About Rice
Owlinfo
Owlopinion
Ye Old
College Inn

Chase, JD: Tulsa ‘just another game’

JD:  "Our emotions are high, but it’s still football" Chase: "Really it’s no different than any other game"

HOUSTON (Nov. 19) – They weren’t talking that way in January, but Rice football team leaders Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard say the vitriol and vinegar has simmered down, if it ever was at the boiling point before, in regard to the recently-departed former Rice head coach Todd Graham.

Saturday’s season-capping contest between the Owls and Coach Graham’s new outfit, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane, is "just another football game," both players insisted to gathered media Monday.

"It’s the last game and the guys are ready to play ball and go out this season with a win," Jarett Dillard said. "We know exactly what we need to work on."

"Our emotions are high, but it’s still football."

Beating or losing to Tulsa needs to be put in the context of the whole season – and perhaps, at most, as a springboard to a greater level of enthusiasm in the off-season, but that’s it, JD insisted/

"It would be just a win under our belt, just like SMU or UTEP. A victory’s a victory, and we’ll take whatever we can get."

"For us to go out beating the number one team in the west side, that’s a big plus for us, and that gets us going for next season."

Rice quarterback Chase Clement was reminded that, back in January, he gave a rather emotional interview to local media that, summing up, pointed toward the Rice-Tulsa tilt this November as a, well, something of a grudge match.

But that’s water under the bridge, Chase told that same media Monday.

"Really it’s no different than any other game," the Rice signal-caller insisted. "I don’t really think this is as big a game as a lot of people thought it might be a year ago. It’s just another football game. They’re leaders in Conference USA West and it would be good to go out and beat the number one team, but that’s kind of our focus right now."

Regarding Todd Graham’s eleventh-hour departure, Chase was philosophical. "You know, it happened. It is what it is. Coach Bailiff is our coach now. We’re behind him, and we don’t need to worry about what happened in the past. Over time, it just developed into our being his players; this is our team, not Todd Graham’s – and we just don’t need to worry about it."

But aren’t emotions going to be running heavy when the Rice players see the visage of their former mentor on the sideline, come Saturday?

"I don’t think there’ll be too many," Chase insisted. "To me, he’s just another coach. I plan on going over there and shaking his hand and congratulating him on his success this year – and best of luck during the game. It won’t be very emotional I don’t think."

That quip prompted guffaws from the studio audience, but Chase demurred.

He did admit, however, the realization that there’s been a lot of hot air exchanged between Rice and Tulsa alumni contingents over the Graham hire and the upcoming game. "Oh, absolutely, there’s quite a few fans who’re going to be having their fun; there’s been a lot of talk about it on campus."

But still...

"I promise you, it’s just another game; it really is," Chase said. "I’ve got no animosity toward Coach Graham or anything. It’ just another football game."

And the two players didn’t particularly care at all to talk about what a Rice win over Tulsa would do for the championship hopes of their neighbors to the east of Main, the Houston Cougars. After all, a lot of folks wearing red and giving out that reverse-bird hand signal are going to be cheering mightily for the Owls, come Saturday, they were reminded.

"It’s very odd," Jarett Dillard said. "But we understand why."

--P.T.H.

RiceOwls.com   |  Chronicle football  |  Rice fan forum  |  CUSA fan forum    |   Owldigest.com
Front Page    |   E-mail us    |   Boilerplate/viewing tips    |  Quicklinks