HOUSTON — Head Coach Mike Bloomgren is raising his expectations for the Rice Owls.
In 2023, Bloomgren led the Owls to a winning percentage above .400 for just the second time in his six years at the university.
Now, the seventh-year head coach enters the 2024 season with a new team leader -- quarterback E.J. Warner, who transferred to Rice from fellow American Athletic Conference (AAC) program Temple earlier this offseason.
Warner has no shortage of experience. Among active players, he ranks second in the AAC in career passing yards and touchdowns, behind only Memphis' Seth Henigan, who has been in the conference for one year longer. But more than stats, Bloomgren is particularly enthused about Warner's intangibles, which the coach said has been exciting to witness as his QB acclimates to the Rice football program.
"You could tell he was well-studied, understood defense and knew where to go with the ball," Bloomgren said about his new quarterback's time in Temple during AAC Media days. "Those things really haven't changed. That carried over to the football field in the spring, and that was great to see."
The Owls' head coach raved about Warner's innate ability to do everything right, especially in the film room, as he prepares for the season like any great quarterback should. As the son of Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt Warner, Rice's newest field general has had a good role model to follow in that regard.
But, after spring football camp, Bloomgren said the coaching staff challenged Warner to step up his team leadership skills in particular -- and that he's been thriving in that aspect of his role ever since.
Bloomgren said his new quarterback took his coaches' challenge to heart. He's fully focused on being the leader his team needed, the coach said.
Now, Warner is being referred to around the locker room as the social coordinator for the Rice Owls.
"He went from seeming like a guy that was very introverted," Bloomgren said. "Now he's got a pickleball group, he's got an escape room group, he's got a movie group and he's hanging out with the guys 24/7 and they're having a blast."
With his new leader firmly set in his role, Bloomgren is spreading his attention out to the rest of his roster. He believes his team can build on what they've done the last two seasons, which featured back-to-back bowl game appearances. But it's not just a bowl-season bid the Owls are after this season, Bloomgren said. Their aspirations go beyond that.
"We're working in such a way to have some lofty goals," Bloomgren said. "I'm really proud of how the guys have worked this summer, and the time they're putting into this game. Our goals are to go to a third consecutive bowl game and compete for this conference championship."
To many, this may seem like an unattainable goal -- especially for a team coming off a 6-7 season. The media sure feels that way, picking Rice to finish tied for seventh place in the AAC's 2024 preseason poll.
But Bloomgren thinks his team has the chance to prove some doubters wrong this year. His Owls have the benefit of staying home early in the season, playing four of their first five games in Houston -- three at home, and one at their cross-town University of Houston rivals. Bloomgren believes there's a real home field advantage in Houston, and that it could play a significant role in games against teams that are unfamiliar with the coastal humidity.
"I love it," Bloomgren said. "There's four opportunities to be in the Houston heat. When we bring a team down that's not used to it, that's going to be a good deal for the Rice Owls."
Later in the schedule, the Owls will have to face the top three returning teams in the AAC this season: Tulane, UTSA and Memphis. But Bloomgren isn't letting the strength of his team's schedule get in the way of any of its goals. The head coach emphasized that the 2024 Owls will take on these obstacles one step at a time -- and, in doing so, they'll be able to compete with any opponent.
Bloomgren said his biggest focal points this season are making sure his players are always up for the challenge, and relying on new leaders like Warner to get them there.
"Give us a chance to win," Bloomgren said. "That's what we want to do. These guys don't want to lose a game, and neither do I."
Full Rice 2024 Football Schedule
- Aug. 31 | Sam Houston vs. Rice - 6 p.m. on ESPN+
- Sept. 7 | Texas Southern vs. Rice - 6 p.m. on ESPN+
- Sept. 14 | Rice at Houston - 7 p.m. on ESPN+
- Sept. 21 | Rice at Army West Point - 11 a.m. on CBSSN*
- Sept. 28 | Charlotte vs. Rice - TBD*
- Oct. 12 | UTSA vs. Rice - TBD*
- Oct. 19 | Rice at Tulane - TBD*
- Oct. 26 | Rice at Connecticut - 2:30 p.m. on CBSSN
- Nov. 2 | Navy vs. Rice - TBD*
- Nov. 8 | Rice at Memphis - 8 p.m. on ESPN2*
- Nov. 23 | Rice at UAB - TBD*
- Nov. 30 | South Florida vs. Rice - TBD*
Games in bold denote home games
* AAC matchup
