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So other than the fact that Rice hasn't won a game yet, what do we know about the Owls?

From talking to people who saw last year's game, I gather QB Joel Armstrong is a lightning-quick, slippery runner. Don't know much about his passing. I also saw that against Navy, he didn't play much -- he threw one pass and was replaced by Chase Clement. Was Armstrong hurt, or did he get pulled because of ineffectiveness?

DE Jon Syptak looks like an undersized LB, but from what I remember from two years ago, he has a unique ability to get to the QB (even though he only has one this year -- injured? Doubel-teamed?)

Looks like RB Quinton Smith has some talent -- 124 yards at 6.5 per carry against Navy.

They've been outscored 282-115 (an average of 47-19.2 per game) this year, but the Rice offense still can move the ball -- the Owls have 114 first downs this year, compared to 124 for their opposition.

They host UTEP this weekend.

When SMU plays all stats go o0ut the window. Teams have a way of re-juvenating themselves at our expense. Winless Owls? Heck! I just hope we can score more than 2 touchdowns on them.

Is Chase Clement an option QB, too, or does he do more drop-back passing? There were stories circulating in August that said Rice was going to throw more -- although I was never clear why, seeing how well they've run the ball for the last 100 years -- and I was wondering if that was simply a result of tailoring the offense to fit those two QBs .... like if they're as different as Romo and Eckert.
Anyone know?

we know that they run the option and that they are likely [deleted] than us

I don't know, Rice is in a weird situation. Ken Hatfield has won a ton of games in his career, and he's generally revered as something of a coaching icon. And I don't get the sense from what I've read that this team has quit on him. But at the same time, they're losing, and they're losing by big margins. Few, if any, of their games have even been competitive. The thing I "like" (sort of) is that considering our two-game losing streak and our "success" against Rice in recent years, at least there's no way we'll look past Rice just because they're winless. I know, we're not in a position to look past anyone, but that's part of the maturation process as a team grows up. We're not trotting out a team of all freshmen anymore, that's true, but kids gain maturity and discipline at different stages in their lives. I can't believe for a second that a senior leader like D.D. Lee or Ro Humphrey would take Rice any lighter than they would the Longhorns or Sooners. But they need to make damn sure the youngsters are as focused and determined as the elder statesmen.

BEAT RICE!

we need to win v rice (i'll be there) and take one more game down the road - and that will make me happy

Aren't they supposed to be pretty good on special teams?
Hopefully Jessie Henderson and Blake Warren will break off some long (TD) returns in this one.

lets win this game