WOW! READ THIS

[ALEX LIFESON]

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Jan. 12, 2007, 11:57PM
Coach stings Owls with deception

By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


The day Todd Graham was announced as the savior of the Rice football program, a longtime Owls supporter waved from across a bustling and happy gymnasium where Graham was working the room.

Amid all the toasts and back-slapping over the Owls finally getting a coach seemingly committed to turning around the program, this was the sole word of warning, at least the only one I heard.

"I have my doubts about this Graham," I was told.

Why?

Graham was working the room and everyone figured this, finally, would be the key to a legitimate turnaround. Everyone was optimistic. But this alumnus did his homework about Graham.

Say it ain't so
He was told Graham was more bluster than sincerity. He was told Graham possessed a considerable knack for tossing others under the proverbial team bus if it could make him look better.

I shrugged. I filed it away. Nothing I saw seemed to indicate Graham was anything of the sort.

But then came another call Thursday night from an Owls player. The player wanted to know if what he heard was true. It can't be true, can it?

Just Sunday afternoon, Graham stood in front of the team and announced with all the conviction and believability of a pregame speech, and we paraphrase: Don't worry about me. I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be coaching the Owls until 2010 at least.

Words mean little
Graham also joked in the team meeting that it would take $10 million for him to leave.

But now we know the room wasn't the only thing Graham worked.

Graham told his players he would not leave and then he did, never sharing the news with players that he would leave for Tulsa until after it had been reported in print and on television.

He duped everyone. He lied to Rice alumni and supporters who believed in him. He sucked Rice fans of some $5 million worth of financial commitments for stadium and facility upgrades.

When offensive coordinator Major Applewhite was fielding job opportunities at Southeastern Conference schools Alabama and LSU, stealing headlines, Graham back-handed his former assistant.

Major blow to school
Graham, a former defensive coordinator at Tulsa, told an Austin television station: "We run Rice's offense, not Major Applewhite's offense. That was my offense."

He played athletic director Chris Del Conte like a fool, too, leaving Del Conte searching for ways to put a spin on the program being left in disarray. Recruits are rethinking commitments, and several players recruited by Graham are contemplating transfers.

Del Conte said Friday was, "A great day to be a Rice Owl," adding that the template for winning won't depart to Oklahoma with Graham.

But these, in truth, are some of the darkest days for Rice, thanks to the latest act of maybe the game's biggest coaching serpent. It's one thing for Nick Saban to ditch the Dolphins for Alabama. The Dolphins will survive.

The Owls had little on which to cling before Graham's arrival and have less now.

In one year's time, despite seven wins and a bowl berth, Graham did more damage than good.

Broken trust
That one skeptical voice who rose a year ago could not have spoken more profound words.

Now we know Rice has further to go than before, if only because Graham took away all the good things that were in place when he arrived.

The Owls might not have always had a winning record before Graham, but there always was a sense of family and love for the university from those at the core of the program.

Thanks to Graham flimflamming an entire university community, gaining free rein to gut the football operation when he was hired, the Owls must find not just a coach but people who genuinely care.

Graham drove a stake into the ground and into the heart of the Owls community early, pushing aside a number of longtime and committed Rice athletic department personnel along the way.

He surrounded himself with yes men and youngsters too giddy to be in the college game to express a contrary opinion.

Lots of new faces
Respected athletic trainer Allen Eggert, who had served the athletic department since 1968, was forced out. He was replaced by a 26-year-old kid who was happy to do anything Graham asked.

Others who departed included marketing director Mike Pede, longtime sports information director Bill Cousins, support personnel, even secretaries. He was pompous and, word was, at some point found a way to criticize virtually everyone in the department.

Worst of all, he told a bunch of college kids to plant their feet firmly on the ground and join him in committing to Rice for the long haul.

But as they stood there shoulder-to-shoulder Sunday, the only thing Graham forgot to tell his players about was the snake in the grass.

Listen to John P. Lopez weekdays from noon-3 p.m. on 790 AM. [email protected]


QUICK CHANGE OF HEART
The series of events that led to Todd Graham's return to Tulsa, two days after signing a contract extension with Rice:
• Tuesday morning: Graham signs a contract extension that runs through the 2012 season. After missing his scheduled flight to San Antonio, Graham drives to the Alamo City that afternoon so he can attend the American Football Coaches Association convention. Louisville introduces former Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe as Bobby Petrino's successor.
• Tuesday evening: Tulsa athletic director Bubba Cunningham flies to San Antonio to attend the AFCA convention. Later that night, rumors detailing Graham's imminent departure reverberate to South Main, where Rice officials first learn of Tulsa's interest.
• Wednesday evening: Graham confirms to Rice officials that rumors detailing mutual interest between himself and Tulsa are fact.
• Thursday morning: Graham admits he has been offered the position at Tulsa. Later that morning, Graham reveals he is mulling the offer to return to the Golden Hurricane.
• Thursday afternoon: Rice officials initiate talks with Graham, insisting that language introducing annual, performance-based reviews could be added to his contract. Rice officials refuse to match Tulsa's offer, which, according to NCAA officials, pays between $1 million and $1.2 million annually.
• Thursday evening: Graham informs Rice officials that he accepted the offer from Tulsa.
• Friday morning: At a predawn meeting, Graham informs Rice players he is returning to Tulsa. Roughly five hours later, he boards a plane bound for Tulsa, but because of inclement weather in Oklahoma, the flight is routed to Kansas City, Mo.
• Friday afternoon: Cunningham names Graham the 27th head football coach in Tulsa history. Graham was not in attendance and participated by conference call. Rice athletic director Chris Del Conte opens the search for the school's 18th head football coach.
MOISEKAPENDA BOWER

[FroggieFever]

Jeez.

[FloridaMustang]

Why does it feel like there are no good coaches left that are also class acts?

[smupony]

That article is hardcore! Talk about a hated person.

[Stallion]

That article is a bunch of crap written by an even more hypocritical writer who would be the first off the bus for 1.1 Million per year. And give me a break-Graham hoodwinked Rice alumni for multi-million dollars of improvement to a ridiculously tired and worn football stadium. That's something to build on not bash the guy who made it possible. If Rice wanted to match the offer there was nothing stopping them. Rice got more than their noney's worth including the first bowl in 45 years-they just weren't willing to pay the price to compete.

[DickerJames]

• Thursday afternoon: Rice officials initiate talks with Graham, insisting that language introducing annual, performance-based reviews could be added to his contract. Rice officials refuse to match Tulsa's offer, which, according to NCAA officials, pays between $1 million and $1.2 million annually.
• Thursday evening: Graham informs Rice officials that he accepted the offer from Tulsa.

Rice refusing to match Tulsa's offer is the reason he left, not because he is the Devil. I doubt anyone on this board would have turned the money down either.

I find the authors complaint about him duping the alums and school into commiting 5 million dollars to facility improvements hillarious. SOMEBODY needed to stand up and make that commitment long ago. I think they should kiss his butt on his way out the door and thank him for showing them the light at the end of the tunnell.

[bigdaddy08091]

When my sn and I visited TU, Todd was the only coach in the group who was not likeable by myself and my son. His behavior was all about him. The only thind is, he is a great defensive minded coach, we seen this. He will never land a big job. We have the players coach at SMU, the admin needs to help the coach get some players!

[RGV Pony]

When my sn and I visited TU, Todd was the only coach in the group who was not likeable by myself and my son. His behavior was all about him. The only thind is, he is a great defensive minded coach, we seen this. He will never land a big job. We have the players coach at SMU, the admin needs to help the coach get some players!

well, we're glad JWill's here, so maybe Graham helped us in that regard. Who was the coach at SMU who had the opposite effect of Graham (i.e. who did ya'll like the most, who was the anti-Graham)?

[ponydawg]

My friends dad who is a big time rice alumni - played there and sits on many athletic committees never cared for Todd and the way he carried himself, BUT he did like the results on the field and the hours and hours Todd put into the job. Will be curious to see what rice does.

[expony18]

Why does it feel like there are no good coaches left that are also class acts?

PB?

[mavsrage311]

I'm sure Todd Dodge has personality problems, a lot of head coaches do...they are the man at their university, and they want to act like it. Say what you want about Phil Bennett, he IS a class act. But don't think for a second that if he was offered a job at a bigger school for more $ that he wouldn't take it!

[OC Mustang]

I'm not starting a fight with anybody, but we should not be talking about who is the better man. With the money that floats around these jobs...even mid-majors...and the stakes that are out there...nobody can predict nor should anybody expect that PB or any other coach is going to stay "loyal". That's total crap.

Guys, right, wrong or indifferent, if PB got a better offer, or Orsini had better choices, don't think for a minute that they wouldn't consider their alternatives. Sure, they might consider for a moment the impact on the players...but the program? Not a chance. I don't fault Saban nor Graham for their decisions. Their handling of their respective situations may not have been great, but that is simply a point of view.

Bottom line: Graham got an offer from Rice that he had to take...a head coach's job. He'd have been a fool not to take it. The next year, Tulsa's Kragthorpe goes to Louisville...a similar decision to go from mid-major to Big East. If self-interest is important, then he made the right decision at this particular point in time. Tulsa goes back to Graham, and once again, he made a great decision for himself.

And to expect anything different is a fool's errand.

Now I'd like to mention something else...sometimes the money is the starting point, but there are intangibles as well. Graham probably likes Tulsa, and frankly, if the guy is married, maybe his wife does too...
...maybe more than Houston.

Don't think for a minute that PB and his family would look at it any differently.

[Pony in Dawg Land]

Don't think for a minute that PB and his family would look at it any differently.

Agreed. And it's important to note that it works both ways. If, for some reason beyond me, Coker decided he wanted to start his career over at Rice, the boosters and administration would consider it. I'm not saying Dodge handled it the best way possible, but loyalty extends both ways. Coaches, for the most part, are held on a short leash with their families and careers in the balance. However, the carousel trend of late is a little disturbing. You do have to admire a guy like Bower at Southern Miss who is about to enter his 17th season as head coach over there. I'm sure he's had some offers to look at with some of their success.

[mustangfan01]

6 zeroes would cause anybody to act like this.

[Stallion]

Bower is coaching alma mater though-little bit different