The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 2, 1971 Page: 7 of 14
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Unrealistic schedule makes grim 7977 football outlook
15
by MARTY BELASCO
For the first time since 1939,
the Rice head-coaching position
will be filled by someone other
than Jess Neely or a Neely-
protege. Unfortunately, Old
Jess did manage to stay around
long enough to give his succes-
sors plenty to worry about,
specifically a killer schedule
which this year awaits new Rice
Head Coach Bill Peterson. And
just in case taking on teams like
USC, Tulane, LSU, Texas, and
Arkansas isn't enough, Peter-
son went and added perennially-
tough University of Houston to
the Owls' 1971 schedule. Where's
VMI when we need them?
Peterson, who in December
succeeded Bo Hagan in the dual
post of Athletic Director and
Head Coach, brings a fresh,
new look to the slumping Owl
football fortunes. Basically an
advocate of a wide-open, pro-
type offense, Peterson should at
least create some excitement
for the fans at Rice Stadium,
who have become all too ac-
customed to the "two yards and
a cloud of Astroturf" offense
of recent Owl teams.
The success of Peterson's
football philosophy is borne out
by his recoi'd at Florida State
University, where he served as
Head Coach for eleven years.
His teams compiled a 62-42-11
record during that span, in-
cludijrg four bowl appearances.
His teams consistently ranked
among the top in passing of-
fense. At FSU he coached such
outstanding college (and later
pro) stars as Fred Biletnikoff,
Ron Sellers, Kim Hammond,
and Bill Cappleman.
Of course, to operate a suc-
cessful pro-style offense, one
must have outstanding person-
nel especially at the quarter-
hack and wide-receiver spots.
Peterson readily admits that his
offense is dependent upon two
or three "superstars." Unfor-
tunately, players of such calibre
are surely lacking on this year's
Owl squad. Peterson has in-
herited a team abundant in
running backs and receivers,
but one that noticeably lacks
proven college passing quar-
terback talent. During spring
practice, Peterson combed
through the Owl squad looking
for a starting quarterback.
Nine prospects were tried at
that post before Bruce Gadd, a
junior and part-time 1970 start-
er, was named to head up the
offense. Senior Philip Wood, an
excellent running QB but a
somewhat erratic passer, will
back up Gadd. Although these
two combined to complete less
than 38% of their passing at-
temps in 1970, Peterson is
pleased with their progress this
year. At best, however, Rice's
passing game looks below av-
erage, and Peterson may, out
of necessity, have to rely more
on the running game than he
wishes.
Owl running backs, having
had much practice during the
past several seasons, are one of
the few bright spots on this
year's squad. Stahle Vincent at
tailback gives the Owls a great
outside threat. Tom Clanton, a
converted flanker, backs up
Vincent. Mike Phillips, who
moves from tight end to full-
back, is an excellent blocker
and a better-than-average run-
ner. He is backed by Kim Ma-
lone. Depth is no problem here
as Mike Spruill, Joe Phy, Cliff
Crabtree, Marc McDaniel, and
David Simpson could all see
game action.
Potentially, the Owls are
well-stocked in receivers. Soph-
omore Edwin Collins, a quarter-
back on last year's freshman
team, shows great promise as
Rice's starting split end. Lai'ry
•Caldwell, Bob Brown, and Ron
Arceneaux can see action at
either flanker or split end. Joe
Buck and sophomore Bubba
Berg have looked outstanding at
times in practice and could be
starters should some of the
others fail. If Gadd or Wood
can come through better than
expected, Peterson may be able
to go with his aerial offense
after all.
In order for the passing or
running games to succeed, the
Owls must show vast improve-
ment in the offensive line.
Depth is a big problem here,
and to partially alleviate this
problem Peterson has moved '70
defensive performers Randy
Lee, John Paul Hershey, and
Wright Moody into the offen-
sive trenches, and all are ex-
notes and notices
Space City! — Houston's un-
derground paper — now week-
ly — comes out every Tuesday
evening and can be purchased
from the Rice Memorial Cen-
ter rack for 2Fx':. Space City!
also needs vendors to sell the
paper. Vendors buy the paper
for 10$ a copy, and sell it for
25$. For more information, call
Space City! at 52G-G257.
* * *
Social — The Rice Program
Council Social Committee will
interview prospective commit-
tee members Tuesday, Sept. 7
and Wednesday, Sept. 8. If in-
terested, call Gail Goodrich at
(567-5217, or Jacquelyn Keller
at Ext. 388.
* * *
Free — The Hanzen Coffee
House will be open 8 pm Thurs-
day, and every night thereafter
with occasional weekend enter-
tainment (for which there will
be a nominal cover). As a
special introductory offer, free
popcorn Thursday night. Avail-
able also: Soft Drinks, Munch-
ies, Tea and Coffee.
* * *
KTRU — Thursday, 7 pm Bio
131 — Meeting for everyone In-
terested in working with KTRU
this year.
* * *
Symphony — Conductor - com-
p*""
poser - arranger Percy Faith
will conduct the Houston Sym-
phony in a pre-season concei't
Saturday at 8:30 p.m. in Jones
Hall. Music will include Gersh-
win tunes, folk songs, film
melodies, Broadway hits, and
south - of - the - border num-
bers. Tickets for the concert,
which launches the second sea-
son of pop concerts sponsored
by Foley's department stores,
are available at the Jones Hall
box office and at all Foley's
stores.
* * *
Jenkins — The Houston Mu-
seum of Fine Arts will display
the first American retrospec-
tive of painter Paul Jenkins in
an exhibition opening Oct. 12.
Thirty-seven canvases in oil
and acrylic comprise the dis-
play.
To achieve his colorful style,
Jenkins pours liquid color on
large canvases and spreads the
paint with ivory knives. His
work has appeared in displays
in the U. S., Europe, and Asia
ever since his first one-man
show in 1953.
* * #
NOW — The National Organi-
zation of Women, Houston area
chapter, meets the first Wednes-
day of each month at 7:30 p.m.
(Continued on page 14)
pected to start. Ron Waedemon,
coming off a serious knee in-
jury, is being heavily counted
on at right tackle. Sammy
Johnson, Bart Goforth, Tobin
Haynes, Dan Calton, Tommy
Godard, and sophs Chuck Or-
wig and Robert Jonischkies are
the remaining interior linemen.
Gary Butler and Tracy Terry
give the Owls two good tight
ends. The offensive line, how-
ever, remains a big question
mark. Lack of experience and
depth along with many posi-
tion changes could spell trouble
for the Owls.
Defense, the strong point of
the 1970 Birds (if there was
one), appears weaker than
usual. This is particularly true
in the line, where only one
starter, Ed Erwin, returns
(and he is questionable due to
a knee injury). Larry Walling,
a converted linebacker, and
John Kelly, a former quarter-
back, are slated for duty at de-
fensive ends. Randy Alford
should start at left tackle if
Erwin can't come back, and
soph Larry Medford appears to
be the number one right tackle.
Dwayne Young, Bill Shadrach,
Bryan Davenport, and Steve
Pruitt are the reserves.
Linebacking is no problem as
the Owls will start a solid trio
in Roy Barnes, Dale Grounds,
and LaRay Breshers. Barnes,
1969 SWC Defensive Sophomore
of the Year, is coming off of a
year lay-off, but is in great
shape and could very well be
the Owls' prime all-SWC can-
didate. Both Grounds and
Breshers are experienced start-
ers. Wade Bode, Hap Feuer-
bacher, Richard Hollas, and
David Vandiver give the Owls
sufficient depth.
The defensive backfield,
which led the SWC in pass de-
fense last year, has been hurt
by graduation. Only Mike Tyler
at right cornerback is a proven
outstanding performer. Bill La-
tourette and Gilbert King will
vie for the other cornerback
spot. Rookies Carl Swierc,
Bruce Henley, Preston Ander-
son, and Steve Ogletree will
battle for the starting safety
and "monster man" positions.
The kicking game appears
set with Mark Williams doing
the punting and Williams and
sophomore Alan Pringle shar-
ing the place-kicking chores.
Overall, Coach Peterson and
his staff will have their work
cut out for them. The 1971 Owl
squad lacks the size and depth
needed to withstand the de-
manding 11-game schedule.
Weaknesses at quarterback, in
the offensive line, in the defen-
sive line, and in the defensive
backfield should relegate the
Owls to an also-ran spot in the
SWC race.
The Thresher Sports Staff
forecasts, at best, a .'5-8 sea-
son for the Birds with a 2-'.)
mark completely within range.
We just hope it won't be too
embarrassing.
Don't get the
wrong impression.
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the rice thresher, September 2, 1971—page 7
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Freed, DeBow. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 59, No. 1, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 2, 1971, newspaper, September 2, 1971; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth245108/m1/7/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.