FOOTBALL: Owls lose bowl bid despite 7-4 record, best since 1961

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by John Fredland

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With a 7-4 overall record, 6-2 Western Athletic Conference mark and enough solid wins to rank them 25th in this week's New York Times poll, Rice also wound up as a respectable candidate for a bowl bid, their first since 1961. And the scenario seemed to be emerging for them to gain the WAC's spot in the Copper Bowl, which will be able to pick Rice, Utah, San Diego State or Colorado State if Brigham Young University, as expected, beats the University of Wyoming tomorrow in the WAC championship and gains a Bowl Alliance berth.

But the Owls will not get to spend Dec. 27 in Tucson. If the above situation should transpire, the Copper Bowl has decided to bypass Rice in favor of Utah.

Never mind that the Utes' slightly better record (8-3, 6-2) is easily offset by Rice's tougher schedule. Never mind that the Owls did a far better job against common opponents. And, oh yeah, never mind that Rice completely destroyed Utah last month.

It would be beside the point, however, to believe that the Copper Bowl's choice has anything to do with what the two teams accomplished on the football field this year. No sir, as Copper Bowl President Harold Gibson readily admitted, the bowl committee has its eyes on the financial prize expected from 15,000 Ute fans, something the Owls just cannot match.

"It was a tough distinction, since both teams had a wonderful year," Gibson said. "But we had to keep bowl finances in mind. Since we don't have a title sponsor this year, we are trying to generate as much money as we can on our own. Utah would bring in more people."

Rice Head Coach Ken Hatfield indicated that the Copper Bowl is also attempting to redress last year's selection, when they picked an Air Force squad that had lost to Utah and possessed a worse record than the Utes.

"Their people were talking to the Utah folks last year, and they consider it a payback deal," Hatfield said.

Actually, Rice is one of several teams victimized by a dollar-minded bowl system tied into taking mediocre teams from the more prominent conferences over deserving independent or smaller-conference squads. As a result, East Carolina University, the University of Southern Mississippi, San Diego State University and the loser of the Army-Navy game will sit at home for the holidays, despite eight or more victories apiece, and such questionably-accomplished teams as California, Stanford and Michigan State will litter the bowl landscape.

"Utah didn't play their best football at the end," Hatfield said. "They lost to us, and then lost at home to BYU. In essence, those other things meant more to [the Copper Bowl selectors]."

The bowl snub can put only a slight tarnish on an impressive autumn. The Owls turned their slow September around with a suddenly-potent offense and a better-than-expected defense that resulted in a 6-1 run to end their season at 7-4.

The Owls were recognized with a fair number of all-Mountain Division selections, as voted by the coaches. Defensive end Ndukwe Kalu and punter Tucker Phillips were named to the first team.

Center Jeremy Thigpen, offensive guard Charles Torello, running back Spencer George, cornerback Warrick Franklin and return man Michael Perry made second team. Perry won honorable mention along with quarterback Chad Nelson, safety Karlon Bedford and linebackers Rashad Reynolds and Thomas Benford.

Rice was a young team, benefitting from the services of just 14 seniors, but Hatfield credited his veterans with supplying the attitude necessary to fuel the team's success.

"I told the seniors that they set our confidence in motion," Hatfield said. "Every time we went out on the field, we expected to win. They left a great legacy to the younger players. Now they expect to win every game. We want them to expect to win next year when they play [the University of] Texas, Northwestern [University], BYU and Air Force."

The Owls will lose a few important offensive players -- such as George, Thigpen and Jamey Whitlock -- but should return an effective unit.

The defense will have to revamp its front line since school sack leader Kalu and Jason Winship have exhausted their eligibility, and Larry Thompson may decide to leave after he graduates in May, but linemen Andy Clifton and Judd Smith and linebacker Terrence Melton should combine with Benford, Reynolds and Bedford to create a decent nucleus.

Hatfield also believes that Rice's emergence as a WAC contender will aid recruiting this year.

"We're gonna start off pretty good," Hatfield said. "We have a good nucleus, although we lose some good players on defense. I think we'll be all right there."

This item appeared in the Sports section of the December 6, 1996 issue.

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