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| | Monday, September 6 | |||||
| 1998 Record: 5-6 (5-3) | 1998 statistics | 1999 schedule Head coach: Ken Hatfield Returning starters: 13 (offense 6, defense 5) Outlook The Owls have been contenders in each of their three seasons in the Western Athletic Conference, only to fall short after suffering November road defeats. The close-but-yet-so-far feeling has been frustrating, but it has also served to demonstrate that coach Ken Hatfield's team is but a few plays away from reaching the goal of a conference title and a bowl game. A big part of late-season struggle has been a lack of depth. That's been addressed this year with the return of 13 starters, 42 letter-winners and a standout recruiting class. A stacked non-conference slate and a four-game home schedule will present additional challenges, however. Rice will face three teams (Texas, Michigan, TCU) which won bowl games last year, and must open the season against crosstown rival Houston, in the return of the Battle of the Bayou Bucket. If it can hold serve at home -- where it has been 11-1 since joining the WAC -- it should again find itself in the thick of things in the season's final weeks. OffenseQuarterback Chad Richardson sits atop the list of six starters back on campus. The senior led the Owls to three straight wins after stepping in for Jeremy Bates, who suffered a severe knee injury. Richardson has a decent arm, but he made most of his yards on the ground in the Owls' spread-option attack. He finished the year as the team's second-leading rusher (746 yards) and his presence helped the team finish the year with 2,829 yards, third-best in school history. He'll team with Anthony Griffin in the backfield. Griffin is the team's most experienced back, rushing for 447 yards last year in a reserve role. Leroy Bradley finished the spring as the other starter. Don't overlook fullback Jamie Tyler (6-0, 195) as merely a blocker, though. Last season he was second on the team in rushing and led in touchdowns with eight. Three starters are back on the line, with a fourth member boasting starting experience in '98. Senior Neal Gray (6-3, 275) and junior Rod Beavan are proven performers at left guard and left tackle, respectively. Gray was a starter in all 11 games last year and was named all-WAC honorable mention. Matt Baldwin (6-2, 275) should be the center and Heath Fowler is set to step in at right end. Aaron Sandoval returns at right tackle, but expect Billy Harvin to push him for playing time. Senior Shan Jackson is a quality blocker at tight end. The receiving corps has little in the way of experience. It will rely upon sophomore Gilbert Okoronkwo (6-3, 180) and Matt Webber, but each missed spring drills with injury. Okoronkwo is a big target and could develop into an excellent downfield blocker. It's a good sign if: Richardson matures in his first full season as a starter.It's a bad sign if: No wideout steps forward to give the offense balance. Defense One of the stronger backfields in the conference will give the Owls stability while working in new players on the front seven. Strong safety Travis Ortega is a veteran of 19 starts and should be an all-conference candidate as a junior. He led the secondary in tackles last year with 78 and one interception a year ago while showing sideline-to-sideline speed. Cornerback Adrian Sadler is the unit's other veteran. Josh McMillan will move into a starter's role in place of the graduated LaDouphyous McCalla. Jason Herbert should fit in well in his first season at free safety. Last year he had 47 tackles in a reserve role, most among Rice second-teamers. One linebacking position is set, with Dan Dawson (6-1, 180) back for his sophomore season. Dawson took over when Larry Ruffin went down with an injury last year and led the team in tackles with 81. He showcased his big-play potential when he picked up a fumble in the UNLV end zone and rambled 100 yards for a Rice TD. Ruffin (5-11, 205) gives the position valuable depth. The two inside positions need to be filled, but the play of Rashard Pittman (5-11, 220) and Wesley Kubesch (6-1, 225) this spring was promising. Kubesch was named the team's most improved player this spring. Judd Smith returns up front for his fourth season as a starter. Last season he earned all-WAC honors after posting 37 tackles. B.J. Forguson is slated to step in at nose guard after an impressive spring. Finding new blood at end is critical. Jake Jackson(6-3, 250) , the team's outstanding freshman in '97, appears ready to step in on one side, with Nick Sabula on the other. It's a good sign if: Jackson can continue the tradition of excellence at the position left by Terrence Melton.It's a bad sign if: Dawson struggles to handle big fullbacks and tight ends. Special Teams All the Owls kickers are back. Derek Crabtree took over field goal duties last year, leaving Scott Grimes to concentrate on kickoffs. Last year Crabtree made all five of his field goal attemps. Each will resume their roles this year. Victor Young will be the punter, but it's expected that freshman Travis Hale will get a good look. -- John Crowley |
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