Rice 35, Louisiana Tech 31 THRILL OF VICTORY, AGONY OF... Rice scatback Cam Montgomery crosses the pay station as expression of LATech lad tells the story (PTH photo) HOUSTON (Nov. 28) – With all the sturm und drang occurring week by week during this underachieving football season, it was an unexpected and enjoyable turnabout to see our Owls tuck away the season neatly in coming back from a 10-point deficit late in the fourth quarter to wrest away victory from a Louisiana Tech team which here Saturday appeared to have it safely in their hands. Cedric Patterson leaps to snag touchdown pass from J T McMahon that proved to be the game winner (David Speed Elder photo) With the litany of quarterbacks that the current coaching regime has gone through in the past four years, not to mention more than a handful this year, glory be that it was a young lad off the end of the bench, not so great in stature and girth, but with the heart of a lion, who came in and took a seemingly untenable situation and turned it into an inspiring victory. When was the last time the Owls were able to overcome a 10 point deficit within the last six minutes of a game? Not in recent history, that’s for sure. But led by the heroics of back-bencher T.J. McMahon, they did so this time, (a) making a key defensive stop which prevented the Bulldogs from walking away with an easy victory; (b) moving 79 yards in five plays to cut a two-score deficit to a mere three-point reach; (c) making the big play on defense, not once, but twice, and then applying the coup de grace with a minute to go. The final score: Rice 35, Louisiana Tech 31. As the university administration in recent days began to make clear the impending return of Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren and presumably at least the bulk of his current staff for the coming season, the victory might just have added at least a slight spring in the step of all who are involved with the program, greatly or minimally, and for better or for worse. Even the deeply depressed naysayers, who’ve been pleading for regime change: not out of any particular enmity, but – one should concede – out of care and love for the image of the Institute and the viability of the football program as Rice athletics prepares to move into somewhat more rarified conference territory, couldn’t help but take heart in the heart of our young men who put in such an effort. Perhaps, who knows, the win might’ve heartened even the 26 (or more) who graduated and are now, some with eligibility left, will be taking the next step, which for some shall involve the transfer portal. Undoubtedly, there will be many a new face to greet Rice fans as the Flock takes the field next September in its opener against USC. But at the same time, those Saturday late-game heroics year were engineered for the most part by guys who will once again be donning the Blue and Gray in the coming season. Hooray for that. So let’s just take a quick look at how this wild win turned out to be fashioned. Will continue.... Latest headlines; 'Tangible progress'?  The future of Rice football according to Bloomgren (The Roost -- Nov. 28) Rice rallies to beat La Tech for fourth win (Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 27) T J McMahon, defense lift Rice to comeback win (The Roost --  Nov. 27) Bloom, TJ, Cedric, Sean Fresch on Owls' win (RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 27) LATech falls to Rice in Skip Holtz' final game (Monroe News-Star -- Nov. 27) Skip Holtz: 'I hope they just look back and remember' (Arklatex Home Page -- Nov.. 27) LATech loses battle at Rice (KPVI.com -- Nov. 27) Gabe grabs key pick on anniversary of brother's passing (CBS Sports -- Nov. 27) McMahon rallies Rice to win over LATech (Click2Houston -- Nov. 27) Behind McMahon, Rice rallies for comeback win (ESPN/AP -- Nov. 27) UTEP 38, Rice 28 The Owls Jack Bradley hauls in 6-yard TD pass from Jake Consantine to knot score at 14 against UTEP (David Speed Elder photo) EL PASO (Nov. 21) – Despite a slow start, when the Rice Owls surged to a 21-14 halftime lead against the University of Texas El Paso on the road Saturday afternoon, things were looking up, no matter how you slice it. The offense had suddenly opened up and and was mixing plays, gaining steady yardage. After an anemic beginning when the injury-riddled Rice secondary gave up just about any passing look that was shown to them, suddenly, the Owl defenders got aggressive. When Gabe Taylor picked off a Gavin Hardison pass with a minute to go in the half and the score knotted at 14, it set up the Owls at midfield. Just like that, Jake Constantine hit Jake Bailey for 19,and Cedric Patterson for 33 yards and the score -- 52 yards in two plays -- and the Flock took to the halftime locker room with a spring in their steps. Continues....                         Box score, statistics.... Owls can square home record with Senior Day win (Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 23) Rice v. LATech:  5 things to watch (Houston Chronicle --  Nov. 26) LATech week presser:  notes. quotes (The Roost -- Nov 24) Erratic Owl season hits yet another speed bump (The Roost --Nov 21) Rice-LATech pits pair of 3-8 teams (The Roost -- Nov. 21) Rice falls to UTEP, extends losing streak to four games (Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 20) UTEP - Rice highlight/lowlight reel (KTSM 9 News -- Nov. 20) Rice drops road finale at UTEP (RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 20) Rally falls shorts as Owls fall in El Paso (The Roost -- Nov. 20) UTEP offense opens up to earn seventh win against Rice (El Paso Times -- Nov. 20) Fast starts in both halves aid Miner win (KVIA7 News -- Nov. 29) When UTEP trusts its playmakers, Miners can win (El Paso Time Nov. 20) Miners get back to their winning ways (El Paso Herald-Post -- Nov. 21) "Down in the West Texas town of El Paso..." Western Kentucky 42, Rice 21 Owl receiver August Pitre III nabs another Jake Constantine pass and breaks into the open against WKU (David Speed Elder photo) HOUSTON (Nov. 13) – First off, to respond to the question – nope; it’s not even good enough to compete in lowly Conference USA. With Saturday’s 42-21 loss to Western Kentucky, the Owls now drop to 3-7 on the season, 2-4 in league play, removing them from bowl consideration – said by management to be a minimum goal, prior to season’s start– and relegating them for the seventh straight year to the second division of Conference USA. No offense to our present league brethren, but it's a damnable status that simply can’t be denied or ignored, after all those years of bottom-20 results under two coaching staffs. Thing was, the relative athleticism of the two teams matched up on the Rice Stadium floor this day was about as equal as it gets. So why was WKU able to jet out to a 28-0 halftime lead, effectively putting the game away in a three-minute period in the second quarter when the Hilltoppers ripped off three quick touchdowns? Why did it seem virtually inevitable to Rice’s die-hard but dwindling fan base that that was exactly how things were bound to transpire on on yet another benighted fall Saturday? It’s simple. WKU has a system. Rice has none –or at least, a system which is ill executed, ill-manned and ill-suited for a place like the Institute on South Main. Continues....         Box score, statistics.... WKU postgame presser (RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 15) 'Angry' UTEP team has 'gigantic' chance for 7 wins (El Paso Times -- Nov. 15) UTEP looks to shed losing streak against Rice (Yahoo Sports/El Paso Times -- Nov. 15) Can Owls top UTEP on the road? (The Roost -- Nov. 15) Owls in search of growth as regular season wanes (The Roost -- Nov. 14) Miners go into Rice game on heels of three-game losing streak (The Roost -- Nov. 14) Bailey  Zappe leads Western Kentucky over error-prone Rice (Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 13) Zappe tosses 5  TDs as WKU wallops Rice (Houston Chronicle/AP -- Nov. 13) WKU QB shines in return to Houston, win over Rice (Bowling Green Daily News -- Nov. 13) Bowl hopes dashed as WKU overwhelms Rice (The Roost -- Nov. 13) Hilltoppers 6-4 after running away from Rice (Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 13) WKU bowling after beatdown of Rice (WBKO.com -- Nov. 13) UNC Charlotte 31, Rice 24 Rice running back Ari Broussard lights the wick on his 186-yard rushing explosion with a 22-yard sprint for the Owls' first TD against UNC Charlotte (David Speed Elder photo) HOUSTON (Nov. 6) – Fellow nerds,before we gointo the sordid details of this excruciating and miserable loss, please take a quick look at the chart over to the left. See the dark blue line rise so near the 100 per cent probability line that it bespeaks certainty. Then see where the line goes from there. SE’s, Mathematicians, Math Sci Majors, we assume you’ll have no problem recognizing the sorry story of the game from that single chart, and having done so, turn away to more rewarding pursuits. The rest of us need resort to mere words – avoiding tired, disgusting catchphrases like “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.” Not that. Rather, it fell to the Owls to play fully up to their capability for 55 minutes, only to collapse once retreating into their "play not to lose" shells for the remaing ticks of the clock, a highly disappointing wrinkle which wound up delivering the same old results. Continues....                 Box score, stats..... Owls to face former HBU star Bailey Zappe (Houston Chronicle -- Nov. 9) Owls need win over WKU in worst way (The Roost -- Nov. 9) Rice drops another overtime affair (The Roost -- Nov. 8) With unblievable comeback, Charlotte off to best start in proram history (NinerTimes -- Nov 7) Charlotte steals an overtime stunner over Rice (Underdog Dynasty -- Nov. 6) Owls run out of gas in OT loss to UNC-Charlotte (The Roost -- Nov. 6) Rice falls to Charlotte in second straight OT game (RiceOwls.com -- Nov. 6) Charlotte in thrilling overtime win over Rice (Charlotte Observer -- Nov. 6) Charlotte stages late comeback in OT win over Rice (WRALsportsfan.com -- Nov. 6) Charlotte completes thrilling comeback for Homecoming win (WCNC.com -- Nov. 6) Charlotte stages late comeback, downs Rice in OT (News&Observer -- Nov. 6) North Texas 30, Rice 24 Jake Bailey hauls in TD pass from Jake Constantine for one of four tying scores Owls were able to muster despite overtime loss (David Speed Elder photo) HOUSTON (Oct. 31) – As appears to be so often the case, a stirring Rice upset over a relatively vaunted opponent once again was followed by an outcome inclined to send even the most loyal supporters heading for the stadium exits and zipping up their pocketbooks. This time, our Institute boys followed last week's stirring win over UAB with a Homecoming loss against a 1-6 North Texas team that is likely not to see daylight the rest of the season. While there was no lack of effort on part of the Blue and Gray in this game – the Owls four times fell behind, and four times came back to tie the score – the overall outcome exhibited the same fruitless  tendencies that Mike Bloomgren-coached teams have demonstrated consistently since Day One of his coaching tenure. Continues.....                       Box score, stats..... x Rice needs to keep its players out of transfer portal (The Rice Thresher -- Nov. 3) Bloom:  pre-UNT practices good, game not so good (The Roost -- Nov. 3) Charlotte using trio approach in running game (Niner Times -- Nov. 2) Rice-UNC Charlotte preview:  Owls need win in the worst way (The Roost -- Nov. 1) Rice-North Texas full video highlights (ESPN/YouTube -- Oct. 31) Post-UNT-game Rice presser (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 31) Rice among best college football uniform concepts in Week 9 (ESPN.com --  Oct. 31) Finally, a win for UNT in another sparsely populated game (GoMeanGreen -- Oct. 31) You have to admit, Mean Green kept on fighting (Denton Record-Chronicle -- Oct. 31) Rice falls to North Texas in overtime (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 30) Rice rally falls short against North Texas (The Roost -- Oct. 30) With injury-prone Green out, QB job fell to Jake Constantine (The Roost -- Oct. 30) North Texas picks up first FBS win of season (Underdog Dynasty -- Oct. 30) Mean Green has enough offense to outlast Owls (Denton Record-Chronicle -- Oct. 30) Defense comes through in UNT win (Denton Record-Chronicle -- Oct. 30) Owls fall in overtime on 101st Homecoming day (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 30) Adey's TD run in OT lifts North Texas (ABC News/AP -- Oct. 30) Rice 30, UAB 24 HEY, BIRMINGHAM....SSSSSEE YA! -- Owls gave more than they took from crowd, chippy UAB players (RiceOwls.com) HOUSTON (Oct. 24) – Might there have been something about this AAC move that has added octane to our Institute lads’ gas tanks? Based on the Owls’ performance Saturday in their impressive 30-24 win over UAB, something just had to have happened. Something quite possibly transformational rather than merely incremental, ya think? With the formerly beleaguered and beaten-up Wiley Green stepping in at quarterback and playing like the reincarnation of Johnny Unitas, with the Rice receiving corps finally coming together in a way that portends new stars among them, and with a pressuring, blitzing defense that played hellbent for leather, this Rice team was a completely different outfit from the one that lost to UTSA, Texas and UH by combined score of, oh, never mind. Continues...                      Box score, stats.... Owls upset defending C-USA champs in hectic finish (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 27) Make no mistake, joining ACC is a great move (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 27) Rice wasn't perfect, but they made plays when they had to (The Roost -- Oct. 26) UNT's injury situation continues to deteriorate: report (Denton Record-Chronicle -- Oct. 26) Stats show Rice, UNT basically even (Sports Illustrated -- Oct. 26) Littrell, players review Rice game (MeanGreenSports -- Oct. 26) UNT keeps fighting in tough season that continues at Rice (Denton Record-Chronicle -- Oct. 25) Rice-UAB game video highlights (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 25) Owls have lots to play for against UNT (The Roost -- Oct. 24) Coach Bloom, Wiley, Naem, August in UAB post-gamer (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 24) All green lights from Wiley Green in UAB upset (The Roost -- Oct. 24) Not the outcome UAB expected (WBRC.com -- Oct. 23) Quickie Rice-UAB video highlights (ESPN.com -- Oct. 23) Late rally falls short in UAB's 30-24 loss to Rice (AL.com -- Oct. 23) Rice stuns UAB in key C-USA duel (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 23) Rice bounces back with a vengeance (The Roost -- Oct. 23) Wiley Green passes for 3 TDs in Rice win over UAB (ESPN/AP -- Oct. 23) Owls survive 30-24 against heavily-favored Blazers (Underdog Dynasty -- Oct. 23) Big-play Owls knock off UAB, 30-24 (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 23) Costly mistakes dig early hole for Blazers (AL.com -- Oct. 23) HOUSTON (Oct. 21) – Just when we thought things simply couldn’t get worse, all of a sudden they got much, much better. Rice Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard Thursday announced that the rumors indeed were true, and that our beloved Feathered Flock will join the American Athletic Conference, uniting Rice with old foes such as Tulane, SMU, Tulsa and even Navy. “While the exact timing of our entrance is still to be determined, we are thrilled for our new direction,” Joe told alumni and supporters in an email distributed Thursday morning. Rice will be joined by Charlotte, FAU, North Texas, UAB and UTSA, JK announced, meaning that the sextet will be departing Conference USA to compete with current AAC members East Carolina, Memphis, Navy (football only), SMU, Temple, Tulane, Tulsa, Wichita State (non-football), and USF in the newly expanded league. “We are adding excellent institutions that are established in major cities and have invested in competing at the highest level,” AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco announced.  “We have enhanced geographical concentration and we will continue to provide valuable inventory to our major media rights partner, ESPN, which will feature our members on the most prominent platforms in sports media.” So when is this big move going to happen? Soon, but it’s unknown precisely when, JK noted. “I think given the nature of this, there’s probably moves upstream that need to happen that would determine exactly when we would join the conference,” Karlgaard said. An educated guess from insiders has it that the new league play would commence in calendar year 2023. And yes, this will be a “plus” money move for the venerable Institute, which certainly will exceed this year’s $500,000 annual stipend in C-USA. In 2020, each AAC school garnered in the range of $7 million. Expect somewhat less in the slightly shrunken footprint of AAC 2.0, but the take certainly be greater than the meager 500K simoleans reaped this year in C-USA 3.2.2. Better national exposure? Yes. Of course it will help just a week bit should the Owls post more than a win or two in the marquee sports of football and basketball. “I think it will have a significant economic impact,” JK said. “I believe our distribution will be significantly better from the American Athletic Conference than they have been — ever, no matter what conference we’ve been affiliated with.” Rice move to AAC part of long-term vision (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 21) Leebron, Karlgaard et al. meet the press re AAC (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 21) Rice set to join American Athletic Conference (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 21) Rice officially joins American Conference (KIAH.com -- Oct. 21) Rice heads to AAC as part of great realignment of '21 (ABC13.com -- Oct. 21) Aresco:  'We're not certain when they're going to come in yet' (Charlotte Citizen-Tribune -- Oct. 21) It's official:  Rice to American Athletic Conference (The Roost --  Oct. 21) Having lost three, AAC adds six (The Athletic -- Oct. 21) Realignment dominoes began falling in July (Bleacher Report -- Oct. 21) Invitation extended after vote of AAC presidents (CW390 Sports -- Oct. 21) Rice accepts invitation to join AAC (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 21) UTSA 45, Rice 0                                                                                           (Rice Sports Information) Box score, statistics... Starting QB an uncertain proposition for Owls this week (The Roost -- Oct. 21) 'We returned 10 starters and we were excited about those guys' (The Roost -- Oct. 21) Blue-Gray preview show:  Rice vs. UAB (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 20) Owls turn focus to another tough test at UAB (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 19 Coach Bloom pre-UAB press conference (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 19) Rice football expected to join AAC (The Roost -- Oct. 18) Next for Owls:  UAB, 34-0 winners over Southern Miss (The Roost -- Oct. 17) Bloom: 'Too much error in our game' (The Roost -- Oct. 16) Rice shredded by undefeated UTSA (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 16) Owls outclassed by UTSA in blowout loss (The Roost -- Oct. 16) Bloomgren: 'We got taken to the woodshed' (The Roost -- Oct. 16 UTSA maintains perfection in shutout of Rice (Underdog Dynasty -- Oct. 16) UTSA remains unbeaten with dominating shutout of Rice (San Antonio Express-News -- Oct. 16) UTSA posts second shutout of season (San Antonio Report -- Oct. 16) UTSA plays 'a great complete game' (San Antonio Express-News -- Oct. 16) Rice falls at UTSA (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 16) Rice 24, Southern Miss 19 Jake Bailey submarines into end zone at the end of 39-yard TD pass-and-run to give Owls 7-0 lead against USM (David Speed Elder photo) Turn out the lights; the party's over, as Miles McCord signals, "Owls' ball!" after nabbing key fourth quarter pass interception (PTH photo) HOUSTON (Oct. 3) – At the very least, it was a step in the right direction. Newly ensconced Rice starting quarterback Jake Constantine was fully in command of the Owl offense, making accurate passes that engendered an effective scoring punch, and basically directing his charges to do just what needed to be done, no more, no less, in leading the Institute Boys on three touchdown drives and a key field goal en route to a 24-19 league win over Southern Mississippi here Saturday. Meanwhile, the Rice defensive unit, still banged up and hobbled by injury, managed four interceptions against USM backup quarterback Jake Lange – four coffin nails driven into a Southern Miss passing attack that, alas, otherwise exhibiteded consistent success against an up-and-down Owl defensive secondary. Continues....                       Box score.... Unconventional wisdom or Rashad Wisdom?  Owls face unbeaten UTSA (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 13 Karlgaard embraces challenges of NCAA changes (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 13) UTSA hoping to maintain momentum amid historic start (San Antonio Express-News -- Oct. 12) UTSA, Harris show payoff of growth in landmark win (San Antonio Express-News -- Oct. 11) After bye week, Owls prep for UTSA (The Roost -- Oct. 10) Everybody's favorite Homecoming opponent; now it's UTSA (UTSA Athletics -- Oct. 10) After effort against Rice, USM's Lange wins plaudits (WXXV25 -- Oct. 6) Bill Whitmore, Big Owl Conover, and the 1974 Rice Owls (YouTube/Rice SID -- long ago) Jovoni leads Owls over ranked Marshall last season (C-USA.com -- Dec. 5,2020) Slick camera work in staff video of win over USM (RiceOwls.com -- Oct. 6) Owls head into bye week with chance to get healthy (The Roost/Podcast -- Oct. 5) Owls open league play with win over Southern Miss (The Rice Thresher -- Oct. 5) Backup QB takes over as USM falls short against Rice (The Student Printz -- Oct. 5) 'It was a grimy game, and we got it done' (The Roost -- Oct. 3) Rice-Southern Miss video highlights (YouTube/Conference USA -- Oct. 3) This week's C-USA games turned in large part on turnovers (The Roost -- Oct. 3) Defense slams door on Southern Miss comeback (RiceOwls.com-- Oct. 2) Offensive punch, opportunistic defense leads Owls to win (Houston Chronicle -- Oct. 2) USM postgame presser:  Coach Bloom, Elijah Garcia, Kirk Lockhart, Robert French (RiceOwls.com/YouTube -- Oct. 2) Constantine, interceptions push Rice past USM (Underdog Dynasty -- Oct. 2) Frosh QB shines but USM rally falls short (Hattiesburg American --  Oct. 2) Owls outlast Southern Miss for first league win (The Roost -- Oct. 2) Owls scored first, never trailed (WDAM.com -- Oct. 2) Constantine, Rice dispose of Southern Miss (Las Vegas Sun/AP -- Oct. 2) Owls carve up Southern Miss secondary (WTOK.com -- Oct. 2) Rice 48, TSU 34 SEE YAH!  Jordan Myers is in the clear en route to a 62-yard TD run, one of his four touchdowns on the day, not to mention rolling up 208 all-purpose yards in career game (PTH photo) HOUSTON (Sept. 25) – Owl fans can take what they wish out of the Institute’s 48-34 win over Texas Southern University at Rice Stadium Saturday. Optimists will point to the steady quarterback play of graduate transfer Jake Constantine, the gutsy performance of running back Jordan Myers, and just generally a propensity for the Owls to be able, at long last, to pile up yardage and put points on the scoreboard. Pessimists will point out that they are convinced that defensive play, in general, was just awful, allowing 34 points and 460 yards to a TSU team which lost to Baylor, 66-7, in a game in which Baylor never had to punt, scoring a touchdown every time they got their hands on the ball, except for the ending clock runout. Then, too, Tigers also went down 40-19 to a fellow SWAC team, Prairie View. (You remember those guys, the ones Rice was able to beat only by one point on a last-second field goal in the first game of Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren’s tenure.) Continues....        Complete statistics.... Hall:  So much hope still left in the season (USM Sports -- Sept. 29) Will Hall: things to know about new Southern Miss Coach (Hattiesburg American -- Dec. 2, 2020) Owls know who they are as they enter league play (Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 28) USM week presser: Coach Bloom, Jovaun Woolford, Ikenna Enechukwu (RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 28) Glitzy video highlights of Rice's win over TSU (RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 28) Offense led the way in Owls' first season win (The Roost/Podcast -- Sept. 28) Southern Miss, Rice both entered season with lofty goals (The Roost -- Sept. 27) USM players, coach have lots to say after loss to Bama (Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 27) What we learned from USM's Bama loss (Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 27) Full video replay of Rice-TSU game (YouTube/TSU Sports -- Sept. 26) Constantine delivered when Owls needed him most (The Roost -- Sept. 26) Rice-TSU postgame: Coach Bloom, Jordan Myers, Cedric Patterson, Jake Constantine (RiceOwls.com/YouTube -- Sept. 26) Mixed results in Week 4 for C-USA (The Roost -- Sept. 26) Rice-TSU:  View from the stands (Parliament - Sept. 26) Rice downs TSU to get first win of season (Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 25 Owls lead from start to finish, beat TSU (The Roost -- Sept. 25) Myers' big night sparks Owls to win over TSU (RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 25)   Texas 58 Rice 0 SEA OF ORANGE -- Wiley Green gamely plies for yardage in Texas game, but Horn defense was having none of that (David Speed Elder photo) HOUSTON (Sept. 19) – Those of you who have any idea how a team that played Arkansas off their feet for three quarters, turned tail and was completely outmanned, humbled, humiliated by a Texas outfit that had been simply thrashed by that same Arkansas eleven the week before – please advise if you have a plausible explanation. Admittedly, experience has told us that the transitive nature of comparative football scores has never been anything in which to place stock. Or bet on. Even so, someone tell us...how is it that a team that led a presently 3-0 Arkansas club midway in the third quarter, turned around and turned in nine straight quarters of some of the less laudable football play displayed by an Institute squad in Rice’s 107-year athletic history. It’s maddening. Continues...    TSU band, fireworks also in the card for Saturday's game (RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 24) Owls find another QB quandary (The Roost -- Sept. 23) Offensive changes for TSU game (The Roost -- Sept. 23) Jake Constantine at this week's presser (RiceOwls.com/YouTube -- Sept. 22) Conference realignment on the way; Rice can't afford to miss out (The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 22) Because it's hard:  Owls implode in Austin (The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 21) TSU presser, quotes, practice notes (The Roost -- Sept. 21) Jake Constantine gets his chance at quarterback (Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 21) Owls hope to bounce back from deflating loss (The Roost -- Sept. 19) Rice-Texas complete video lowlights (YouTube/LHN -- Sept. 19) Longhorn running backs run wild in 58-0 throttling of Rice (KXAN -- Sept. 19) Sarkisian:  "We had to own it" (Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 19) Texas shreds Rice on the ground in blowout (Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 19) Insult and injury:  Owls blasted by Texas in Austin (The Roost -- Sept. 19) Rice blanked 58-0 by Texas in worst loss in 12 years (Underdog Dynasty -- Sept. 19) After tasting 'humble pie', Longhorns simply dominate overmatched Owls (Hookem.com -- Sept. 19) Texas took care of business as expected (Burnt Orange Nation -- Sept. 19) Longhorns ran all over the Owls (Inside Texas -- Sept. 19) Game was essentially over before it started (USA Today -- Sept. 19) Longhorns bounce back with 58-0 win over Owls (Sports Illustrated -- Sept. 19) Robinson, Texas running game rumble over Rice (Yahoo Sports/AP  -- Sept. 19) Rice falls to Texas (RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 19)

 


Houston 44, Rice 7


Rice QB McCaffery's plunge sets up Owls' only score against UH (David Speed Elder photo)


Jordan Myers gets outside his defender to score Owls' only TD (David Speed Elder photo)

HOUSTON (Sept. 12) – There’s not much worth writing home about, given the Rice Owls’ 44-7 pounding at the hands of the University of Houston in Saturday’s Bayou Bucket clash.

Oh, there are certainly a lot of Rice football topics that this benighted episode engenders -- you likely have a pretty good idea of what they are. For details, feel free to turn to Parliament where commentary may be made ad infinitum. Despite our wish to bust loose a diatribe here, nothing would be gained in so doing. Maybe it’s a better idea if we just stick to the game.

When the highly-regarded transfer, former Nebraska Cornhusker Luke McCaffrey, took the field to lead the Owls on their first offensive possession, hopes ran high. Actually, they ran about as high as one might expect given the fact that the Cougars had just gotten through scoring with ease after taking the opening kickoff and cutting through the Rice defense like butter, 84 yards in 11 plays.

Young Luke stuck to the familiar script – handoff plunges into the line on first and second downs, a misfired pass play on third and long, and then punting time.

But the Owls did at least achieve a degree of consistency in so doing. They went three and out, same way, three out of the first four times they got their hands on the ball. The other possession ended in an interception on the second play of the drive, after Ari Broussard had risen at least some eyebrows with a 16 yard gash up the middle that was one diving tackle away from going the distance.
Continues....      Complete game statistics....

Latest Headlines...
It's Statement Saturday for Horns vs. Owls -- get ready to run it up
(Hookem.com -- Sept. 17)
Time for Owls to start playing before a season is lost
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 16)
What Horns could face against Rice turns on Owl defense
(The Flagship -- Sept. 16
Oddsmakers say Owls have 3.6% chance against UT
(Underdog Dynasty -- Sept. 16)
Rice not an opponent to take lightly for Horns
(Sports Illustrated -- Sept. 16)
QB problems still issue for Owls
(Burnt Orange Nation -- Sept. 16)
Offensive tweaks, practice notes
(The Roost -- Sept. 15)
Texas may not be back, but Texas is Texas
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 15)
Rice likely to stress McCaffery run tools, considering Arkansas' success
(USA Today -- Sept. 15)
Pressure on Texas to come out with blowout win over Rice
(The Roost -- Sept. 15)
It'll be tough to truly judge QB performance against such poor competition
(USA Today -- Sept. 15)
Top of the menu:  Texas QB change
(Hook'em.com -- Sept. 15)
Horns get to feast on Owls after devastating Arkansas loss
(Sports Illustrated -- Sept. 15)
Rice-Texas week presser quotes, practice quotes
(The Roost -- Sept. 14)
Longhorns head back home to face Rice
(Horns Illustrated -- Sept. 14)
Coach Bloomgren UH post-game presser
(RiceOwls.com/YouTube -- Sept. 13)
Chris del Conte's Rice-Texas comments
(Longhorn Sports -- Sept. 13)
Rice must put Bucket game behind them, quickly
(The Roost -- Sept. 12)
C-USA week 2 wins came against FCS teams
(The Roost -- Sept. 12)
Owls can't gain traction in Bucket battle
(RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 12)
Inside UH's $300 million quest to join P5 conference
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 9)
McGaskill scores 3 TDs in Bucket romp
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 12)
Onslaught dooms Owls to 0-2 start
(The Roost -- Sept. 12)
Houston tops Owls for sixth straight Bucket win
(AP News -- Sept. 12)
UH punishes Owls to win Bayou Bucket
(Underdog Dynasty -- Sept. 12)
Rice-UH game lowlights
(YouTube -- Sept. 11

Owls get Coogs in their own nest....


Arkansas 38, Rice 17




August Pitre is so wide open your grandmother could've laid the ball right in his    breadbasket; that put Owls up 17-7 in third quarter; things looked pretty good at that point; however...(David Speed Elder photo)


Rice defense was agressive, swarming throughout game -- at least until turnovers put contest out of reach (PTH photo)

FAYETTEVILLE (Sept.5) -- Rice football fans, old and new, have learned to be wary of early leads these days.

So it was in the hills of Northwest Arkansas this unexpectedly hot afternoon. The Owls had taken a 17-7 lead midway through the third quarter against an Arkansas team that was sputtering against a Rice defense that was all over the field, allowing only a single, improvised first-quarter touchdown on a 34-yard scramble by Hog QB K. J. Jefferson.

As the sun rose higher over the Ozark hills, the Owls had responded with a 25-yard Collin Riccitelli field goal set up by an emphatic Kenneth Orji block of a Hog punt attempt at the Razorback 21.

The Owls, sensing a chance for a quick TD response, were able to et as far as the Razorback seven yard land via line plunges by Kahlan Griffin and Jordan Myers.

Bogged down there, the Owls got a three-pointer to take partial advantage of the blocked punt. A touchdown was what the doctor ordered, but the Owl offense couldn’t produce one.
Continues....   Complete Rice-Arkansas box score...


This isn't just another non-conference game
(Underdog Dynasty -- Sept. 10)
More dual-quarterback strategy against UH?
(CBS Sports -- Sept. 10)
Stats, predictors, and such: Rice/UH
(ESPN -- Sept. 9)
Pre-Houston QB questions; practice notes
(The Roost -- Sept. 9)
The Opposition: previewing the Bayou Bucket Classic
(The Daily Cougar -- Sept. 9)
Going into year four, Mike Bloomgren doesn't care what you think
(The Rice Thresher -- Aug. 31)
Owls, Coogs both seek first season win in rivalry game
(Sportsnaut -- Sept. 8)
UH presser notes, practice notes, depth chart
(The Roost -- Sept. 8)
Houston's jump to Big 12 an expected big win for Houston
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 8)
Bayou Bucket: The story behind the ugliest trophy in sports
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 7)
'We live and breathe intellectual brutality around here'
(Sports Illustrated -- Sept. 5)
Holgorsen: 'Clayton's our quarterback
(The Daily Cougar -- Sept. 6)
Second-half struggles continue to haunt UH
(The Daily Cougar -- Sept. 5)
Coach Bloom takes positives out of loss to Hogs
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 7)
Rice versus Texas in the Covid game
(AP News -- Aug. 25)
Owls kick off season against Arkansas, UH, UT
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 7)
The time when Rice, Houston pulled plug on SWC
(SWC Roundup -- Dec. 2, 2020)
Rice-Arkansas full game video highlights
(ESPN -- Sept. 6)
Owls continue tour of former SWC foes
(The Roost -- Sept. 6)
Tough Owl defense?  Nope, it was "slow start" by Arkansas
(24/7 Sports -- Sept. 5)
Both Owls, Coogs have reasons for concern
(The Roost -- Sept. 5)
Questions abound at Quarterback after opening defeat
(The Roost -- Sept. 5)
Big UTSA win over Illini paces C-USA week one
(The Roost -- Sept.5)
Arkansas tallies 31 unanswered points, wins going away
(Arkansas Democrat -- Sept. 4)
Owls squander halftime lead as Arkansas rallies
(The Roost -- Sept. 4)
Rice holds its own on stat sheet; fails on second-half swoon
(24/7 Hawg Sports -- Sept. 4)
Rice was fine until fourth quarter began
(ESPN/AP --- Sept. 4)
Hogs pull away; avoid another C-USA beat-down
(HawgBeat.com -- Sept. 4)
'He challenged the heck out of us everyt time he ran the ball'
(HawgBeat.com -- Sept. 4)
Hogs rally, avoid upset
(Houston Chronicle/AP -- Sept. 4)
Hogs take advantage of three Wiley Green second-half picks
(RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 4)
Jefferson rallies Arkansas past Rice
(National Football Post -- Sept. 4)

Sammy does a little Hog point-shaving 
Crucial season looming


Spring practice had defense ahead of offense -- but that was before the arrival of Mr McCaffery; now the battle ensues (Rice SID photo)


Hog defense ready for Rice's bully-ball offense?
(Hawg Sports -- Sept. 2)
Owls are overlooked, even in their own city
(Whole Hog Sports -- Sept. 2)
Not enough Rice firepower to keep up
(College Football News -- Sept. 2)
Pittman: 'Excited to play a good Rice team'
(Hawg  Sports -- Sept. 2)
Rice-Arkansas game preview podcast
(The Roost -- Sept. 2)
Green remains most probable to get first snap
(The Roost -- Sept. 2)
It's in the stars -- or is it?
(Hawg Beat -- Sept. 2)
Hawg zoom chat with Matt
(Hawg Beat -- Sept. 2)
Hogs expected to have size, skills edge up front
(24/7 Sports -- Sept. 2)
Goldsmith coached on both sides of Arkansas, Rice
(Whole Hog Sports -- Sept. 2)
Arkansas press conference notes, practice notes, QB news
(The Roost -- Sept. 1)
Rice likes its options at quarterback
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 31)
You know what they say about having two quarterbacks
(Whole Hog Sports -- Aug. 31)
Arkansas to face dual quarterback system against Rice
(24/7 Sports -- Aug. 31)
Arkansas depth chart
(Pig Trail Nation -- Aug. 31)
Bloomgren reveals Rice QB plan aainst Arkansas
Arkansas (Rivals/Hawgbeat -- Aug. 31)
Rice's Arkansas game notes
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 31)
Rice, Arkansas renew series dating back to 1919
(Sports Book Wire -- Aug. 30)
Hogs tackle Owls in 68th meeting, first since '91
(24/7 Sports -- Aug. 30)
Owls quiet about naming starting QB
(Whole Hog Sports -- Aug. 30)
Hogs big favorite at home
(USA Today -- Aug. 30)
Game preview: Season opener vs. Arkansas
(The Roost -- Aug 29)
Before pro sports in Houston, all eyes were on Rice
(Houston Chronicle --  Aug. 25, 2016)
This the season when Rice has to get things together
(Underdog Dynasty -- June 21)
Hogs will blow out Rice, Auburn, Mississippi State this season
(Saturday Blitz -- July 28)
Owls' visit will be nostalgic for older Arkansas crowd
(HogSports.com -- Aug. 11)
2021 Rice football preview:  5 burning questions
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 27)
Preview of '21 Rice offense
(The Roost -- Aug. 27 <podcast>)
Arkansas has to get some players healthy
24/7 Sports -- Aug. 27)
ESPN gives Rice 5.4% chance of winning
(ESPN.com. -- Aug. 27)
Owls have to control clock, move chains
(College Football News -- Aug. 26)
Arkansas coach talks Rice game preparation
(HawgBeat.com -- Aug 26)
In-depth look at Rice, Hogs' season opening opponent
(Arkansas Fight -- July 14)
Pandemic remains as college football season kicks off
(Dallas Morning News -- Aug. 26)
Plucky Owls will control clock but lose game
(College Football News -- Aug. 26)
Five true frosh to watch as Razorbacks kick off against Rice
(Pig Trail Nation <seriously> -- Aug. 26)
Hog frosh skill players continue to shine
(Hawg Sports -- Aug. 26)
Rice QB battle continues; young faces stand out
(The Roost -- Aug. 25)
Seven college football programs that could end bowl droughts
(NCAA.com -- Aug. 25)
Six Razorbacks land on scribes' pre-season all-league team
(24/7 Sports -- Aug. 25)
Jefferson moves up; new QB is taking command of huddle
(Arkansas Gazette -- Aug. 24)
Hogs near end of preseason; Rice team preview
(Arkansas Gazette -- Aug. 24)
Only a matter of time
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 24)
Owls gain clarity, show offensive punch in second scrimmage
(The Roost -- Aug. 21)
Video highlights from fall drills
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 23)\|
Why are polls, scribes still down on Rice?
(The Roost -- Aug. 24)
Stadium returns to full capacity in Hog opener against Owls
(ArkansasRazorbacks.com -- Aug. 23)
Breaking down QB battle halfway through fall practice
(The Roost -- Aug. 17)
While dreaming about Texas, don't forget about Rice
(Whole Hog Sports -- Aug. 12)
Razorbacks break fall camp
(Whole HawgSports -- Aug. 24)
Who will challenge UAB in compelling league race?
(The Athletic -- Aug. 22)
Owls didn't get a lot of preseason respect, but...
(Whole HawgSports -- Aug. 22)
Rice hopes to increase scoring output
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 18)
Expectations high for Rice defense
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 17)
Coach Bloom: 'I don't feel the need to call a (QB) winner anytime soon'
(The Roost -- Aug. 16)
Defense dominates in first scrimmage
(The Roost -- Aug. 14)
Owls won't be entering season injury-free
(The Roost -- Aug. 14)
Rice QBs get chance to impress during scrimmage
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 14)
Hogs eager to renew Southwest Conference rivalries
(24/7 Sports -- Aug. 11)
Blaze gone, but eight of nine top Owl tacklers return
(College Football News -- Aug. 8)
Rice our experts' favorite over/under bet for the 2021 season
(VSiN.com -- Aug. 2)
Is 2021 the year when Owls return to postseason?
(Saturday Blitz -- July 22)