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| | Sunday, August 13 Older Owls need to wise up to rise up | |||||
| By Stephen Tsai Special to ESPN.com Rice Owls 1999 record: 5-6 (4-3 WAC) Coach: Ken Hatfield Starters returning: 14 (5 offense, 9 defense) Outlook Four years ago, Rice began the aging process in which it attempted to redshirt most of its freshman recruits. The result is there will be five fifth-year seniors this season and 15 next year. It is hoped the experience will compensate for the lack of blue-chip recruits that has eluded this Houston private school for decades. Still, some things remain constant, and the Owls again are pledging their allegiance to a three-back, triple-option offense. The offfense has halfbacks becoming wideouts, and receivers lining up in the slot. Jeremy Hurd, a redshirt freshman, takes over at quarterback. He will be running the same offensive schemes he orchestrated for three years at Duncanville (Texas) High. One key to the Owls is fullback Jamie Tyler, whose dive runs are the offense's first option. Tyler played on two Texas state championship teams in high school. The master key, however, is speed. Eight Owls, including Hurd, can run 40 yards in under 4.5 seconds. On defense, the Owls use a 4-3 alignment that also can assume several looks. Linebacker Dan Dawson can drop back into coverage to serve as a third safety or safety Travis Ortega can move up to become the eighth defender in the tackle box. Keep an eye on ... Ortega, a chinstrap-loosening hitter who averages nearly one knockout tackle a game. Ortega is the grandson of famed college football coach Dana X. Bible. It's a good season if... The Owls, who have not been to a bowl game since 1961, don't fade down the stretch. Each season since joining the WAC in 1996, the Owls have fallen one game short of a bowl berth. |
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