game into track meet
(CBS Sports -- Nov. 20)
This game can't arrive soon enough
(Underdog Dynasty-- Nov. 19)
Contingencies remaining for Rice: matchup with UNT
(The Roost -- Nov. 19)
Owl defensive front will pose challenge for UNT
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 19)
Trammell starts senior season with a bang
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 19)
Antsy Owls yearn for return to gridiron
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 18)
Highlights of last year's win over Mean Grean (w/ actual crowd noise)

(YouTube -- Nov. 18)
Darden, Novill shining as UNT seniors
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 18)
UNT QB, offense are Rice focal points this week

(The Roost -- Nov. 18)
UNT players fondly remember 8-play goal line stand vs. Owls
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 18)
OU scribe says Mean Green 37, Rice 15
(The Daily Oklahoman -- Nov. 18)
This a must-win game for UNT
(Underdo Dynasty -- Nov. 18)
Rice looks to get over .500
(Winners and Whiners -- Nov. 18)
UNT coach positive about game likelihood

(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 17)
Coach Bloom stays positive during off-on season
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 17)
'We want to play a game'
(The Roost -- Nov. 17)
Excited North Texas looks to end hiatus this weekend
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 17)
Marshall, FAU, UTSA dominate late-season matchups
(Murfreesboro Daily News-Journal -- Nov. 17)
Last round of UNT COVID testing went well
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 16)
Cancellation after cancellation has been theme of season for Owls
(Click2Houston -- Nov. 16)
UNT features prolific offense
(Sports Chat Place -- Nov. 15)
When they've had the opportunity, Rice playing well
(The Roost -- Nov. 15)
Where does UNT stand in efforts to be competitive?
(Denton Record-Chronicle -- Nov. 15)
Rice Owls Insider: LATech preview

(RiceOwls.com <video>) -- Nov. 11)
Rice takes advantage of extra prep work for LATech
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 11)
Rice faces new challenge at LATech
(The Roost -- Nov. 11)
Rice's Jacob Doddridge educates others on the importance of voting
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 10)
'This is our third year -- now it's just like riding a bike'
(The Roost -- Nov. 10)
Owls return after week off to battle Bulldogs
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 10)
Owls will look to build off Southern Miss win
(Sports Chat Place -- Nov. 10)
Rice hasn't won in Ruston since 2013
(The Roost -- Nov. 9)
Five things to know about Skip Holtz
(Monroe News-Star -- Nov. 4)
A look at LATech football quarterback
(Monroe News-Star -- Nov. 4)
How isolation helped LATech WR star Hardy get groove back
(Monroe News-Star -- Nov. 5)
UTSA postponement may have scheduling ramifications
(The Roost -- Nov. 7)
Conference USA postponements tracker
(The Roost -- Nov. 7)
Rice adjusts again after game with UTSA postponed
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov.6)
UTSA game postponed due to COVID issues; rescheduling possible
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 6)
UTSA forced to postpone game at Rice
(San Antonio Express-News -- Nov. 6)
For now at least, Owls at Marshall Dec. 5, UAB at home Dec. 12
(Conference USA News -- Nov. 5)
First win has Rice high on its defense
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 5)
Rice-UTSA preview
(The Roost -- Nov. 5)
Owls are primed to break out this week
(Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 5)
UTSA to continue road swing against Rice
(UTSARoadRunners.com -- Nov. 4)
Owls to battle Roadrunners on Saturday
(The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 5)
Rescheduled: Rice-Marshall, UAB-Rice
(ConferenceUSA.com -- Nov. 4)
UAB, Marshall games re-scheduled for December
(The Roost -- Nov. 4)
Press conference notes and quotes
(The Roost -- Nov. 3)
'Runners have lost three in a row on the road
(Sports Chat Place -- Nov. 2)
Trammell a top wideout in G5 football?
(Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 2)
UTSA coach previews Rice matchup
(GoUTSA.com -- Nov. 2)
Rice rebounds with win over Southern Miss
(Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 1)
UTSA lets statement opportunity slip in loss at Florida Atlantic
(San Antonio Express News -- Nov. 1)
Extensive video highlights of Rice's win over USM

(Spirit Media Network -- Nov. 1)
Rice returns home to face UTSA
(The Roost -- Nov. 1)
Week 9 C-USA roundup
(The Roost -- Nov. 1)
Rice-USM game thread
(The Roost -- Oct. 31)
Trammell's explosion leads Owls to new heights
(The Roost -- Oct. 31)
All treat, no tricks: Owls soar on Halloween
(The Roost -- Oct. 31)
Rice-USM video highlights
(ESPN.com -- Oct. 31)
USM tackling woes shone big in 72-yard TD run
(Jackson Clarion-Ledger -- Oct. 31)
Rice dominates Southern Miss, 30-6
(RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 31)
Four Collins TD passes add up to dominant Rice win
(Sports601 -- Oct. 31)
Rice 30, Southern Miss 6
(Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 31 <Stop the Presses!>
Golden Eagles fall at home to Rice
(SouthernMiss.com -- Oct. 31)
Woes mount in Hattiesburg Halloween horror show
(Biloxi Sun-Herald -- Oct. 31)
Eagles outplayed by Rice on both ends of the ball
(WLBT.com -- Oct. 31)
Southern Miss' season found a way to go from bad to worse
(Hub City Spokes -- Oct. 31)
Rice hands USM 30-6 trouncing
(WDAM TV7 -- Oct. 31)
Senior receiver couldn't be contained
(AZCentral -- Oct. 31)
Rice clobbers Southern Miss
(Vicksburg Post -- Oct. 31)
Collins throws 4 TDs, 3 to Trammell as Southern Miss falls
(The Sun Herald -- Oct. 31)

Middle Tennessee State 40, Rice 34

Rice senior team captain Austin Trammell hauls in 48-yard Michael Collins pass on 4th and 24 to keep ostensible game-winning drive alive; however.... (David Speed Elder photo)

HOUSTON (Oct. 25) – When Rice’s Austin Trammell hauled in consecutive pass receptions of 48 and 24 yards to cap an improbable, last minute touchdown drive, by all appearances this was a game that was bound for the win column.

Overcoming a two-touchdown deficit in in the last six minutes of regulation and with Mr. Trammell’s once again nailing a crucial two-point reception to ice a 34-31 lead with, what, 34 seconds to play….the Owls had this one in the bag. Surely they did. Get the Gatorade ready, guys…

But as J. Fred used to say….”however…”

A defensive secondary that had been giving up deep pass plays throughout the game couldn’t prevent Middle Tennessee quarterback Asher O’Hara from driving just a couple more nails in mere seconds, setting up MTSU at the Rice 30, where Blue Raider kicker Crews Holt nailed a career-long 48-yarder as the clock expired.

Euphoria turned to “oh, snap” in mere seconds, and it was impossible to escape the nagging thought that games like this one, so close to being won, are so often squandered.

Even so, after MT fiddled away its first overtime opportunity with a failed 50-yard field goal attempt, there it was again for the Owls – the game just sitting there on a silver platter.

Whaddayah think? Sure -- play it conservatively, don’t forsake the chance for a game winner right down the middle. But Rice played it ultra-conservatively, in three plays netting minus-three yards. On third down, the Rice signal-caller apparently was instructed, “just hold onto the ball, and center the damn thing.” That he did, but the net result of the Flock’s three running plays thus had turned a 42-yard effort into a 45-yarder.

So it was that rookie Owl place kicker Collin Riccitelli’s 45-yard field goal attempt had the distance; it had the height – but it banged against the right upright; then fell clumsily onto the crossbar, after which, as if powered by flubber, it bounced again, this time to the opposite crossbar. Four times the ball, seized by momentum, would’a, could’a, should’a bounded across. But instead, it landed with a thunk on the blue end zone turf, a big, fat fail.

Sure could’ve used those surrendered nine feet of real estate.

Going first in the second overtime period, Rice false-started to negate a 35-yard field goal attempt by young Riccitelli; after which a second attempt was blocked. There was no air left in the Owls, on the sideline or on the field. It seemed a foregone conclusion when MT quarterback O’Hara scootched down the sideline for a game-winning 14-yard TD run moments later.

A heroic comeback effort yielding up an almost sure victory thus was turned into one of the more ignominious defeats in the long, lamented history of Rice football.

Owls hope to (quadruple) bounce back against USM
(The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 27)
'I thought our kids played incredibly hard'
(The Roost -- Oct. 27)
Rice dominated game in the late goings
(The Roost -- Oct. 28)
Walden leaves USM for Austin Peay
(WDAM TV7 -- Oct. 27)
How to watch Rice-USM game
(Hattiesburg American -- Oct. 28)
Rice, USM both hope to get back on track
(Winners and Whiners -- Oct. 28)
If there's ever a team that deserves a break...
(Lindy Sports -- Oct. 27)
Rice needs to eradicate defensive rust
(Underdog Dynasty -- Oct. 28)
Overtime doinks doom Owls against MTSU
(The Roost -- Oct. 24)
Bad luck, bad process yield heartbreak
(The Roost -- Oct. 24)
Quadruple doink dooms Rice in wild, double-overtime thriller
(Underdog dynasty -- Oct. 24)
Ball just doesn't bounce Rice's way
(Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 24)
You have to see this video to believe it
(Yahoo Sports -- Oct. 24}
A quadruple doink? Crazy....
(Larry Brown Sports -- Oct. 2)
College Football World Reacts To Rice’s Insane Missed Field Goal
(The Spun -- Oct. 24)
Blue Raiders survive insane missed field goal, win in 2OT
(Murfreesboro Times Herald-Record -- Oct. 24)
Gallery: MTSU beats Rice in double overtime
(Murfreesboro Times Herald-Record -- Oct. 24)
Rice misses 4-doink kick; MTSU wins in double OT
(Houston Chronicle/AP -- Oct. 24)
Owls drop overtime thriller
(RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 24)
Blue Raiders knock off Rice in double overtime
(News4Nashville/with video -- Oct. 24}
MTSU post-game presser vs Rice
(MTAthletics -- Oct. 24)
MT's first game at Rice a doozy
(MTAthletics -- Oct. 24)

MTSU week...

HOUSTON (Oct. 9) -- Rice University announced on October 9th that the Owls' opening football game with Middle Tennessee State at Rice Stadium on Oct. 24 will be played without fans in the stands.

The decision to open the season without fans in attendance aligns with the university's mitigation protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have allowed the school to maintain a low rate of positive tests for the virus while offering in-person instruction for most of its classes during the fall semester.

Rice Athletics will continue to work with the Rice Crisis Management Team to assess whether fans can attend the remaining home games in 2020 and will update the status before each game.

"It's unfortunate that our fans will not be in Rice Stadium for the first game, but the safety of our student-athletes and campus community is our primary responsibility," said Rice Director of Athletics Joe Karlgaard. "The guidelines developed by the Rice Crisis Management Team have helped us achieve a very low positivity rate while also allowing us to play this fall. We will work with them on procedures and benchmarks needed for fans to join us later this season."

In accordance with the Rice Ticket Assurance program, football season ticket members will receive an email from tickets@rice.edu offering them the option to either donate their ticket credit to the Rice Athletics Scholarship Fund, keep the money on their account for a future purchase, or receive a refund. The final credit amount will be determined based on the number of games played with fans in attendance.

While fans won't experience the game in person, the Owls will be announcing a series of virtual enhancements to provide them with unique access on game day. Final details on the full array of options will be released early next week.
--Rice Sports Information

HOUSTON (Sept. 6) -- The Rice Athletics Department has announced it will delay the opening of football practice until late September.

The Owls would have needed to begin their preseason practice schedule this weekend in advance of opening the season in early October. However, current conditions related to the infection rate in Houston and the need for highly reliable and very rapid testing results in the competitive athletics context forced a delay in a decision to move forward.

School officials say that, based on some recent reports, more rapid and reliable testing may become available in the very near future. In the coming weeks, they will continue exploring new rapid testing capabilities and additional mitigation measures, and they will continue to monitor the progress of pandemic reduction efforts in Houston and across the country. They will also work with Conference USA on any adjustments to the Owls schedule. A final decision on the start of practice will be made later in September.

"Our top priority is the safety of our community," said Rice Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard. "Rice has safely welcomed back a majority of its student body and will continue to prioritize an on-campus college experience. The very low rates of infection among our campus community are the result of a communal effort and one that requires continued vigilance and dedication. At the same time, we will continue to explore options to allow a football season to happen in 2020."

"As much as our team wants to get on the field and start their season, we all understand the larger issues involved," Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren said. "Mitigating the virus on our campus has been and will remain priority one, but there is also a commitment to trying to create a consistent scenario for football to be played this fall."

"I'm thankful to be a part of a university that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of the campus as well as its student-athletes while still giving the chance to move forward and play the game we love and to compete for a conference title," team captain Austin Trammell said.

According to sources, the delay means that at least the Owls' road game at Marshall (Oct. 3) and at home against UAB (Oct. 10) will likely have to be canceled, as the requisite practice time cannot be completed before the latter date.

That leaves a six-game season, at most -- three at home, three away. Is it worth it?

Rice returns to practice; will start season Oct. 24
(Underdog Dynasty -- Sept. 28)
Rice gets to look at six weeks of MTSU game film
(At the Roost -- Oct. 18)
If Owls solve offense, they're a contender
(SB Nation -- Oct. 19)
When does Rice play football? Oct. 24 vs. Middle Tennessee
(Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 17)
Owls name TCU transfer Collins starting QB
(The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 13)
Owls resume full practices
(The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 20)
1-5 Blue Raiders to meet 0-0 Owls
(Winners & Whiners -- Oct. 19)
MTSU focuses on selves while preparing for Rice
(GoBlueRaiders -- Oct. 19)
Despite delayed start, Rice football 'in a good place'
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 29)
MTSU-Rice: streaming options, game time, odds
(Murfreesboro News Journal -- Oct. 19)
Rozner opts out of 2020 season
(Dave Campbell's Texas Football -- Oct. 10)
Jack Fox punts his way from Owls to NFL Lions
(The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 13)
Mom was happy with Rice win, despite missing Maegle's run
(Fillmore County Journal -- Sept. 21)
Owls hope strong 2019 finish will bode well for benighted 2020 season
(Texas High School Football)
Aldredge is poised for blazing senior year
(The Rice Thresher -- Aug. 25)
Green Bay's Klarkowski walks on to scholarship at Rice
(Green Bay, Wis., Press Gazette -- Aug. 24)
Rice postpones football practice due to COVID-19
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 6)
Lack of rapid testing capability cited in postponement
(Sportsnaut -- Sept. 7)
Rice fans will have to hang tight
(ABC13-Houston -- Sept. 7)
Impact of practice delay
(The Roost -- Sept. 7)
Roundup of Week 1 C-USA action
(The Roost -- Sept.