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Champions

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Next game:
Texas
Reliant Stadium
Houston, Texas
Kickoff time TBA
Saturday, Sept. 4

Last update
07/29/10 08:17 PM

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St. Arnold's photos...

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Spring game photos...

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Scrimmage photos....

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AD press conference photos....

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Workout photos...

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Iron Owl photos...

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Football banquet photos....

The '09 season:
let's move on...

A season to remember...

The '07 season...

The '06 season....

Are you ready?

...FOR SOME FOOTBALL, THAT IS....Rice head coach David Bailiff meets and greets Owl fans at Thursday night's 'Rice Roundup' gathering at St. Arnold's Brewery.... more photos (PTH photo)
Calling it a spring....

Denzel Wells flashes some bicep and some shiftiness as he turns corner after pass reception in spring game (PTH photo)

Blue 47, Grey 41

Skill positions excel with big plays while defense takes back seat to quarterbacks battle; McGuffie bides time, explodes

Late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's Spring Game, Rice running back Sam McGuffie shucks his would-be tackler en route to a 70-yard catch-and-run that had Owl fans in lthe stands ooh'ing and ah'ing (Mark Anderson photo)

Tyler Smith ran hard, leading all rushers with 53 yards in seven carries (PTH photo)

HOUSTON (Mar. 27) – Would it be that the last big play late in the fourth quarter of this Rice Spring Game turned out to be the first presentiment of big things to come in the fall.

Not content to rest on a ho-hum day of 10 yards in seven carries, supertransfer Sam McGuffie exploded for a 70-yard pass-and-run that caused by far the biggest cheers, and gasps, of the day among the several hundred onlookers.

The sophomore running back previously had been frustrated by, shall we say, offensive line ‘issues,’ and spent much of his time dancing around the backfield looking for a crease to dash through. But this time, he took matters into his own hands, reversing his field after hauling in a short pass from Michael Poynter, breaking several tackles as he roared down the opposite sideline.

Thus unfolded the major highlight of a stylized ‘game,’ in some ways, though, actually, a hyper-controlled scrimmage, which ended with the offense on the prevailing side of a 47-41 score, calculated as much by defensive stops and big plays as by offensive scoring.

That one play diverted somewhat from the major offensive goings-on of the day, and that was the battle of the two Taylors.
Continues....

Cook one of three Miami QB transfers
(The Bleacher Report -- July 28)
McGuffie could emerge as Rice backfield weapon
(The Bleacher Report -- July 28)
Owls, though much better, should struggle to reach .500
(Houston Sports Examiner -- July 27)
Owl fans can hope experience will help improve team
(Tulsa World -- July 26)
McGuffie a key for Rice
(Texas Football -- July 23)
Owls win C-USA academic honor for fifth straight year
(Houston Chronicle -- July 20)
Rice up first in easy non-conf schedule for Texas
(Dallas Morning News -- July 13)
Rookie no longer, Thor reflects on soph year in NFL
(HoustonTexans.com -- July 13)
Rice-Texas: what the challenge does to us
(The Capstone Report -- July 8)
Last year was Bailiff's ultimate rebuilding year
(The Bleacher Report -- July 1)
McGuffie a player who benefited from transfer
(Orlando Sentinel -- June 24)
How One Small School (Rice) Navigated Realignment....
(Wall Street Journal)
AD Rick Greenspan KILT interview ....
(KILT.com -- June 17)
Chase working out with UFL's Vegas team
(Houston Chronicle -- June 16)
Five Owls on DCTF All-Texas team
(RiceOwls.com -- June 15)
Rice pledges allegiance to C-USA
(Houston Chronicle -- June 15)
LSU's Prater to transfer to Rice
(LSU Daily Reveille -- June 13)
Fatherhood keeps Thor's mind off injury
(Houston Chronicle -- June 10)
Owls should benefit from sudden talent influx
(FoxSports.com -- June 1)
Rice outlook can't be much better in '11
(Orlando Sentinel -- May 16)
This Dallasite likes Rice Stadium road trip
(The Bleacher Report -- May 2)
C-USA announces future bowl schedule
(ConferenceUSA.com -- April 29)
Sendejo knows he'll have to earn his spot
(FoxSports.com -- April 8)
Sendejo looks to the future
(Houston Chronicle <JM> -- April 7)
Spring wrapup: Injured defense soldiers on
(OwlSportsWatch -- April 3)
Spring wrapup: 'A really great spring,' according to DB
(OwlSportsWatch -- April 2)
Spring drills prove uneventful -- but in a positive way
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 31)
Sam McGuffie is ready for his return
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 30)
'Sam always has been the heart of the family'
(Sports Illustrated -- March 29)
Owls kept it close to the vest Saturday
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 28)
Rice spring game turns into Taylor-made day
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar. 28)
McGuffie and McDonald impress
(CollegeFootballFantasyInsider - Mar. 28)
Offense shines in spring game
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 27)

Owls scrimmage in the drizzle

The Rice Owls got in a 90-minute controlled scrimmage Tuesday afternoon on the HRS turf while rain softly fell; here, Sam McGuffie slashes through the line for first-down yardage while three Owl defenders converge to bring him down (PTH photo)

Coach Beaty: 'We've got three very talented guys'
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 22)
A handful of Owls stand out on film
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 19)
Schedule offers intrigue, but will it attract fans?
(Houston Press -- Mar. 19)
DB pleased with scrimmage
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar. 18)
McGuffie puts on a show
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 17)
Video clips of Tuesday's scrimmage
(RiceOwls.com -- Mar. 17)
McGuffie says it's only a scrimmage
(Houston Chronicle <JM> -- Mar. 16)
Next season's Homecoming game will decide Bucket
(RiceOwls.com -- Mar. 16)
Upcoming schedule begins with (sort of) home game with UT
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar. 16)
Scrimmage number one: what to watch
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 15)

And they're off and running....
Competition keen as first week of drills winds down

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WHO'LL GO TO THE HEAD OF THE CLASS? No shortage of talented prospects at the quarterback spot for Owls this spring (PTH photo)

HOUSTON (Mar. 12) – The first week of Rice football spring drills is in. It’s really much too early to begin drawing any material conclusions, but nevertheless at least a few distinct impressions were left in the air by the routine visited by the Owls in four trips to the field, the first in the rain to the Texans’ practice bubble, the second in shorts and helmets, and the next two in pads, but with less than unbridled contact.

A viewing of a couple of these first-week sessions calls to mind something in the nature of an early-morning trip out to the racetrack paddock. Assistant coaches were like earnest grooms and trainers, here and there putting their steeds through the traces and paces. Frisky young racers were feeling their oats, and a general air of expectation exhibited. There was an air of routine, but also a sense of anticipation.

It was impossible to avoid thinking about, and keeping the eyes peeled for, two men who the racing forms have charted as potential Big Winners. You know who they are. Soph transfers Taylor Cook and Sam McGuffie loom large over the proceedings, both literally and figuratively.
Continues....

As comfortable as an old shoe

New Rice Athletic Director Rick Greenspan was introduced to gathered press and university officials at an R-Room press conference Friday morning, and the overwhelming consensus was, 'this guy's a great fit' (PTH photo)

Greenspan named Rice's new AD
(RiceOwls.com --Mar. 12)
Leebron: AD hire represents commitment
(Houston Chronicle -- Mar. 12)
Rick Greenspan: 'A clarity of commitment'
(RiceOwls.com <MK> -- Mar. 12)
Rice hires former Indiana AD Greenspan
(Dallas Morning News/AP -- Mar. 12)
Greenspan gets 4-year contract at Rice
(MyFoxHouston -- Mar. 12)
'The most capable, competent and professional...'
(KPRC News 2 Houston -- Mar. 12)
Rice hires Greenspan as new athletics director
(Indianapolis Star -- Mar. 12)
A reasoned, and resounding, debunk of Greenspan naysayers
(Indianapolis Star -- Jun. 27, 2008)

If we had to take a guess...

...we'd make a wild stab to the effect that a major emphasis for the Rice offense this spring will be protecting the football - just a hunch, as Owls gathered for their first Rice Stadium workout of spring drills Tuesday afternoon (PTH photo)

Show of strength

Rice running back Tyler Smith strains to top out lift for his weight class -- a feat made especially impressive considering his reconstructed knee -- as fans look on during Monday's "Night of the Iron Owl" competition (PTH photo)

Rice Recruiting Roundup '10

Rice hauls in all 16 recruits; Coach says several will be ready to play in September
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Rice head coach David Bailiff faces phalanx of video cameras during Wednesday's signing day press conference (PTH photo)

(NEWS FLASH: It's 16 for 16, as Austin Lake Travis' Trevor Gillette has faxed his LOI as of 5:10 p.m. No prodigal here.)

HOUSTON (Feb. 3) – In days of yore, the story is told, the biblical paterfamilias was more concerned about loss of a single prodigal son than the rest of his number who stayed with the family fold. That concept apparently is inoperable these days, at least in the eyes of Rice head coach David Bailiff, who earlier today welcomed 15 of his 16 verbal pledges to ink-bound letters of intent, with nary a tone of regret for the missing.

MIA thus far was late re-confirmee Trevor Gillette, but the all the remaining verbal pledges made good on their promises, and among them, Coach Bailiff said, are several lads who should be able to contribute immediately, come next season.

“This is a class that will add immediate depth to our team next fall,” Coach Bailiff said. “There are some very talented players who have benefited greatly from the tremendous job that the high school coaches in the state do in terms of preparing players for the next level. This is a group that has experienced tremendous success on the field, but they also have excelled in the classroom, which makes them all a great fit for Rice,” he added.

The 15 players include seven from the greater Houston area, in addition to a pair of players from both San Antonio and Austin. Two played on state championship teams, including one (Andy Ericsson) who was part of three consecutive 4A Division One state titles at Austin Lake Travis, ending his career with a 46-0 record.

Time to sign up for EPC, Counselor
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Rice senior linebacker Terrrance Garmon, who's law school bound, shares a smile with Coach Bailiff as he receives his jersey during Saturday night's football banquet festivities (Mark Anderson photo)

Owls get their Beaty back
Well-liked former assistant now in as OC

'We're ready to get after it'

New Rice offensive coordinator and old friend David Beaty, seen here in Kansas Jayhawks purple, is already on campus and involved with Rice's recruiting (KU SID photo)

HOUSTON (Jan. 21) – Rice head coach David Bailiff made it official Wednesday: former Rice assistant coach David Beaty is indeed returning to the Flock, this time as the Owls’ offensive coordinator.

Beaty originally came to the Owls with Todd Graham in 2006, but was one of only a couple holdovers from the Graham coaching staff when David Bailiff took over at the helm for Rice the following year.

Beaty’s efforts during the interregnum and then as a staffer for Bailiff were considered crucial in retaining key members of the ‘07 recruiting class, and there was wailing and gnashing of teeth on South Main when the former Irving McArthur high school coach left to take a higher-paid position on the University of Kansas coach Mark Mangino’s staff after the ‘07 season.

Such was the extent of approval and even outright affection for Beaty’s personality and coaching skills among Owl players, fans, and, for that matter, David Bailiff and his assistants.
Continues....

Latest headlines..
McGuffie a key (July 28); More academic kudos (July 20); DMN on Rice-Texas (July 13); Why DOES Rice play Texas, anyway? (July 8)
Ricefootball.net search

Coach Bailiff sums it up after last drill

'These 15 practices we've really developed some depth... we have so much more team speed. We wanted to leave with a great attitude and contine to put in an investment for next season. I thought we had a really successful spring...'

Spring Game play- by-play highlights

Spring Game videos....

Post-Spring Game
video interviews

Taylor McHargue, Taylor Cook, Sam McGuffie talk about the Spring Game....

Post-scrimmage interviews

Coach Bailiff
'We used three or four different tempos today, and I thought they handled that well...all in all I was pleased'

Coach Beaty
'The biggest thing for us is just to find some consistency and getting into our procedure...'

New AD press conference

President Leebron's introduction....
'Rice remains committed to the true student athlete ...when it comes to choosing a new athletics director, it is the continuation of that tradition, that is the most important'

Rick Greenspan's address and q&a....
'Rice has a proud history of bringng glory with integrity, and achievement without compromise...'

Night of the Iron Owl

Video of lifts, remarks by James Casey, Chase Clement....

Signing Day videos

Coach David Beaty
'It's an honor to be back at Rice, just to be back with this family...we knew that if this opportunity would ever come to pass we'd be here in a heartbeat'

Chase Clement
'He (Coach Bailiff) kept telling me to come on over so finally I just made that decision to go on and do it..it was an easy decision because I'm so passionate about this game'

Coach Bailiff's remarks
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'Not only are they great players, they are great academic fits at this university...eight of them are academic all-state; we've got nine National Honor Society...'

Coach Bailiff -- Q&A
'When you see how physical they are, how fast they are...their bodies look like they're ready to play a Division 1 football game; we think that those young men can play this season'

Fans invited to take
look at recruit class
i
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HOUSTON (Jan. 26) – Signing day is coming up Wednesday, Feb. 3, and as part of the festivities Rice head football coach David Bailiff has invited interested alumni and supporters of the Owls to a public reception to hear him talk about members of his 2010 football recruiting class. The function kicks off at 6:00 p.m. in the R Room of Rice Stadium.

Earlier in the day, at 3:00 p.m., Rice will hold a media press conference at which time the class will be formally announced. The NCAA-mandated ground rules have it that the press conference is to be closed to the general public, and the public reception is to be closed to members of the media.

The public event will feature video highlights of the new recruits and quips and comments from Coach Bailiff.

Snacks and refreshments will be available, courtesy of well-known former Owl's linebacker Jeff Vanover. Jeff has advanced rapidly as an investment counselor with Ameriprise Financial Services, and now is a VP and Branch Manager of the firm.