Rice Football head coach Mike Bloomgren offered a few notable soundbites at Conference USA Media Days. Here are a few quotes that stood out the most.
On what the team has worked on this spring…
“We learned that we have to find a way to finish. It’s the bottom line in our business. It’s where we want to get to. We want to be in those situations to take a team to deep water in the fourth quarter so we can come out the other side. We’ve done so much to emphasize finish this year with our team.”
–Mike Bloomgren
On the quarterback battle…
“We’re in no rush to name a starter. A lot of confidence in the two that were there for us last year [Wiley Green and Evan Marshman] and their leadership abilities. I think they lived the quarterback lifestyle and do a lot of things right, but we’re excited to see what Tom [Stewart] can bring to our team as well.”
–Mike Bloomgren
On the difficult schedule…
“That’s what they signed up for. They signed up to come to Rice to get a world-class degree and play big-time college football. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard – and worth it. That’s exactly what we want to do and we’re thrilled we get to do it again this year.”
–Mike Bloomgren
On the importance of strength and conditioning coach Hans Straub…
It’s the way you build [a program] and it’s the way you develop your team and the reason is very simple in my eyes. It’s somebody who’s going to set the standards we talked about and advance your culture. And they don’t have the limitations from the NCAA for when they can meet with them.”
–Mike Bloomgren
On the impact of the incoming JUCO and grad transfers…
The 10 transfers will be huge for our football team. At the very least they’re going to be unbelievable depth and they’re going to push people to become a better version of themselves. There’s nothing like competition to make somebody grow as a player, even the best of the best.
–Mike Bloomgren
On the continuity of the staff…
I think no matter what business you’re in continuity and everyone singing out of the same hymnal is a big deal. Any time we can keep our coaches together means everything to me and I think it will mean everything to our players.
–Mike Bloomgren
On the construction of the new practice bubble…
It’s going to be huge. I think it’s such a great thing for Rice University as well as our program. Everyone on campus is going to get great use out of it. For us, just being able to practice when we schedule a practice time and not having 29 times where we had to go to the [Houston Texan’s off campus] bubble.
–Mike Bloomgren
