Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I am more concerned with which asst coaches are returning.

(02-08-2024 09:10 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I have little expectation that there is any standard for performance that Bloomgren will be held accountable to.

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.



I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

I think you overestimate how much respect Rice can get in the preseason polls. We'd be 5th at best behind USF and those three, and I wouldn't be surprised to see North Texas and some other school picked over us because of bias against Rice.

(02-08-2024 09:51 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:10 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I have little expectation that there is any standard for performance that Bloomgren will be held accountable to.

5-7 or 6-6 with a bowl game win or 7-5 or better with any bowl result would probably be enough for the AD to justify keeping him. But maybe it could come down to other factors. If we're actually keeping this many starters then there can't be that many locker room issues. These guys actually believe they can come back and win this year. Maybe a firing will be dependent on how frustrated the players are at the end of the season. If it's obvious a lot of stars are going to enter the transfer portal then I can see the trigger being pulled.

(02-08-2024 09:51 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:10 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I have little expectation that there is any standard for performance that Bloomgren will be held accountable to.

Points for that.

Seriously though, as long as there's a provision that gives him an extension every time he wins six, then it's likely he'll be at Rice as long as he likes.

If what I'm seeing is true, then this is easily his deepest and most talented team. Given that, and the fact that the schedule is so soft, we should definitely be able to win eight games. Anything less is a disappointment.

I concede that it looks favorably on the program that so many graduates are coming back. That's big. Maybe Bloomgren learned how to treat his players, or perhaps they realize they won't get more playing time elsewhere.

I think I might be excited for the first time in years. Let's pray Wagner stays healthy, or it's down the toilet with the season.

(02-08-2024 09:41 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I am more concerned with which asst coaches are returning.

Good point

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Good information. Points.

(02-08-2024 11:26 AM)TheOwl84 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:51 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:10 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I have little expectation that there is any standard for performance that Bloomgren will be held accountable to.

5-7 or 6-6 with a bowl game win or 7-5 or better with any bowl result would probably be enough for the AD to justify keeping him. But maybe it could come down to other factors. If we're actually keeping this many starters then there can't be that many locker room issues. These guys actually believe they can come back and win this year. Maybe a firing will be dependent on how frustrated the players are at the end of the season. If it's obvious a lot of stars are going to enter the transfer portal then I can see the trigger being pulled.

The locker room culture seems to have been addressed if this many players are choosing to stay. Maybe the Thresher article truly served its purpose.

This is great news, and a big surprise to me.
What I take from this is that Bloomgren and staff have indeed developed an enviable culture within the program that the players (and parents?) appreciate.
Rice players have always been drawn from a more selective academic pool, as we all know of course -- but my impression is that Bloomgren & staff have raised that bar even higher, maybe higher than ever. If so, they deserve major kudos for that aspect of their jobs.

(02-08-2024 12:48 PM)Pan95 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 11:26 AM)TheOwl84 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:51 AM)westsidewolf1989 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 09:10 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(02-08-2024 06:49 AM)Fort Bend Owl Wrote:  Bloomgren confirmed to the Roost yesterday that Rice is probably returning 8 offensive starters and 10 defensive starters (which would be everyone but Carroll). I guess we won’t know for sure until the fall but that is potentially big news.

It means that on defense, we would be returning quite a few graduated Owls (Taylor, Fresch, Pearcy, Coco, etc.) who absolutely would have opportunities to play elsewhere but are spurning the portal. Conti too is back so our defensive experience is massive (second in the country from one service I saw recently).

I don’t know for sure who the 8 on offense are considered to be but does that mean somehow Dumont and Banks are returning on the OL. We know McCaffrey and Servin are gone. Even if you don’t consider Daniels the returning starter, you are probably counting Juma as the other starter not returning?

I guess let’s wait to see the spring roster. But honestly if this is true, I could see Rice picked as high as fourth in the AAC preseason poll (behind Tulane and Memphis, and UTSA - who we will host).

Oh God, we might be halfway decent... I mean, yay for that, but gosh, that means Bloom may stick around longer...

I guess one silver lining is that next year is, without question, a put up or shut up year. I would bet that anything less than 8 wins might get Bloom canned.

I have little expectation that there is any standard for performance that Bloomgren will be held accountable to.

5-7 or 6-6 with a bowl game win or 7-5 or better with any bowl result would probably be enough for the AD to justify keeping him. But maybe it could come down to other factors. If we're actually keeping this many starters then there can't be that many locker room issues. These guys actually believe they can come back and win this year. Maybe a firing will be dependent on how frustrated the players are at the end of the season. If it's obvious a lot of stars are going to enter the transfer portal then I can see the trigger being pulled.

The locker room culture seems to have been addressed if this many players are choosing to stay. Maybe the Thresher article truly served its purpose.

Or maybe the Thresher article was a hit job. It's not like we had many players departing the past 3+ seasons.