Next game- Bradley at Tulsa, Monday 3/31 at 7 pm

[houstontxbrave]

That's pretty much it. With D1a changing in the late 80's/early 90's, TU couldn't survive as an independent and needed a league. We got into the 16 team version of the WAC, but were really far behind in facilities and everything else. I think there was an initial attempt to get into CUSA, but our other sports were way behind.

We stunk it up in football, then the Mountain West split off and we were left in this weird conference that eventually included Louisiana Tech, Rice, Fresno State, and Hawaii. With the success of basketball and the depths football had fallen to, there was serious talk of dropping football altogether. We're the smallest school in D1a/FBS.

In the mean time, football got its act together, we built an on campus basketball arena, all the non-revenue sports improved, and we made plans to renovate the football stadium (construction is happening now). We got into CUSA, which is really the next best thing to the Valley for us -- easy travel, attractive destinations (Dallas, Orlando, Memphis, New Orleans), and some good programs (not Rice . . . many of us hate Rice, as you'll see).

I think we stayed in the Valley in soccer up until the last couple of years . . . maybe in a couple of other sports, too.

I am sure Rice isnt a huge fan of the University of Tulsa after what your football coach did to them last season.

[Gold]

I am sure Rice isnt a huge fan of the University of Tulsa after what your football coach did to them last season.

Nope, not at all. Did you not hear about the meltdown after the half time show this past season? Made some national newspapers. The Rice Band did this show about looking for Graham in hell, where they eventually found him in Tulsa (it was a really poor satire based off Dante's Inferno). The whole thing ended with a joke calling Graham a douchebag. Things haven't really been the same since between the two schools.

There's some serious dislike between the respective message boards for each school.

For those that don't know . . . Tulsa hired the Rice coach, Todd Graham, after we lost Steve Kragthorpe to Louisville. Graham had been our defensive coordinator the three years prior to him leaving for Rice. He was at Rice on year. From the sound of things, he was not happy with Rice's commitment to football and wanted to come back. The Houston media is still livid -- I would say Rice fans are livid, but as far as we can tell, Rice has one living fan (j/k).

[ifarania]

Thank you for that information. It's always about football or oil.....

[2bradleyfans]

Nope, not at all. Did you not hear about the meltdown after the half time show this past season? Made some national newspapers. The Rice Band did this show about looking for Graham in hell, where they eventually found him in Tulsa (it was a really poor satire based off Dante's Inferno). The whole thing ended with a joke calling Graham a douchebag. Things haven't really been the same since between the two schools.

There's some serious dislike between the respective message boards for each school.

For those that don't know . . . Tulsa hired the Rice coach, Todd Graham, after we lost Steve Kragthorpe to Louisville. Graham had been our defensive coordinator the three years prior to him leaving for Rice. He was at Rice on year. From the sound of things, he was not happy with Rice's commitment to football and wanted to come back. The Houston media is still livid -- I would say Rice fans are livid, but as far as we can tell, Rice has one living fan (j/k).

I know I am getting off topic on the thread Coach but I am currious......

Gold, you are full of information and interresting trivia. Does this rivalry between Tulsa and the Universities in Houston extend to all things Tulsa v.Houston? Is there an ongoing mutual disdain for one another? (e.g. Simpson's Springfield vs. Shelbyville)

[Gold]

I know I am getting off topic on the thread Coach but I am currious......

Gold, you are full of information and interresting trivia. Does this rivalry between Tulsa and the Universities in Houston extend to all things Tulsa v.Houston? Is there an ongoing mutual disdain for one another? (e.g. Simpson's Springfield vs. Shelbyville)

Kind of. Keep in mind that Houston is a pro sports town. TU probably outdraws Houston and Rice combined in both football and basketball most nights -- now, I'm not bragging about TU's attendance, but trying to point out how bad those schools can be about fan support. TU competes just as much with OU and OSU and Oklahoma has about half as many people as the Houston metro.

It seems like when we do play, a lot of these things get brought up. There are really great, respectful fans at both schools. Rice is a great academic institution. Houston has a nice stadium and a great band. But when your family pays to visit Houston on a cold and rainy day, you don't really forget the home team band getting on their PA and calling your coach a "douchebag" and your hometown "hell."

A lot of the disdain in football with Houston goes back to the 100-6 game I mentioned. There's more to it than that, but that's a nutshell. The Rice thing is newer -- most of our fans never paid much attention to Rice until we hired Graham back and it got nasty. But it is pretty darn ugly for some involved.

Others have a sense of humor about the whole thing. The Rice band director had to apologize to TU. In his remarks, he said douchebag wasn't a really bad word. He made some remark like, "What is that anyway, a 'jerk?'"

I took the time to mail him a douchebag. I got a thank you note in the mail on Rice stationary. I keep meaning to get it framed.

Anyway, the point is that it might not be "that bad," but people certainly always think about these things when we play those schools.

[2bradleyfans]

Thanks Gold, I'll speak for myself but I am sure Bradleyfans would agree that we certainly don't think Tulsa and it's fans are d'bags and I am sure you guys recipricate.

Hoping for a spirited contest Monday. I know this is imposing Gold, but would you be so kind as to inform your fans that a win is not in plans for Tulsa monday (We confirmed it earlier today with the Gazelle Group), I think that might save a good deal of heart ache for y'all.

[BUBraves06]

My guess is Fox Sports Midwest will have a replay on of the Cardinals' Opening Day game.

I just scrolled ahead to Monday on the tv guide thing and that is correct, FSN Midwest is replaying that afternoon's Cards game. The games can be seen on Fox College Sports Atlantic though.

[Gold]

Thanks Gold, I'll speak for myself but I am sure Bradleyfans would agree that we certainly don't think Tulsa and it's fans are d'bags and I am sure you guys recipricate.

Hoping for a spirited contest Monday. I know this is imposing Gold, but would you be so kind as to inform your fans that a win is not in plans for Tulsa monday (We confirmed it earlier today with the Gazelle Group), I think that might save a good deal of heart ache for y'all.

Like I said earlier, we've got no reason to dislike Bradley. WE have a lot of history with some other schools, but few are as cool about remembering our past games so favorably. It was a real joy reading this board this morning with all the favorable memories of Nolan, Pressey, et al (I was a baby when all that happened, but some of my first words were "Paul Pressey").

I would be happy to pass your information from the Gazelle group along, but Mssrs. Wojcik, Jordan, Walls, and Uzoh wouldn't like that very much and would probably disagree with you. Don't make 'em mad. Woj has crazy eyes.

[ctt8410]

Like I said earlier, we've got no reason to dislike Bradley. WE have a lot of history with some other schools, but few are as cool about remembering our past games so favorably. It was a real joy reading this board this morning with all the favorable memories of Nolan, Pressey, et al (I was a baby when all that happened, but some of my first words were "Paul Pressey").

I would be happy to pass your information from the Gazelle group along, but Mssrs. Wojcik, Jordan, Walls, and Uzoh wouldn't like that very much and would probably disagree with you. Don't make 'em mad. Woj has crazy eyes.

[MacabreMob]

This link doesn't work for me.

Is it dead?

[houstontxbrave]

Nope, not at all. Did you not hear about the meltdown after the half time show this past season? Made some national newspapers. The Rice Band did this show about looking for Graham in hell, where they eventually found him in Tulsa (it was a really poor satire based off Dante's Inferno). The whole thing ended with a joke calling Graham a douchebag. Things haven't really been the same since between the two schools.

There's some serious dislike between the respective message boards for each school.

For those that don't know . . . Tulsa hired the Rice coach, Todd Graham, after we lost Steve Kragthorpe to Louisville. Graham had been our defensive coordinator the three years prior to him leaving for Rice. He was at Rice on year. From the sound of things, he was not happy with Rice's commitment to football and wanted to come back. The Houston media is still livid -- I would say Rice fans are livid, but as far as we can tell, Rice has one living fan (j/k).

Not the one Rice fan But you did neglect to mention that Graham signed a big expensive contract with Rice and he left if Im not mistaken about 2 weeks after he did and possibly during a signing period.

Just from being an innocent observer, Grahams conduct was pretty poor in this situation, but its pretty much par for the course in college football. Rice fans might also be a little miffed since Graham took their program to their first bowl game in about 30 or more years. The Rice band was out of line but they are somewhat known for making statements with their music/marching.

[ctt8410]

Third time's a charm? Ah well, that was a miserable failure...

[Gold]

Not the one Rice fan But you did neglect to mention that Graham signed a big expensive contract with Rice and he left if Im not mistaken about 2 weeks after he did and possibly during a signing period.

Just from being an innocent observer, Grahams conduct was pretty poor in this situation, but its pretty much par for the course in college football. Rice fans might also be a little miffed since Graham took their program to their first bowl game in about 30 or more years. The Rice band was out of line but they are somewhat known for making statements with their music/marching.

There are conflicting opinions as to whether Graham signed the extension. It doesn't matter to Tulsa fans one way or another; we've lost so many coaches after signing contract extensions. That just gets a big, "so what?"

It may actually get worse. Some Texas paper claimed that Graham negotiated with TU while in the bathroom around the corner from where he was negotiating with Rice. It sounds more like sour grapes to me, but that's what they'll tell you down there.

Graham is a character. I really like him, but he says and does some stuff that makes some fans wince. He's a heck of a coach, though. I think TU is about 10 years ahead of Rice right now in terms of a team and facilities. I think he thinks he can do more here than Rice. Rice just has a bad situation, with a decaying stadium that is way too big for their needs and poor fan support (seats like 70,000; there were maximum 1,200 when we played there in November, and at least half were Tulsa fans). I was driving away from the game and they bounced the Rice post-game broadcast for a high school game. Deep down, I think the one living Rice fan knows all that.

It was Rice's first bowl game in over 40 years.

I have no problem with the Rice band going after Graham. It was to be expected. I also doubt he cares one way or another. I really didn't care for what they said about Tulsa and I thought the whole thing looked like they put it together the night before and had not yet practiced.

[houstontxbrave]

There are conflicting opinions as to whether Graham signed the extension. It doesn't matter to Tulsa fans one way or another; we've lost so many coaches after signing contract extensions. That just gets a big, "so what?"

It may actually get worse. Some Texas paper claimed that Graham negotiated with TU while in the bathroom around the corner from where he was negotiating with Rice. It sounds more like sour grapes to me, but that's what they'll tell you down there.

Graham is a character. I really like him, but he says and does some stuff that makes some fans wince. He's a heck of a coach, though. I think TU is about 10 years ahead of Rice right now in terms of a team and facilities. I think he thinks he can do more here than Rice. Rice just has a bad situation, with a decaying stadium that is way too big for their needs and poor fan support (seats like 70,000; there were maximum 1,200 when we played there in November, and at least half were Tulsa fans). I was driving away from the game and they bounced the Rice post-game broadcast for a high school game. Deep down, I think the one living Rice fan knows all that.

It was Rice's first bowl game in over 40 years.

I have no problem with the Rice band going after Graham. It was to be expected. I also doubt he cares one way or another. I really didn't care for what they said about Tulsa and I thought the whole thing looked like they put it together the night before and had not yet practiced.

Honestly, just watching the Graham thing unfold at Rice it just reaked of pure College Football BS. He agreed to a contract but your right probably did not sign it, but the whole time was probably looking to get out of Rice. Its nothing new in College Football, but its so unprofessional, same goes for if Tulsa was negotiating with him while he was under ANY contract and did not get permission from Rice to even speak.

However it shook out, he is where he wants to be apparently and Rice is where it usually is, struggling. That program other then Mens Baseball is a complete joke. All anyone has to do is look at how they treated Willis Wilson, firing him after 16 years no home court, they played "home games" in 3 separate locations this season and 6 scholorship players, to see they really have little clue about division 1 athletics.

I do not blame Graham for leaving Rice but how he did it and likely how Tulsa coordinated negotiations with Graham is a little smelly.

[DG Murph]

So can we win one on the road in Tulsa?

Looking at their schedule, it doesn't look like they played that great on the road so I would hope we could defend our court and sneak out with one road win.

If I am reading their schedule correctly (and not including the conference tourney), it looks like they were 4-8 on the road and the combined record of the 4 teams they beat was 36-85.