Rice Unfiltered

Owl Fans, 

Make sure to tune in to this month's edition of the Athletics Director Digest as Dr. Joe Karlgaard joins the Rice Owls Insider.

On the latest edition of Rice Owls Insider Director of Athletics, Joe Karlgaard gives an update from the department with Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath. Bixby Family Head Baseball Coach Jose Cruz, Jr. previews the 2023 season. 

Joe covers many sports updates. Swimming is the inaugural Owls team to compete in the AAC with their championships this week and the indoor track programs are heading to the C-USA indoor meet. The women's and men's basketball teams have both played well lately. The golf team is in their first spring tournament in Laredo. And tennis is in full swing after a very tough early road schedule for both squads. Football’s strong recruiting class is highlighted as well as the new look to Reckling Park.

Joe gives a facilities update with golf at Westwood Country Club. And the path forward at Rice Stadium is also detailed. There are also some notes with Night of Flight in April and the Coaches Caravan spots being announced. An NIL opportunity through Opendorse is discussed as well as some tangible ways to help out around the department.

Coach Cruz reveals his feelings now compared to this time last season. He elaborates on the addition of Parker Bangs as pitching coach and the difference he’s already made. Coach goes into detail about the pride he has in the program as well as the 2023 schedule. The pitching staff has a lot of promise and the defense promises to be much improved with the new turf.

Thank you for your continued support. Go Owls! 

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A packed house at Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage was on hand for a fun edition of The Scott Pera Show. Coach Pera breaks down the Owls Florida road swing in addition to chatting with incoming prized recruit Keanu Dawes. Owls sharpshooter Alem Huseinovic and senior student manager Jackson Jeffcoat round out the lively show.

Coach’s first segment includes talk of the Owls win at FIU and Quincy Olivari becoming the all-time leading three-point shooter at Rice. The Owls played close at FIU but learned a lot. Travis Evee had a good road trip.

Keanu Dawes is the highest rated signee in Owls history. The Stratford Spartan has his team at the show and discusses the type of player he is and the recruiting process with Coach Pera.

Alem Huseinovic explains his winding tale and how he ended up at Rice from his background in Bosnia and Herzegovina. He explains how he ended up with the greatest jersey number in J.P.’s opinion. Alem loves the culture at Rice and is especially proud his sister just moved to town.

Jackson Jeffcoat is a crowd favorite discussing how his student manager position came about and his day-to-day duties. He talks about what he’s going to do next after graduation and what he’s learned during his time on South Main.

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The Scott Pera Show from Valencia’s Tex-Mex Garage (3800 SW Fwy) features a recap from coach about the UNT and LA Tech losses plus talks with Owls walk-ons Ben Moffat and Reed Myers and a chat with Owls trainer “J-Rod” Jeff Rodriguez.

Coach recaps the loss in Ruston, which included a 24-point comeback. The home loss to the Mean Green is broken down, including the strong performance by Mekhi Mason, who garnered his third CUSA Freshman of the Week award.

Senior engineering major Ben Moffat dissects his time at Rice and the personal strides he’s made off the court. Reed Myers admits he looks forward to going back to his home state of Arizona and echoes Ben’s comments about personal growth.

“J-Rod” brought his own cheering section and talks about the day-to-day duties of his gig and how a couple different players are progressing. He also reminisces about his days doing hockey.

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Coach Pera recaps the Owls recent week of action. Their win vs Charlotte came down to the wire like so many this season. The loss vs UAB was tough, but coach credits the Blazers.

Two Owls freshman big men and roommates, Andrew Akuchie and Ifeanyi Ufochukwu, join the show. Akuchie reveals his path to Rice and adjusting to the college game. “Iffy” discusses his journey from Nigeria. He and coach Pera also relay a light-hearted story between them about a water bottle on a road trip.

First year Video Coordinator Cullen Neal tells his story about his basketball family. He remembers all too well a game against the Owls a few years ago when he played at New Mexico.

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The Scott Pera Show returns after a 3-1 record the last two weeks. Guests are the second leading scorer in CUSA, Quincy Olivari, two-time CUSA Freshman of the Week Mekhi Mason and assistant coach Greg Howell.

Coach Pera breaks down the recent hot stretch, including the win at North Texas, the comeback at UTSA and the buzzer beater against UTEP, along with the emotional aftermath.

Olivari opens up about a recent heart-to-heart chat with coach Pera that got him back in the right frame of mind. He also discusses the turning point for the team this season and getting into trouble for a wild shot.

Mason fondly remembers being a ball boy at Arizona State as a young kid. He talks about the transition to the college game and gives advice to players coming to the college level.

Coach Howell compares coaching under coach Pera now versus playing for him at Artesia High School in Los Angeles with James Harden. He talks in depth about his growth as a coach and who first told him he’d be a good coach

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In the debut edition of The Scott Pera Show this season coach and Voice of the Owls J.P. Heath discuss the team’s strong start and their new defensive identity. Coach Pera talks about a recent road trip that sparked the Owls and how the narrow loss at Texas motivated them.

Cameron Sheffield is proud of his Georgia roots and talks about developing his toughness on the court and when the team started to turn things around. Max Fiedler charts the reasons for his improvement and opens up about his unique style of play and the offense that gives him his freedom to create.

First year assistant coach Russ Pennell details how he linked up with this coaching staff and how his head coaching experience gives coach Pera a different perspective. 

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It’s a special edition of The Mike Bloomgren Show! Nate Griffin and Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren preview the Owls Lending Tree bowl matchup vs Southern Miss. Defensive linemen Ikenna Enechukwu and Trey Schuman join Nate to talk about their time at Rice. And strength coach Hans Straub discusses the Owls progress in the weight room.

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In the final regular season show Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren recaps the Owls loss to UTSA and previews the Owls trip to UNT. Nate Griffin is also joined by Owls running back Dean Connors, Director of On-Campus Recruiting Jessica Morrey and Director of Recruiting Marco Regalado.

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Nate Griffin chats with Dunlevie Family Head Football Coach Mike Bloomgren about the Owls setback at Western Kentucky. Tight ends coach Jim Jackson joins the show along with sophomore tight end Boden Groen and redshirt tight end Nate Kamper. Coach Bloomgren then previews the Senior Day game vs the UTSA Roadrunners.

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Listen back to the best moments from Rice's 37-30 home victory over UTEP on Thursday, Nov. 3rd.

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