It’s now or never for Owls to soar
Two games into the season, and basically, the Rice Owls have yet to get started.
Clearly, they need motivation.
Have a seat, boys. The King is here for you.
Not that your 0-2 record was unexpected; you were underdogs against Arkansas and Houston, but the decisive losses were disappointing. We expected more from you.
You could do better. Coach Mike Bloomgren has patented a theme of “intellectual brutality” because you’re smart like that.
Well, you haven’t been particularly intellectual or brutal in 2021.
If that’ll inspire, please put that on a bulletin board. Or Instagram. Or TikTok. Whatever you kids are into right now.
Since taking a 17-7 thirdquarter lead over the Razorbacks, you guys have
been outscored 56-7. It could have been worse.
You should be embarrassed after being trounced at home by the Cougars. Bloomgren admitted to being shellshocked by the way the Cougars handled y’all. (Do y’all use “y’all” inside the hedges, or is it you all?)
Unfortunately, a rousing bounce-back isn’t likely. This week is not the best time to travel to Austin.
Smarting from an inexplicable beatdown at Arkansas, Texas will employ the odd strategy of starting its best quarterback. He can run.
Sure would be nice to have Blaze Alldredge making tackles this week, but the former Owls superstar transferred to Missouri.
(Note to self: Do not insert a “Rice is cooked” joke here. It’s cheesy and mean.)
You guys (see what I did there?) and Texas have a common opponent this season in Arkansas. You wore down late. Texas was blown out by the Razorbacks, trailing 33-7 at one point in the third quarter.
So if the two of you play the same type of first half as you did against Arkansas, could this game be interesting?
“You always have issues when you compare the teams in games,” Bloomgren said in his weekly news conference. “It’s a great resource, but it also can be dangerous. But it should be encouraging to our guys from watching what we did against Arkansas.”
Are y’all encouraged? Clearly, Vegas didn’t apply a transitive property in establishing the line for this game. The Longhorns are as much as 25-point favorites.
That tells us that the 96th meeting between these two schools is likely to go much like the first — a 41-0 Longhorns win in 1914.
If by guaranteeing we will not see another 1994, will we see another 1994?
You weren’t yet born on that glorious night when the Owls broke a 28-year losing streak to Texas with a 19-17 victory.
The burnt orange on these Longhorns is a bit faded, but Texas is Texas. Arkansas fans rushed the field after last Saturday’s win.
“I think that everybody who grew up in Texas probably dreamed of playing in that stadium on one side or the other, whether it was for the Longhorns or against the Longhorns,” Bloomgren said.
President Kennedy once asked why Rice plays Texas. So the Longhorns can grab an easy win?
Seven wins in his first 32 games with Rice is hardly the start Bloomgren expected.
The bare cupboards he inherited aside, this has been a disappointing run.
The hope among Owls faithful was for a competitive 2021, especially on the heels of a 3-2 record in an abbreviated 2020 season.
Bloomgren said the goal is to be a bowl team. Not just a going to a bowl but winning it.
If that remains your goal, you must improve significantly. It is rare for a special season to begin with three losses.
Time to get started, Owls.