Ladies and gentlemen, the Rice Owls football team – winner of four straight (three on the road) and five of six – are tied for thirty-third in the Harris Interactive College Football poll. This is the same Rice Owls about which a writer for Football.com said before the season “The Owls could get into the win column, but it may be tough.” The Owls have had a tough season all right – since September 9 they’ve played exactly one game at Rice Stadium – but they have five wins to show for it, which is at least four more than most experts thought they’d get. With two more, they will almost certainly be headed for a bowl game.
Those next two games are at home, this Saturday and next Saturday. If you’ve got a connection to Rice, or if you just want to see the best wide receiver in the country (now with a nation’s best 16 touchdown catches), come on out to Rice Stadium and show the team a little love. As an extra special bonus, you get to see me in my MOB uniform cavorting on the field at halftime. Need I say more? Go Rice!
From College Football News’s 5 thoughts.
The turnaround of all turnarounds
By John Harris
5. Two months ago, I was listening to Sportsradio 610 am in Houston, Texas on-line all the while not paying complete attention. That was until I heard a voice I didn’t recognize as the guest. Eventually, I figured out it was first year Rice University head coach Todd Graham, but even before I realized it was him, this guy had me hooked. I was ready to jump through my computer and play for this man and his program…okay, so I’m out of eligibility and way out of shape, but that’s not the point. His enthusiasm was infectious and his belief in this program was commendable, if not seemingly out of place. Remember, this is Rice. Well, it was Rice.
Graham took the downtrodden program and turned the program and the school on its ear. He took a Texas legend Major Applewhite, all of 27 years old and made him offensive coordinator. Great move, coach…four years from now that’ll pay dividends, they all thought. He pushed to upgrade the facilities. Yeah, right, like that can happen, Coach. He sold the program to anyone who would listen. Sure, like we’re going to believe in a first year head coach with his head in the clouds.
Eleven weeks into the season, Graham’s Owls are at 5-5 including a seemingly improbable 41-38 overtime victory at 2005 CUSA champion Tulsa on Saturday, after winning one of their last 16 games. Applewhite’s offense has averaged 37 points per game over a 5-1 stretch. Rice WR Jarrett Dillard is one of the top ranked receivers in the nation and has formed a strong pass/catch duo with QB Chase Clement. Amazingly, had the Owls hung on against Houston in their opener, they’d be in the CUSA West driver’s seat. Even with that loss, Rice is still in contention for a bowl, something not thought completely possible in 2006, but Graham has done the unthinkable. Rice football has rarely mattered since the Jess Neely days in the early 1960s, but the city of Houston is taking notice. You should, too.
Come on KUFF!!! Cougars are #32 in that same Harris Poll, #30 in the USA Today Poll, and we beat Rice in the first game of the year (albeit in a nailbiter). Show some love for the COOGS!!!