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The Roost Podcast | Ep 136 – Fourth Annual Roosties!

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The 2022 Rice football regular season is over and there’s a bowl game on its way, but first, the fourth annual Roosties Award ceremony is here.

There will be a time for a more formal set of Rice football postseason awards. From Team MVP to newcomers of the year, those awards are coming. First, it’s time to present our more unconventional awards to players, units and general confusion caused by the season as we know it thus far. Stay tuned below for our fourth iteration of the annual Roosties!

You can find previous episodes on the podcast page. For now, give a listen to Episode 136.

Episode Notes

Housekeeping

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Remembering Rice Football with the Roosties! 

Carter and Matthew had out honors in the following categories with some variations along the way and a detour or two. Here are the categories:

  • Favorite Play
  • Player You Were Most Wrong About (Biggest surprise)
  • Most Improved Unit
  • Play/Game You Most Want to Redo
  • Player You’ll Miss the Most
  • Out of Nowhere Star
  • Most Valuable Transfer
  • Most Head Scratching Moment
  • Most Dominant Game
  • Player You’re Most Looking Forward to in 2022

Where can you find us?

Download and subscribe to The Roost Podcast on any of your favorite podcast providers. The show is available on iTunes, GooglePlay, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn and PodBean. Please consider leaving a review wherever you listen.

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Conference USA / AAC Coaching Carousel Updates

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The coaching carousel has been in full swing since the regular season ended. Here are the relevant changes in Conference USA and the American.

With the membership of both leagues in flux, there are folks tracking moves in both Conference USA and the American Athletic Conference as the coaching carousel continues to spin. Here’s the latest as of December 7.

Conference USA

Charlotte – In: Biff Poggi | Out: Will Healy

Healy was the first Conference USA coach dismissed in this cycle and it was likewise the first job filled. Off-field Michigan assistant Biff Poggi will take the reins. Credited with revitalizing the Wolverines behind the scenes, his financial connections and ability to fundraise will be equally valuable to the 49ers as the transition to the AAC.

North Texas – In: N/A |  Out: Seth Littrell

Seth Littrell was a late dismissal in this cycle after reaching the Conference USA Championship Game. Ultimately the departure of AD Wren Baker and a combined 44-44 record were not enough to keep him on the job. North Texas was late to the dance, but should still be an attractive job to many.

FAU – In: Tom Herman |  Out: Willie Taggart

Now former head coach Willie Taggart didn’t even make it to dinner time on the night of FAU’s final regular season game, a loss to Western Kentucky. Likewise, FAU moved quickly to replace him, hiring former Texas and Houston head coach Tom Herman. The Owls wanted someone with Florida ties, but couldn’t pass up on adding someone with proven AAC success like Herman.

UAB – In: Trent Dilfer |  Out: Bryant Vincent (Interim)

In a move that caught just about everyone by surprise, UAB went outside of the college football ranks to hire high school coach Trent Dilfer to be their head man. Bringing back interim Bryant Vincent didn’t seem likely after a 6-6 finish, but going off the grid to get Dilfer — who brings quarterback development and an NFL pedigree but not much else — was a stunner.

Liberty – In: Jamey Chadwell | Out: Hugh Freeze

Freeze was making public overtures for other jobs for quite some time, so a change in leadership at Liberty isn’t surprising. The Flames hired Chadwell away from Coastal Carolina where he’d posted back-to-back 11-win seasons and has been credited as a great offensive mind.

American

Tulsa – In: Kevin Wilson | Out: Phillip Montgomery

After going 43-53 in eight seasons with the Golden Hurricane, Montgomery was relieved of his duties. Although many projected former Tulsa quarterback G.J. Kinne to land here, he wound up at Texas State and Tulsa hired Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, formerly the head coach at Indiana.

USF – In: Alex Golesh |  Out: Jeff Scott

Former Clemson assistant Jeff Scott was never able to get things going in South Florida, prompting the move. In somewhat of a surprise, USF went back to the weel of unproven, but promising assistants, hiring Tennesee offensive coordinator Alex Golesh following a breakthrough season by the Vols’ offensive attack under his direction.

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Rice Football 2022: NFL Owls Week 13 Roundup

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Rice Football is well represented on 2022 NFL rosters. Here’s the latest from the NFL Owls in action in Week 13.

There are former Rice football players scattered across the NFL. Stay tuned each week for their game results and notables from each player.

Team NFL Owl(s) Week 13 Result Week 14
Denver Broncos Calvin Anderson (OL) at Ravens L, 10-9 vs Chiefs
Detroit Lions Jack Fox (P) vs Jaguars W, 40-14 vs Vikings
Indianapolis Colts Kylen Granson (TE) at Cowboys L, 54-19  —  OFF  —
LA Chargers Bryce Callahan (DB)
Christian Covington (DL)		 at Raiders W, 27-20 vs Miami (SNF)
Pittsburgh Steelers Chris Boswell (PK) vs Falcons W, 19-16 vs Ravens
Seattle Seahawks Myles Adams (DL) at Rams W, 27-23 vs Panthers
Tampa Bay Bucs Nick Leverett (OL) vs Saints (MNF) W, 17-16 at 49ers

Offense

Calvin Anderson – OT, Broncos

Anderson started his fifth straight game this weekend, his sixth start of the season.

Kylen Gransen – TE, Colts

Gransen got the start on Sunday Night Football against the Cowboys, his fourth of the season. He caught four passes for 19 yards and made a tackle.

Nick Leverett – OT, Buccaneers

Leverett started his fifth consecutive game this weekend. He’s appeared in every game for the Bucs since Week 7.

Defense

Myles Adams – DL, Seahawks

Adams wasn’t active in the Seahawks’ Week 13 win over the Rams.

Bryce Callahan – CB, Chargers

Callahan tied a season-high with six tackles and grabbed interception number three. He also made the pick counting, taking it 26 yards to the house for a pick-six.

Christian Covington – DL, Chargers

Covington was placed on Injured Reserve after suffering a pec injury in the Chargers’ Week 10 game against the 49ers.

Special Teams

Jack Fox – P, Lions

Fox wasn’t called upon to punt at all on Sunday in the midst of a landslide win by the Lions. Detroit scored on every possession except for a kneel-down to win the game.

Chris Boswell – K, Steelers

The Steelers placed Boswell on IR prior to their Week 10 game against the Saints. He’ll be out for at least four weeks.

More Owls in the NFL

From practice squads to current free agents, there are other Owls on the cusp of returning to active rosters. Find more detail on current contractual agreements and former Rice football players waiting for their next opportunity here.

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Conference USA Football 2022: Bowl Notes, Championship Game

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UTSA has won the 2022 Conference USA football championship. Now six teams venture on to bowl season, with the first game fast approaching.

Here are the reported matchups as of early Sunday afternoon:

Team Opponent Bowl Time Date
MTSU SDSU Hawaii Bowl 8:00 pm ET Dec. 24
North Texas Boise St. Frisco Bowl 9:15 pm ET Dec. 17
Rice Southern Miss Lending Tree Bowl 5:45 pm ET Dec. 17
UAB Miami (OH) Bahamas Bowl 11:30 pm ET Dec. 16
UTSA* Troy Cure Bowl 3:00 pm ET Dec. 16
WKU So. Alabama New Orleans Bowl 9:00 pm ET Dec. 21
*Won Conference USA Football Championship Game

Conference USA Championship results – Standings

For the second time in as many years, UTSA is the Conference USA champ. The Roadrunners blew past North Texas, 48-27 before a raucous crowd at the Alamodome. Quarterback Frank Harris took home MVP honors after completing 32-of-37 passes for 341 yards and a mind-boggling five touchdown passes. He added 49 rushing yards on 16 carries, too.

Coaching Changes

There have been three coaching changes in Conference USA this offseason. Charlotte hired former Michigan assistant Biff Poggi to replace Will Healy. UAB hired Trent Dilfer away from the high school ranks to replace interim coach Bryant Vincent. FAU moved on from Willie Taggart and brought in former Texas head man Tom Herman.

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Rice Football to play Southern Miss in Lending Tree Bowl

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For the first time since 2014, Rice football is going to a bowl game. The Owls will play Southern Miss in the Lending Tree Bowl.

Rice Football is back in the postseason. After finishing the regular season 5-7, the Owls qualified for bowl eligibility by way of Academic Progress Rate (APR), which rates programs based on their academic success. Rice will play Southern Miss, a familiar foe who clinched bowl eligibility in their final game of the regular season.

Up until this past season, Southern Miss was a member of Conference USA along with Rice. The Owls and Golden Eagles have split their 12-game history, 6-6 with Rice winning each of the last two games. This will be the first time the programs are meeting at a neutral site.

The Lending Tree Bowl is played on Saturday, December 17 at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:45 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

Liberty defeated Eastern Michigan in last year’s Lending Tree Bowl matchup. Georgia State (2020) and Louisiana (2019) are previous winners since Lending Tree took over the sponsorship rights. The bowl had previously been played under the following names: Dollar General Bowl, GoDaddy Bowl, GoDaddy.com Bowl, GMAC Bowl and the Mobile Alabama Bowl.

Rice Football Bowl History

Rice has played in 12 bowl games in program history and holds a postseason record of 7-5. Rice went 3-1 in four bowl games under previous head coach David Bailiff.

Season Bowl Opponent Result
1937 Cotton Bowl Classic Colorado W 28–14
1946 Orange Bowl Tennessee W 8–0
1949 Cotton Bowl Classic North Carolina W 27–13
1953 Cotton Bowl Classic Alabama W 28–6
1957 Cotton Bowl Classic Navy L 7–20
1960 Sugar Bowl Ole Miss L 6–14
1961 Bluebonnet Bowl Kansas L 7–33
2006 New Orleans Bowl Troy L 17–41
2008 Texas Bowl Western Michigan W 38–14
2012 Armed Forces Bowl Air Force W 33–14
2013 Liberty Bowl Mississippi State L 7–44
2014 Hawaii Bowl Fresno State W 30–6

Rice Football vs Southern Miss history

Season Location Result
2007 Hattiesburg, MS W, 31-29
2008 Houston, TX W, 45-40
2011 Hattiesburg, MS L, 48-24
2012 Houston, TX W, 44-17
2014 Hattiesburg, MS W, 41-23
2015 Houston, TX L, 65-10
2016 Hattiesburg, MS L, 44-28
2017 Houston, TX L, 43-34
2018 Hattiesburg, MS L, 40-22
2019 Houston, TX L, 20-6
2020 Hattiesburg, MS W, 30-6
2021 Houston, TX W, 24-19

Make sure you’re subscribed to The Roost on Patreon for breakdowns of the matchup, practice reports and more as the 2022 Rice Football season marches onward for a few more weeks.

Subscribe on Patreon for exclusive Rice football recruiting updates, practice notes and more.

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