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Rice notebook: Seniors, depth boosts Owls' hopes for strong season

By: Chad Washington
| Published 08/29/2011

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It’s a much different feel for Rice as the Owls open the 2011 season. There’s a much more confident tone among the coaches and players heading into the season opener against Texas.

The Owls remember 34-17 spanking it got by the Longhorns a year ago at Reliant Stadium. But that Rice team was a younger, inexperienced group of players against a supposedly talented Texas squad.

But on Saturday, the roles are a bit different for both teams. While Texas is undergoing a rebuilding year with new coaches and untested players, the Owls feel they have enough depth to play a tougher game against the ‘Horns.

“We have tremendous senior leadership,” Rice head coach David Bailiff said. “When you have that kind of seniors that have been in your program for four to five years, it makes every day a joy. They’ve set the bar high and they’re pulling everyone in this football team with them.”

The mix of new and experienced players helped the Owls to work on their positions during fall practice instead of learning new offensive and defensive schemes. That has allowed players like sophomore quarterback Taylor McHargue to go into the opening game without first-game jitters and younger players can make an impact in other ways, such as special teams.

“We’ve been able to create some depth along the way,” Bailiff said. “Hopefully that will pay dividends on our special teams and we’re not going to play so many front-line people. We have young men that are freshmen and sophomores who can help us on the kickoff teams.”

Strength of Solomon

Another one of those experienced players is senior defensive end Scott Solomon, who returns to the team healthy after suffering a season-ending injury in the last days of fall camp in 2010.

Solomon is the eight Rice player to have 30 career tackles for lost yardage and the eight Owl since 1989 to have three sacks in a game when he accomplished the feat against Tulsa in 2009.

“Scott Solomon has been amazing having him back for the fifth year,” Bailiff said.

Bradshaw still bringing “leadership and knowledge”

Solomon will wear No. 35 this season in tribute to his roommate, safety Travis Bradshaw, who will be lost for his senior season because of a neck injury.

“Scott and Travis have been roommates since they’ve been here, and Scott is going to change numbers from No. 13 to No. 35 and wear Travis’ number,” Bailiff said. “I think that’s big time for a roommate to do that. For the Rice Owls, we’re still relying on Travis for his leadership and knowledge in practice every day. It’s great to see him around and he still inspires us and put things into perspective. ”

Through three seasons, Bradshaw had 214 career solo tackles which would have ranked second in the nation among active players. He finished his career with 286 total tackles which ranks tied for ninth on the all-time list at Rice. He’s also become a rallying cry for the team, reminding them to never give up.

“He’s one of the big reasons we say, ‘No bad plays, no bad days.’ And if you think of having one, looking at Travis, you know how important he is to this football team. ”

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