Rice
Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 1:55 pm--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports
Aug. 8, 2004, 11:54AM
Entering final WAC season, Rice motivated to bring home elusive conference championship
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
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The Rice football team hasn't felt such a sense of urgency in years. But moving will do that to a team.
Instead of looking toward their new home in Conference USA, the Owls are looking back. They have eight seasons in the Western Athletic Conference and zero titles.
Only one WAC season remains for Rice, and the team is determined to end it with a conference championship.
"It's something that's left undone and something that I think would really put a capper on Rice's history in the Western Athletic Conference," coach Ken Hatfield said. "We've done everything we said we'd do in that conference. We fulfilled our commitment. Now we'd just like to finish off as the champion."
So many changes are in store for Rice's future, but all the team can see right now is what's missing in its past. Hatfield wants to change that, and he sees a roster with the potential to get it done. For the first time since 2001, the Owls have leadership, experience and depth.The Owls return 18 seniors and bring momentum into this season. Last year, Rice started 1-6 before dominating four of its last five games to finish 5-7.
During the second half of the season, the team scrapped the spread offense with which it started the year and returned to Rice's familiar triple option. The Owls averaged 47 points in victories over Nevada, SMU, Texas-El Paso and Louisiana Tech. More importantly, they gained confidence.
"There's nothing like confidence to carry over," Hatfield said. "If you have to win one game, a lot of people have their favorites, but probably from a coach's standpoint, the one you would like to win is the last one of the season. Because people remember what you do in November. They remember how you finish. And your players remember the same."
The Owls lost only four starters on offense and four on defense. Just as the players remember the Owls' strong finish, they also hope to avoid another miserable start.
Rice won't have a chance to ease into this season, which begins Sept. 5 against Houston at Reliant Stadium. The Owls host Hawaii on Sept. 18 and face Texas in Austin on Sept. 25. Each of those teams scored more than 40 points against Rice last season, while the Owls averaged only 14.
But the players aren't looking at the three-game stretch as a whole. They are focused on UH, a future C-USA foe and a crosstown rival the Owls haven't defeated since 2001. Last year, UH defeated Rice 48-14.
"We don't want to start like we did last year, because it gets everybody somber and with a broke-down attitude, where they're just like, 'Man, another season like this,' " defensive back Terry Holley said. "Nobody wants to feel like that again. You take that into the rest of the season."
The Owls haven't won a share of a conference title since 1994, one season before the Southwest Conference dissolved. They finished in a tie for second in their first two seasons in the WAC and haven't finished higher than third since.
But Hatfield is confident this season will be different. For the first time in at least four years, there is no favorite in the WAC. Boise State is expected to be strong again, but the Owls do not play the Broncos. Hawaii and Frenso State also should be contenders.
In 2001, Hatfield led the Owls to an 8-4 record, their best since 1953. The catalysts that season were Rice's 27 seniors, who had all been in the program three or four years.
Since that group graduated, the Owls have tried to rebuild and regain that invaluable asset — experience.
"We've got to rely on having a lot of fifth-year seniors play for us," Hatfield said. "Even though there's some other guys who have played and have ability, we're really looking for people who have developed in the last two years and are at the zenith of their careers — and not so worn out and beat up that they have nothing left.
"If we get guys who are at their zenith, who have continued to grow and are playing their best, then is when we have our chance to have our best years. And I think we have that kind of team now."
[email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule Sept. 5 Houston (at Reliant Statium) 4 p.m.
Sept. 18 Hawaii 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at Texas 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 at San Jose State 8 p.m.
Oct. 9 SMU 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Nevada 8:05 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Navy 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Tulsa 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 6 Fresno State 2 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Texas-El Paso 8:05 p.m.
Nov. 27 Lousiana Tech 2 p.m.
Position-by-position analysis
Offense
• Quarterback: After sitting behind Kyle Herm for the past three seasons, Greg Henderson is ready for his chance on top of the depth chart. He replaced an injured Herm at the beginning of last season and has plenty of experience.
• Running back: This should be one of the Owls' strongest areas, especially with halfback Thomas Lott returning. He emerged as the team's top back at the end of last season and finished the year averaging 7.29 yards per carry — second in the nation only to Texas' Vince Young. Ed Bailey, a former halfback, will replace Robbie Beck at fullback, and Joe Moore also will start at halfback.
• Wide receiver: The Owls aren't expecting to pass as much as they did during the first part of last season, but junior Marcus Battle (19 receptions, 333 yards) is a threat when they do.
• Tight end: Junior Joe Don Wood returns after starting nine games last season and is expected to be a major contributor.
• Tackles: Seniors Scott Mayhew and Cotey-Joe Cswaykus will be part of a solid offensive line. Mayhew will be the leader after starting every game last season.
• Guards: Senior returning starters Micah Meader and Greg Wilson will start on the left and right, respectively.
• Center: Ross Huebel's versatility will bode well for him as he takes over for Ben Stephens. .
• Kicker: Highly touted freshman Luke Juist likely will make an immediate impact. He made 23 field goals during his last two years at Strake Jesuit and scored 79 points.
Defense
• Ends: John Syptak will be the lightest starter (240 pounds) on the defensive line, but he is expected to make a big impact. Rob Daniel will start at the other end as a replacement for Jimmy Shaw, who transferred to Penn State.
• Tackles: William Wood and Jeremy Calahan are returning starters who are coming off strong seasons.
• Linebackers: The team has big voids here after losing Jeff Vanover and Brandon Boyd, but junior Adam Herrin and sophomore Omeke Alikor are able replacements.
• Secondary: Rover Terry Holley emerged as the team's top defender and enters the season with 128 career tackles. Sophomores are set to start at the other four spots. Bandit Chad Price and free safety Andray Downs each established themselves last year, with Price becoming a big-play type of player.
• Punter: Jared Scruggs returns after an impressive freshman season and is a likely All-American candidate this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports
This article is: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2724929
HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports
Aug. 8, 2004, 11:54AM
Entering final WAC season, Rice motivated to bring home elusive conference championship
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES
HEAR IT NOW
Sugar Bowl
Chronicle's Richard Justice:
• LSU vs. OU
Rose Bowl
SportsAudioNet:
• Michigan QB John Navarre
• Michigan coach Lloyd Carr
• USC's Keary Colbert
• USC QB Matt Leinert
• USC coach Pete Carroll
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRONICLE COVERAGE:
• Football tour 2004
• BIG 12 »
CHRONICLE COVERAGE:
• Big 12 notebook: Three teams in Final Four? Hex of an idea
• C-USA »
CHRONICLE COVERAGE:
• UH Notebook: Seasoned stars, Lady Luck add spice to NCAA
• WAC »
• SWAC »
The Rice football team hasn't felt such a sense of urgency in years. But moving will do that to a team.
Instead of looking toward their new home in Conference USA, the Owls are looking back. They have eight seasons in the Western Athletic Conference and zero titles.
Only one WAC season remains for Rice, and the team is determined to end it with a conference championship.
"It's something that's left undone and something that I think would really put a capper on Rice's history in the Western Athletic Conference," coach Ken Hatfield said. "We've done everything we said we'd do in that conference. We fulfilled our commitment. Now we'd just like to finish off as the champion."
So many changes are in store for Rice's future, but all the team can see right now is what's missing in its past. Hatfield wants to change that, and he sees a roster with the potential to get it done. For the first time since 2001, the Owls have leadership, experience and depth.The Owls return 18 seniors and bring momentum into this season. Last year, Rice started 1-6 before dominating four of its last five games to finish 5-7.
During the second half of the season, the team scrapped the spread offense with which it started the year and returned to Rice's familiar triple option. The Owls averaged 47 points in victories over Nevada, SMU, Texas-El Paso and Louisiana Tech. More importantly, they gained confidence.
"There's nothing like confidence to carry over," Hatfield said. "If you have to win one game, a lot of people have their favorites, but probably from a coach's standpoint, the one you would like to win is the last one of the season. Because people remember what you do in November. They remember how you finish. And your players remember the same."
The Owls lost only four starters on offense and four on defense. Just as the players remember the Owls' strong finish, they also hope to avoid another miserable start.
Rice won't have a chance to ease into this season, which begins Sept. 5 against Houston at Reliant Stadium. The Owls host Hawaii on Sept. 18 and face Texas in Austin on Sept. 25. Each of those teams scored more than 40 points against Rice last season, while the Owls averaged only 14.
But the players aren't looking at the three-game stretch as a whole. They are focused on UH, a future C-USA foe and a crosstown rival the Owls haven't defeated since 2001. Last year, UH defeated Rice 48-14.
"We don't want to start like we did last year, because it gets everybody somber and with a broke-down attitude, where they're just like, 'Man, another season like this,' " defensive back Terry Holley said. "Nobody wants to feel like that again. You take that into the rest of the season."
The Owls haven't won a share of a conference title since 1994, one season before the Southwest Conference dissolved. They finished in a tie for second in their first two seasons in the WAC and haven't finished higher than third since.
But Hatfield is confident this season will be different. For the first time in at least four years, there is no favorite in the WAC. Boise State is expected to be strong again, but the Owls do not play the Broncos. Hawaii and Frenso State also should be contenders.
In 2001, Hatfield led the Owls to an 8-4 record, their best since 1953. The catalysts that season were Rice's 27 seniors, who had all been in the program three or four years.
Since that group graduated, the Owls have tried to rebuild and regain that invaluable asset — experience.
"We've got to rely on having a lot of fifth-year seniors play for us," Hatfield said. "Even though there's some other guys who have played and have ability, we're really looking for people who have developed in the last two years and are at the zenith of their careers — and not so worn out and beat up that they have nothing left.
"If we get guys who are at their zenith, who have continued to grow and are playing their best, then is when we have our chance to have our best years. And I think we have that kind of team now."
[email protected]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Schedule Sept. 5 Houston (at Reliant Statium) 4 p.m.
Sept. 18 Hawaii 7 p.m.
Sept. 25 at Texas 6 p.m.
Oct. 2 at San Jose State 8 p.m.
Oct. 9 SMU 7 p.m.
Oct. 16 at Nevada 8:05 p.m.
Oct. 23 at Navy 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 at Tulsa 2:05 p.m.
Nov. 6 Fresno State 2 p.m.
Nov. 13 at Texas-El Paso 8:05 p.m.
Nov. 27 Lousiana Tech 2 p.m.
Position-by-position analysis
Offense
• Quarterback: After sitting behind Kyle Herm for the past three seasons, Greg Henderson is ready for his chance on top of the depth chart. He replaced an injured Herm at the beginning of last season and has plenty of experience.
• Running back: This should be one of the Owls' strongest areas, especially with halfback Thomas Lott returning. He emerged as the team's top back at the end of last season and finished the year averaging 7.29 yards per carry — second in the nation only to Texas' Vince Young. Ed Bailey, a former halfback, will replace Robbie Beck at fullback, and Joe Moore also will start at halfback.
• Wide receiver: The Owls aren't expecting to pass as much as they did during the first part of last season, but junior Marcus Battle (19 receptions, 333 yards) is a threat when they do.
• Tight end: Junior Joe Don Wood returns after starting nine games last season and is expected to be a major contributor.
• Tackles: Seniors Scott Mayhew and Cotey-Joe Cswaykus will be part of a solid offensive line. Mayhew will be the leader after starting every game last season.
• Guards: Senior returning starters Micah Meader and Greg Wilson will start on the left and right, respectively.
• Center: Ross Huebel's versatility will bode well for him as he takes over for Ben Stephens. .
• Kicker: Highly touted freshman Luke Juist likely will make an immediate impact. He made 23 field goals during his last two years at Strake Jesuit and scored 79 points.
Defense
• Ends: John Syptak will be the lightest starter (240 pounds) on the defensive line, but he is expected to make a big impact. Rob Daniel will start at the other end as a replacement for Jimmy Shaw, who transferred to Penn State.
• Tackles: William Wood and Jeremy Calahan are returning starters who are coming off strong seasons.
• Linebackers: The team has big voids here after losing Jeff Vanover and Brandon Boyd, but junior Adam Herrin and sophomore Omeke Alikor are able replacements.
• Secondary: Rover Terry Holley emerged as the team's top defender and enters the season with 128 career tackles. Sophomores are set to start at the other four spots. Bandit Chad Price and free safety Andray Downs each established themselves last year, with Price becoming a big-play type of player.
• Punter: Jared Scruggs returns after an impressive freshman season and is a likely All-American candidate this year.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HoustonChronicle.com -- http://www.HoustonChronicle.com | Section: Sports
This article is: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2724929