OK it's game week. Irish vs Owls. Owls are the favorites to win the CUSA West title this year, so they are a solid team and their HC, David Baliff, is in his 8th year and has been doing a good job of rebuilding the program. They won the CUSA title last year the first Owl conference championship since that late 50's I think back in the old SWC under legendary Jess Neely. But never the less we should beat them, I'd say handily but you never know the Owls could play way over their heads or we could take them too lightly. So often these types of games end up being closer than you think they will be, and with the Irish definitely missing 3 starters as there has been no resolution of the academic investigation of the 4 players you have to figure they will not play against Rice. From what I read in the Houston papers the Owls weak point is their DB's they are very thin at that position, which our passing game should be able to exploit. They do have a very good player on the DL Christian Covington who is on several watch lists for post season awards. Their QB is a new starter but played quite a bit last year so he's seasoned. I expect a win, I expect that we'll probably not play as well as we'd like to due to the team maybe overlooking the Owls and looking ahead to Michigan.
Not surprising, but you know Don that sometimes the team comes out flat vs the lower competition and the games are closer than you think. Every year we see Sept games between mid-major teams from the MAC, CUSA, Mtn West and Power conference teams be closer than expected. We should beat them handily, but inorder to do that they have to come out of the gate strong and beat them down if they let them hang around with sloppy play then the game gets uncomfortable.
The last time these 2 met, I had 2 former classmates and good friends on the team for Rice. That was forever ago. I still anticipate a typical opening win. Some things will be ugly, some will be good. We'll worry about **** we can't control but the bottom line is just win baby.
I'd be very disappointed if that should happen. College Football 101: There are 12 one-game seasons. If you go undefeated 12 times, you'll find yourself in a very good position(paraphrased, originally heard from you-know-who).
Corey Robinson is out for Rice with a thumb injury. I was really looking forward to his play this year. But fortunately even with Daniels out along with him we should have plenty of guys who can catch the ball that we'll be OK at WR. The position I am worried about is RB. Right now our 1-2-3 of Cam McDaniel, Tauren Folston and Greg Bryant looks very strong and you wonder how those guys will divide up the carries. But with RB's 3 guys is not a lot of depth if injuries come up.
ND <t>Terry,<br/> <br/> I know Rice was the CUSA champ last year but when you look at their 2013 schedule/results you can see that the games they won were against teams that were really not good and the losses came against teams average to good teams. I'm just sayin.....<br/> <br/> <br/> Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result<br/> 08/31/13 at Texas A&M TV College Station, Texas L, 52-31<br/> 09/14/13 vs. Kansas TV Rice Stadium W, 23-14<br/> 09/21/13 vs. Houston TV Reliant Stadium L, 31-26<br/> 09/28/13 vs. Florida Atlantic * TV Rice Stadium W, 18-14<br/> 10/05/13 at Tulsa * TV Tulsa, Oklahoma W, 30-27 (OT)<br/> 10/12/13 at UTSA * TV San Antonio, Texas W, 27-21<br/> 10/19/13 at New Mexico State Las Cruces, New Mexico W, 45-19<br/> 10/26/13 vs. UTEP * TV Rice Stadium W, 45-7<br/> 10/31/13 at North Texas * TV Denton, Texas L, 28-16<br/> 11/16/13 vs. Louisiana Tech * TV Rice Stadium W, 52-14<br/> 11/21/13 at UAB * TV Birmingham, Alabama W, 37-34 (OT)<br/> 11/30/13 vs. Tulane * TV Rice Stadium W, 17-13<br/> Conference USA Championship<br/> 12/07/13 vs. Marshall TV Rice Stadium W, 41-24<br/> AutoZone Liberty Bowl<br/> 12/31/13 vs. Mississippi State TV Memphis, Tenn. L, 44-7</t>
Rice is good enough to beat us. Strange things happen on opening day and big name teams get picked off every year. I just want to get passed this one and then we'll see where the team is at...
ND <r>JO'Co,<br/> <QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> I know. We just need to come out firing on all cylinders from the start.</r>
The Irish should win but are not a good pick to cover. Players missing, first game jitters and Kelly's habit of keeping games close make Rice a good wager I would think.
ND <t>Don,<br/> <br/> Watch out for Navy, they can be pesky! I hate that game when ND plays them. Even if you beat them you run the chance of a lot of injuries</t>
Per Eric Hansen of the SBT, Corey Robinson has returned to practice and is expected to play vs. Rice. Also Torii Hunter is making excellent progress and might be able to return to practice next week.
Tim, WE played them a few years ago and barely came out with a win, so I realize what you are saying.
ND <t>Little tidbit on the "suspended 4" I heard while listening to Tim Brown and Jack Arute today on Sirius radio. Tim seemed to indicate that this boils down to a spurned girlfriend of a ND football player who has lashed back by saying she had helped him and other players on the team with some of their school work. he didn't really say in what way. sounds like this will come down to a he said, she said thing. At any rate the 4 are out for the first game. Hopefully this gets cleared up one way or another in the next few days. <br/> <br/> On a positive note the captains are: Nick Martin<br/> Cam McDaniel<br/> Sheldon Day<br/> Austin Collinsworth.<br/> <br/> Also positive, Robinson will be playing saturday.</t>
Re: ND <r><QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE> <br/> <br/> Help me here Jiffer.....are ya ready?....1,2,3....<br/> <br/> <SIZE size="200"><s></s>NEVAH HOID OF ANY OF THE BUMS<e></e></SIZE></r>