There was a report last night from the NHC, in the discussion, that mentioned Rita's convection really firing up again after she hit land. She might have been stronger after landfall for awhile than she was before landfall.
That's what I'm wondering. Some of the reports just aren't fitting with others, and a strengthening after landfall helps them fit better. My gut doesn't like that as a solution though, but I'm not really sure why. I do remember the storm seemed to stay at "cat-2" for a long time after landfall, but what feels more likely is some kind of isolated events, like spin-ups around Lufkin, or funneling effects in some places and not others.
The old saw about the simplest solution being the best is one I tend to agree with.
The eye appears to have intensified just before landfall. Convection increased, too late to increase her winds, but I believe they kept the winds from decreasing when they normally would have.