Rice spring practice snapshots...
Ex-quarterbacks adjust well to moves, Hatfield says

Report card good for
'new kids on the block'

HOUSTON (April 21) – To Rice head coach Ken Hatfield and his assistants, spring practice is a time for fine tuning and slow, steady progress – not for major retooling or wholesale changes. That’s so even when the Owl coaching staff finds itself needing to replace 25 graduating seniors, such as turned out to be the case this year.

It means a lot of new faces will be gracing old, familiar numbers when the Owls take the field next fall. But, what with Rice’s bumper crop of redshirt freshman, the behind- the- scenes work has been being going on for some time on South Main. Coach Hatfield told us he's been fully aware of the kind of replacements needed in recent recruiting aims, and he and his staff are well satfisfied with the way the "new kids on the block" – as he termed them – performed on the field this spring.

"No doubt about it," he said after the last scrimmage of the spring. "I think that the main thing that we have been looking at this spring were a whole bunch of new kids – eithe new to us or new to their positions. And there were some guys out there who have come along and have really done a good job."

"So that was kind of what this last scrimmage was about – to take a look at the 'new kids on the block.' For those guys like Joe Moore, for instance, who’s only been at running back for, like, four days. He hadn’t been there very long. And he performed for us this spring."

"You need to see the scrimmage time; you need to see what they can do when they’re given the scrimmage time. That’s so much of what this spring was all about," he added.

Whole list of Owls get coach's kudos 

Aside from Joe Moore, Coach Hatfield was quick to mention a number of Owls who caught his attention as coming on strong in the final days of spring workouts.

"One guy who did great is Terry Holley, a player who’ve we’ve been counting on to play, and, man, he did. He made the big plays. He had some big licks today in scrimmage."

"Another guy is Brandon Boyd," he added – "a guy we’ve moved around from receiver to defensive back, playing inside linebacker. He’s had a great spring."

"Adam Herrin is another new kid on the block we redshirted. All three of them have played extremely well."

"So many of our other defensive guys have been stalwarts. They’ve been getting better all the time. I’ve been pleased with the leadership on defense, and the way the defense has rallied around and come on and finished really strong. That was a real plus."

Rice coaches gambled a bit this spring, nonetheless, in making several position changes designed to get the Institute’s best athletes on the field at the same time. And Coach Hatfield is pleased as punch with the way those chess moves have worked out, he said.

"Oh yeah, no doubt," he quipped.  "We’ve done what we needed to do, this spring, with the position moves. There’s nobody right now that we’re counting on moving from where we have them, from the position we have them in, right now."

"The last position change was Joe Moore, from quarterback to running back," he noted. "And you see out there today, in the scrimmage, we tried to do a lot of things for him; we made him block some; we made him carry the ball some; he made some mistakes. But we’d rather him learn from the mistakes in the spring -- but we know he’s going to be a great player for us. He can be a great running back. We just need to get that great ability of his on the field."

Spring injury report turns out A-OK 

The spring injury report, he added, despite a few, expected bumps here and there, turned out about as well as one might anticipate. "It looks like, at this time, that everybody who has been injured, has a chance to be completely healed for the fall," he told us. "That’s all you can hope for."

"A lot of time, in spring, you’re worrying about an injury that can have a long rehab time. But at this point in time I think we have a chance for everybody to be well, here real soon. And if they’re well, then that gives them a chance to work out over the summer and be in good shape for the fall."

On the Rice offensive line, the Owls lose two all conference performers among four graduating seniors. That means Institute coaches are going to have some holes to fill ­ but, if this springs results are any indication, they’ve got some good, square pegs to fit the holes.

"We’ve got some good athletes to do it with," Coach Hatfield allowed. "Ben Stevens, of course, has done a good job for us there at center this spring. He started for us some last year."

"Keith Meyer has been a stalwart at the left guard position. Clint Crisp has played the best ball he’s ever played; he’s done great this spring."

"Chris DeMunbrun has just been getting better and better at left tackle -­ and he’s a guy who has to fill some big shoes, and we really need him in there to do a good job."

"And then there’s Greg Wilson, who’s played center and tackle and guard. We’ve left him at tackle, all spring. I thought he showed that he’s just getting better and better." 

Of course that doesn’t even include mention of the eligibility of Mike Holman, a much - anticipated transfer who started on the OL for two years at Stanford. If he’s running behind the others, then the news is good, indeed.

"Overall, I feel good there. We do have some other linemen, who I think can still improve -­ and we need them to do that." 

Hmmm....does one detect a bit of psychology at work there?  Sounds like Coach wants to demonstrate that two years starting on The Farm is no guarantee of red carpet treatment on South Main – it’s got to be earned, first. Fair enough.

Plenty of talent stacks up at receiver

Rice likely has more receiving talent coming back, than it has had in many a year. Coach says he realizes that he and his staff have some guys who can really catch the ball ­- particularly if Jeremy Hurd overcomes his injury and is able to contribute in the fall.

"We think Jeremy will be a natural, there, at receiver," Coach said. "Then, Marcus Battle is probably one of the biggest surprises for us this spring – we really didn’t know how well he’d take to it because he was a quarterback in high school. And he’s been a big play man this spring. I’ve been pleased with him."

Then there’s the one, consistent producer for the Owls at receiver, coming back in better shape than ever. "Gavin Boothe has had just a tremendous spring for us ­ until he sprained his ankle the last week."

"And then the other guy who’s been there for us is Ben Wiggins. Ben’s done a tremendous job for us this spring. This is a guy who’s been on the track team- ­ he can fly. He’s won the hurdles, in a couple of events, and so it’s good to see him out there contributing, as well."

"You know, with those guys, and some others, too – we’ve got a few other new receivers coming in. I think both of our two, big new receivers are, like, 6-2 and 6-4. So I think we’re going to have some big targets for our quarterbacks to throw to next fall."

Overall, in a nutshell, Coach Hatfield concluded, he and his staff were "very pleased with all of our spring, with what we did get accomplished."

Owls end spring drills on high note
Defensive unit leads way in final scrimmage

HOUSTON (April 11) – The Rice Owls ended their 2002 spring football drills with a spirited, 90-minute scrimmage on the Rice Stadium turf here Thursday that left the whole Feathered Flock operation, players and coaches alike, hooting a happy tune on their way back to the locker room.

The Owl defense led the way, having perhaps its best practice of the spring, with fewer mistakes, intense pursuit, and some hard, sure tackling – so much so that the consensus of the Rice coaching staff was to shut things down a few minutes early, convene into position groups for a short pep talk and collective pats on the back, and then send the team to the showers after watching it hit some serious licks in weather that featured humidity and temperature in the upper 80s, a hot and damp segue for August two-a-day workouts.

Officials kept an eye on the play timing but otherwise pretty much let the offensive and defensive units have a wider than usual lattitude, and a number of Owls took advantage of the same in delivering big hits which, one would expect, could be calculated to stick in the minds of their respective position coaches, during the summer break.

As is usual, no score was kept  – just more work in the red zone and midfield, with lots of cheering and egging on from coaches and resting players on the sidelines.

Rice head coach Ken Hatfield singled out the play of Terry Holley as worthy of special mention, after practice. "Terry played great today; he’s a guy who we’ve been counting on to play for us, and, man, he did. He made the big plays. He had some big licks out there today," Coach told the Webletter.

Coach Hatfield said, in fact, that we was pleased with numerous good performances from both kinds of what he termed "new kids on the block" –both redshirt youngsters, and the veterans who’ve been the subject of several position changes made by Rice coaches this spring.

Take Corey Evans, for instance. "Corey played a lot at safety today because John White was out," Coach Hatfield said. "So we wanted Corey to get a lot of it, which he did. And he made the best of it."

On the offensive side, Chris DeMunbrun and Greg Wilson impressed their coaches with solid line play.

The passing game was sans Gavin Boothe who sat out the last drill with a twisted ankle, but the offensive timing, both by line and receivers, appeared to be as good as it had been all spring, while the defense, at last, appeared to achieve the same level of performance and intensity.

All in all, the workout sounded a positive  note upon which to end Rice’s alloted fifteen spring drills, and project expectations for continued success on the field, come fall.

More snapshots from Rice's final spring scrimmage....

B.G., Beej both say
they're raring to go
in leadership role

HOUSTON (April 16) – Rice senior defensive linemen B.J. Forguson and Brandon Green are acknowledged team leaders who, based on the outstanding spring each of them had, are projected to have career seasons, come fall – along with fostering high hopes that at least some of their anticipated heroics will rub off on several, less experienced Owl defenders.

Brandon Green received word last week that he’d been put on the watch list for both the Lombardi Trophy and the Bronco Nagurski awards next fall. Anyway you slice it, that figures him to be among the top three or four dozen defensive linemen in all of college football. And it stands to provide him with just a bit of extra incentive when he takes the field, Brandon told us.

"Sure. It’s a really big honor for me to be named to those lists," he said. "I was really, really proud, really excited to hear about it. It gives me just a little more motivation to go out and have a good season this coming year."

Two men can’t do it all, but nevertheless these particular two, assuming they stay healthy, are expected to provide Rice’s most dominant one-two pass rush at least since N. D. Kalu’s senior year. And the work of both of them, this spring, sort of in the form of "Mr. Hit’em-High" and "Mr. Hit-em Low," gave the somewhat green Rice offensive line all of the on-the-job training in pass blocking that it could handle.  

But the pass rush won’t help much unless the Rice linebackers and secondary are able to stand their own, as well, in the face of next fall’s pass-happy opponents. So the two old teammates have worked out a game plan to motivate and lend leadership to some of the less experienced Owl defensive men who are being expected to go out and make major contributions in ‘02. 

B.J., who likely would 've been on those same awards watch lists earned by Brandon, had he not had to sit out last season with an injury, says it’s not all that complicated, really.

"It’s simple," he told us. "It’s just up to us to play our tails off. We –Brandon and I – have got to be out there and make as many plays as we can to keep all the other guys excited. That’s the way I see our role. That’s what makes us leaders. Not by talking -­ but by making the plays."

"It’s up to us to lead by example," Brandon chimed in. "If we have fun, and play the way we’re capable, we’ll have some success leading by example."

"I mean, we’ll go out next fall and really  'bring the hat'   to people -- hopefully."

B.G.:  Talented small-school players get overlooked

Both of the Owl old-timers said they were pleased with the progress the Rice defensive unit made during the course of spring drills.

"I was really impressed with the way the defense has been playing as a group, toward the end," B. J. said. "With us two, we’ve also got Nick Sabula coming back, as seniors. And we’ve got Jeremy Callahan coming back, who’s a really strong freshman; he’s really done a great job this spring and he’s shown incredible strength."

"Jeremy’s got great knowledge of where the play is on the field; so I’m looking for him – and the others -- to make a major contribution next year."

By now,  pretty much every Owl fan is aware that Brandon played his high school ball at Vanderbilt Industrial, a conference 2A school whose entire four-grade enrollment could fit easily in the Chem Lecture Hall, with plenty of seats left over.

The big fellow said he’s proud of the fact that the kids from small Texas schools can come in and both play great football and succeed academically at Rice.

"You bet I am," he told us. "I think a lot of times people overlook the smaller schools. There’re a lot of good players in the small Texas high schools, just like in the big ones. The thing is, to find them, get them up here, get them into the program, give them a little coaching -- just let them know what they need to do on the field -- and give them a chance to play. And you’ll find they usually come up with good results for our program. I’m nothing special, in that way."

Uh, right, B. G.  Nothing special. 

B. J.: Offense, defense each had its moments this spring

The question was asked... at the end of spring practice, who did the guys think finished ahead, the defense or the offense?

"It kind of went back and forth during the spring." B. J. said. " It was a real teeter-totter."

But in the final analysis, he went on,  the thing to do is give credit where credit is due. "I have to say, at the end of it all, I was very impressed with the offense," he admitted. 

"The offensive line really improved this spring and have come on great. By the end, they were working together as a team, doing what they have to do, and really giving us problems on the defensive line."

"Sometimes we’d have great teamwork on the defensive line, and be able to get back to the quarterback and make some plays. But it took great teamwork."

"It just wound up being a great spring for everybody. I really enjoyed it," B. J. added.

"It all adds up to being able to have just a fun time of it. We had some fun playing together this spring, and we plan on carrying forward that to next year. That’s what it’s all about. It’s not work. It’s fun."

Interview over, the two old warriors trudged away together, toward the locker room.

"‘Teeter-totter’???" Brandon ribbed his compadre. 

"Yeah, TEETER-TOTTER," the Beej boomed back at him, grinning.

Versatile Joe Moore plays Owl utility man

HOUSTON (April 9) – Rice coaches have been high on the athletic prowess of Owl sophomore Joe Moore ever since he first hit campus. So in a concerted attempt to put some of those talents to work on the field, head coach Ken Hatfield has made spring practice turn out to be more than a little like the Joe Moore Show, first giving him extensive reps at quarterback – and now, as of Friday, lining him up in the running back position.

"He wants me to get in as much time on the field as I can get," Joe told the Webletter. "I really didn’t get much playing time last year, at quarterback or anywhere, so Coach is trying to get as much playing time for me, as I can, right now this spring, so I can get used to playing next fall, and make a contribution to the team."

In Friday’s scrimmage, the Rice offensive coaching staff was moving Joe around the field like a chess piece, having him play running back, and also spending some time lining up to catch passes in the"Iso," which is what they call the split back position.

That means the Wichita Falls standout is going to have to learn the playbook for both the quarterback and running back positions.

"Yes, but next year they’ll probably use me mainly for running back, and possibly for special teams," Joe said. "But if they need a third quarterback, it will be me, or possibly Corey (Evans), or Jeremy (Hurd) . I’ll keep taking snaps, and just get used to both positions."

Joe started spring practice getting the bulk of the rep work at quarterback, despite the fact that he was running in the third-string spot on the depth chart. Both Kyle Herm and Greg Henderson, the reasoning went, got their baptism of blood on the field last fall, while  Moore spent a frustrating amount of time riding the bench – frustrating for both himself and his coaches.

As it turns out,  the move to running back was something that had been kicked around by Joe and his mentors for a long time, he said..

"We’d actually talked about it as long ago as last year, right before the Nevada game," Joe told us. "I took a few reps at running back at that time. But Coach Hatfield came and got me, I guess, about a week ago, at a quarterback meeting. And he said he wanted me, and the other guys, to be on the field at the same time."

As even a  cursory glance will indicate, Moore has all kinds of athletic ability, even starting a game or two in center field for Rice baseball coach Wayne Graham this spring, before football drills beckoned.

"Yeah, I’d considered going back to the baseball team after spring practice," Joe said. "I enjoy playing baseball. But with all these positions to learn, and the greater chance of being on the field in different spots, I think I’m just going to concentrate on football now, and possibly go out next year for baseball, during spring."

But if the Owls make it to Omaha this June, does Coach Graham have a uniform waiting for Joe?

"I think he may," Joe quipped. "You know, I need to talk to him about that. Now that, I’d like. I’d like to be with the guys, if they go to Omaha. So maybe he will."

Mixed results on turf
in Friday scrimmage

HOUSTON (April 6) – It was a case of two steps forward, three steps back on the Rice Stadium turf Friday afternoon as the Rice Owls entered the home stretch of their spring practice regimen with a two-hour scrimmage that produced some spectacular plays while at the same time revealing what Rice coaches considered a disconcerting lack of concentration and focus.

"What happened to the intensity that we saw out here even yesterday?" Owl assistant Barney Farrar called out to everybody and nobody in particular. Likely, it was merely an occurence of spring fever as the Flock trudged through its twelfth of fifteen scheduled spring workouts. Anticipation of the weekend might have had something to do with it as well, as about two dozen player family members attended the scrimmage and met up with their charges on the field afterwards.

No major injuries have been reported yet this spring, in what has to be a bit of good news. However, key contributors WR Jeremy Hurd and LB Jeff Vanover are continuing to be kept out of contact action for the duration. Team orthopedist Dr. Leland Winston was on the field to observe some of his  patients, and he’s ordered a slight scale-back of Jeff’s rehabilitation schedule, to be on the safe side.

The biggest news of the day had to be the performance of Joe Moore at the running back position. "The coaches said they wanted to get me on the field, so I’ll just be ready to line up wherever they put me," Joe said afterwards. (Related story to follow.)

He’ll continue to show up on the depth chart at third-team quarterback, behind Kyle Herm and Greg Henderson, he added. But his duty next fall will include running back and special teams, as well. Joe impressed onlookers with his strong running, crisp blocking and sticky hands, catching a couple of nice throws.

Gavin Boothe leads good-hands people

But Rice’s good-hands people are definitely being led by WR Gavin Boothe, who hauled in several spectacular downfield receptions Friday. It’s plain to all that he’s in the best shape of his career. "I played a little banged up last season, but I'm feeling good this spring," he said last week.

On the offensive line front, Clint Crisp has been moved ahead of Mike Holman on the depth charts. Veteran observers think it may be a bit of psychology, to motivate Holman, a highly-touted transfer from Stanford, as well as to reward Crisp, the Rice senior who’s been a hard worker his entire career. Expect both of them to see plenty of action, come fall, however.

For a good part of the afternoon the Owls played a game dubbed by the coaches as "Win the Red Zone." If there had been a soft spot in Rice’s offensive resurgence in ‘01, it was the occasional lack of a killer instinct inside the 20 yard line. So that play situation got plenty of attention on Friday, with mixed results.

Against the first-team defense, the number one offense had better luck throwing the ball than running it, in the red zone situation. The o-line made its share of timing mistakes, as evidenced by the frequent whistles of the rent-a-refs.

But that success in passing didn’t extend to a scrimmage-closing situational game, called "One Minute to Go." In that one, the offense lined up at its own 40, and told they were down by 5, with a minute to go in the game.

The results were not all that pretty, as defensive line pursuit forced Kyle and Greg out of the pocket and into throwaways time and again.

That shouldn't imply things were hunky-dory in the Owl defensive backfield, at least during this workout.  While converted QB Corey Evans got in a couple of good licks on the day -- one a smasheroo on an unsuspecting Owl offensive lineman who'd just caught a tipped ball -- there appeared to Rice defensive coaches Friday just too much confusion in defense of pass routes.

Rather, it was the case that the o-line appeared to have problems keeping senior DLs B. J. Forguson and Brandon Green out of the backfield – good news for Owl defensive mentors, but cause for concern for offensive coordinator Scott Wachenheim, who walked off the practice field side-by-side with Coach Hatfield afterwards, immersed in conversation.

The Owls return to action Monday in a no-tackle workout, followed by a half-practice 11-on-11 session Wednesday, and a spring-ending scrimmage Thursday afternoon.

Pads pop as Owls
vie for playing time

HOUSTON (Mar. 27) – First off, disregard any and all prior references in these tomes to "full pads lite."

The Rice Owls disabused their coaches of any notions of merely going through the motions, as they undertook a pad- popping session of eleven-on-eleven contact on the Rice Stadium turf Tuesday afternoon, their last practice before taking off for the long Easter weekend.

While seasoned veterans stood bemusedly on the sidelines, and Owl assistants kept up a steady chatter of encouragement and/or admonition, a bunch of Feathered Flock newcomers who’re competing against each other for starting jobs and playing time let it all hang out, and more, during the hour-and-a-half full contact program.

The play series culminated with a "fourth and goal" drill that brought out the chutzpah in a couple dozen Owls, vets included, as they tussled in the end zone like so many hockey players in a rugby scrum, to end the day.

Couldn’t tell who started the fracas, but you can be assured Coach Hatfield won’t be sending any notes home to their mamas, because the resultant spark generated was the kind that can light a winning fire, come September. These Owls meant business, but they also got up from the pile laughing and slapping each other on the back. The coaches who usually are "spark plugs" on the field, such as Coach Farrar and Coach Rizzo, stood by virtually speechless.

It was a good thing.

No early whistles, Tuesday

Rice assistants played the part of some rather permissive referees as they typically held off whistling plays dead on initial contact, such as is commonly the case in spring drills.

When a quarterback was hit in the pocket, down he went.  If the ball squirted free, a melee followed.  And if the fumble recovery was made, the defender was expected to head for the end zone.  If he got caught up with, and piled on a little, well, good.  Go for it.

The noise level on the Rice Stadium turf seemed to exceed that of the first quarter of some eleven a.m. early TV games.

The spring workouts are appearing to be more and more the Joe Moore Show, as Rice coaches are determined the sophomore quarterback will get the bulk of the snaps and ample opportunity to improve his timing and build his confidence.

They're letting him get hit pretty good, too.

Owl running backs are beginning to get a chance to shine as the attention turns to fine-tuning the Rice rushing game.  Vince Hawkins, Clint Hatfield and Joe Bailey turned a few heads during the goal-line drill.

Meanwhile, Brandon Boyd, Justin Engler and Nick Sabula, to name a few,   showed encouraging hostility on the defensive side.

Defensive line coach Theo Young made it clear he's expecting big things from Jonathan Chism this year,  conducting pretty much a personal, play-by-play tutoring session. Suffice it to say that Jon  probably saw Coach Young  in his dreams later on Tuesday night.

The Owls now get a five-day break, returning to action with a full-pads, no-tackle workout slated for Monday, April 1.

At least the plan is for no-tackle.  We'll see.

Owl defenders, offenders get with it in end zone fracas at end of practice Tuesday

So far, so good on position moves
'I like what all of them are doing out there'

HOUSTON (Mar. 25) – Rice head coach Ken Hatfield is putting his charges through an abbreviated spring workout schedule this week, in anticipation of the upcoming Easter break. The Owls work out in shorts on Monday, and then go through a "full pads lite" practice on Tuesday before taking five days off for the holiday weekend, returning to action April 1.

Anticipating Friday’s scrimmage – the first of the three that the rules allow during this spring practice session – Coach Hatfield appeared downright elegaic about the results, so far, of some fairly significant position changes made by his coaching staff in order to get Rice’s 22 best football players on the field as much as possible, next fall.

"I’ve really like the moves we’ve made," Coach told us. "I really have enjoyed seeing how a Corey Evans, at safety, for example, has really shown some things, early.

"He’s taking to the position change with a great attitude. The year of redshirting has helped him. I mean he’s really getting after it. And seeing the kind of effort he’s putting out, and the way he’s adapted so well to the position change – that’s one of the real joys you have as a football coach."

Another Owl who’s really gotten the Rice mentor’s attention this spring is Ben Wiggins. Or actually, as Coach referred to him, "Ole" Ben Wiggins. And when football coaches put an "Ole" before the name of a player of whom they speak, you know the kid must be doing something right.

In this case, it’s a matter of Ole Ben’s want-to. "I’m really excited about him, just because of his attitude," Coach Hatfield said. "Ben is actually a track guy, on scholarship, but he gave up his track scholarship, to be able to walk on, and try to play some football. And that young man has worked as hard as anybody I’ve ever had play for us.

"He’s a wide receiver. And he wanted to play football. He was a great track man, as well – but his effort out on the football field has been really good."

Move of Ford from RB to DB bodes well

Perhaps the position move that’s caused the most attention among Owl fans is the switch of super recruit Kevin Ford from running back to defensive back. It may be a stretch, but that tells Rice loyalists that the larder is sufficiently stocked at the running back position to allow the move of such a gifted athlete as the former Madisonville all-stater to the defensive side. And then there’s the obvious fact that Kevin just looks like a terrific football player, wherever you line him up.

"We have him playing at defensive back right now; he’s such a great talent; you know," Coach said. "I told him, I said, ‘hey, you’re a lot like Steve Atwater was – coming out of high school as a quarterback, attending Arkansas, where he was moved to defensive back.’

"He only made All-American; he then made All-Pro playing for the Denver Broncos; played on a Super Bowl team; he had a great career – all because he was willing to make the move. And Kevin’s that kind of skilled athlete, who can make a lot of big things happen, so we’re going to try him at defensive back right now, and see if that won’t help us out."

Several experienced Owls sat out last year with injuries, but all of them will be expected to make major contributions to the effort, come fall. A couple  – Jeff Vanover (LB) and B. J. Forguson (DL) -- get to stay at position. "We try to bring each one along at the right pace, depending on where he is with his recovery," Coach said. In that regard, B. J.’s been playing this spring – how was it that Joe Bob put it? – pretty much "balls to the wall."

But Jeff still has some pretty noticeable orthopedic protective gear surrounding his recuperating knee. And team orthopedist Dr. Leeland Winston has been noticed keeping a close eye on him during spring workouts. But Jeff will be fine, 100 per cent-plus, come fall, Coach said.

Jeremy Hurd chafing at the bit -- but will take it easy this spring

Then there’s another guy who’s being brought along slowly, however, with the intent that great expectations not overshadow the exercise of reasonable caution. After suffering a torn ACL early in fall two-a-days last year, thus rendering problematical his future as Rice's number one quarterback, Jeremy Hurd -- who used to wear number 14 but has slipped a digit, to lucky 13 – and will be lining up at wideout this fall.

"That main one’s Jeremy; he’s the one right here that just wants to go so bad, but we want to bring him along at the right speed," Coach Hatfield said. "We have Jeremy at wide receiver, catching the ball for us instead of throwing it. He’s doing a lot of our drills this spring; he just can’t get in any of the live work, and will NOT get in any of the live work until August.

"But we think he’s going to be a great, great asset for us at wide receiver. He’s got such tremendous speed; a quarterback’s mentality; a competitor. You know, I think he’s going to do nothing but help us at that position."

The prospect of Gavin Boothe on one side, with Jeremy Hurd on the other – and capable backups such as Marcus Battle behind them – makes Coach Hatfield want to rub his hands together when he anticipates the sudden potential of Rice’s passing attack.

And there’s a reason for optimism at the tight end spot, as well. In addition to returning letterman Travis Thompson, another redshirt has come along well this spring, Coach said.

"Joe Wood, at tight end, is really doing good. He’s one of the young guys who’s come along well, one of a whole bunch of them. I like their competitiveness, and I like what all of them are doing out there this spring, I really do."

Owls complete
first phase of
spring workouts

HOUSTON (Mar. 21) – The Rice Owls completed their fifth of 15 allotted spring football practices Wednesday with a combination of conditioning drills and play reps that had Rice coaches pleased with the progress of a whole host of newcomers.

"We’ve had five practices, you know -- we’ve been on the grass the whole time," Rice head coach Ken Hatfield told the Webletter afterwards. "So now a third of our spring schedule is done. And I have to say I’ve really enjoyed this spring more than usual because of all the young players who’re getting in there and getting a chance to develop and gain some confidence."

Once more, second and third-string quarterbacks Greg Henderson and Joe Moore got the bulk of the workout, as Kyle Herm spent a good part of the afternoon with clipboard in hand, carrying on a running conversation with Owl offensive coordinator Scott Wachenheim and quarterback coach John Bland.

Kyle will, in fact, spend most of his spring observing and analyzing, Coach Hatfield said, while Greg and Joe get plenty of opportunities to run the Rice offense.

"All of our quarterbacks have done well this spring, but we’re working Greg Henderson and Joe Moore, mostly," Coach told us. "We know what Kyle can do, so offensively a lot of it is just depending on how well we can get those other two guys up to snuff to start, and win. This spring, we want them to gain enough confidence to win with. And with our three spring scrimmages, that will be a priority offensively – what those two guys are doing."

Largest helping this spring goes to Joe Moore

Greg  got in eight games as a true freshman last fall and already has had a chance to move the ball against opposing defenses the likes of Nebraska. Joe, on the other hand, was in on only a few plays over the season, so the it looks llike spring workouts hold the biggest opportunity for him.

"Right, he’s got the most room to grow of any of the three," Coach said. "No doubt about it. And he’s done a good job, consistently. He just was not able to get as many repetitions in the fall – and now he is. And that’s why it’s good having him out there – he’s an exciting guy; he and Greg both have done a really fine job for us."

The bulk of the rushing play reps went to Ed Bailey, Vince Hawkins and Clint Hatfield, although "Junior" ran a lot of play reps out of the split back position, as the Owl coaches experimented with double and triple wideouts.

Gavin Boothe appeared to have made the play of the day. It was a lights-out reception, leaping high between two receivers who’d appeared to have him well covered – a highlight reel catch.

Specialty teams tried their hands at punt and kickoff returns.  Brandon Skeen was frankly impressive with the distance, loft and hang time of his kickoffs.   He regularly was putting the ball right at the 1 yard line, next to the flag.

Kick and punt returners were a little less impressive, however, coming up with a case of fumble-fingers.  Perhaps it was a matter of thinking too much, as Rice assistants were scurrying around among special- teams players, lining up the kickoff and punt team X's and O's.

Coach Hatfield applauds newcomers on defense

On the defensive side, Coach Hatfield applauded the work of his Kiddie Corps. "It’s the young players we’ve redshirted, guys like Thadis Pegues, you know, who’s really quick at defensive end, who have got a chance to grow and really help us next fall."

But at this stage of the game, Coach said, it’s difficult to really single out any individual for outstanding play.  "Sometimes,  you like what they’re doing better than the others -- but maybe they're  showing up better because they've just been guessing right," he noted.

"But being fair, I think all of them that we redshirted, we plan on playing this year. At the end of the spring, the real key will be the younger guys, a Marcus Battle, a Thadis Pegues, if they’ve gotten in 15 good practice days, they should be competent enough to help us out, come that first game against Houston. That’s the bottom line of what spring’s all about."

Rice continues its spring practice routine Friday with a game-condition scrimmage, Coach Hatfield said.

"In this five days, we’ve gotten in everything we’ve wanted to," he added.  "We’ll have a big scrimmage on Friday, with officials here. You’re only allowed I believe three scrimmages of that kind, so this will be one. And then we’ll take it from there. But this Friday will be the first one we’ve got."

On the sidelines... Former Rice quarterback Chad Richardson was in attendance at Wednesday's practice and chatted with Coach Hatfield and some of his old teammates afterwards. It was something of a working visit for Chad, who last fall   impressed Owl fans with his analytical work on Rice football radio broadcasts.

"I’m still planning on doing the color commentary for the football games this fall," Chad told us. "I’ll keep on doing that as long as my job keeps me in the area."

Career-wise, Chad is on a management track for a major pharmaceutical company, and eventually, he says, that will likely entail some moving around. Meanwhile, he says he needs to attend practice a few more times with a team roster in hand.

"Last year, it was easy – I still knew everybody, from my own playing days. But this spring, there are so many unfamiliar faces and numbers that I’m going to have to do some catching up with these guys, in order to get the job done next fall."

Owls don full pads,
go eleven on eleven,
break for weekend

HOUSTON (Mar. 15) – The Rice Owls Friday continued with their third of 15 workouts constituting this year’s spring practice schedule, strapping on full pads for the first time, and going 11 on 11 for just over an hour’s worth of play reps.

The day’s weather was hardly crisp, and the misty, muggy atmosphere didn’t exactly contribute to a spirited, leather - popping event, but Rice coaches expressed overall satisfaction with the team’s progress.

It’s clear that some talented greenhorns are going to get plenty of opportunity to show their wares this spring, as the Owls’ most familiar names spent much of their time on the sidelines, often shouting instructions and encouragement to their younger teammates.

Kyle Herm took off his helmet for the day and picked up a clipboard, after only a couple of play series. But he wasn’t hurt; it was only that Rice offensive coaches have decided to give quarterbacks number two and three – Greg Henderson and Joe Moore – plenty of work during spring sessions in order to improve their comfort zone of running the offense, come next season. (Related story...)

Moore and Henderson together took about four out of five snaps during the contact period.  Joe looked to be shaking off the rust of his abbreviated baseball season, and appeared to run particularly well.

Most of the play reps concentrated on positioning of the quarterbacks, offensive line and receivers, so there was little news to report about showings at the running back position.

The 11-on-11 play reps were met with a steady chatter by Rice's assistant coaches and a whole host of the aforementioned upperclassmen on the sidelines.

Coach Hatfield stayed a little more in the background for this workout, as there was no shortage of  activities for him to quietly observe as he made notes on his clipboard.

Meanwhile, there was evidence of more than adequate size, speed and raw talent in Rice’s offensive line, but it nevertheless appeared that a lot of work remained to be done this spring, and for that matter, come fall two-a-days, to get the timing and the sequence down.

It may be that, in the fall, at least the early games, the blocking assignments will stay on the more elementary end of the play book. But the necessary tools and skills appeared to be there, even this early in the spring.  The OL is being treated as if they’re a platoon of rather burly airborne rangers going through jump school, and it’s clear that Rice offensive coordinator and OL coach Scott Wachenheim is making major exhortations to try and create real camaraderie and carve out an integrated unit where, right now, the potential exists, but the time on the field together just hasn’t yet occurred.

Heralded running back recruit Kevin Ford is sharing some time on the defensive side, at outside linebacker spot. No word on whether that move is a short-term experiment or a long-term commitment. He looked extremely strong, as if he could play just about any position on the field. (He’d earned all-district honors on both sides of the ball while playing at 3A Madisonville.)

The Owls ended the day’s workout with a field - goal kicking drill, and PK Brandon Skeen put several through the uprights with a nice, high trajectory.

But the coaches sent the team for the showers a few minutes early, right at six o’clock, as rain clouds started to form. The scene took on the appearance of the start of a holiday weekend, as several families and met their charges after the workout, conversations ensuing about the upcoming weekend.

Rice continues with a pads-on, but non-contact, workout scheduled for Monday, March 18. Next contact is planned for Friday, March 22. 

Backup no drop-off
in offensive scheme

HOUSTON (Mar. 18) – The position of backup quarterback isn’t exactly a forgotten man in Rice head coach Ken Hatfield’s spread option offense. To the contrary, the role of field- general-in-waiting is an integral part of an offensive game plan that simply demands more than one competent man-under.

All that’s well and good to the young man who’s held onto the backup role practically from the moment he hit campus last year as a freshman. When starter Kyle Herm needs a breathing spell or goes down with an injury, major or slight, Greg Henderson knows he’s expected to be able to go in and run the Rice offense with nary a slip in performance.

And thus far, he’s been remarkably successful in coming off the bench, ice-cold, and producing.  In fact, he did so the first time he ever took the field as an Owl, marching Rice for a 13-play TD for its initial touchdown against the University of Houston in last year’s season opener, the drive capped by his 14-yard perfect strike to Gavin Boothe for the score.

Henderson ran the team like a polished veteran, despite the fact that only a few months before he was directing a bunch of high school teammates. Of course, maybe that was the point, as Greg told reporters after the game he was just doing what came naturally to him, because the offense he ran for three years at Wichita Falls High School was identical to the one run by Ken Hatfield.  In fact, it was installed with the direct assistance of Rice coaches.

For the 2001 season, Greg played in eight games, throwing 19 out of 48 completions and three TD passes. He also ran for 400 yards in 72 attempts.

This year, every bit as much is being expected of him, and Rice coaches are also anticipating big things from the number-three man, Fort Worth sophomore Joe Moore, Greg told the Webletter.  And to back up those expectations, they’ll be sure the pair get plenty of play reps in spring practice.

"The coaches told us quarterbacks that since Kyle got so much game-condition play last season, that Joe and I are going to get a greater time spent on play reps here this spring," Greg told us. "We know we're both going to play next fall -- it's just a question of how much."

"It doesn't make any difference whether it's a lot or a little, I just want to be ready."

Greg said that, naturally, he’d been working with weights over the winter months. "I feel like that has helped my strength. But when you talk about trying to improve your passing accuracy, I don't know, that's just something that comes with experience, especially with throwing the ball in a game situation."

"A lot of what Joe and I will be doing out here this spring, has to do with that."

After the first contact drills of the season, Greg sported a whelt on his forehead indicating that some literal head-banging had been going on out there. With the number of rookies vying for positions, the competition already has been spirited, he said.

Greg said he was satisfied, at least for the time being,  in his niche as a role player -- but at the same time, naturally he wants to play as much as he can.    It's a matter of confidence, he added.

"The whole team's attitude is good and all three of us quarterbacks have a lot of confidence. We feel like we've improved. I'm looking forward to mixing it up a lot out here this spring just trying to do whatever can be done so I can help my team this fall."

Owls' Krueger to partipate
in summer all-star game

HOUSTON (June 17) -- Rice class of 2006 football recruit Rolf Krueger II has been selected to play for the South team in the Shriners' Greater Houston Area Blue Chip All-Star Classic Football Game scheduled for 7:30 p.m., Saturday, June 22 at Pridgeon Stadium.

The South Team will be working out afternoon in Rice Stadium June 17-20 in preparation for the game.

Pridgeon Stadium is in the Jersey Village area, near the intersection of  US 290 and FM 1960.  Online directions are available.

Coach Hatfield's football
summer camps announced

HOUSTON (June 17) -- Rice football has announced specific dates and programs for head coach Ken Hatfield's summer football camps.  Coach Hatfield conducts a well-received pair of summer camps each year for both senior - high and junior level students.    Info:

Ken Hatfield Leadership & Football Camp

WHEN: 2002 SENIOR HIGH OVERNIGHT CAMP
Entering 9th Graders through entering 12th Graders Saturday, July 13, 2002 - 12 pm through Tuesday, July 16, 2002 - 10 am.  This is an overnight camp. Limited space is available. Cost: $300 (includes insurance). Group discount is available with 10 or more campers from same school.

CAMP GOALS:
Teach leadership qualities to enhance every player's ability to be a champion teammate on and off the field. Limited space guarantees smaller groups and higher repetitions during teaching sessions. Teaching sessions will include individual fundamentals specific to each position, as well as unit drills to teach teamwork.

WHEN: 2002 JUNIOR DAY CAMP
Entering 3rd Graders through entering 8th Graders. Wednesday, July 17, 2002 - 9 am through Friday, July 19, 2002 - 5 pm.  This is a day camp only. Camp will begin at 9 am each morning and campers will be done at 5 pm each evening. Staff will be available beginning at 8 am each day for early arrivals. Cost: $180 (includes lunch each day of camp)

CAMP GOALS: Teach leadership qualities to enhance every player's ability to be a champion teammate on and off the field. Teach and work fundamentals for each position that can improve beginning and more advanced players. Basic group drills to show players how they fit into team or unit concept.

Call the Rice Owls Football Office at 713.348.6900, or send an e-mail to joycer@rice.edu, should you have any questions.

Complete Brochure & Registration form in PDF Format

Owls greet spring drills
with extra spring in steps
8-4 season doesn't hurt attitude at all

HOUSTON (Mar. 12) – Can a team that’s lost 25 seniors be more ready to play than usual, at the onset of spring drills? That appeared to be the case Monday as some 66 Rice Owls took to the practice fields for their first of 15 workouts between now and April 11.

There were a lot of familiar, old numbers being worn on new, less familiar players’ backs as the Owls, dressed in shorts and helmets, went through a series of agility drills on the grass practice field. Later, backs and receivers paired off against defensive secondary men as the squad ran through pass routes.

Rice associate athletic director Dick Ellis was all over the place on opening practice day. "We’re not doing anything particularly different this year -- they only let us have 15 practices, you know," Coach Ellis told us. "So the thing is to try and make the best of them. We’ll work out Monday, Wednesday and Friday of this week, for starters, doing a lot of conditioning and timing drills. We’ll put on pads for the first time on Friday, and then we’ll take it up a notch next week."

Several things were apparent even to the untrained eye. First, as mentioned, were the new guys in old numbers – the prevalence of redshirts and other squadmen. But there appeared to be at least as much size, speed, and football skills being demonstrated on the field as last year. And a carryover in enthusiasm from last year's successful 8-4 campaign appeared very much in evidence, the first day of spring practice.

Key returnee Jeff Vanover was back in his linebacking position, as well as his familiar role of ‘on-field coach.’

Talent's there, Owls say

"We’ve got a lot of talent out there," he said, obviously in an upbeat mood after practice. "I’m really impressed with the speed and strength of our new guys. They’re just going to take some work. I’m trying to help out as much as I can."

Jeff missed the entire last season with a knee injury and he says he’s been instructed not to try and perform any spectacular acrobatics this spring. But it feels great finally to be back on the field after the slow process of rehabilitation, he adds.

"I feel really good," Jeff told us. "They’re holding me back and bringing the knee along slowly, you can see I’ve got that big bandage all over it. The docs told me a little tendinitis is to be expected, but as long as I don't   overdo it, it should be fine. But that’s OK, because the most important things that need to be done at spring practice we can get accomplished without me being quite at full speed yet."

As in having Jeff Vanover back on the field, where his savvy of the game likely will be instrumental in helping to bring around a talented, but admittedly green, secondary corps.  He, Nick Sabula (who looks to have bulked up by six or eight pounds), and Scott Huffman were seen barking out assignments from the sideline as the newbie outside linebackers and DBs attempted to adjust to the different passing routes that were thrown at them.

DB Jason Benjamin turned heads with a spectacular, over-the-shoulder interception and received the plaudits of several Owl defensive coaches. But more often than not, the order of the day was a mild bit of fanny-chewing as a motivator. Among the defensive backfield players, there was obviously a lot of teaching going on, out there on day one.

Different questions need answering, this year 

The situation presented to Rice head coach Ken Hatfield’s staff is different from so many prior years under his  administration, when the first questions that typically needed answering were, ‘who’re we going to get to play quarterback and how in the heck are we going to get some kind of passing game going?’ This spring, the situation is just the opposite -- the question marks primarily lay with the defensive secondary and offensive line.

Kyle Herm appears firmly ensconced as number one quarterback. On Monday, Kyle’s passing showed plenty of zip, and he was nailing his receivers with mid-season form. He might’ve even gained a pound or two during the off-season.

Greg Henderson also threw well in the backup spot. Both looked sharper than one might expect, the first day of spring workouts. Joe Moore looked strong and healthy, but his timing wasn’t quite up to the level of Kyle’s and Greg’s. Kind of looked like he’d been spending the early spring out on a baseball field shagging flies, or something.

Coach Hatfield says no worries, mate -- Joe Moore will come around as well.   "We've got three good ones going for us out there this spring," he said.   "We're going to get in as much work for each of them as we can."

Big question number two in past years has been, ‘how’re we going to cobble together a defensive line that can put on a serious pass rush?’

But this year’s spring workouts present two solid answers to that dilemma in Brandon Green and B. J. Forguson. The Beej is also coming off a year’s respite due to injury, and he appears to be in top condition. Brandon Green’s name will likely turn up among at least some pre-season All-America mentions, and between those two experienced returners, the DL may be in the best shape it’s ever been, in the Hatfield era. 

B. J.and Brandon walked off the practice field together. Heck, do those two old veterans even need to go through this spring practice stuff? They both grinned and rolled their eyes. "Once you get it down, it’s the same old thing, over and over and over again," B.J. said.

" But that’s just football. It feels good to be out there."

RICE OWLS 2002 SPRING ROSTER
(alphabetical)
(w = walkon)

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