Daily Evergreen: Do Not Doubt Cougars

[SMU89]

http://www.dailyevergreen.com/story/32345

[Big C]

I think he has wishfull thinking. But you have to play the game. Beat WSU.

[Dutch]

"The Cougars entered this week of preparations with a little bit of swagger after the win on Saturday"


a 1 point win over an FCS team generates swagger? ROTFLMMFAO

[NavyCrimson]

I hope the team is not as 'over confident' as this board.

[smupony94]

In trying to hit big time, Rice gets hit back
Owls have chance to end skid vs. BCS leagues
By JOSEPH DUARTE
Copyright 2010 Houston Chronicle
Sept. 15, 2010, 11:11PM


Corey Frazier grew up in Big Ten country.

His dad Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings, had coached at Illinois.

His older brother, Kieron, played at Illinois.

"I watched a lot of Big Ten football," the Rice safety said.

On Saturday, Frazier will play against his first Big Ten opponent when Northwestern visits Rice Stadium.

"I can't wait to experience playing against a Big Ten team instead of just watching them," he said.

At 1-1, the Owls enter their final two non-conference games against Northwestern and Baylor. Rice players say the matchups are measuring sticks to see how far they have come — and how much work is still needed with Conference USA play set to begin in three weeks.
Drought dates to 2001

Facing the Big Ten, or any other team from a Bowl Championship Series conference, hasn't exactly been a welcome sight for the Owls most of the past decade. Rice has lost 19 straight games against BCS teams. The last BCS team Rice beat was Duke, 15-13, on Sept. 8, 2001.

The drought includes 12 losses to Big 12 teams, including the season-opening 34-17 decision to Texas, two setbacks each against the Atlantic Coast, Pac-10 and Southeastern conferences and one against the Big Ten.

The margin of defeat in the losses: 30.3 points.

"It's definitely a challenge with some big schools coming in," Rice safety Travis Bradshaw said. "It's something we're excited for, to get an opportunity to knock one of them off. We haven't beaten any of those big teams in the past, but hopefully this year we can change that."

Two games into the season, the Owls have already changed how long they had to wait for a victory. Rice lost nine straight games to begin last season on the way to a 2-10 record.
Over the hump on road

Rice coach David Bailiff has seen evidence this season will be different. The Owls were 31-point underdogs against the then-fifth-ranked Longhorns but kept the game respectable. Against North Texas, the Owls took the early lead, blew some chances to pull away and needed a late fourth-quarter rally to escape with a 32-31 win.

Afterward, Bailiff said it was the type of game the Owls "wouldn't have won a year ago."

"We're maturing as a football team," he said.

The victory in Denton marked the Owls' first on the road in more than 22 months. Before Saturday, the Owls hadn't won on the road since claiming consecutive victories at Tulane and UTEP late in the 2008 season.

"We took a bus ride home, and it was the happiest five hours on a bus I've ever had," Bailiff said. "You're singing, dancing, watching movies - that's how important wins are to you, especially at this time of year."

After going 10-3 and winning the Texas Bowl in 2008, the Owls said the toughest part of last season was waiting through the nine-game losing streak. After beating North Texas, the Owls rushed to the small section of Rice fans celebrating in a corner of Fouts Field.

"It feels great to get it out of the way and get some confidence," Bradshaw said. "It's big confidence builder. Hopefully we'll get some momentum."

Northwestern and Baylor are a combined 4-0 this season. After those two games, the Owls open C-USA play against SMU and take on West Division favorite Houston two weeks later.

"We're looking forward to the challenge," tight end Luke Willson said of the upcoming schedule. "We're excited to play Northwestern. Playing teams people say are better than you gives you that feeling in your stomach. You really want to get after them."

[Cadillac]

"The Cougars entered this week of preparations with a little bit of swagger after the win on Saturday"


a 1 point win over an FCS team generates swagger? ROTFLMMFAO

I know right? Our panic win vs. the Lumberjacks last year caused no joy in big D, just concern and probably a little panic.

-CoS

[Junior]

"The Cougars entered this week of preparations with a little bit of swagger after the win on Saturday"


a 1 point win over an FCS team generates swagger? ROTFLMMFAO

i think this writer goes out to the elementary schools and dominated 10-year old on the bball court and then brags about it.

a comeback win against a FCS school is not really a momentum-builder, IMHO.