Rice #2
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 11:36 amWhat Rice hopes to change is a steady decline in attendance. After averaging 35,509 fans in 1997, the Owls witnessed an attendance drop to 25,300 in 1999, 19,862 in 2002 and 15,785 this season.
There is a school of thought that a switch to C-USA will lead to a spike in attendance — primarily because the Owls will join ranks with schools with more intriguing geographical ties. Replacing San Jose State and Nevada with Houston and Tulane on the schedule should help the bottom line financially, as will a more lucrative television package and an increase in television appearances.
"If we play some good programs and put a winning product on the field, you're really going to start to see a response," said Mike Pedé, Rice associate athletic director of marketing, promotions and media relations.
Discontent among alumni
It certainly would have benefited Rice to close its nine-year stay in the WAC on a high note. Instead, the Owls dropped their last two home contests by the combined margin of 103-35.
Falling in such embarrassing fashion only served to ignite the anti-Hatfield sentiment among anonymous Owls supporters on Internet message boards. Some fans have taken to requesting donations to help the athletic department offset the cost of buying out the remainder of Hatfield's contract. Even ardent Rice supporters believe some sort of change is mandatory.
"I'm naturally disappointed with what's happened," said A. Pat Samuels (Class of 1945).
Since Rice Stadium opened in 1950, Samuels has missed just four home games. His angst over the deterioration of the Owls is palpable, his passion matched only by his dissatisfaction with recent results.
The same can be said for Russell Henderson, an attorney and Rice grad (Class of 1979). It will be interesting to see if he and other Rice alumni embrace the changes that are made.
"What has to be done?" Henderson asked. "Well, enthusiasm for Rice sports among Rice alums can only carry the football program so far. Rice cannot rely solely upon its alumni as a fan base — we're just too small. Therefore, there has to be some support from the community, and it's hard to engender support when you are playing an unexciting brand of football that doesn't win. ...
"There are Rice people, I would imagine, who would rather watch Texas Tech play on TV than go and watch Rice in person. I'd rather watch Tech score 50 points than watch Rice run the ball 50 times. I don't think I'm alone."
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RESOURCES
After finishing second in the Mountain Division in its first two years in the Western Athletic Conference (1996-97), Rice has posted six losing seasons in seven years: Season Record Losing streak
1998 5-6 Four-game losing streak erases memory ofseason-opening overtime win over SMU.
1999 5-6 Owls lose three games to open the season, then close with three-game skid.
2000 3-8 Five-game losing streak erases memory of season-opening overtime win over UH.
2002 4-7 Owls open 0-4, win four of five, then lose at Boise State and against Hawaii.
2003 5-7 Owls open 0-4, drop six of first seven, only to finish by winning four of five.
2004 3-8 Owls drop final six games, the most since an 18-game skid between 1987-88.
There is a school of thought that a switch to C-USA will lead to a spike in attendance — primarily because the Owls will join ranks with schools with more intriguing geographical ties. Replacing San Jose State and Nevada with Houston and Tulane on the schedule should help the bottom line financially, as will a more lucrative television package and an increase in television appearances.
"If we play some good programs and put a winning product on the field, you're really going to start to see a response," said Mike Pedé, Rice associate athletic director of marketing, promotions and media relations.
Discontent among alumni
It certainly would have benefited Rice to close its nine-year stay in the WAC on a high note. Instead, the Owls dropped their last two home contests by the combined margin of 103-35.
Falling in such embarrassing fashion only served to ignite the anti-Hatfield sentiment among anonymous Owls supporters on Internet message boards. Some fans have taken to requesting donations to help the athletic department offset the cost of buying out the remainder of Hatfield's contract. Even ardent Rice supporters believe some sort of change is mandatory.
"I'm naturally disappointed with what's happened," said A. Pat Samuels (Class of 1945).
Since Rice Stadium opened in 1950, Samuels has missed just four home games. His angst over the deterioration of the Owls is palpable, his passion matched only by his dissatisfaction with recent results.
The same can be said for Russell Henderson, an attorney and Rice grad (Class of 1979). It will be interesting to see if he and other Rice alumni embrace the changes that are made.
"What has to be done?" Henderson asked. "Well, enthusiasm for Rice sports among Rice alums can only carry the football program so far. Rice cannot rely solely upon its alumni as a fan base — we're just too small. Therefore, there has to be some support from the community, and it's hard to engender support when you are playing an unexciting brand of football that doesn't win. ...
"There are Rice people, I would imagine, who would rather watch Texas Tech play on TV than go and watch Rice in person. I'd rather watch Tech score 50 points than watch Rice run the ball 50 times. I don't think I'm alone."
[email protected]
RESOURCES
After finishing second in the Mountain Division in its first two years in the Western Athletic Conference (1996-97), Rice has posted six losing seasons in seven years: Season Record Losing streak
1998 5-6 Four-game losing streak erases memory ofseason-opening overtime win over SMU.
1999 5-6 Owls lose three games to open the season, then close with three-game skid.
2000 3-8 Five-game losing streak erases memory of season-opening overtime win over UH.
2002 4-7 Owls open 0-4, win four of five, then lose at Boise State and against Hawaii.
2003 5-7 Owls open 0-4, drop six of first seven, only to finish by winning four of five.
2004 3-8 Owls drop final six games, the most since an 18-game skid between 1987-88.