Owls have positive vibe as fall practice begins

There was a confident tone coming out of Rice Stadium to kick off Rice football’s 2011 campaign. Maybe it was the usual lines for any football team coming into camp, but the Owls really believe that they can have a big season this year.

With an experienced group returning on both sides of the ball, Rice head coach David Bailiff feels his team can erase the 4-8 record of a year ago and get to a bowl game for the first time since 2008.

“The expectations are extremely high because of the amount of starters we have back offensively, defensively and on special teams,” Bailiff said. “We’re also a talented football team with high character and intelligence.”

With 18 starters back, this is the first time that Bailiff and his staff will not have to work a bunch of new players in to open practice. Now the coaching staff can work on getting the offense churning and getting the defense to apply more pressure on the quarterback.



On offense, the first few weeks will be spent trying to work on its ground game that was successful for the most part in the last few games of the season. Running back Sam McGuffie returns as the team’s leading rusher, but will be challenged by senior Tyler Smith and sophomore Jeremy Eddington.

But McGuffie – the junior transfer from Michigan and Cy-Fair alum – wants to prove he can be an every down back for the Owls after gaining 883 yards on 4.5 yards per carry last year.

“With some more weight and confidence in what we’re doing, it’s going to allow me to play with a chip on my shoulder,” McGuffie said. “(I’m going to have to) go in there plow them or juke them to get the extra yards.”

Tyler McHargue will be the starting quarterback after playing impressively the last few games of 2010 and in spring practice. He will have a good group of receivers in senior tight end Luke Willson and wideout Randy Kitchens. The offensive line will be stacked with starters,



Defensively, the Owls will be dependent on its front four to get pressure on the quarterback to help out its secondary. They hope that junior nose guard John Gioffre – who comes into camp slimmer and a little quicker – to be a top run blocker and pass rusher.

“I’m stronger and at the same weight, so I feel quicker,” Gioffre said. “My conditioning is awesome. We play a lot of plays, like 60 to 65 plays at nose guard, but I feel prepared and really confident.”

The linebackers look strong led by senior Justin Allen and junior Trey Briggs. The secondary have a lot of skill players like senior safety Travis Bradshaw and senior cornerback Chris Jammer. But Bailiff wants his defense to force more turnovers than it did last year, as it only had 14 takeaways (eight fumbles and six interceptions).

“We are going to try to have some fun but we have to make sure defensively that we are pushing takeaways from day one,” Bailiff said after the first practice. “We have to increase over what we had last year. You just look at who wins football games and so many times it is who wins that turnover battle.”

The Owls will workout each morning next week with its first two-a-day practice slated for Thursday as they prepare for their season opener against Texas on Sept. 3.

“We’re committed to make this team into something special,” Bailiff said.