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Grab Bag: What’s going on around Rice Athletics? Jan 2024 Q&A

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Rather than drill down on one topic, subscribers had a variety of questions this month touching all areas of Rice Athletics. We hit on them all.

A lot is going on around Rice Athletics right as the new year begins. This mailbag touches on a host of topics ranging from Scott Pera’s coaching tenure and basketball facilities, football recruiting, baseball and more.

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Q: Did Rice really just land the best recruit in program history? How? What?

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Rice Athletics: Top 10 Moments from 2023

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2023 was filled with highs and lows for Rice Athletics. The Roost picked out 10 moments that stood out the most along the way.

10. Rice women’s basketball beats BYU in WNIT

Getting back to the postseason was something near the top of the priority list for head coach Lindsay Edmonds and Rice women’s basketball. Not only did the Owls achieve that, qualifying for the NIT, but they were able to go on the road and get a win over a very good BYU team.

9. Forbes named Top 30 NCAA Women of the Year Award

Forbes was on pace to be one of the most decorated women’s track athletes ever to run for Rice before sickness abruptly ended her collegiate career. An excellent student an ambassador for the university, seeing Forbes continue to receive honors well after her athletic career had come to an end was extraordinary and much deserved.

8. Rice football inks another historic signing class

For the fourth time in the past five years Rice football head coach Mike Blomgren signed the No. 1 recruiting class in program history. Despite only adding 13 players in this cycle, the Owls made sure their limited scholarship slots were well utilized, bringing in a Texas-centric crop of high school athletes with five impactful transfers.

7. Field Athlete of the Year, times two

One of the final Conference USA honors before Rice made the move to the AAC, the Owls claimed not one, but two Field Athlete of the Year awards. Alexander Slinkman took home the men’s honor for his prowess in the pole vault. Tara Simpson-Sullivan took care of the women’s side of things, dominating the weight and hammer throw events.

6. Rice baseball has three players drafted

Justin Long (7th Round), Hayden Durke (13th) and Matthew Linskey (16th) heard their names called in the 2023 MLB Draft. While the Owls work to return to their winning history at Reckling Park, it’s encouraging to see the pro pipeline continue to produce results.

5. Rice basketball upsets North Texas in Denton

North Texas and Grant McCasland had been the standard in Conference USA for years and Rice basketball hadn’t faired well against the Mean Green, losing 10 of the last 11 by an average of 25 points. To win, and to win by double-digits on the road, was one of the most significant victories of head coach Scott Pera’s tenure.

4. Rice Volleyball beats USC

There have been a lot of high points for Rice volleyball under head coach Genny Volpe, but few individual matches were as impressive as a win over No. 22 USC in straight sets. It was the first sweep of ranked team for Rice since 2009 and the fans in Tudor Fieldhouse had the arena rocking the whole way.

2. Rice football goes bowling once again

Although the results of the SERVPRO First Responders Bowl left much to be desired, reaching back-to-back bowl games is a feat that has only happened on two other occasions in program history. The next step will be finding a way to win and seeing if the Owls can improve their win total once again — but those are questions for 2024.

2. Tommy McClelland named Athletic Director

Following the departure of Joe Karlgaard for the private sector, Rice president Reginald Desroches named Tommy McClelland the Owls’ newest Athletic Director. McClelland has already bolstered the athletic staff and discussed potential renovation projections at Rice Stadium. Having someone with his track record to guide Rice into the AAC will be crucial for all the Owls’ programs.

1. Rice football upsets Houston, wins Bayou Bucket

For the first time since 2010, Rice football won the Bayou Bucket, defeating rival Houston in overtime. The win would eventually become crucial for the Owls’ bowl eligibility hopes and serve as the only Power 5 win by any American Conference team in the regular season. This singular victory will go down as one of the most impactful wins for Rice football in quite some time.

Honorable Mentions…

How about you? Which of these moments from Rice Athletics did you enjoy the most? Cutting this down to 10 was challenging. Which Rice Athletics events should be added to the list?

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls End of Season Update

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The 2023 MLB season is done and Rice baseball played their parts across the league. Here’s how the season went for each of the MLB Owls.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois was the only Rice baseball alum to make a postseason appearance this year. He pitched 0.2 innings in the Marlins’ second game of the Wild Card Round, allowing one hit and no runs. In the regular season, he notched a 3.61 ERA in 42.1 innings. His 0.6 home runs allowed per nine innings rate was his lowest mark in that metric since his debut season in 2016.

Tyler Duffey – Chicago Cubs

Duffey spent almost the entirety of the season with the Cubs’ AAA affiliate, making 36 minor league appearances with a 3.70 ERA before getting the call from the big league team on the final day of the 2023 season. In game 162, Duffey tossed two innings, allowing a solo home run, but otherwise fairing well. He struck out three batters.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray wasn’t given a long time with the big league club, but he made every moment of his MLB debut count. Gray failed to reach base in his lone plate appearance in his debut game (Sep. 16 against the Orioles) but delivered a massive go-ahead home run the next day, his only career start thus far before being sent back down to AAA after the game.

Lucas Luetge – Atlanta Braves

Luetge signed with the Atlanta Braves this offseason after spending the last two years with the New York Giants. Although he started the year with the big league club, he would be optioned to AAA early in the summer, making a few spot appearances with the Braces in July and mid-September. On the whole, he totaled 12 big league outings this season with a 1-0 record and a 7.24 ERA.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers had a tremendous debut in the big leagues this season. On July 4, his first-ever MLB game, he went 2-for-3 with an RBI, the start of a terrific 10-game explosion. In his first 10 appearances, Myers slashed .444/.460/.583 with eight RBI and three extra-base hits. His offensive explosion would come down to earth later on, but he still finished the year with a potent .269 average through 22 games played.

Glenn Otto – Texas Rangers / San Diego Padres

Otto spent the first few months of the regular season working to return from injury, finally making his 2023 debut on June 30 against the Astros, the first of three separate appearances against Houston in his six outings with Texas this season. Following a two-inning relief appearance on September 4, Otto was designated for assignment and claimed off waivers by the San Deigo Padres.

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

On July 4, Rendon fouled a ball off his shin. Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, that would end his season. Rendon’s unfortunate injury luck limited him to just 43 games this season. Rendon had some productive outings when healthy, but finished the season with a .236 average and 22 RBI, hindered by his limited playing time.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls Update – Sep 26

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Stay tuned for a full update of all the Owls’ who made an appearance in the major leagues this season following the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. Chargois’ Marlins are in the midst of a battle for a playoff spot and we’ll know whether or the fish are postseason bound at that point as well.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

Chargois saw action in two games this week. He appeared last Wednesday against the Mets and tossing a scoreless frame and two days later on Friday against the Brewers, registered 0.2 innings pitched with two walks and no runs allowed.

Through September 26, Chargois has a 3.59 ERA with a 1.210 WHIP. He’s averaging 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

With just days remaining in the 2023 regular season, Angels’ manager Phil Nevin announced this week Rendon was not expected to return this season, mentioning Rendon has been able to do some baseball activities, but wouldn’t be ready before the end of the season.

Through September 26, Rendon is hitting .236 with eight extra-base hits, 25 walks and 27 strikeouts. His OPS is .678 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

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Rice Baseball 2023: MLB Owls Update – Sep 19

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The 2023 MLB season is underway and Rice baseball alums are busy on the mound and at the plate. Here’s the latest from the MLB Owls.

Tristan Gray – Tampa Bay Rays

Gray made his MLB debut on Saturday, September 16 and picked up his first pro hits and runs on Sunday, including this towering blast to deep center field to give the Rays the lead.

Through September 19, Gray is hitting .400 with one extra-base hit, no walks and no strikeouts. His OPS is 1.400 and he’s collected one RBI.

J.T. Chargois – Miami Marlins

It was an incredibly busy week for Chargois, who saw action in four games over the span of six days. He worked a total of 3.1 innings across those contests, allowing just one run while striking out a pair. It was one of his most heavily utilized weeks of the season thus far.

Through September 19, Chargois has a 3.49 ERA with a 1.211 WHIP. He’s averaging 7.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Dane Myers – Miami Marlins

Myers was optioned back to AAA on Sunday after a couple of weeks with the big league team. He appeared in two games this week, once in center field with the second appearance coming as a pinch runner.

Through September 19, Myers is hitting .269 with four extra-base hits, two walks and 19 strikeouts. His OPS is .644 and he’s collected nine RBI.

Injured List

Anthony Rendon – Los Angeles Angels

Rendon’s stint on the 60-day injured list is eligible to be ended at any time with the calendar moving past the September 9 earliest return date. There have been little updates on Rendon’s status to this point.

Through September 19, Rendon is hitting .236 with eight extra-base hits, 25 walks and 27 strikeouts. His OPS is .678 and he’s collected 22 RBI.

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