Hatfield On Hot Seat At Rice

[50's PONY]

Losing stirs rumblings at Rice
Hatfield on fans' hot seat, but major changes unlikely as C-USA beckons
By MOISEKAPENDA BOWER
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle
RESOURCES

RICE OWLS:
• College scoreboard
• Season results
• Roster
• Schedule
• Stats

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
• WAC »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHRONICLE COVERAGE:
• Minor League Notebook: Farm report shows bumper crop

As the seasons pass and the losses mount, the 8-4 record Rice posted in 2001 becomes more and more a distant memory, a veritable mirage in a desert of disappointment.


The Owls suffered three consecutive losing seasons before the 2001 campaign. Since that season, one that produced a second-place finish in the Mountain Division of the Western Athletic Conference, the Owls have dropped 22 of 34 games and have settled at a level on the wrong side of mediocrity.

Losing streaks have become the norm, and as Rice prepares for the transition into Conference USA next season, its football program has reached a fork in the road. What happens on South Main in the coming months may forever shape a program struggling to attain a measure of consistent success.

"There is no way to sugarcoat it: It was not a lot of fun to finish up the way we finished," Rice athletic director Bobby May said of the Owls' season-ending six-game losing streak. "That's not the way you want it and certainly not what we see in the future.

"It's important that you not be oblivious to what's going on around you. You've got to make changes and react to what's happened and improve in areas you can improve. We've had some positive moments and some negative moments, and this current season was certainly in the latter category. But that doesn't mean it's going to continue in the future."

There was speculation Rice coach Ken Hatfield would not be a part of that future, but May flatly dismissed rumors alluding to his firing. Hatfield, who recently completed his 11th season at Rice and 26th overall as a head coach, is the second-winningest coach in Owls history. He and the offense that draws the ire of many Rice fans — the spread option — are as intrinsically linked to Rice football as Sammy the Owl and Rice Stadium's artificial turf.

In his first season at Rice, Hatfield led the 1994 Owls to a share of the Southwest Conference title, their first since 1957. In their first two seasons in the WAC, the Owls had 7-4 records.

But losing seasons have followed in rapid succession, and in the eyes of many, it is Hatfield's unyielding loyalty to the option that is at the root of the Owls' problems. Rice led the nation in rushing this season at 306.5 yards per game, but that hasn't deterred opponents from proclaiming it time for Hatfield and Rice to scrap the option.


Freshmen to get chance
"We, as a program, have to make those judgments," May said. "From the standpoint of the system you might have, you have to evaluate at the end of the year. You try to make the changes you need to make in order to have a winning program.

"Ken's had great success everywhere he's been, including Rice. I don't think you have to fundamentally change everything to get this program, or any program, on the right track."

But Hatfield has been moved to subtle alterations. In a letter to fans posted on Rice's athletic site last week, Hatfield suggested he might soon end his practice of redshirting his freshman class.

"We're not going to make any wholesale changes," Hatfield said. "As far as not redshirting everybody ... we're going to try and take advantage of having good, healthy bodies. That's probably as big a change as we're going to make — to have access to all 85 players throughout the year. We'll have access to a lot more good players that can help the team as we go through a year."

What Rice hopes to change is a steady decline in attendance. After averaging 35,509 fans in 1997, the Owls witnessed an attendance drop to 25,300 in 1999, 19,862 in 2002 and 15,785 this season.

There is a school of thought that a switch to C-USA will lead to a spike in attendance — primarily because the Owls will join ranks with schools with more intriguing geographical ties. Replacing San Jose State and Nevada with Houston and Tulane on the schedule should help the bottom line financially, as will a more lucrative television package and an increase in television appearances.

"If we play some good programs and put a winning product on the field, you're really going to start to see a response," said Mike Pedé, Rice associate athletic director of marketing, promotions and media relations.


Discontent among alumni
It certainly would have benefited Rice to close its nine-year stay in the WAC on a high note. Instead, the Owls dropped their last two home contests by the combined margin of 103-35.

Falling in such embarrassing fashion only served to ignite the anti-Hatfield sentiment among anonymous Owls supporters on Internet message boards. Some fans have taken to requesting donations to help the athletic department offset the cost of buying out the remainder of Hatfield's contract. Even ardent Rice supporters believe some sort of change is mandatory.

"I'm naturally disappointed with what's happened," said A. Pat Samuels (Class of 1945).

Since Rice Stadium opened in 1950, Samuels has missed just four home games. His angst over the deterioration of the Owls is palpable, his passion matched only by his dissatisfaction with recent results.

The same can be said for Russell Henderson, an attorney and Rice grad (Class of 1979). It will be interesting to see if he and other Rice alumni embrace the changes that are made.

"What has to be done?" Henderson asked. "Well, enthusiasm for Rice sports among Rice alums can only carry the football program so far. Rice cannot rely solely upon its alumni as a fan base — we're just too small. Therefore, there has to be some support from the community, and it's hard to engender support when you are playing an unexciting brand of football that doesn't win. ...

"There are Rice people, I would imagine, who would rather watch Texas Tech play on TV than go and watch Rice in person. I'd rather watch Tech score 50 points than watch Rice run the ball 50 times. I don't think I'm alone."

[email protected]

RESOURCES
After finishing second in the Mountain Division in its first two years in the Western Athletic Conference (1996-97), Rice has posted six losing seasons in seven years: Season Record Losing streak
1998 5-6 Four-game losing streak erases memory ofseason-opening overtime win over SMU.
1999 5-6 Owls lose three games to open the season, then close with three-game skid.
2000 3-8 Five-game losing streak erases memory of season-opening overtime win over UH.
2002 4-7 Owls open 0-4, win four of five, then lose at Boise State and against Hawaii.
2003 5-7 Owls open 0-4, drop six of first seven, only to finish by winning four of five.
2004 3-8 Owls drop final six games, the most since an 18-game skid between 1987-88.

[DallasDiehard]

It would be a real shame if Rice fires Coach Hatfield. Not that I wouldn't mind a season without seeing that goofy option offense, but Coach Hatfield is a very classy coach who graduates his players and generally does things the right way. Canning him would be a mistake.

[huntnfish]

that would be a HUGE MISTAKE- doesn't get any better than Ken Hatfield

[Stallion]

Rice would be lucky to average 2 wins a year without Hatfield. I couldn't help but throw a huge handgrenade into the Rice Message Board on this subject. Ooooppps!!!!!

[Water Pony]

Hatfield is the best thing Rice has going for it. As a private school with exceptional academics in a Mid-Major conference, Rice is not going to get a better coach.

[mrydel]

Hatfield recruited me when he was an assistant at Army. He is quite the gentleman and of course is revered in Arkansas except by Frank Broyles.

[ALEX LIFESON]

YEA!!!! Mabey if Hatfield left, he would take that option offense with him!
Then mabey we would have a chance.

[mrydel]

The day we can successfully stop the option is the day we will know we have all the athletes we need for the making of a good defense. Stopping the option takes one on one pass coverage, fast lateral speed by the linebackers, and strong middle run defense. Just a few of the things we have been lacking. Let's keep Hatfield around until we can beat him and then he can retire.

[huntnfish]

Schumann shut it down everytime, boy I wish we had kept him

[Charleston Pony]

Schumann had some pretty good athletes on those teams...several guys who are either with NFL teams of got serious looks. And...guys like Luke Johnson, Kute Croy and Chris Post weren't bad, either. It's been a while since we've had defensive players in NFL camps. Next year should be better, but we may still be two years away from having the (mature) athletes Bennett wants on the field.

[huntnfish]

Schumann has been the best defensive mind around here since the death penalty- he understood how to cover his weaknesses and play to his strengths

and Chris Post and Lute Croy would not qualify as great players- he had two really good corners his first couple of years w/ Rhinehart and Mitchell; but once they left he realized he could put these his other corners on an island- he adjusted

should have kept him and our defense would have been much stronger the past 3 years, no question about that