The Rice Football Webletter -- 2018 season

Southern Miss 40, Rice 22

Austin Walter threads sideline after catch to put Owls in scoring position, second quarter (David Speed Elder photo)

Myles Adams, Houston Robert flock to drop USM QB Abraham for loss -- would that there'd have been more of these (David Speed Elder photo)

HATTIESBURG (Sept. 23) – Well, it wasn’t the end of the world, but it certainly was more than a minor chug hole on the Rice Owls’ road back to respectability.

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles manhandled the visitors from on South Main with a disturbing air of routine here Saturday, coming out on top by a 40-22 score in a game the Owls were never really in, beyond the first half.

For a just glimmer, though, midway in the second quarter, it looked as if the Owls, despite a sluggish start, might be ready to take over the game.

The score stood 17-15, USM, when the key sequence began. First, Myles Adams and Houston Robert teamed to drop the USM quarterback for a deep sack, forcing a third-and-16. Quarterback Jack Abraham responded by throwing down the middle into a crowd, and Rice linebacker Blaze Alldredge picked it off, returning the pill 20 yards to the Owl 46.

The interception appeared to energize a previously un-pumped Rice sideline, as the big, hirsute sophomore was mobbed by his teammates once coming off the field.
Continues....

The latest....
For stretches in Saturday USM game, the Owls looked like the team they used to be
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 24)
What we learned in Wake's 56-27 loss to Notre Dame
(24/7 Sports -- Sept. 24)
Big-time faux pas by Wake field goal kicker
(Deadspin.com -- Sept. 24)
Wake Forest changes defensive coordinators after 2-2 start
(WRAL.com -- Sept. 24)
Shepherd School pregame function on road before WF game
(The Shepherd School of Music -- Sept. 24)
Owls must pick up pieces from USM loss, move on
(The Roost -- Sept. 23)
Here's what we learned from USM's thrashing of Rice
(The Sun-Herald -- Sept. 23)
Southern Miss topples Rice in conference opener
(Houston Chronicle/AP -- Sept. 23)
Rice-Southern Miss video highlights
(Stadium.com -- Sept. 23)
Southern Miss passing game gets rolling in win over Rice
(The Sun-Herald -- Sept. 23)
Southern Miss offense lights up Rice
(Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 23)
Southern Miss defeats Rice in C-USA opener
(WTOK.com -- Sept. 23)
Abraham tosses 4 TDs as Southern Miss tops Rice
(WTVA.coim -- Sept. 23)
Golden Eagles grab 40-22 win over Rice
(The Student Printz -- Sept. 23)
Southern Miss rolls to 40-22 victory
(Click2Houston/AP -- Sept. 23)
Owls fall short on the road against Southern Miss
(The Roost -- Sept. 22)

HOUSTON (Sept. 18) – Hope arises, if not thrives, three games into the Mike Bloomgren era on South Main.

The Rice Owls, losers of two out of their first three contests on the season, nonetheless have shown precision, cohesiveness and a general sense of, call it teamliness, that – can we say it? Has been missing except in the most fleeting of moments over the past decade.

The results of those first three outings say: We ain’t dead yet. Far from it.
Continues....

Hawaii 43, Rice 29

Emmanuel Esukpe turns in end zone after 51-yard TD run (Rice Sports Information)

Rice senior kicker Jack Fox nailes field goal in Rice-Hawaii action (Rice Sports Information)

How the SEC destroyed Southern Miss -- and could kill football
(Black and Gold Review)
How Rice's new tuition program helps athletics
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 21)
Rice-Southern Miss preview
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 21)
Rice-USM should be a match of weaknesses
(Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 21)
Three questions USM needs answered against Rice
(Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 20)
USM rushing attack to look even more new vs. Rice
(Jackson Clarion-Ledger -- Sept. 20)
Ellerbee back at 100 per cent, ready for Southern Miss
(The Roost -- Sept. 20)
Both Rice, USM come in to game rested
(Sports Chat Place -- Sept. 19)
'Supe, Schantz earn shout-outs from Coach Bloom
(The Roost -- Sept. 19)
Triple-threat Austin Walter rushes into record books
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 19)
Big gainers plaguing Rice defense as C-USA play begins
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 18)
Rice football unsc{R}ipted -- Episode 2
(RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 18)
Bye week came at right time for Owls
(The Roost -- Sept. 18)
USM senior RB quits team, seeks to invoke new transfer rule
(The Sun-Herald -- Sept. 18)
Explain benefits, drawbacks to unplanned bye week
(Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 17)
Hopson on reinstated QB: 'It's going to be up to him'
(The Sun Herald -- Sept. 17)
USM reinstates QB Griggs just in time for league game with Rice
(Jackson Clarion-Ledger -- Sept. 15)
Early-season grades for special teams entering bye week
(The Roost -- Sept. 13)
A season in Bloom(gren) -- the next step toward a winning football culture
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 12)
Stankavage settles in as Rice's starting QB
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 12)
Early-season grades for defense entering bye week
(The Roost -- Sept. 12)
USM-AppState won't be played Saturday
(Southern Miss Athletics -- Sept. 12)
Former Rice QB: revenue games humiliating for smaller schools
(San Francisco Chronicle -- Sept. 12)
USM deals with small school size, low sports revenues
(Jackson Clarion-Ledger)
Southern Miss addresses fixes in running game
(Hattiesburg American -- Sept. 11)
Montrose bridge lights get lit for Coog football
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 11)
Another week, another closer-than-expected loss
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 11)
Early-season grades for offense entering bye week
(The Roost -- Sept. 11)
Owls' 1-2 record betrays quality of play
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 10)
Defense won its battle against Hawaii
(The Roost -- Sept. 9)
Rice showed Hawaii that games aren't played on paper
(SB Nation -- Sept. 9)
Rice kept pressure on right until the end
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Sept. 9)
Rice falls 43-29 at Hawaii
(Riceowls.com -- Sept. 9)
Cole McDonald carries Hawaii past Rice
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 9)
Hawaii fends off Rice's rally
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Sept. 9)
Warriors hold off Rice,win third straight
(KTTV Island News -- Sept. 9)
McDonald throws for four TD passes
(KTTV Island News video -- Sept. 9)
Warriors hold off late comeback bid
(Hawaii News Now -- Sept. 9)
Rolovich: 'We weren't executing at a high level'
(Ka Leo -- Spet. 9)
Hawaii postgame press conference video
(Hawaii Star-Advertiser -- Sept. 9)
Late score boosts Hawaii win margin
(USA Today/AP -- Sept. 9)
Rice's goal is to trend up
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 7)

HOUSTON (Sept. 6) – Wheels are down for the Rice football team in Honolulu today, and the first item on the agenda for Owl head man Mike Bloomgren is to take his charges on a respectful tour of Pearl Harbor, which we’ve all grown up learning was the site of the most dastardly sneak attack on the sovereignty of the United States in its now 250-odd-year history.

Come Friday morning, the South Main boys will get to take the launch out and stand and watch the oil slowly ooze from the sunken hull of the U.S.S. Arizona, and be moved.

Next on the menu for the Owls, however, will be strictly business. And in that respect, they well might take a cue from their brief digression into history, and come up with a sneak attack of their own that will surprise and shock the presently high-strutting Hawaii (formerly Rainbow-) Warriors.
Continues...

UH 45, Rice 27

Rice running back Emmanuel Esukpa sets sail on a 52 yard run that set up early Owl go-ahead TD (David Speed Elder photo)

Austin Trammell hauls in a Sean Stankavage pass for first-down yaradage to keep early Rice drive alive (David Speed Elder photo)

HOUSTON (Sept. 2) – When the Rice Owls surged to a 27-17 lead midway in the third quarter of their game with the University of Houston Saturday, one already could have declared the day a successful one for the Boys of the Institute.

A near-30-point underdog, given zero chance to be competitive against its high-octane cross-town rival, Rice had worked the playbook of the new head Owl Mike Bloomgren strictly by-the-book, if not to perfection, establishing a credible passing attack to augment its already- established running game, forcing three-and-outs on defense and refusing to allow their opponent to turn field position advantages into touchdowns.

In truth, the score quite easily could have been more one-sided in favor of Rice at that point in the game. At the very least, nothing about that ten-point Rice bulge could have been considered flukish.
Continues....

Rolovich has brought back air attack to Hawaii
(The Roost -- Sept. 6)
Warriors face Owls for first time since 2014
(Ka Leo Sports Video -- Sept. 6)
Rice holds 5-2 all-time edge vs. Hawaii
(WarriorSports.com -- Sept. 6)
Hawaii offense worth losing sleep to watch
(SB Nation -- Sept. 5)
What will Rice offense look like against Hawaii?
(The Roost -- Sept. 5)
Hawaii gets votes in both polls
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 5)
A definite step forward for the Owls
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 5)
Warriors continue homestand against Rice
(WarriorSports.com -- Sept. 4)
Rice will see sights in Hawaii but focus is on game
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 4)
Warriors looking to make musubi out of Rice
(SB Nation -- Sept. 4)
Rice hoping its brains and brawn will matter
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Sept. 4)
Coach Bloom says team headed in right direction
(The Roost -- Sept. 4)
Warriors play role of heavy favorite vs. struggling Owl program
(Warrior Sports Network)
Hawaii's McDonald league Player of Week for Navy effort
(Honolulu Star-Advertiser -- Sept. 4)
Rice puts up a fight in Bayou Bucket game
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 3)
How Rice's 2018 foes fared this weekend
(Houston Chroncle -- Sept. 3)
Hawaii just could be 6-0 heading into October
(24/7 Sports -- Sept. 3)
McDonald throws for 6 TDs as Hawaii outscores Navy
(Honolulu Advertiser -- Sept. 2)
This week in C-USA; looking ahead to week two
(The Roost -- Sept. 2)
Owl receiving corps impresses vs. Houston
(The Roost -- Sept. 2)
Rice gains confidence from strong start against Houston
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 1)
Houston takes Bucket after hard-fought battle with Rice
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 1)
Cougars rally to retain Bucket
(RiceOwls.com -- Sept. 1)
Future success resides in ability to recruit to key spots
(Nightowl -- Sept.. 1)
Owls show promise in loss to Cougars
(The Roost -- Sept. 1)
Stankavage: 'Nobody can hang his head'
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 1)
Cougars were lucky things didn't get out of hand in first half
(Houston Chronicle -- Sept. 1)
Rice-UH video highlights
(CBS Sports -- Sept. 1)
King rallies Houston to win over Rice
(Washington Post -- Sept. 1)
Coogs hold on to bucket with comeback win
(CW39 Houston -- Sept. 1)
It's tough to watch Coogs struggle against a team like Rice
(Underdog Dyasty/Joe Broback -- Sept. 1)
Houston gets scare from Rice before offense starts rolling
(Texas Football -- Sept. 1)
Redshirt Baker ready for challenge of containing Oliver
(The Rice Thresher -- Sept. 1)

H-Town turnover?

HOUSTON (Aug. 30) – The new-look Rice Owls face one of their most daunting tests of the season as they take on the cross-town rival University of Houston Cougars at Rice Stadium in an 11:00 a.m. kickoff Saturday.

There’s hardly a soul on either the Owl side or the Coog side of South Main Street who gives the Owls much of a chance to compete against the Coogs, with their high-octane, up-tempo offense and their defense led by the most decorated and celebrated defender in the land in defensive tackle Ed Oliver.

To hear it told, the Owls ought just as well to roll over and play dead, like so many pill bugs, against the vaunted defensive thrust of Oliver, who already has one Outland Trophy under his belt and is bucking for a second one, not to mention the number one spot in this year’s upcoming NFL draft.
Continues....
X
Rice 31, Prairie View 28

UP AND OVER -- In first-quarter action, Austin Trammell vaults Prairie View defender en route to 23-yard pass-and-run (David Speed Elder photo)

ON HIS WAY -- Emmauel Esukpa picks up 34 of his 173 yards on the night, just steps out of bounds en route to apparent TD -- but he scored on the next play (David Speed Elder photo)

HOUSTON (Aug. 26) – What’s perhaps more remarkable about Rice’s last-gasp, comeback win over Prairie View Saturday was not the means of achieving victory but rather the very fact that the Owls were able to avoid defeat.

Down 28-19 with under 12 left in the game despite scoring on their first four possessions in the first half, the Owls just burred their necks, bit their lips, and put an exhibition of determination that Rice fans have not seen very much of in the past decade, using big plays on defense to wrest control of the game and score on a touchdown, a safety, and a last-second, 23-yard Jack Fox field goal to provide the final 31-28 measure of triumph..

The game began with a display of offensive power by the Owls which gave heart to the most pessimistic of their supporters. But that shortly was followed by a second- and third-quarter defensive swoon that reminded local die-hards of the same old same-old deficiencies that have befuddled Institute defenders for what seems like decades.

In the end, the team’s true grit won out out – and that’s a pretty decent stepping-stone from which to start the Owls' latest attempt at resurgence.
Continues....

UH to unveil fast-paced offense against Rice
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 31)
UH, Rice talking about extending series
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 31)
Rice doesn't have anyone to throw the ball to
(Houston Sportsmap -- Aug. 30)
Oliver finds himself in the Clowney zone
(Bleacher Report -- aug. 30)
New Rice line ready for its Oliver test
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 30)
Unscripted Episode 1: Rice-Prairie View
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 30)
Three keys to victory over Houston
(The Roost -- Aug. 30)
Expect a ton of rotation in UH backfield
(Cougar Digest -- Aug. 30)
Behind enemy lines: previewing the Bayou Bucket
(The Rice Thresher -- Aug. 29)
Houston-Rice rivalry is one with many wrinkles
(The Daily Cougar -- Aug. 29)
Is Major Applewhite on the hot seat?
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 29)
Rice has upped its marketing game noticeably
(Stand cheer drink more beer -- Aug. 25/podcast)
Up-tempo offense in store for Cougars
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 20)
Underdog Rice warns UH not to expect a football patsy
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 29)
Casey: 'Rice was great to me...this week is business'
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 29)
J.T. Ibe earns starting nod for Muschamp's SC team
(The Big Spur -- Aug. 29)
Rice players aren't backing down from UH challenge
(The Roost -- Aug. 28)
Rice's opening win can't be understated
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 28)
Owls 3-TD 'dog in upcoming match with UH
(Sports Chat Place -- Aug. 27)
Owls, Cougars kick off Saturday in late-morning start
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 27)
Owls don't have weapons to win shootout
(Winners and Whiners -- Aug. 27)
Applewhite eschews depth chart before UH opener
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 27)
Hawaii impressive in season opener
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 27)
Despite lackluster performance, Rice win important
(Texas Sports Nation -- Aug. 27)
Owls put Intellectual Brutality culture to test
(The Roost -- Aug. 26)
Rice-PV game photos
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 26)
Rice has long way to go to get back to competitiveness
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 26)
Rice-PVAMU game experience (video)
(YouTube/marshw13 -- Aug. 26)
Bloomgren era begins with wild victory
(Rice Thresher -- Aug. 26)
Owls put intellectual brutality culture to the test
The Roost -- Aug. 26)
Rice opens season with comeback win over Prairie View
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 25)
Fox and Friends give Bloomgren successful debut
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 25)
Bloomgren era opens with back-and-forth win over Prairie View
(The Roost -- Aug. 25)
Esupka runs for 173 yards in Rice win over Prairie View
(AP/Fox Sports -- Aug. 25)
Owls looked Stanford-esque at times but needed fourth-quarter comback to pull off win
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 25)
Video highlights: 4th quarter field goal boosts Owls
(MSN.com -- Aug. 25)
Prairie View loses heartbreaker to Rice
(HBCU Sports -- Aug. 25)
Can't stop giggling on camera-work on game-winning field goal
(SB Nation -- Aug. 25)
ESPN getting roasted for camera work at Rice-PV game
(The Spun -- Aug. 25)

Game on....

HOUSTON (Aug. 22) – The Mike Bloomgren era begins amid enthusiasm among diverse quarters as the Rice Owls open their 2018 season’s dance card with the Prairie View A&M Panthers, a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Rice Stadium Saturday.

But along with the almost universal exclamations of good feelings out South Main way comes an underlying wave of anxiety, albeit a bit stifled, among the nearest and dearest of Owl fans, who are as if whistling in the dark as kickoff looms.

Those loyalists can’t help but remember the inaugural effort of the previous administration, when, 11 long, painful years ago, a newly-implemented Rice coaching staff laid a huge egg in a 16-14 loss to Nicholls State, a middling Division IAA (now, “FCS”) entrant.

Prairie View is likewise a second-rung program, but it’s a crew that’s recently demonstrated that it can put points on the board, whether in victory or defeat.

Much has been made of the downright uncompetitive nature of Rice’s 1-11 team last year. One oft-repeated meme had it that “they were like if you just picked up 11 guys out grilling brats and drinking beers in the parking lot, and gave ‘em uniforms.”
Continues....
Flashback: That close! Second-quarter frenzy not enough as upset chances slip away from Owls in 31-30 loss to UH (2006)

Rice kicks off Bloomgren era against Prairie View
(Underdog Dynasty -- Aug. 24)
QB position still a mystery
(The Roost -- Aug. 23)
Rice versus Prairie View: Three things to know
(The Roost -- Aug. 23)
Kiffin: 'Way better than people think it is'
(Dallas Morning News -- Aug. 23)
The making of Rice football coach Mike Bloomgren
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 23)
Rice should be expected to prevail over PV
(Athlon Sports -- Aug. 23)
Can Panthers challenge Owls on Rice's home turf?
(The Roost)
Rice receiving corps greater than sum of its parts
(The Roost -- Aug. 22)
Bloomgren aims for fresh start
(Rice Thresher -- Aug. 22)
Owls want to start out physical against Prairie View
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 21)
Coach Bloom talks about QB situation going into opener
(Click2Houston -- Aug. 21)
'It's a process; we know it -- but we're taking steps'
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 20)
New coach hopes to keep PV's momentum going
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 20)
Rice-PV: Owls have nowhere to go but up
(Sports Chat Place -- Aug. 19)
B-Doug: 'We've come a long way'
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 19)
Douglas-Dotson heads into 2018 as leader among DBs
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 19)

(David Speed Elder photo)

Battles for position on the Rice depth chart grew ever more intense as Saturday's scrimmage played out (PTH photo)

HOUSTON (Aug. 11) -- Pads were a 'poppin' on the floor of Rice Stadium Saturday evening as full scrimmage number two unfolded before a small but enthusiastic Owlfest crowd. Lightning in the area put off the on-field action for over an hour, and the delay and the wet-ish weather held down attendance, but Rice head coach Mike Bloomgren said his staff had achieved the necessary level of progress by way of the evening's scrimmage reps.

"We're less fluid than we were," the Rice Head Man said aftewards. "Right now we've got a couple of battles stilll going on, and I think the films will be huge in determining things."

He added that Sunday's team meetings will convey to the players where they stand on the depth chart and what they need to do the move up.

With the Owls' home opener against Prairie View looming a week from this coming Saturday, it's time to sharpen the hoe. On the 18th, the Rice staff will hold a mock game -- but check in with the football staff before showing up.

Coach Bloom on Saturday's scrimmage results
(RiceOwls.com -- Aug. 11)
Rice beginning to narrow down position battles
(Houston Chronicle -- Aug. 12)

HOUSTON (Aug. 5) – The first thing to be noticed upon entering Patterson Center at lunchtime Saturday was the Bill of Fare.

No empty calories here. Like the rest of what’s going on within, it’s all business. Lean meats. Grilled vegetables. Lots of fresh fruit. Refined carbohyrates kept to an absolute minimum. Sauces, sparely used, pretty much sugar-and fat-free. The traditional post-prandial ice cream treats? Not to be seen.

Call it the Stanfordization of Rice Football, or call it something else. In any case it’s Something Different – which aptly labels so many other routines, requisites and activities going on within the hallowed halls of Historic Rice Stadium these Dog Days of August.

Here, still a full week before the rest of the student body enter The Hedges to start the upcoming semester, new cookbooks, new recipes, new regimens are awash. For the time being, it, like the gorilla’s kitten, is “All Ball.” No classes, no orientation sessions, no distractions.

"I started off the team meeting this morning saying it was all ball, all day for the next week," new Rice Head Man Mike Bloomgren said this weekend. "They have nothing else on their plates and have all the time in the world to come over here and get with this awesome coaching staff. I want to make sure we are masters of our scheme."

On tap Monday is the first scrimmage of the season, one calculated to separate sheep from goats, or, more specifically, the “go” team from the scout team.

"Tomorrow we have a scrimmage and that's going to move the depth chart up and down," Coach Bloom added. "It's all on them to determine which way they want to go. That's the really cool thing about it being a meritocracy.

"We'll be scrimmaging again next Saturday and the graded work from this week is going to decide who is going to be on the varsity and who is going to move to the scout team nine days from now.”

By the way, don’t plan on dropping by HRS to watch a few scrimmage reps – they’re closed to the hoi polloi. Rice coaches quite reasonably are keeping brand new schemes close to the vest in anticipation of the Sept. 25th “Week Zero” home opener with Prairie View.

At Saturday’s press briefing, Rice defensive coordinator Brian Smith was coy. “The biggest question I probably get is what we’re going to be, a 3-4, 4-3, 4-2-5,” Coach Smith allowed, responding to a questioner. “One thing I can tell you is we’re going to be aggressive.”

In other words: If you wanna know what we’re gonna do, go buy yourself a ticket.

--PTH

Fall drills under way...

Rice pre-camp depth chart...

Spring Game: Blue 27, Gray 24

Rice running back Aston Walter gets around corner for yardage late in Saturday's spring game (PTH photo)

Tyner, Esupka lead Blue to Spring Game win
(RiceOwls.com -- April 21)
Offense gains upper hand in Rice spring football game
(Houston Chronicle -- April 21)

Rice Signing Day Central.... Full presser video....
New Rice OC Jerry Mack interview.... New Rice DC Brian Smith interview....