Football ready for rematch with Tulane
All-American candidate Chris Cooley, participating in his first practice since suffering a triceps injury August 12, tore his right triceps tendon and will be out for at least eight weeks.
Although the Owls did rush for 333 yards without Cooley in a 38-0 season-opening victory over the University of Nevada-Las Vegas Running Rebels two weeks ago, his blocking and leadership played an essential role in their run-based, spread-option offense.
"He fell on his arm wrong. It pulled the muscle loose from the bone," Head Coach Ken Hatfield said. "It is difficult, losing a man with his physical stature and leadership. We will just have to carry on without him."
The fact that they have practiced and played for the last month without Cooley will help the Owls to compensate for his absence. His backups have had ample time with the first team offense.
"We pretty much haven't had him," right guard Charles Torello said. "It's a loss we'd rather not have, but it shouldn't bother us as much."
Sophomores Paki Nelson and Alex Morris will replace Cooley.
"They have had many reps lately and have played well," Hatfield said.
Cooley could return for Rice's final games of the season. He also has the option of asking the NCAA for a sixth year of eligibility, something it has granted in recent years for medical hardships.
"I'll just have to pray about it and think about it," Cooley said. "I'm glad I don't have to make a decision for a while."
Hatfield said, "It will be another eight weeks, minimum. You're looking at the first or second week in November -- we'll have two games left. We'll make a decision then."
When Rice last saw Tulane, in the first game of the 1994 season, the Green Wave kicked a final-play field goal to cap a 15-13 upset victory and spoil Hatfield's debut.
The Owls struggled for three quarters on that rainy afternoon but seemingly had taken control of the game with two late touchdown drives -- only to be denied by Bart Baldwin's fifth field goal of the game, a 47-yarder.
The loss became significant at the end of the season when Rice could point to it, along with several other near misses, as costing the team a winning record and a possible bowl bid.
Adding to Rice's frustration, the victory ended up being Tulane's sole win in a 1-10 season.
This time, the Owls vow not to take Tulane lightly. Last year the team was focused on itself when it should have been concentrating on the Green Wave.
"We are getting ready for a Tulane team that has really done well so far," Hatfield said.
"Our guys know that if we don't play well, we can get beat real easily. This is the type of team we have got to play real hard every play of the game, and I think we are going to do that."
Tulane, which will join the University of Houston in Conference USA next year, opened with a 29-10 loss to the University of Maryland but recovered to rout Wake Forest University 35-9 last Saturday.
Against the Deacon Demons, the Green Wave jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back.
Freshman halfback Jamaican Dartez led the way for Tulane last week with 103 yards on 18 carries.
The Green Wave also return fullback Jerald Sowell, who rushed for 110 yards against the Owls last season.
They will provide a test for the Rice defense, which is ranked 19th in the nation in yardage allowed per game and first in scoring defense.
"Last year, we didn't tackle well," Hatfield said.
"We let the big back [Sowell] continue to make big yardage. That is the biggest thing we are going to have to do. Our defense is going to have their work cut out for them."
Other than Cooley, the Owls are enjoying good team health. According to Hatfield, the week off has been beneficial.
He hopes to have the rest of his players -- including linebacker Joe Davis, sidelined by a foot injury in the opener --ready to play against the Green Wave.
"It looks like we have a chance for everyone to be back in practice this week," Hatfield said. "We'll try to work everybody and see what they can do."
This item appeared in the Sports section of the September 15, 1995 issue.
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