Signing Day Haul Shows Incredible Potential
The enthusiasm in Coach David Bailiff's voice was readily apparent as he sang the praises of the newest 16 members of the Rice Owls football team, as well as when naming new members of the Owls coaching staff. An old and a new face, in addition to David Beaty and John Reagan, who will serve as offensive coordinator and run game coordinator respectively, will join the Owls coaching staff. Chase Clement, whose passing exploits at Rice Stadium have hardly faded from Owls' fans memories, will join the staff as an offensive graduate assistant working with the quarterbacks, while former NFL Pro Bowler David Sloan will also join the Owls as a graduate assistant.
However, the new recruiting class was the cause for ceremony today, as Bailiff commented upon his staff fulfilling their task of recruiting individuals that will contribute not only on the gridiron, but also in the lecture halls as well.
“Some of them can help us next season. Each year we complete our mission of recruiting young men that will win championships and graduate.”
All 15 recruits are from the Lone Star State, and seven are from the Houston area, once again highlighting the benefits of a having a head coach with excellent ties to high school coaches all across the state. Three defensive backs, two defensive linemen, two linebackers, three offensive linemen, a running back, two wide receivers, a tight end, and two athletes, one of which will get a shot at playing quarterback
The smallest player (but the most highly touted as well) on the list of new Rice Owls is Bryce Callahan, a 5-10, 170 pound defensive back from Cypress Woods High School in nearby Cypress. Callahan was named to the First Team 5A All-State team by the Associated Press, and has two all-district selections to his credit as well. In addition to an eye-popping 136 tackles and 8 interceptions as a senior, he also scored two offensive touchdowns, and averaged over 25 yards on punt returns, thus proving to be a viable candidate to replace senior Andrew Sendejo at punt returner. Callahan was also named Honorable Mention Academic All State.
Gabe Baker, a 6-2 200 pound safety from MacArthur High in San Antonio, was unanimously named to All District 26-5A team as a senior, posting 89 tackles and one interception. Baker also was an officer in the school's chapter of the National Honor Society and a Second Team Academic All State selection.
Nico Carlson, a 6-3 270 pound defensive tackle from Katy Taylor High in Katy, joins fellow Katy resident and Rice defensive tackle, sophomore John Gioffre, as the other state wrestling champion on the Owls squad. He was a unanimous All District 17-5A selection, collecting 54 tackles and two forced fumbles as a senior
Drew Carroll brings the experience of a state champion to South Main, as the 6-4 280 pound offensive lineman from Abilene High School was a captain on the Eagles as they took the 2009 5A Division II Championship. He also is Second Team Academic All State and a member of the National Honor Society.
Jeremy Eddington played quarterback for Chisum High in Paris, but his 1,650 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns as a senior have Bailiff convinced that he will be featured as a running back in the fall. Eddington was named District 12-2A MVP, also being named to the All Red River Valley as a 6-2, 215 pound defensive end. Was a class officer his first two years of high school in addition to lettering in track and basketball.
Andy Erickson brings winning experience as well, starring on three Lake Travis High School state champion teams as a wide receiver, scoring an incredible 41 touchdowns as a senior to go along with 2,730 all purpose yards. He was named to Dave Campbell's Texas Football's 2009 All Texas High School Team and was Central Texas Player of the Year.
Erickson's teammate, Trevor Gillette, was a late afternoon addition to the Owls' class, ranked as the number two deep snapper in the nation, while starring as a 6-3 215 pound tight end. Gillette waited until just after 5 PM to fax his Letter of Intent in to the Owls' staff.
The behemoth of the recruiting class is Ian Gray, a 6-8, 325 pound offensive lineman from Pearland High School. Named to the Academic All District Team, Gray also plays basketball (currently averaging 11 points and 15 rebounds) and track for the Oilers, named to the Houston Chronicle's Houston 100. Gray would be the largest player on both the University of Texas and the University of Alabama, the two teams that played for the 2009 national championship. Bailiff talked about getting a player of Gray's size.
“He’s down to 325 from running the basketball court. I think Ian’s upside is absolutely tremendous. He can sit in the middle of a Suburban and open both doors at the same time, that's how long his arms are.”
Mario Hull, a former teammate of current Owl QB Taylor Cook at Rice Consolidated High School, caught 11 touchdown passes as a senior to go with 1,077 receiving yards. Hull also lettered in basketball, baseball, track, and golf.
Fred Jackson, a 5-11, 188 pound defensive back from Eisenhower High in Houston was named to the All District 19-5A squad, and served as team captain while being named the 53rd best safety in the nation by Rivals.com Jackson also shines in the classroom as well, finishing in the top 5% of his class, while being named Second Team Academic All State.
Dylan Klare played linebacker at Refugio High in Refugio, but Coach Bailiff will put his 6-3, 250 pound frame to use at defensive end. Named by Dave Campbell's Texas Football as one of the top 20 defensive linemen in Texas, Klare was a two-time Honorable Mention All State Team member, in addition to his District MVP award as a junior, along with a defensive MVP as a senior, and a state powerlifting championship as a junior. Klare also brings excellent leadership qualities, serving as the Bobcats' team captain for three years. In addition to his athletic prowess, Klare brings an impressive academic resume to Rice, as he will graduate as the class valedictorian, along with serving as a member of his school's computer science team that finished second at the state competition. He joins fellow defensive linemen, freshman Alex Lowry, as the two state power lifting champs on the roster
Cameron Nwosu is a 5-10, 223 pound linebacker from Klein Forest High school in Klein. Breaking three helmets in games his senior season, Nwosu is a fierce tackler, tallying 113 his senior year and 306 in his three seasons. He was named Defensive Player of the Year and MVP of District 13-5A as well.
Zach Patt was what Coach Bailiff called "a piece of the puzzle". The 6-2, 212 pound athlete served as Honey Grove High School's running back for three years, and was a All District 11-2A selection all four years of high school. Patt also was Academic All District.
James Radcliffe comes from nearby Cinco Ranch High School in Katy. He was Defensive MVP as a junior and a two-time All District 17-5A selection, in addition to being first on career and single-season tackles in Cinco Ranch history. Radcliffe is also a three-time member of the All-District Academic team.
Jordan Taylor is a 6-5 200 pound quarterback/athlete from Denison High School, who was named as 4A Region II Player of the Year, ranking as one of the top 20 athletes in the state by Dave Campbell's Texas Football. As a senior, he passed for 3,766 yards, 40 touchdowns, while running for 39 touchdowns and 2,500 yards during his high school career. He also plays baseball and runs track, along with being an Academic All State selection.
Justin Warren rounds out the class as a 6-4, 250 pound offensive lineman from Roosevelt High in San Antonio, who was named to the All-District 26-5A squad, along with being a Second Team Academic All State selection.
Football Final Grades
With the Owls finishing up the 2009 campaign two weeks ago, it's time to look back at how the individual units on the football team graded out for the entire year.
Running Backs: The running backs finished out the year by reminding people of great Rice running backs of yesteryear. Freshman Charles Ross did his best impression of 1991 Doak Walker Award winner Trevor Cobb, by becoming the first freshman since Cobb to lead the team in rushing. Ross finished with 491 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and was named to the All-CUSA Freshmen squad. Sophomore Tyler Smith helped remind people of his brother, Quinton Smith, Jr. (the second leading career rusher in Rice history), by rushing for 428 yards and 1 touchdown in 8 games after missing games early in the season with turf toe. With both of these players having two or more years of eligibility remaining, along with the addition of redshirt freshman Sam McGuffie next season, the Owls backfield should be one of the offense’s strong suits next year. Grade: B-
Wide Receivers: Quarterback Nick Fanuzzi was somewhat able to develop a rapport on the gridiron with seniors Toren Dixon and Taylor Wardlow, as well as junior Patrick Randolph. Dixon’s four combined touchdowns against SMU and Tulane allowed him to finish his career on a high note, finishing third on Rice’s career receptions list. Randolph finished the season nicely with 136 yards and 2 touchdowns in the last 5 games, while Wardlow had a lackluster second half (97 yards). Grade: C-
Quarterbacks: Sophomore Nick Fanuzzi shined in his last five games, throwing for seven touchdowns and only four interceptions, while gaining confidence in performances such as his 250 yard and three touchdown effort against SMU. However, Fanuzzi, touted in high school as a dual-threat quarterback, has shown little mobility, which can only partially be attributed to a young offensive line. His awareness in the pocket, as well as his ability to make accurate throws under duress is something that should be addressed in the spring. Grade: C
Offensive Line: Even with the offensive line in constant flux due to injuries, this group managed to show some progress during the latter half of the season. Junior left tackle Scott Mitchell showed his versatility, playing both tackle positions when necessary, and was rewarded with second-team All-CUSA honors. Sophomore right guard Jake Hicks was a member of the All-CUSA honorable mention squad, but maturation will be expected next year from a group that allowed 30 sacks this year. Grade: C+
Defensive Line: With senior defensive tackle Chance Talbert limited to six games due to nagging back spasms, sophomore Mike Smith took over starting duties, finishing with 24 tackles. Junior defensive end Scott Solomon was named to the All-CUSA second team for his 63 tackle performance coupled with 6.5 sacks. His partner in crime at defensive end, junior Cheta Ozougwu, contributed 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks as well. Overall, the line did a satisfactory job of making the most of the talent that it had. Grade: B
Linebackers: While the linebacker corps experienced inconsistencies in their starting lineup, the 10 games started by senior Terrance Garmon (55 tackles, 2 sacks) allowed for a measure of certainty in a unit that was decimated by injuries the first half of the season. Junior Justin Hill had an excellent first season at linebacker (43 tackles, 1 sack) after moving from running back in the fall. Still, the linebackers allowed too many opposing running backs to work their way into the secondary, and were largely ineffective at defending the passing game. Grade: B-
Secondary: Despite sophomore strong safety Travis Bradshaw leading the nation in solo tackles with 121, the secondary experienced too many problems, ranking 115th nationally, causing sophomore cornerbacks Chris Jammer and Jarrett Ben to be replaced in the starting lineup by true freshmen Kevin Gaddis (an all-CUSA freshman team selection) and Phillip Gaines. Senior free safety Andrew Sendejo’s final round as an Owl was curtailed by a high ankle sprain, leaving him in a tie for second on Rice’s career tackles list. Grade: C+
Special Teams: Really the only unit that regressed during the latter half of the season. Senior placekicker Clark Fangmeier made only three of seven field goals during his last five games as an Owl, finishing eight for thirteen on the season. Sophomore punter Kyle Martens continued his breakthrough season before missing the final two games with an injury. Sophomore Shane Turner gave the Owls a reliable kick returner, averaging 23.8 yards per return. Grade: B+
Coaching: The Owls certainly looked like a different team in the final five games, as they were competitive in the three of the games. However, the debacle against the University of Houston was completely inexcusable. Despite the fact that Houston was a top 25 team for the majority of the season, there is no justification for losing that game by a score of 73-14, in which the Cougars could have reached the century mark if they so desired. The coaching staff’s preparation markedly improved in the second half, but David Bailiff’s decision to stick with his guns and keep everyone on the coaching staff will only make a stellar record in the 2010 season that much more of a necessity. Grade: D+
The End of the BCS Mess?
Instead of more discussion of our poor 2-10 football team—which I’m sure would be just as happy to move on and pretend this season didn’t happen—let’s talk about some big guns in D-1 college football. Which is, oh wait, the only major NCAA sport not decided by a playoff system.
After the major Florida-Alabama game last weekend, the BCS people got their wish: There were two undefeated teams, ranked No. 1 and No. 2, from major conferences. Hurrah for them! I guess it is just too bad, then, for Cincinnati, Texas Christian, and Boise State, all of which are also undefeated. We mostly get to hear the grousing of purple-clad Horned Frogs fans of TCU (which, by the way, holds one of my awards for best college T-shirt: "We do it froggy-style"). But surely people from Cincinnati and Boise State, which by the way is 38-1 over the past three years, are also rightfully upset.
Maybe in a couple of years all this controversy will be behind us, for on Wednesday the Energy and Commerce Committee in the House of Representatives passed H.R. 390, the College Football Playoffs Act. This act would, in effect, “prohibit, as an unfair and deceptive act or practice, the promotion, marketing, and advertising of any post-season NCAA Division I football game as a national championship game unless such game is the culmination of a fair and equitable playoff system.”
Sure, some protest that it is not the job of Congress to mess with college football, but as bill co-sponsor Illinois Democrat Bobby Rush says, “We can walk across the street and chew gum at the same time. We can do a number of things at the same time.” After all, according to the bill, “the competitions involve and affect interstate commerce and are therefore within Congress’s constitutional authority to regulate.”
No one can deny that there’s big money at stake, and the division of it isn't quite fair. In January 2008, the estimated economic impact on the cities that hosted the 5 big bowls was $12 billion. And in 2008-2009, the six big conferences (ACC, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pac-10, SEC) received $18.3 million each. What about the non-automatic qualifying conferences (Conference USA, Mid-American Conference, Mountain West, Sun Belt Conference, and WAC)? They shared $18.3 million, which is double what the amount would have been if Utah had not played in the Sugar Bowl.
This bill has a long road ahead of it in the Senate—although President Obama has said publicly several times he is in favor of a playoff system—and wouldn’t take into effect until January 31, 2011 according to the current bill. So we might as well look forward to the fun games in our flawed system and appreciate it before it’s gone.
Dec. 28 Independence Bowl: A&M v. Georgia, ESPN2
Dec. 31 Armed Forces Bowl: Houston v. Air Force, ESPN
Dec. 31 Texas Bowl: Rice Missouri v. Navy, ESPN
Jan. 1 Rose Bowl: Ohio State v. Oregon, ABC
Jan. 1 Sugar Bowl: Florida v. Cincinnati, FOX
Jan. 4 Fiesta Bowl (aka the National Championship for Small Conferences): TCU v. Boise State, FOX
Jan. 5 Orange Bowl: Iowa v. Georgia Tech, FOX
Jan. 7 National Championship: Texas v. Alabama, ABC
(Go Horns.)
The Glass is Half-Full
The Owls lost their fifth straight game last Saturday against the University of Tulsa to drop their record 0-5. Thus, it would be easy for me to craft a blog post about everything on the team that’s upsetting me (the offensive line, a combined QB rating of 54 over the past two games, Nick Fanuzzi’s shoulder, etc.), but I’m a glass-half-full kind of person and therefore would rather write about a few things that are going well.
THE TALL TARGET
Wardlow, who played behind current Houston Texan James Casey last year, is doing well as a starter and notched a team-high 51 yards on three carries against the Golden Hurricane. He brought in the only touchdown of the day with a 29-yard reception from Ryan Lewis in the second quarter.
“Taylor’s invested a lot of years this program, a lot of years in that weight room, and it’s paying off now. He’s a big, tall target for us,” coach David Bailiff said of the 6-foot-6 tight end. He’s currently second on the team with 159 total yards.
POSSESSIONS & PENALTIES
Against Vanderbilt, the Owls tossed four interceptions but lowered that number in the Tulsa game to one, which came on the fourth quarter during the last drive. (Rice also hasn't lost a fumble since playing Oklahoma State.) In their last two games at home, the Owls have accumulated nine penalties, compared to 15 by their opponents.
KICK BACK AND RELAX
...when punter Kyle Martens is on the field, anyway. Bailiff succinctly put it best: "Kyle Martens had another fabulous game."
Martens may be getting too much practice, but at least it's doing him good. He's averaging 48.5 yards per punt over the last two games, which includes 450 total punting yards last week against Tulsa. His overall season average--46.5 yards--is good enough for 11th in college football, though he's fifth among those with at least 15 punts (Martens has 30). He also ranks fifth in total punting yards with 1395.
So let those positives and the following encouraging words by Bailiff keep your spirits up until Rice plays Navy at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday:
"I can tell you the players still believe in themselves and believe in what we’re doing. They have a tremendous attitude. There’s no give up in them, it’s nothing but fight. I think going in to that game, as we do every game, we expect great things to happen. We expect to win, it hasn’t happened. We’re not going to change our mentality or our attitude or let our expectations drop."
Rice-Vandebilt: A Student’s Perspective
For the first home football game of the year, this one wasn't too bad. Sure it wasn't as fun as last year's, but how can you top a prime time ESPN game in which the Owls beat up on a conference rival? Even though Rice was coming into this game with an 0-3 record and had a pretty good chance of leaving it 0-4, we painted ourselves up again and trekked to Rice Stadium. (I was the C in Rice last year and the O in Owls on Saturday, if you were wondering.) It was a bummer there was no official student tailgate because of Families' Weekend, but regardless I was impressed with the number of students in the student section. And the official attendance figure was near 20,000, which would look quite impressive if the Owls played in an appropriately-sized stadium.
As a reporter who has been covering the team all season, I am familiar with what's going on and knew the prospects going into the game. Therefore, it was fun to stand and cheer with people who didn't know so much. For instance, I explained more than once that Nick Fanuzzi was hurt and David Bailiff wasn't just switching between John Thomas Shepherd and Ryan Lewis for fun. However, my excuses were not taken well when I was standing near a Miami fan who extolled the virtues of Taylor Cook as Shepherd and Lewis went a combined 12-32 with four interceptions.
Now the defense is another story: it was great to watch them keep up with an SEC team in the first half. They were playing with passion and hitting with force. That combined with the skills of freshman Charles Ross led to an exciting halftime score of 10-10. But unfortunately, after watching and not understanding another MOB performance (something about Vanderbilt's version of NOD? I wasn't paying enough attention), the second half had to be played.
The defense started off well, but the offense wasn't spending enough time on the field and naturally, the defense quickly wore down in the hot, muggy temperatures. Can you blame them? The offense only converted three times on third down—and all of those came in the first half. They're young, I get that. They are having injury problems, I get that. (Having a QB, 2 RBs, and a lineman plus his backup out is not a winning formula.) The main thing I—and the other students, from the pleading I've heard—want to see is improvement. Let Fanuzzi play so he can duke it out with Cook next year, and let Ross develop.
We are all resigned to the fact that it's a rebuilding year combined with a tough opening schedule. We can see that the pieces are in place, but everything's not quite fitting together yet. It's not easy for anyone, including the students who are still riding high after last year's miracle. But we will still be out at the games and we will still support our Rice Owls. And I have extra body paint, so if you want to be a letter I can hook you up.
Fanuzzi questionable for Vanderbilt
In a conversation with Coach Bailiff this morning, the head honcho said sophomore quarterback, who displayed impressive gamesmanship last week against Oklahoma State, was questionable for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. The sophomore's shoulder, which MK reports is "a grade-1 separation," was injured during a hit against the Pokies.
If Fanuzzi can't go during his team's first home game, fifth-year John Thomas Shepherd will now have started three of the four contests. Certainly not the way the season, a measure of bumps and bruises, was expected to go. (Though you can't help but feel a slight pride in Shepherd, the long-time back-up, finally getting his time in the sun, eh?)