[AncientCityIndian]

"I have (thought about Australian trip preparation). Cal went last year, so I’ve been on the phone with Sonny Dykes to find out some of the mistakes that they made so that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes. We know to get our guys compression pants. We have a walk and stretch schedule on the airplane because of the length of the trip. Initially, we were going to put our guys on per diem. Coach Dykes said that’s a bad idea because it’s European portions and they won’t get enough calories. So we know that we need to have buffets at the hotel. His first day at practice the field was 100 meters. They had to restripe it in yards. All the people at Rice who have been working to make sure the field is right, that the travel is right. This is going to be an incredible opportunity for this football team. Not only to go play a football game. But, we’ve teamed up with the University of Sydney. We’re going to spend a day with them after practice talking about the Australian educational system and how we do it at Rice. We’ll share a nice dinner with their President and (David Leebron). It’s going to be a great day."

“When Joe Karlgaard first asked me about moving the game to Australia, you think, God, it’s going to be 125 degrees which is a home field advantage. But then you get to thinking that it will be an incredible experience for these young men, not just to go play a football game but to go to a different continent, a difference culture. With what they are going to learn when they are there, it’s worth moving a home game to do that.”

(I thought August was in wintertime in Sydney?)

[AncientCityIndian]

"I have (thought about Australian trip preparation). Cal went last year, so I’ve been on the phone with Sonny Dykes to find out some of the mistakes that they made so that we wouldn’t make the same mistakes. We know to get our guys compression pants. We have a walk and stretch schedule on the airplane because of the length of the trip. Initially, we were going to put our guys on per diem. Coach Dykes said that’s a bad idea because it’s European portions and they won’t get enough calories. So we know that we need to have buffets at the hotel. His first day at practice the field was 100 meters. They had to restripe it in yards. All the people at Rice who have been working to make sure the field is right, that the travel is right. This is going to be an incredible opportunity for this football team. Not only to go play a football game. But, we’ve teamed up with the University of Sydney. We’re going to spend a day with them after practice talking about the Australian educational system and how we do it at Rice. We’ll share a nice dinner with their President and (David Leebron). It’s going to be a great day."

“When Joe Karlgaard first asked me about moving the game to Australia, you think, God, it’s going to be 125 degrees which is a home field advantage. But then you get to thinking that it will be an incredible experience for these young men, not just to go play a football game but to go to a different continent, a difference culture. With what they are going to learn when they are there, it’s worth moving a home game to do that.”

(I thought August was in wintertime in Sydney?)

[threepointer]

"you think, God, it’s going to be 125 degrees which is a home field advantage."

Uh no.  August in Sydney is the equivalent of February in Houston.

"In Sydney, the month of August is characterized by gradually rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing by 4°F, from 63°F to 67°F over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 75°F or dropping below 57°F.

Daily low temperatures increase by 4°F, from 48°F to 51°F, rarely falling below 42°F or exceeding 58°F.

https://weatherspark.com/m/144544/8/Aver...-Australia

[threepointer]

"you think, God, it’s going to be 125 degrees which is a home field advantage."

Uh no.  August in Sydney is the equivalent of February in Houston.

"In Sydney, the month of August is characterized by gradually rising daily high temperatures, with daily highs increasing by 4°F, from 63°F to 67°F over the course of the month, and rarely exceeding 75°F or dropping below 57°F.

Daily low temperatures increase by 4°F, from 48°F to 51°F, rarely falling below 42°F or exceeding 58°F.

https://weatherspark.com/m/144544/8/Aver...-Australia

[DenverCard]

In talking about 125 degrees, I think the coach was referring to what it would have been if the game had been played in Houston as a home game, which would have been an advantage to his team, but which he was willing to give up for the experience of taking his team to Australia.  I had the same initial reaction -- Doesn't he know the seasons are the opposite down under? -- but when I reread the passage, I gave the coach more credit.

[DenverCard]

In talking about 125 degrees, I think the coach was referring to what it would have been if the game had been played in Houston as a home game, which would have been an advantage to his team, but which he was willing to give up for the experience of taking his team to Australia.  I had the same initial reaction -- Doesn't he know the seasons are the opposite down under? -- but when I reread the passage, I gave the coach more credit.

[fullmetal]

It hasn't been that hot in Texas this year.  It wouldn't even break 110F in two weekends.  And Houston sits on the coast--it'd be humid as all get out (which presents its own issues), but it would not be 125F.

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

[fullmetal]

It hasn't been that hot in Texas this year.  It wouldn't even break 110F in two weekends.  And Houston sits on the coast--it'd be humid as all get out (which presents its own issues), but it would not be 125F.

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

[Stymie]

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

To look at the positive side, maybe we can recruit enough rugby players down under to beat cal if and when football is banned due to concussion issues, as it was 100 years or so ago.......

[Stymie]

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

To look at the positive side, maybe we can recruit enough rugby players down under to beat cal if and when football is banned due to concussion issues, as it was 100 years or so ago.......

[JohnR34231]

It hasn't been that hot in Texas this year.  It wouldn't even break 110F in two weekends.  And Houston sits on the coast--it'd be humid as all get out (which presents its own issues), but it would not be 125F.

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

Doesn't playing on artificial turf (which Rice has) raise the on field temperature 10-15 degrees?
At least that's what the TV announcers always used to claim.
Just checked and the temperature forecast for game day is a high of 93.
So if true, that temperature boost would put field conditions at about 110 degrees.

[JohnR34231]

It hasn't been that hot in Texas this year.  It wouldn't even break 110F in two weekends.  And Houston sits on the coast--it'd be humid as all get out (which presents its own issues), but it would not be 125F.

And now Stanford doesn't get to leave a big recruiting imprint in the 4th largest metro area in America--and a football talent hotbed to boot.

Doesn't playing on artificial turf (which Rice has) raise the on field temperature 10-15 degrees?
At least that's what the TV announcers always used to claim.
Just checked and the temperature forecast for game day is a high of 93.
So if true, that temperature boost would put field conditions at about 110 degrees.