[Rice University Athletics Scrapbook: 2002-2005] Page: 2

                                
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Rice goes through early paces
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■ What’s new: With 19 starters return-
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Tormey
Henderson sparks Rice scrimmage
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—Brian mctaggart
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WAC at a glance
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Sports notebook
an answer at tailback,
ree JUCO transfers will
174
114
4. Hawaii (2)
5. Rice........
■ All-conference contenders: QB
Timmy Chang, OL Vincent Manuwai,
LB PisaTmoisamoa, LB Travis Laboy,
P Mat McBriar, WR Chad Owens.
WAC masses ground forces
to complement air transport
1. Boise State (14). 214
2. La. Tech (6)........203
3. Fresno State (1) . 189
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■ All-conference contenders: WR Gavin Boothe, DE
Brandon Green, DB Greg Gatlin, P Travis Hale.
■ What’s new: Jeff Grady takes over at QB for David Carr
and has a wealth of talent and a talented offensive line
around him. ... The Bulldogs will make a whopping
seven national television appearances this year.
■ All-conference contenders: LB
Michael Dulaney, LB Keithan Mc-
Corry, DT Sam Raybum, RB Eric Rich-
ardson.
“We did some drills to get a
chance to look at everybody,”
Hatfield said. “A lot of (position)
coaches had only seen their own
players, but now they get a
chance to see other position play-
ers and get to know them better.”
Rice, coming off its best season
since 1953, kicks off its 11-game
schedule at home against Hous-
ton on Aug. 31.
Kyle Herm will be doing the pitching as the
Rice quarterback to start the season.
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■ Last year’s record: 2-9; 1-7 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, vs. Sacramento State.
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Players of the Year
a Offense: QB Luke McCown, Louisiana Tech.
■ Defense: DB Quintin Mikell, Boise State
defensive line or linebacker makes finding replacements
the key.... Developing some weapons for fifth-year se-
nior quarterback Marcus Arroyo.
■ Two-a-day priorities: Making sure Grady and his re-
ceivers get more comfortable. ... Replacing the loss of
Devon Banks and Vernon Fox In the secondary.... Get-
ting mentally prepared for another tough non-conference
schedule.
■ Key losses: WR Ashley Lelie, OL
Manly Kanoa, DB Nate Jackson, QB
Nick Rolovich.
it wasn’t just extremely hot,” Hat-
field said. “You’d like to be able
to get them acclimated a little
each day before the varsity comes
in.”
The newcomers will work out
again today in shorts and helmets
before taking the day off Thurs-
day while veteran players report.
Then, the entire squad will
work out for three days before
putting on full pads for the first
time Aug. 14.
■ Two-a-day priorities: Make sure
Threadgill feels comfortable running the offense and
shows no ill effects of 2000 ACL injury. ... Improve a
brutal defense that allowed 39 points and 495 yards per
game.
ningham, CB Jonas Rutledge, LB Vic
Viloria.
SIGNING
Hinshaw to McLennan — Lindsey Hinshaw has
landed a golf scholarship at McLennan Community
College in Waco. She is an Elkins graduate.
7. 2 $- oy — Compiled by Curt Baltzley
■ What's new: Expectations are high for the Bulldogs,
who were picked ninth to win the league last year and
won the title. Tech is picked second this fall.... QB Luke
McCown returns as a serious All-American candidate.
Order of finish
(First-place votes by media In parenthesis)
Rice
■ Beckford sets meet
record — Rice’s Allison Beck-
ford set a 400-meter meet
record of 51.21 seconds at the
North America, Central America
and Caribbean Under 25 Track
and Field Championships in
San Antonio on Friday.
■ What’s new: Moving from quarterback to receiver after
injuring his knee last year, Jeremy Hurd has looked very
strong in off-season workouts.... Quarterback Kyle Herm
leads a wealth of talented skills players returning. ... A
trio of new linebackers will be the key on offense.
■ Key losses: TE Jeb Putzier, OL Matt
Hill, LB Greg Sasser.
■ All-conference contenders: RB
Brock Forsey, QB Ryan Dinwiddie, OL
Scott Huff, DB Quintin Mikell.
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... Senior Zack Threadgill takes over
at quarterback for four-year starter
David Neill.
It’s easy to lose 10 or 11 pounds in
practice. Some heavy sweaters will do
that. It depends on their body size and
what they’re actually doing. They’re
losing fluid, so they usually gain it back,
but you have to stay on top of that.’
the top eight teams in the nation in
passing offense. We should see more
of the same in 2002, but lost in all the
mind-boggling passing numbers of a
year ago were some impressive per-
formances on the ground.
In addition to having the second-
and fourth-rated quarterbacks in the
country last season in Fresno State’s
David Carr and Boise State’s Ryan
Dinwiddie, respectively, the WAC
boasted the nation’s leading rusher in
Nevada’s Chance Kretschmer (157.5
yards per game) and the second-
leading rushing attack in Rice (281.2
See WAC on Page 5C.
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■ Last year’s record: 8-4; 5-3 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, at Houston.
■ Key losses: LB Dan Dawson, DB Jason Hebert, FB
Jamie Tyler, LB Joe Bob Thompson.
■ What’s new: Dinwiddle looked
great in spring drills, completing 11 of
16 passes for 137 yards, while rushing
for 65 and two more touchdowns in
the spring game. ... The Broncos
won't be able to sneak up on anyone
I
BOISE, Idaho — For most college
football fans, the first thing that
comes to mind at the mention of the
Western Athletic Conference is of-
fense. And plenty of it.
The WAC has been home to some
of the nation’s most explosive of-
fenses in recent years, with points
scored and yards rolled up at a fren-
zied pace. Fresno State, Hawaii, Loui-
siana Tech and Boise State all fin-
ished in the top 20 in the nation in
scoring offense last year, with Fresno
State, Hawaii and Nevada in the top
10 in total offense.
The majority of that damage was
Tulsa each had three different play-
ers rush for more than 100 yards
in a game.
“Fresno State last year had
David Carr, and Louisiana Tech
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■ Key losses: OL Damian Lavergne, DB Bobby Gray, DL
Jamie Nichols, LB Curtis Randall, WR John Simon, WR
Delwyn Daigre.
■ All-conference contenders: QB Luke McCown, RB
Joe Smith, LB Curtis Randall, WR D.J. Curry.
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■ Owls work Indoors — Mon-
day’s rain forced the Owls Indoors
for the evening workout.
“This was our second day of
two-a-days, and we are giving the
guys a lot to remember," coach
Kevin Hatfield said. “I think the
cooler temperatures helped them
keep their concentration through it
all.”
Receivers Gavin Boothe (spider
bite) and Andy Hall (ankle) were
limited in the workouts.
■ Four sign in track —
Bahnsen Miller of Lake Charles,
La., (sprints), Eric Spear of Klein
Oak (hurdles), Bryce Luna of Lake-
wood, Colo. (sprints) and Pablo
Solares of Richardson (middle dis-
tances) have signed letters of in-
tent with Rice, head coach Jon
Warren announced.
ByBRIANMcTAGGART--Hy-A„dcnoishr°Ahan,FresnWSthatehrnd
Houston Chronicle       ( 4 "2 Car1   c-u.. _
--------------"—""— “ Tech — finishing among
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____________SMU______
■ Head coach: Phil Bennett (first year as head coach).
■ Last year’s record: 4-7,4-4 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, vs. Navy.
■ Key losses: DL Kevin Aldridge, QB David Page.
■ All-conference contenders: RB
ShanDerrick Charles, WR Chris Cun- -027
________________RICE______________
■ Head coach: Ken Hatfield (42-46-1 in eight seasons at
Rice, 155-108-4 overall in 23 seasons).
Rice gets swimming assistant — Former Kan-
sas assistant Greg Kristoff has joined Rice as an
assistant swimming coach. Also, swimmer Meghan
Brown of Vancouver, B.C., has committed to Rice
for 2002-03. Brown was a national semifinalist in fre-
estyle and butterfly events at the Canadian Games.
Kretschmer became just the sec-
ond freshman in NCAA history to lead the nation
in rushing, an achievement he earned by running
for 327 yards and six touchdowns on 45 carries
against UTEP in the final game of the season.
18 to
run, and everybody knows that.
__________LOUISIANA TECH________
■ Head coach: Jack Bicknell (18-17 in three seasons, all
at Louisiana Tech).
a Last year’s record: 7-5; 7-1 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, vs. Oklahoma State in
Shreveport.
I 5awPions
_________SAN JOSE STATE________
■ Head coach: Fitz Hill (3-9 in one season at San Jose
State).
■ Last year’s record: 3-9; 3-5 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31 at Arkansas State.
■ Key losses: OL Chris Fe’esago, WR Edell Shepherd.
■ All-conference contenders: QB Marcus Arroyo, DT/FB
Brandon Miles, WR Charles Pauley, OT Tim Provost, RB
Jarmar Julien.
____________NEVADA___________
■ Head coach: Chris Tormey (5-18 in two seasons at
Nevada, 38-41 overall in seven seasons).
■ Last year’s record: 3-8; 3-5 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, at Washington.
__________FRESNO STATE_________
■ Head coach: Pat Hill (37-25 in five seasons, all at
Fresno State).
■ Last year’s record: 11-3; 6-2 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 23, at Wisconsin.
■ Key losses: QB David Carr, OL Mike Stovall, DL Alan
Harper, WR Rodney Wright, RB Paris Gaines, LB Maurice
Rodriguez, DB Devon Banks.
■ All-conference contenders: WR Bernard Berrian, DL
Nick Burley, PK Asen Asparuhov, P Jason Simpson, OL
Fitu Tu’ua.
■ What’s new: After suffering a
season-ending wrist injury against
Rice early last season, Timmy Chang
returns to lead the run-and-shoot....
The new Hawaii Bowl ensures the
Warriors will make a bowl game if they
qualify, which means Hawaii won't sit
home it if goes 9-3 this year.
______________HAWAII_____________
• Head coach: June Jones (21-16 in three seasons, all
at Hawaii).
■ Last year’s record: 9-3; 5-3 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 31, vs. Eastern Illinois.
___________BOISE STATE___________
■ Head coach: Dan Hawkins (8-3 in one season at Boise,
48-15-1 overall in six seasons).
■ Last year's record: 8-4; 6-2 in WAC.
■ Season opener Aug. 31, vs. Idaho.
_____________TULSA____________
■ Head coach: Keith Bums (6-17 in two seasons, both at
Tulsa).
■ Last year’s record: 1-10; 0-8 in WAC.
■ Season opener: Aug. 30, vs. Oklahoma.
■ Key losses: WR Donald Shoals, QB
Josh Blankenship, OL Kevin Shaffer, measa
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______________UTEP____________
■ Head coach: Gary Nord (10-13 in two seasons, both at
UTEP).
yards in a 52-7 loss. He followed
that up with 114 yards against Colo-
rado State and was quickly put on
scholarship.
“I think why most of these backs
are succeeding is defenses come
prepared to play a passing team,”
Kretschmer said. “And that’s when
the running backs succeed, be-
cause you don’t have many line-
backers in there, or (teams) are
playing a three front or something
like that”
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got that fluid in you.”
Many coaches are scheduling more night prac- ’
tices to limit their players’ exposure to the sun.
Back-to-back two-a-day sessions are fading fast,
and in most cases, when coaches do schedule
two practices for the same day, only one will be
a full-pads workout.
“It’s already hot. And then you add all those
pads, and it holds the heat in,” Hatfield said. “If
you’re not careful, you can have an oven. It’s like
a furnace. The biggest heat insulator you have is
the football helmet. It’s there for protection, but
that’s where most of the heat stays.
“That’s why you have to take a lot of breaks,
and we tell our guys when they’re not going,
‘Take your helmet off.’ You’ve got to let that heat
get out of there, and you have to get in the shade
to keep the sun from beating down on you.”
Rec Pazohhonoreda,cRicequtside hitter
• last season gG 311(1 hitting percentage (.252)
■ Two-a-day priorities: Adjusting to the enthusiastic, go-
get-’em style of Bennett.... Sorting the quarterback situ-
ation. ... Filling jobs at both kicker and punter.
By BRIAN McTAGGART
Houston Chronicle
^*-7 —^>2-*
Rice coach Ken Hatfield got his
first look at his incoming fresh-
man class, though it might take
him a while to remember every-
one’s name.
After losing more than two doz-
en seniors last season, Hatfield
and his staff put 26 incoming
freshmen through their first ses-
sions of two-a-days Tuesday on
the grass field at the north end
of Rice Stadium. Twenty-four
scholarship players and two walk-
ons participated.
“Last year we only had 13 fresh-
men because that’s all we signed
and it’s hard to do much, but now
with 26 we’re able to do a lot more
this year, which is going to help
us in the long run, too,” Hatfield
said. “We’ve got 26 guys here that
all came in and we checked them
medically, which was the first
thing we do. We get down here
and go slow the first day, but they
have great attitudes.”
In the morning workout, play-
ers went through conditioning
and practice drills. They also
learned the finer points on the
correct ways to stretch before
taking a break from the heavy
heat.
“Down there on the grass, it
was cool enough and we had
enough of a breeze blowing that
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BASEBALL
Rice’s Humber gets win for U.S. team —
Philip Humber of Rice earned the victory and
Mark Jurich hit a three-run homer and drove in
four runs Wednesday as the United States routed
South Korea 16-2 in the Americans’ final first-round
game at the World University Baseball Champion-
ship at Messina, Sicily. Eric Patterson, Michael
Aubrey, Aaron Hill and Sam Fuld had three hits
each for the U.S. (3-1), which next plays Friday in
the quarterfinals. Humber allowed three hits in six
shutout innings, striking out eight
AWARDS
Hatfield to be honored — Rice football coach
Ken Hatfield will be honored by the Touchdown
Club of Houston with the IW Marks Touchdowner
of the Year Award on Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. at the JW
Marriott Ballroom, 5150 Westheimer. Among the
speakers will be former Texas Tech coach Spike
Dykes and former Houston coach Bill Yeoman.
Tickets are $35 each and are available by calling
281-754-4867.
came in and came close to being one of the leading
rushers in the nation,” he said. “I guess it really 4
hasn’t set in yet, but when you go on a losing season, #
you can’t say that was good. If we have an 8-3 season «
this year and I rush for 1,000 yards, Fil be happy.”
■ Two-a-day priorities: Finding
where three sophomores and thi
battle for the job.... No returning starters on either the
■ Two-a-day priorities: Bringing together a new offensive
line that will be the key to the Rice’s option attack. ...
Piecing together a defensive line that was hit hard by
injuries.... Replacing the leadership lost by the gradua-
Rice coach Ken Hatfield
Rice coach Ken Hatfield instituted his current
heat and hydration procedures three years ago
when stifling heat forced him to change the Owls’
practice schedule. Since then, Hatfield has
stressed the importance of hydration and getting
accurate weight readings for every player before
and after each practice.
“It’s easy to lose 10 or 11 pounds in practice,”
Hatfield said. “Some heavy sweaters will do that.
It depends on their body size and what they’re
actually doing. They’re losing fluid, so they usu-
ally gain it back, but you have to stay on top of
that.         7- 2o - ©2
“The main thing "s constant monitoring before
and after practicing. That way, if you do have a
problem, we can get you some extra help. And if
you have a problem getting (fluid) in, we’ll go in
there and put an IV in you to be sure that you’ve
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■ Two-a-day priorities: Hoping Chang can regain the
form he had as a freshman in 2000. ... Filling the two
safety spots vacated by Nate Jackson and Jacob Espiau.
... Finding depth on the defensive line.
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■ Two-a-day priorities: Bringing together an offensive
line that was ravaged by injuries and graduation.... Elimi-
nating big plays and creating more turnovers.... Keep
morale high.
Dscveryone has good running ‘I think the running
The WAC had 22 different players backs in this league
rush for at least 100 yards in a are coming on. . . .
game last year. Kretschmer did it W-’re -Iw’vs noinn to
eight times, including games of 327 VV~ 5 dWdy5 going IO
and 242 yards, and Forsey had run, and everybody
seven 100-yard games. Rice, San knows that. Now
Jose State, Texas-ELPaso and everyone has good
running backs.’
Rice’s Vincent Hawkins
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■ Two-a-day priorities: Rebuilding
the offensive line, which lost three starters from last year,
and finding a tight end.... Solidifying both defensive end
positions.... Finding a punter to replace Keith Schuttler,
who suffered an injury in spring drills.
■ Key losses: QB David Neill, OL Kika
Kaululaau, DL Horacio Leyva.
■ All-conference contenders: WR
Nate Burleson, DE Jorge Cordova, C
Cody Johnson, RB Chance
Kretschmer.
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■ Two-a-day priorities: Finding ways to get the ball to
Joe Smith more. ... Replacing two receivers that com-
bined to catch more than 5000 passes, 6,000 yards and
37 TDs in John Simon and Delwyn Daigre.... Solidifying
both offensive and defensive lines... .Filling holes in the
secondary for the WAC air assault.
--—
<
, In
WAC preseason poll
Continued from Page 1C.
yards per game).
In fact, the WAC has laid claim to the top rusher
in the country in five of the past 11 years — San
Diego State’s Marshall Faulk in 1991-1992, TCU’s La-
Dainian Tomlinson in 1999-2000 and Kretschmer last
year.
Kretschmer, a sophomore who walked on last year
and ran for 1,732 yards and 15 touchdowns, head-
lines a strong group of WAC running backs return-
ing this fall.
Boise State senior Brock Forsey (1,207 yards),
Louisiana Tech senior Joe Smith (874) and SMU
sophomore ShanDerrick Charles (860) also could be of the past year,
poised for huge seasons on the ground.              A three-sport high school star in the tiny town of
“We’ve got some strong running backs in this Tonopah, Nev., he received all-state honors but
league” Forsey said. “Chance Kretschmer from Ne- wasn’t heavily recruited. He received offers from a
vada. Fresno has a good running back. So does handful of Division II and NAIA schools but knew
SMU. And Rice ran the ball really well.”            he could play at a higher level.
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■ Key loss: WR Lee Mays.
■ All-conference contenders: CB Weldon Cooks, OT
Ariel Famaligi, LB Robert Rodriguez, FS D.J. Walker.
■ What’s new: The Miners figure to bring a wealth of
experience into this season after having 25 freshmen and
sophomores on their two-deep roster at the end of last
year.... Troy Reffett has been promoted from defensive
backs coach to defensive coordinator.... Hosting four of
the WAC’s top six teams could help UTEP be a sleeper.
■ Two-a-day priorities: Replacing running back Chris
Porter, who ran for more than 1,000 yards the last two
years, and Lee Mays, who had 200 catches for 2,908
yards. ... Beefing up an offensive lien that gave up 35
sack last year. ... Returning senior Bobby King, who
missed the entire 2001 season with a back injury, to the
defensive line.
With starter Kyle Herm be-
ing rested and the entire
freshman group excused ear-
lier for Rice’s Orientation
Week activities, Henderson
was on the field for every snap
in the controlled session.
“We had been wanting Greg
to work with the first team
some,” said coach Ken Hat-
field. “It was important for us
to do that, and it worked out.”
Defensively, Edgar Vega and
Greg Gatlin had interceptions.
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Greg Henderson’s long
touchdown pass to Marcus
Battle highlighted Rice’s Tues-
day scrimmage at Rice Sta-
dium.
Henderson connected with
Battle on a 52-yarder to end
the evening’s work The sopho-
more quarterback earlier di-
rected a 70-yard drive that was
capped by a one-yard touch-
down run by Ed Bailey.
. ing, the Wolf Pack could be a sleeper.
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■ What’s new: Seven road games in the first eight weeks
presents a challenge for the road-weary Spartans. ...
Linebackers Luke LaHerran and Paul Okumu were
granted medical redshirts and are expected to contribute
this year.... Only seven returning starters, the Spartans
have new faces throughout their depth chart.
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With so many good ball carriers returning this fall, Kretschmer sent game tapes to a handful of Divi-
could the WAC be on the verge of being known as sion I schools and received feelers from UCLA and
a running league?                                Colorado State as well as Nevada. Wolf Pack coach
“I think the running backs in this league are com- ChrisTrrmeystoldasretshmerhencguld walk on,
for 302 yards on 77 carries last year. “When you    Kretschmer was the third-string running back go
get inside the red zone, you have to be able to run ing into last season, but injuries thrust him ontc
me football. We’re always going to                                  the field. He entered in a reserve
role in the season opener against
Brigham Young and ran for 94
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■ What’s new: Former Texas A&M
and TCU assistant Phil Bennett takes
over as head coach for Mike Cavan.
... Redshirt freshman Tate Wallis
emerged from spring as starting quar-
terback, with junior Kelan Luker close
behind. ... Running back ShanDer-
rick Charles will be the featured per-
formed on offense after a breakout
freshman season.
■ What’s new: Three of Tulsa’s top
four rushers, it’s No. 2 and No. 3 pass-
ers and seven of its top nine receivers
returning. . . . Sophomore Tyler
Gooch takes over as the full-time No.
1 quarterback.... Six JUCO transfers
and one four-year transfer are ex-
pected to contribute immediately.
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—
had Luke McCown, and we had
Ryan Dinwiddie at quarterback, and all were highly
rated quarterbacks,” Forsey said. “But being able
to run the ball sets that up. If you can run the ball,
it helps throwing the ball, and they kind of work off
each other.”
Rice defensive end Brandon Green said defenders
must be on their toes in the WAC and remain ready
for anything.
“I think a lot of the running backs benefit from
the high volume of passing,” he said. “You see the
situation a lot in the WAC. You get one good athlete
and put him in the backfield, and you throw a lot,
and when you give it to him, you kind of catch people
off-guard. That’s kind of a tactic a lot of teams use.”
One of the reasons Rice was so successful running
the ball last year was because teams in the WAC
rarely see an option attack Boise State found out
last year how difficult stopping the option can be
when the Owls ran roughshod over its defense for
430 yards in a 45-14 rout at Rice Stadium.
“We’ve got four running backs out there and ev-
erybody running the ball, and it’s really confusing
for them,” Hawkins said. “If we play against some-
one who has an explosive offense, our game plan
is centered on (ball control) to make it easy on our
defense. We’ll just run it four yards a pop like coach
(Ken) Hatfield says and just keep it up.”
Kretschmer was one of the best stories in college
football in 2001. His season was recently ranked No.
92 on ESPN’s list of 100 significant sports stories
"I got a little more grief from the players, who
were like, ‘Ooh, you don’t have to do this because ,.
you’re the leading rusher in the nation,’ ” joked the g
6-1, 212-pound Kretschmer. “It’s good for the team “
to let people know we have some good players here “0
and are capable of winning ballgames.”             9
Kretschmer, a calf roper who grew up on a ranch, “
expects to have a much more difficult challenge 2
heading into this season now that teams are aware 7
of his talents.                                            s
“I think it’s going to be completely opposite of F
what it was last year,” he said. “People are going
to come in stacking the box with eight or nine people   g
and playing our receivers one-on-one. We’ve got 2
some good receivers that came in, and our quarter- o
back (Zack Threadgill) is going to be very good this 5
year.”                                               c
And after suffering through a poor 3-8 campaign §
a year ago, Kretschmer would be happy to trade in 5
some of his yards for more victories.               1
“I wouldn’t have bet a million dollars I would have
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Team         Pts.
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7. SMU...................92
8. San Jose St........57
9. UTEP..................57
10. Tulsa...................43
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