The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, September 3, 1999 Page: 10 of 20
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10
THE RICE THRESHER SPORTS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3,1999
Coming close not an option for confident Owls
Rice expects to reverse trend of losing by slimmest of margins
by Jose Luis Cubria
THRESHER EDITORIAL STAFF
So close, yet so frustratingly far.
For the 1998 Rice football team, the saying
was as real as it is cliched. The Owls finished the
year at a disappointing, and deceiving, 5-6. But
aside from a 59-21 thrashing at the hands of the
University of Texas, Rice was just one or two
plays away from turning every loss into a win.
That reality became even more painful
during the Owls' season finale. The Air Force
Academy returned a fourth-quarter intercep-
tion for a touchdown, turning a two-point Rice
lead into a six-point deficit.
Had Rice avoided that one play and held on
to win the game, the Owls would have clinched
a berth in the Western Athletic Conference
Championship game and possibly reached
the school's first bowl berth since 1961.
Instead, they were left to spend the spring
and summer agonizing over what could have
been and what, in their minds, should have
been.
'Next year, we'// be on the
other side, where other teams
are saying they lost to us by
one or two plays.'
— Anthony Griffin
Junior running back
"It came down to one play," Head Coach
Ken Hatfield said. "Our whole season was that
way. We made one bad play that let them back
in there. It was just that kind of year."
But by all accounts, losing five games by an
average of just six points served as a learning
experience. This year's Owls firmly believe
they now know what it takes to make those
two or three game-deciding plays.
"Because of what happened last year, we're
more aware this year of what we need to do,"
senior defensive tackle Judd Smith said. "Now
we know that any one play can be the game-
decider. Each play is the most important play
of the game and we need to take advantage of
the breaks we get."
"Our team motto is 'Finish the task,'" junior
running back Anthony Griffin said. "Last year
we fell short a few times. But I've noticed this
year that everybody is positive and confident,
and with that attitude, I know well finish the
task. And next year, we'll be on the other side,
where other teams are saying they lost to us
by one or two plays."
If Rice is able to reverse the trend, the school's
first-ever WAC Championship could be well
within reach. The Owls believe that they have a
team very capable of reaching that goal.
"The goal is to win the WAC and go to a
bowl," Smith said. "This team is as good as any
I've played with, and we can accomplish that."
Some players, like senior quarterback Chad
Richardson went a step further than Smith,
saying a conference title is the only goal on
their minds.
"Our goal is a WAC championship. Period.
That's it," Richardson said. "Anything less and
I'll be really disappointed. There's nothing
else that matters."
Rice's first opportunity to prove it can be as
good as advertised comes in tomorrow night's
season opener at the University of Houston.
The game marks the renewal of the cross-
town rivalry that has been dormant since the
demise of the Southwest Conference in 1995.
In addition to city bragging rights, the win-
ner of tomorrow's game will take home the
famed Bayou Bucket. The teams will open their
football seasons against each other until at
least 2002 in a series that both schools hope will
blossom into a true college football rivalry.
'The thing I'm most enthused about is
playing [UH] as the opening game of the
season for the next [few] years," Hatfield said.
"I think this is great for the Houston commu-
nity and for everybody coming together for
Division IA football. We both have so many
Houston area players on our teams, it's just a
natural for fans and friends.
"There's a little bit more on the line than
just another non-conference game. It will al-
ways be an exciting way to start the season."
The Cougars finished just 3-8 last season,
including a 2-4 mark in Conference USA. But
the Owls know there's more to a team than its
record, and UH should be no different.
"We'll both learn a lot from the game, and
then we'll both be able to improve before we
get into our conference seasons," Hatfield
said. "It's got all the markings of an excellent
game. I just hope we're ready to play our best."
CARTER BROOKING/THRESHER
Senior quarterback Chad Richardson, who will once again be at the helm of Rice's nearly unstoppable
triple-option offense, hopes to lead the Owls to their first-ever WAC Championship.
Football '99 A glance at tomorrow's lineup
Offense
Leroy Bradley So. LHB
Great speed, quickness
make him a dangerous
big-play threat.
Chad Richardson Sr. QB *
Excellent leader; has
mastered ins and outs of
complicated triple option.
Jamie Tyler So. FB *
WAC 1998 Mountain
Division Freshman of
the Year; still getting
better.
Mike Gingrich Sr. RHB
Converted receiver with
good speed; filling in for
injured starter Anthony
Griffin.
Evan Meeks So. SE
Named Most Improved
Offensive Player during
spring drills.
Rod Beavan Jr. LT*
Solid lineman; freshman all-,
American two years ago.
Neal Gray Sr. LG*
Three-year starter who
anchors stellar offensive line.
Matt Baldwin Sr. C
Top sub last year; ex pected
to fit right in as starter.
Heath Fowler So. RG
Has unenviable task of
replacing all-American
Charles Torello.
Aaron Sandoval Jr. RT*
Good combination of
strength and quickness.
Shan Jackson Sr. TE*
Converted lineman needed
more for blocking tHan
pass-catching.
Adrian Sadler Jr. RCB*
Excellent cover man
expected to lead
experienced secondary.
Dan Dawson So. OLB*
Developing star who led
1998 team in tackles with
81.
Jarrett Erwin Jr. DE
Converted linebacker;
named'l998-'99 NCAA
Sportsman of the Year.
B.J. Forguson So. NG
1998 Team Freshman
of the Year; expected
to be an impact player.
Judd Smith Sr. DT*
Tough competitor;
defensive leaderwill be
a top honors candidate.
Jake Jackson Jr. DE
1997 Team Freshman
of the Year; key man at
rush DE position.
Defense
Jason Hebert So. FS
Talented player who could
also step in as a punt-return
specialist.
Joe Bob Thompson So. ILB
Emerging player who climbed
up depth chart with hard work,
intelligence.
Travis Ortega Jr. SS*
Two-year starter who led
secondary with78tackles;
knowrf for highlight-reel
tackles.
Rashard Pittman So. ILB
Hard-nosed player who
makes up for lack of size
with toughness.
Josh McMillan Jr. LCB <
Excellent quickness; mu|^
replace all-WAC performer
LaDouphyous McCalla.
♦Denotes returning starter
ILLUSTRATIONS BY DAVID CHIEN
TEXT BY JOS* LUIS CUBRfA
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McAlister, Jett & Tam, Mariel. The Rice Thresher (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 87, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, September 3, 1999, newspaper, September 3, 1999; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth246653/m1/10/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.